The origin of the Bengal Cats
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A touch of nature's beauty with the loving disposition of the domestic cat

In 1963 Mrs. Jean Sugden (now Mrs. Jean Mill) first documented the first breeding of an Asian Leopard Cat and a Solid Black Domestic Tom Cat. The result, a hybrid female Bengal. And so it began. Bengals are extremely intelligent, curious to learn, loyal, very affectionate, friendly and love children. Typically, they are outgoing, curious, playful cats. Bengals love to play fetch and roll over. They enjoy sitting on your shoulders or being at the tallest height possible. Bengals are relatively large-boned, shorthaired cats. The males range from 10 - 18 pounds and females are slightly smaller.

The Bengal Cat

The Bengal is a medium to large domestic feline that originates from crossings of the small Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) to the domestic cat in an attempt to create a companion with an "exotic" look but a domestic temperament. After four to five generations of Bengal-to-Bengal breeding, the breed is recognized for championship competition by most international domestic cat associations including TICA, ACFA, GCCF, and AACE.

The Bengal's cat beautiful coat makes it stand out in a crowd. Numerous shades make up the background color of the Bengal, ranging from golden, rust, brown and orange, to sand, buff, or even ivory. Bengal spots also vary in color, from rust or cocoa and chocolate brown to charcoal or black. Some Bengal patterns have inherited striking rosettes or spots made up of more than one color, usually a secondary color forming a dark outlining to the spot.


The second Bengal cat pattern is called marble. This is created by the combination of rosettes from the Asian Leopard Cat and the domestic classic tabby pattern to produce a "marbleized" look, one or more colors swirled into the base colors. Ideally, both the spotted and marbled patterns should have a horizontal flow rather than a vertical appearance. Since the original purpose for breeding Bengal cats was to try to replicate the look of the exotic spotted Asian Leopard Cat, the dominant spotted pattern is most common.

The Bengal Cat has a happy, active, interactive and extremely intelligent personality. Every domestic cat breed has its unique features, and the exotic heritage of the Bengal cat can be seen in their every day activities. While Bengals will happily search out a lap or stretch out on the sofa next to you during naptime, they are very active during the rest of the day.


The energetic Bengal cat is not for people who just want a leopard print cat for decoration. Whether they are fishing in the aquarium or playing in their water-bowls, fetching balls for their families, taking walks on a leash or climbing to the top of the highest cupboards, Bengals are constantly on the move and are perfect for anyone who wants to interact and play with their cat daily. The Bengal cat, like many other pets, demands a good deal of attention and affection and enjoys being an integral part of the family.

The International Bengal Cat Society (TIBCS) is an all volunteer society of Bengal enthusiasts. TIBCS is proud to bring this exotic feline and its enthusiasts and breeders to the web. We hope you will share our excitement over this new, rapidly developing breed.

More about Bengal cats
Follow this link to read more about the Bengal cats

View the photo pages of Fang
Photos album of Fang our Bengal cat

The toys Fang likes
Fang's favorite toys