The Origins of the Bengal...

The Bengal cat is a relatively new breed of domestic housecat (Felis silvestris catus) developed to have a gentle and friendly temperament, while exhibiting the markings (such as spots, rosettes, and a light/white belly), and body structure reminiscent of the wild Asian Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). In other words, a Bengal cat has a desirable 'wild' appearance, with a gentle domestic cat temperament.

Asian Leopard Cat

The name Bengal was derived from the scientific name of the Asian Leopard Cat, as seen above, and not from the more widely known Bengal Tiger species, which has nothing to do with their ancestry or their looks.

Genes

The modern Bengal gene pool contains genes sourced from many varieties of domestic cats - mainly Egyptian Maus, American Shorthair, Abyssinian, Ocicat, and domestic shorthaired cats. It is commonly accepted that the breed was developed by Jean Mill of California in the 1970's, although Bengal breeders exist throughout the world today. Many breeders today are working to develop specific characteristics in the breed, often by backcrossing foundation cats with particularly vivid markings. The Asian Leopard Cat is comprised of several subspecies, and consequently, they can have considerable variations in their appearance.