Bengal Essentials !

International

The Bengal cat is derived from crossing domestic cat with the Asian Leopard Cat, a small jungle cat living in the rain forests of South East Asia.

There are many exiting stories written about the creation of the Bengal, some even suggesting that the first hybridizations was done as early as 1870. The common understanding however is that today’s population has evolved following the pioneer work of Jane Sudgen (later Jane Mills) sometime in the mid seventies. The breed was recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1986, and then by Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) in 1999. .

In Norway

The first “Norwegian” Bengal Cat was probably imported to Norway from Great Britain in 1997 by the Norwegian celebrity  Linda Johansen. The first Norwegian cattery breeding Bengals was established at the turn of the millennium.

The Bengal is still a relatively minor breed in Norway, but it is rapidly increasing in popularity both as a pet and show cat.