Bengal breed of cats: wild leopard with angelic character

Bengal breed of cats is the fruit of painstaking and successful work of enthusiastic amateur from the US Gene Mill. By the end of the 1940s, when she was still a student, she had a great idea. Gene wanted to bring out such cats, which in appearance would resemble leopards, but they were affectionate like house mushrooms. In the early 60's, fate brought her to Malaysia. At that time, there still survived the sight of small, but absolutely wild cats called Asian Leopard Cat. Gene bought a female on the black market, brought her to America and started bold experiments in the field of felinology.

From the first test, nothing happened. But not because of the genetic incompatibility of wild Malaysia with American domestic cats, but because of family problems Jean (the death of the first husband and the animal allergy in the second wife). Only in 1980, Mill again began to work. She got nine wild Asian cats, and brought the groom for them from the New Delhi zoo. As a result of knitting, unusual children with shiny hair appeared. This shine, which characterizes the Bengali breed of cats, was later called "glitter".

By 1986, Gene connected to breeding a purebred male Asian Leopard Cat named Kabuki. Despite the fact that he was absolutely wild, his character was surprisingly complaisant, balanced and friendly. That this male and became the father of F1 females, and they in turn gave a healthy and fertile offspring F2. And from the very beginning, the Bengali breed of cats provoked a rapid recognition of the general public.

Already in 1991, these polished beauties participated in the championship of the feline organization TICA, and in 1998 - ACFA. And not only the specialists they enjoyed popularity. Among the sympathies of the common public, all the records of the Bengal cat were also beaten. Photos of these pussycats were on the front pages of glossy magazines, animal prices incredibly increased. Particularly valuable were hybrids of the fourth generation, which have preserved the "wild" leopard color.

What are they - these Bengals? From ordinary cats they are distinguished by long, like a ballerina, legs. Their head is small, with rounded, high-set ears. Amber, soulful eyes shine on a gray-yellow or golden-red background of the main color. Obligatory sign are large dark spots scattered on the sides and back. But the abdomen should be white, like the areas of the chin and chest. Bengal breed of cats, depending on the ancestral habitat of their ancestors, has different size and weight. If the ancestor was a cat caught in the Ussuri taiga, pets will reach a weight of seven kilograms, and the southern savages of the jungle noticeably "shallow".

If the individual F1 adapts poorly to the human society, sullen and shy, then hybrids are real pets. They are gentle, playful, love caress, but at the same time they like to hunt. They get along well with dogs and challenge their right to walk on a leash. The representatives of this breed have a very unusual "voice." It can be compared to cooing or twittering rather than purring. The white suit and the color under the snow leopard are especially appreciated in the market . But the real proof of thoroughbredness is not the suit, but the notorious glitter of wool - glitter effect. Only such a cat of Bengali breed is allowed to participate in the competition . Price per calf varies depending on the class: show-copy - $ 3000, breed-class - $ 2000, pet-animal - $ 1300.