BENGAL HISTORY INFORMATION

The Bengal is descended from crosses between wild Asian Leopard Cats and domestic shorthairs. It is a large cat with a short shiny pelted coat, sometimes glittered.

While most commonly seen in the brown spotted tabby pattern, they are also found in marbled pattern (classic tabby). Glittering refers to an effect on the coat that makes it look like if the coat is sparkling especially when the sun hits it.; rosetted refers to the spots forming distinct patterns, preferably with more than one color tone within the spot ( it is a large round open spot that is almost completely closed or completely closed, Donut Rosette). Seal sepia, Seal lynx, and Seal mink color patterns with a pale white or cream background, are referred to as " SNOW" Bengals.

Well- socialized Bengals are active, intelligent , mischievious, friendly dog-like companions. Buyers should ask how many generations removed Bengal kittens are from the wild blood; the best companion cats are at least four generations removed ( but in my opinion, CHRISTINA CLARK, F3's if highly socialized can make great pets also) Most pet Bengals are wild only in look and have baby doll personalities:)

ASIAN LEOPARD CAT

PICTURE FROM BENGALBREEDER.NET

PICTURE CREDITS TO BRENDA MADER AND FAMILY.. THIS IS LULU (ONE OF OUR PAST BABIES) WHO IS LIVING WITH HER FAMILY IN GUAM....

More exciting facts about the Bengal Cat!!

The Bengal was developed during the 1970's to resemble a small wild cat or miniature Leopard while retaining the domestic temperament of a domestic cat. Originally called the "Leopardette', it originated from crossing an Asian Leopard cat and Domestic Shorthairs. Mrs. Jean Mill was the first breeder.

Temperament:

Bengals have been described as intelligent, alert, affectionate, determined and outgoing. They are also sweet, affectionate cats that vocalize more like a wild cat.

Size:

Bengal males usually get up to twelve to sixteen pounds while females are a bit smaller. These cats are very stocky, thick and big boned especially the males.

Very cool Asian Leopard cat mini clip of it walking and also calling and information about this awesome wild cat of the jungle!

Bengal pattern and colors (not all are listed).........

Spotted- The coat is covered in spots.

Marble- Horizontal markings, swirling down the sides of the cat. The pattern needs to be random (vertical striping is not desired). Belly is spotted.

The Bengal look......

The general build of an Asian Leopard cat (Felis Bengalensis) is similiar to a regular domestic cat, but with a little longer legs and a longer sleek back. They have relatively small heads with short muzzles, large eyes (because they are nocturnal ) and a thick tail of around to 14 inches or a little shorter in length. Body length can be anywhere between 25 to 32 inches, and they weigh between 10 to 15 pounds, some I have seen being close to 18 lbs. Size and weight differ between subspecies in different geographical regions, but males are usually always heavier and larger boned than the females.

Some Bengal Behavior Traits from the ALC..... Asian Leopard cats are normally loners coming together only to mate, and nocturnal in behavior and prefer deep cover and forest as their habitat. They make their dens in hollow trees, small caves or under large roots. They often live near water and are excellent swimmers and fishers. This carries over to our Bengals. Most Bengals love to play in any kind of water, especially running water. They are very good climbers and have no problems climbing into a tree or two ( which I do not advise, unless you are able to definitely get your Bengal back down without calling the fire department LOL).

This is a picture that one of our clients sent in of our "Diego".

As you can see he is definitely a water baby!!

(BST male)

picture crdits to the Spehnkouch family

This is my girl, Santeria. She loves..... water as do most Bengals!

Breed Standard..... Bengals should have a nice pelted smooth, sleek coat that hardly sheds ( this comes from its wild ancestor). Glitter Coat- Most Bengals are bred with a glitter coat which looks very shiny and shimmers in the sunlight. The glitter gene was brought in by Jean Mills "Tory of Delhi" , a cat she found in India that seemed to shine like glittered gold.

Introducing the Domestic Cat

Mediterranean Refinement....... Compared with the dog, the domestication of the cat is relatively recent. It probably occurred only 5-8,000 years ago, compared with the dog's 50,000- year relationship with humans. During excavations of the 8,000- year - old human settlement of Khirokitia in Cyprus in 1983, a single feline jawbone was found. Cyprus has had endemic wild cats, so it is possible that this cat was a domestic animal. The proximity of Cyprus to Africa suggests that it could have been related to the African wild cat F. sylvestris libyca.

However, overwhelming evidence points to ancient Egypt as the first area in which the cat was elevated to a role beyond that of rodent exterminator. The cat established a niche for itself in ancient Egypt as early as 3500 B.C, Wall paintings in tombs built at the time of the New Kingdom depict the cats as being part of daily Egyptian life. On the death of a household cat, Egyptian families went into deep mourning, shaving off their eyebrows as a sign of their grief.

The cat was also reverd as a symbol of fertility, Bastet, daughter of the sun god Re and goddess of fertility, was originally depicted as a lion, but later assumed the shape of a small cat.

Trade with Rome........ The domestic cat in the West spread with the expansion of the Roman Empire. Romans smuggled cats out of Egypt and took them to their northern conquests, where they were used to control rodents. Cats also enjoyed some degree of veneration by the Romans.

Medieval Image Crisis......... The Romans saw the cat as a symbol of liberty. It was with the fall of the Roman Empire that the cat lost popularity. Earlier beliefs were adapted to fit in with the cat's gradual loss of image. The northern goddess of love, Freya, for example, had always been depicted surrounded by cats, but later became a frightening witch whose cats were the denizens of hell. For around 700 years after the first millennium, throughout Europe the cat was often associated with witches and evil. In the town of Metz in France, hundreds of cats were burned alive on the second Wednesday in Lent, as a ritual sacrifice of witches.

Cats today........ are looked at as wonderful, intelligent companions that will snuggle, play listen, love you and let you know your never alone.

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