What are the origins of the Bengal Cat?
The bengal cat is the result of selective breeding between an ASIAN LEOPARD CAT (Felis bengalensis) and a domestic cat. In 1983 Jean Mills introduced the first Bengal cat to Tica. In 1991 the fourth generation, SBT, moved to Championship status. Most Bengal cats today are several generations on from this, but early generation Bengals are still being bred to enhance the characteristics of the breed. As a rule these cats can be shy and may not thrive in a busy household. Some of the early cats came from cancer research in the early 1970’s the hope being that as the ALC carried an immunity to feline leukaemia this immunity would be passed on to the domestic cat.
