Bengal Cats History
So where did the Bengal cat history begin? Jean Sudgen of the United States crossed a black short haired domestic cat with a female Asian Leopard Cat in 1963. Those F1 Bengal cats had F2 Bengal cat kittens proving that second generations of Bengal cats were possible. Unfortunately due to a death in the family breeding the Bengal cat was stopped after getting to the second generation. Then in 1975 Jean Sudgen, who was now Mrs. Jean Mill, got eight female Bengal hybrids from a geneticist called Dr. Willard Centerwall.
Dr. Willard Centerwall had been involved in a breeding program where Asian Leopard Cats were crossed with domestic cats as part of a study of feline Leukemia. It was in 1975 that Jean Sudgen Mills began again to further the new breed. It was not till 1984 the domestic Bengal cat were recognized by the International Cat Association.
Bengal cats are a new breed, cross-bred with a wildcat. Their spotted or marbled coat is soft and thick, they have a large, sleek muscular build, rounded slighted long face, oval eyes and thick tail. They have an enviable, exotic appearance without the wild temperament of their much larger untamed ancestors.
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