Ashanti Bengals

Inspired by the Wild!

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:30:05 +0000

Each Bengal breeder must develop their own breeding goals. At Ashanti, our goal, our passion, our DREAM, is to breed completely domestic, affectionate house cats which TRULY LOOK like their wild cousins (not just unusual cats with pretty markings)…

The Bengal breed standard, in most cat registries (including TICA, FIFe and LOOF), states that the Bengal is meant to resemble a small, forest-dwelling, wild cat. The Bengal breed originated with hybridization with the Asian Leopard Cat, Felis Bengalensis (also known as Prionailurus Bengalensis). Please see the video below, of an Asian Leopard Cat, to see the pattern and the body and head type we are striving for. Note how much different the head and ears are of the wild cat, compared to most domestic cats. Note, how BLACK the markings are (not orange, not brown)! Also, although “glitter” is something that many breeders feel is indispensable (we consider it “optional”), please note that neither the Asian Leopard Cat below, nor the Ocelot have this characteristic.

Another small forest dwelling cat, the Ocelot, is also an inspiration to many Bengal breeders:

Welcoming Awagati Brown Sugar!

admin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:22:07 +0000

: Brown Sugar in the Garden

Finally, she’s here! My wild-looking girl with the teddybear character. From the very first day I met Brown Sugar when she lived at Casarocca Bengals in Italy, I was hooked! This girl had the WILD ESSENCE. Watching her muscular shoulders roll beneath her thick, dense coat, tail trailing the ground — she didn’t look like “just a cat”. Seeing that stark glimmer of her whited underbelly, she looks like she belongs in, well, the primeval forest. Or a Nature Reserve. She looked like she shouldn’t be tame. BUT! She is not only tame, she is tremendously affectionate and out-going. What a wonderful package. Just what one would expect of a cat from the well-respected Awagati Bengals cattery in California, USA.

More exciting again, Brown Sugar arrived at Ashanti Bengals PREGNANT! It wasn’t expected. It wasn’t planned. But! It happened (as these things sometimes do).

Therefore, after her “settling in” period, Brown Sugar hunkered down in her cozy nest and presented me with 5 beautiful Bengal babies. Pictures of kittens pending soon! Many thanks to Marc King of Casarocca (for letting Brown Sugar come to live with me), Marie-Eve Rousseau of Bali Bengals (for transporting her across the snowy Alpes) and Judith Lindeman of Awagati (for breeding her)!

Wandering Italian Romeo…

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:17:59 +0000

Look who showed up at our house!

A Calcatta Custom Made grandson! Wow!

We look forward to seeing what sort of “paint job impact” this lovely, well-structured male will have during his short summer sojourn with us in France. Casarocca Arazzo Dorato is a glittered, clear-coated boy with a lovely, flowing pattern of well-contrasted rosettes. He’s a big boned,with nice type and a sweet personality. AND, so far, still has a whited Trollspotting/Casarocca belly… Many thanks to Marc King of Casarocca Bengals, for allowing this lovely male to visit us for a short while!

A Step Towards “the Wild Side”!

admin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:22:36 +0000

Bengal breeders from around the world who appreciate the importance of wild type in our cats – nod their heads in recognition to the remarkable work done by Judith Lindeman of Awagati Bengals in the USA. Her cattery is a by-word for an astonishing level of wild type and her work has been an inspiration to countless breeders. It’s no surprise then, that we are “over-the-moon” about our plans to be acquiring a 4-year-old, proven, sweet-tempered queen with an exceptional head and a brilliant white belly! ”Awagati Brown Sugar” should be relocating to France sometime during the autumn of 2008, and how excited we shall be to see what surprises she may hold in store for us in attempting to improve our own wild type, here at Ashanti Bengals. Having this girl, will feel like guarding a precious gem. We are very grateful for the friendship and cooperation of the breeders involved (Awagati & Casarocca) who trust us enough to treat these bloodlines with the respect and protection they deserve.

New Baby Bengals, Born May 5th, 2008!

admin — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:15:18 +0000

Imagine: two litters born the same day! To the same father (Argentea Granite Frost). Granite (our silver male, now returned to live with his breeder in Italy) was one happy guy! Now the babies are 3 weeks old, there eyes are open and they’re starting to explore the world of the maternity ward on tiny bengal paws. Currently we are not stating who will be available for adoption. We are waiting to see how they develop (we have never had a silver Bengal parent before!) In the mean time, let us introduce them!

Born to CASAROCCA AQUITANIA (visiting us from Italy):

Demoiselle (F): (under assessment)

Dent de Lion (M): (reserved)

Durandal (M): (reserved)

Born to CASAROCCA BELLONA:

D’Artignon (M): (under assessment)

Décolleté (F): (probably staying here!)

Dumas (M): (under assessment)

Luthien’s Kittens at 9 Weeks!

admin — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:20:07 +0000

We love these wild-looking little jungle cats! All three seem to have facial qualities which remind us of the early-generation Bengals (which means much more like an Asian Leopard Cat!) Thankfully, it’s only an illusion — because they are as sweet as sugar. At 9 weeks, the two brown spotted tabbies are really “in the fuzzies” — but we believe that soon their patterns will LEAP OUT again. Danae, the little marble, is not fuzzy at all — and she is beginning to open up and show the stained-glass effect that we think will develop in those dark, dark swirls… Come see the photos!

Daedalus (M): Available

Danae (F): Available

Danica (F): Unavailable

Aphrodite’s Kittens at 12 Weeks!

admin — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:35:49 +0000

It’s finally the age where the babies are ready to start going home with their new owners. Everyone has been well socialized with adult cats, small dogs and young children. We’re very proud of the personality of these little guys — they never stop purring (except to EAT, of course!)!

Come see their photos!

Darjeeling (F) — Available

Daxia (F): Available

Dharma (F): On Hold

Dhurrie (F): Sold

Aphrodite’s Kittens at 11 Weeks!

admin — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:38:36 +0000

The rules are: never stop purring, attack anything that moves and sleep on top of as many siblings as possible at one time. Oh. And, try to eat ALL the food before your siblings can have ANY! Some of the kittens are beginning to come out of the fuzzies now and it’s beginning to be possible to imagine how they will look as adults. They are “long and lanky”and all that play is turning the kitten fat into muscle! Very healthy affectionate bunch! Come see them!

Damask (F): on hold

Darjeeling (F): on hold

Daxia (F): available

Dhakar (M): on hold

Dharma (F): available

Dhurrie (F): available

Luthien’s Babies at 8 Weeks!

admin — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:57:15 +0000

Sometimes, it feels like there are baby leopards on the bed! Watching these kittens at play surprises us again and again at how wild looking these little “cubs” are. Fortunately, despite the wild appearance they are sweet as sugar when the energy level runs down. Early morning finds them purring beneath our chins. A very wonderful and unforgettable way to wake up! We highly recommend it! If you’re ready for this week’s photos, here they are!

Daedalus (M): available

Danae (F): available

Danica (F): unavailable

Bellona’s New Babies!

admin — Sat, 03 May 2008 22:41:12 +0000

News flash! New spotted babies by Casarocca Bellona and Argentea Granite Frost. This is our first litter sired by Granite Frost! (Yipee!) More news as the kittens get older…