Ashanti Bengals

• WHAT IS A BENGAL CAT REALLY LIKE?

Once you’ve met the Bengal, you’ll agree that there’s no other cat in the world quite like it. Not by far!
Without a doubt, the first thing most people “spot” about a Bengal is just that, it’s SPOTS! Although there are other spotted cat breeds, the traditional leopard-spotted Bengal is unique in it’s wild-looking, horizontal pattern, frequently sporting large “rosettes” or two-toned spots similar to a ocelot or marguay. Some Bengals have another unique characteristic, a special metallic shine to their coat, called “glitter”. Glittered Bengals, like precious gems, truly sparkle and shimmer under the sunlight.
Bengals are not excessively large cats, ranging between 6 and 14 pounds. They are shorthaired, and frequently trademarked by either a satin-smooth, tight coat (often described by breeders as “painted on”) that feels slick and glassy beneath the hand, or a slightly longer, particularly dense, soft coat described as “pelted”. Some people state that Bengals have an added advantage, in that their fur has a reputation for being less likely to cause allergy in those with allergies to cat dander.
Life with a Bengal is never dull. Bengals are friendly, people-oriented animals that love to be where the action is. They make playful, inquisitive, intelligent pets. Bengals often have an affinity for water: playing in their water dishes, chasing the stream from a running tap, or even playing in the shower.

• WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE BENGAL BREED?

The Bengal breed was created due to the vision and dedication of an American woman, Jean Sugden Mills, who desired to create a breed with the beauty of the wild, feral Asian Leopard Cats and domestic cats, Mrs. Mills was the first to register such crosses with The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1983. Mrs. Mills and other dedicated early breeders developed bloodlines hybridised with the Asian Leopard Cat, utilizing Egyptian Maus, Ocicats and certain domestic shorthairs such as “Millwood Finally Found”, a brown spotted tabby; and “Millwood Tory of Delhi”, a domestic shorthair acquired by Mrs. Mills at a zoo in Delhi, India, who contributed the glittered gene.
Today, the Bengal breed continues to dynamically evolve due to the surprising diversity within the available gene pool, and the dedication of serious breeders around the world.

• IS THE BENGAL A REAL DOMESTIC CAT BREED OR IS IT A HYBRID WILD CAT?

The Bengal is a real domestic cat breed recognized and registered by many cat organizations throughout the world.
Reputable breeders offer Bengal cats for companionship, show and breeding — which are normally designated “SBT” on their registration papers, these being at least 4 generations away from their Asian Leopard Cat ancestor(s). This means that they typically have no more than 8 to 12 percent Asian Leopard Cat blood, and often considerably less. Cats with a higher percentage of Asian Leopard Cat blood are called “filial generations” (see below) and are not Bengals, but rather hybrids.

• WHAT ARE “FILIAL GENERATIONS”?

“Filial generations” are those which act as a bridge between the original hybridisation with the Asian Leopard Cat (F1, F2 and F3) and the fourth generation (the fourth generation, F4, is the first generation eligible for exposition). These first three generations may possess some or many of the characteristics of their wild ancestor (litter box problems, shy, less affectionate, etc.). Therefore, only those persons with a dedication to the extra responsibility and requirements of these special animals should consider buying them. They are of the most benefit to experienced Bengal breeders with a specific goal in mind.

• WHAT IS AN ASIAN LEOPARD CAT LIKE?

The Asian Leopard Cat (often abbreviated to “ALC” by Bengal breeders) is a small forest-dwelling wild cat indigenous to many areas of Asia; tropical ranges such as Malqysia and Thailand producing animals most typically used in Bengal breeding programs. This is due to the fact that Asian Leopard Cat sub-species from tropical ranges tend to have the most brilliant coloring and pattern, similar, to the American margay, the ocelot, the jaguar or the cheetah.
ALC’s are shy animals that are not well suited to a domestic life although they may be found in zoos around the world, and occasionally with very specialized Bengal breeders. It weighs approximately 16 pounds and in the wold hunts small rodents and fish. However, because it is genetically compatible with the Felis Catus (the domestic cat), it has been used as the basis for the now fully domestic Bengal cat. In fact, the ALC’s species name, “Bengalensis” was chosen to name the new domestic cat breed, in honor of its wild and beautiful heritage.

• WHAT DO PEOPLE MEAN WHEN THE SAY THAT A BENGAL IS “IN THE FUZZIES”?

Just as many baby wild animals (such as the Cheetah cub pictured here) benefit from a “camoflauge-stage” to help protect them from potential predators, Bengal kittens develop a muted, fuzzy, greyish top coat which obscures their future adult coloration and pattern. “The fuzzies” generally set in at about the fourth week of life and may not begin to seriously dissipate until the end of the fourth month. Clarity of pattern and adult color continue to evolve until one year of age.
Therefore, if a person chooses their Bengal kitten during this relatively “ugly-duckling” fuzzy stage, it is certainly best that they either have experience in knowing how the kitten will likely develop, or have confidance in the breeder’s knowledge and judgement.