History of the Bengal Breed
The breed owes it's orgins to researchers such as Jean (Sugden) Mills and Dr. Willard Centerwalls. During the early 1960's, there was
an epidemic of feline leukemia. Around this time, it was discovered that many wild cats had a natural immunity to feline leukemia, as well
as other illnesses such as FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and feline AIDS. The asian leopard cat was one such cat, and the University
of California started a research program to see if the trait that allowed immunity to such conditions could be bred in or replicated. (Later
efforts were made to research if the immunity to FIV could be translated to HIV, however, these were unsuccessful.)
In the 1970's, Jean Sugden (now Jean Mills,) acquired eight female foundation cats from Dr. Centerwalls and the University of California,
which were the results of the earlier studies to find a cure for feline leukemia. From there, the breed was established, and in 1983, was registered with
TICA as a new/experimental breed and was first shown in 1985 under that same class.2
Most of the wild kittens from this era ended up in zoos or escaped onto city streets. I hoped that by putting a leopard coat on a domestic cat, the pet trade could be safely satisfied.
If fashionable women could be dissuaded from wearing furs that look like friends' pets, the diminished demand would result in less poaching of wild species. 3 The Asian Leopard Cat
The Asian Leopard Cat (ALC for short) is a small wildcat from Asia. It is found almost throughout the entire south-eastern portion of the Asian continent. It is approximately the size of a domestic cat, but size varies considerably among the subspecies; In the southern regions, they average around five pounds (2.27 kg) and 25.6 inches (65 cm,) including the length of the tail, to 40 inches (100 cm) and 15 pounds (6.8 kg) in the northern regions. The fur too varies in color, in the southern regions it tends toward tawny, red and yellow and silver or white in the northern regions. The coat of the Asian Leopard Cat is patterned, however, depending on the region, it may be spotted or rosetted. (In China, it is known as the money cat, because its spots resemble chinese coins.) The ALC is nocturnal, and a skilled climber and swimmer, preferring environments with trees and water. However, they have been known to survive in even semi-desertous regions. They are carnivorous, subsiding on small rodents and other wild game. Asian leopard cats are shy and solitary creatures, except when mating, and tends to have small litters of between 2 and 4 kittens and gestation lasts from between 67-70 days.
Originally, the Tsushima cat (located on Tsushima island, close to Korea,) was regarded as its own species, much as the Iriomote Cat is today. However, it was eventually determined to be a part of the Manchurian subspecies. The Iriomote cat (on the Japanese Iriomote island,) however, is still regarded as its own species, since it's fur is almost solidly dark brown, with a bushier tail and claws that cannot be sheathed. The islanders refer to them as Yamamayaa (means "mountain cat") or Yamapikaryaa ("mountain sparkling-eyed") or Pingiimayaa ("escaped cat".) The Iriomote cat is the most threatened subspecies with an estimated population of less than 100 individuals.
Basic History
The bengal cat originates from a cross-breeding of a domestic cat and the Asian Leopard Cat (for more on the ALC, see below.)
While the first documented hybridization is documented to have occurred as early as 1871, the first attempt to create a
miniature leopard was not until 1941 in Japan (as documented by Cat Fancy.) It was not until the 1960's that attempts
were made in the US to create a hybrid leopard cat, nor was it until around that time (early 1970's) that such attempts became successful
in the bengal breed.1
The "Centerwall ALC," two of the original ALC used in the creation of the Bengal breed.
Around 1963, Jean Sugden crossed an ALC female with her black domestic cat, getting a mixture of spotted and solid kittens. One of the spotted
females was then bred back to the father (foundation males are almost always sterile,) resulting in spotted kittens and the start of the Bengal breed.
However, after Jean Sugden's husband died, she abandoned the efforts for that time and the breed didn't progress.
Taro is an early ALC.
Jean Mill's reasons for creating the breed, involves more than the earlier stated scientific reasons. At the time, there was a rampant fur trade involving the asian leopard cat (it took as many as
30 ALC pelts to make one coat,) as well as an exotic pet trade. As she states her reasons:
In 1963 I deliberately crossed leopard cats with domestic cats for several important reasons.
At that time, wild cats were being exploited for the fur market. Nursing female leopard cats defending their nests were shot for their pelts, and the cubs were shipped off to pet stores worldwide.
Unsuspecting cat lovers bought them, unaware of the danger, their unpleasant elimination habits and the unsuitability of keeping wild cats as pets.
Leopole, another influential ALC,
shows how beautiful the ALC
is and is an example of one
that might have been poached.
An ALC kitten.
Subspecies:
India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asian mainland, Yunnan
Manchuria (including the Tsushima cat)
Iriomote Cat
