History
To truly appreciate the Bengal Cat, it’s important to understand the history of this unique breed. Cats – like other animals - are categorized into “groups” and then “species” based on their ability to interbreed and produce viable offspring.
There are two cat groups. The big cat group – Panthera – includes lions and tigers. The small cat group – Felis – includes species such as Ocelots, Margays, Asian Leopards and our commonly known domestic cats. The Asian Leopard – Felis Bengalensis - is one of the most beautiful of the small wild cats. Because of its breathtaking beauty and magnificent coat of spots and stripes, the Asian Leopard was highly prized by hunters and fur trappers, thus endangering its very existence.
The first recorded breeding of the Bengal Cat occurred in the 1960s. Because the Asian Leopard and domestic cat – Felis Domesticus – are different species, it took many years to develop the breed. Because the males in the first generations of the Leopard Cat hybrids were sterile, it took several attempts of out-crossing and selective breeding to develop this breed. And so, the name “Bengal” is derived from the scientific Asian Leopard name – Felis Bengalensis.
Today, the Asian Leopard is an endangered species.
There are two cat groups. The big cat group – Panthera – includes lions and tigers. The small cat group – Felis – includes species such as Ocelots, Margays, Asian Leopards and our commonly known domestic cats. The Asian Leopard – Felis Bengalensis - is one of the most beautiful of the small wild cats. Because of its breathtaking beauty and magnificent coat of spots and stripes, the Asian Leopard was highly prized by hunters and fur trappers, thus endangering its very existence.
The first recorded breeding of the Bengal Cat occurred in the 1960s. Because the Asian Leopard and domestic cat – Felis Domesticus – are different species, it took many years to develop the breed. Because the males in the first generations of the Leopard Cat hybrids were sterile, it took several attempts of out-crossing and selective breeding to develop this breed. And so, the name “Bengal” is derived from the scientific Asian Leopard name – Felis Bengalensis.
Today, the Asian Leopard is an endangered species.