Wild cats.

In the late fifties’ an American breeder had a dream. She was anxious about the increasing numbers of wild cats kept as a pet in the USA. In European laws it is not possible to keep wild cats as a pet. The breeder appreciated the beauty of a wild cat, but she was a firmly believer that wild animals should live in their wilderness.

She started to breed a friendly pet with the looks of a wild cat.She mated the Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat to produce hybrid offspring known as the Bengal cat.

In 1983 The Bengal was accepted by TICA ( The International Cat Association ). 

Asian Leopard cats are small wild cats and they live in South and East Asia. They are widely distributed and they often live in agriculturally used areas but prefer forested habitats.

Cats are opportunistic animals and they have discovered that it is much easier to find and catch a prey near people. There are many villages near rivers, therefor living together is convenient for both people and cats. Cats hunt the rodents that are interested in the harvest so the cats find an easy meal.

To domesticate the kittens is the next step. It is quite understandably to care for a mum and her litter when she has chosen to live in your house. Caring for the kittens develop in loving them and a wil

Asian Leopard cats live in tropical evergreen rainforests, in subtropical deciduous and coniferous forests. In the northeast range the coat of Asian Leopard cats is thicker and grey. In the southeast range their coat can be yellow, or shades of brown.

The Asian Leopard cat is a solitaire living cat except during breeding season.

Some cats are active during the day, but most hunt at night, preferring to stalk tree shrews and hares or hunt rodents, beetles and frogs on the ground. They are agile climbers and quite arboreal in their habits. They rest in trees, but also hide in dense thorny undergrowth on the ground. In this habitat, males have larger home ranges than females, while each male's range overlapped one or more female ranges. Leopard cats can swim, but seldom do so.

Our Bengals show similarity to their ancestors; in appearances, they resemble them often at first sight. Some of the characteristics of the Leopard cats can also be recognized the Bengal.

A Bengal cat has a long torso and muscular and agile body and a proportionally small head. A Bengal cat is strong and athletic and is able to bridge a distance with a view jumps easily in order to catch a prey.

 

Our Bengals love their own mini jungle, some love to be there all day. They like to have high speed runs or stalk small critters. They observe little insects or frogs in the pond and in spring, the tadpoles mesmerize them.

There are more than a few hundred tadpoles in the pond  and the Bengals observe them closely, but they never decide what to do with them.

 

Leopard cats are carnivorous, feeding on a variety of small prey including mammals, lizards, amphibians, birds and insects. In most parts of their range, small rodents such as rats and mice form the major part of their diet, often supplemented with grass, eggs, poultry, and aquatic prey. They are active hunters, dispatching their prey with a rapid pounce and bite. They are maintaining a tight grip with their claws until the animal is dead. Because the relatively high proportion of birds in their diet, which are more likely to escape when released than are rodents.

Our Bengals are enjoying their premium food, but they are hunters in heart and soul. Their instincts tell them to hunt and when they actually catch a prey, every one joins the hunt. They love playing with their prey and they seldom eat it.

 

The Leopard cat is threatened by habitat loss and hunting in parts of its range.

In China, leopard cats are being hunt mainly for their fur, the European Union imposed an import ban in 1988We were privel

 

 

Fortunately, there are organisations that are taking care to the cats or orphaned kittens.

They are taking care for them, but they do not socialize the kittens. The caretakers are avoiding close contact with the kittens, because they are wild cats and they will be returning to the jungle when they are able to. These caretakers deserve our respect and gratitude.

We spent summer holidays in Asia and we were able to spent time in the jungle. It was a privilege and an awe-inspiring experience, I will never forget. With this in mind, I like to say sincerely, respect and protect the Asian Leopard cat and love the Bengal cat as your beloved pet.

                    Have an awe-inspiring experience to day

                              Love Conny