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Bengal
cats were created by the hybridization of the wild Asian leopard cat (Felis
bengalensis, from which the name "Bengal" was taken) with domestic
cats to produce a beautiful, exotic-appearing feline with dependable domestic
temperament. Because the parents are of two different species, early generation
males are sterile. Female hybrids are bred back to domestic males to continue
the development of the breed.
The Asian leopard cat is a wild, untameable feline found in the forests
of southern Asia. It is widely hunted for its fur and body parts which
are still used in some traditional native medicines. There are as many
as twelve and possibly more subspecies of ALC; not all have been used
in Bengal programs. The Amur Cat and the Prionarilus sp. have been
the most often used subspecies of F. bengalensis. Most come from
zoos or other captive breeding programs, they are not caught in the wild.
There are some Bengal fanciers today who feel that the Asian leopard cat
is no longer needed in breeding programs; others who feel that the continued
infusion of new genetic material is benefical to the breed and should
be continued in a responsible manner. The goal of the breed’s development
should be to, as closely as possible, replicate the conformation and patterns
of the wild forest-dwelling cat ancestors, instead of just being another
pretty spotted domestic cat.
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