There is general agreement that establishing the foundation
of the present-day "domestic bengal cat" (DBC) belongs to Jean Mill.
Her original idea was to produce a feline that had the appearance or
"look" of the wild cat (in this instance, the Leopard Cat,
or more commonly, the Bengal kittens,
abbreviated in the present document as "ALC"), but, as importantly,
the calming/sweet temperament of the domestic variety. Others, of course, have
added and contributed to the gene pool over the years, creating many
different bloodlines, which generally, has enhanced the overall beauty of this
fascinating animal. Still, Jean is responsible for the majority of the initial
ground work (through her selective breeding programs). What follows, here, is a
brief chronological overview, that essentially reflects the sequence of
events that led to the development of the DBC.
In 1963, as the story is told, while living in Yuma, Arizona, Jean
bought a female ALC from a pet shop (these cats were readily available
in the early-mid 1960's). Because the animal seemed lonely in her outdoor pen,
a black short-haired Asian cat hybrid was
added to keep her company. At that time, many experts believed a successful
mating between divergent felines could not happen, but a little female hybrid,
named "Kin-Kin," was born, nonetheless. This cat, in turn, produced a
second generation litter, even though authorities at Cornell University said
Kin-Kin was probably sterile (which leads us to believe the experts don't
know everything, and perhaps, more importantly, nature always seems to
find a way). However, because of the death of her first husband in 1965,
Jean moved from Arizona to Claremont, California, but during this transition,
gave up her fascinating hobby (no DBC has a genetic link to Jean's first
ALC and to Kin-Kin).
Beginning from 1975, Jean resumed her breeding programs after acquiring eight
female ALC hybrids from the late Dr. Willard Centerwall, a physician and
geneticist at Loyola University, and later, at UC Davis (in Calfornia).
Centerwall was involved in research isolating the genes that are
responsible for the ALC's immunity to feline leukemia (FeL). Once
he had drawn blood samples from these hybrids, he needed homes for them, and
welcomed Jean's offer to keep the Asian Leopard cats
for further scientific study (and, not surprisingly, for her breeding
programs). He also shared her dream of producing, what she called, a
"tame toy leopard," and became an enthusiastic supporter of her
quest.
As an addendum, research, using the blood taken from the ALC and their
early generation offspring, has, for many years, been used at the National
Institute of Health (NIH); such studies continue today. It is hoped, by
examining the differences and changes that occur in the blood of these
animals, that a cure for leukemia and similar disorders can be found (both, for
man and his feline friend). With the advent of new technologies and techniques
to manipulate, and thus, effect change(s) at a genetic and cellular
level, cures, may someday be possible (it is noted, that some private catteries
in the United States, that have early-generation ALC-hybrid breeding
programs, still contribute blood samples to the NIH).
In 1980, while in India, Mrs. Mill found and brought back to California a male
domestic street cat (a kitten). This animal's overall coloring and markings
came close to the "look" of the ALC, but also had a coat that
was very glittered, with dark hues and shades of orange-redness (rufous
type colors). As this cat matured, it was bred to the Centerwall female
hybrids, the offspring of which, according to most authorities, became the
genetic foundation for the present-day DBC (in a sense, the initial
"gene-pool"). Historically, then, one could say, that the
"type" or "look" of this beautiful cat, and all its major
characteristics, including the glitter and the pelted coat, can be traced to
Jean's early generation cats. Such facts are probably true, at least, as they
relate to the majority of the DBC bloodlines. However, others, most notably,
Doctors Greg and Elizabeth Kent, of Kansas, were also breeding ALC hybrids
during this time (initially, with a female domestic Egyptain Mau, and an ALC
male named Baghara Khan).
Jean took an interest in their hybrid programs, and bred
two of her females to Baghara Khan (further enhancing the overall gene pool
and intensifying the Bengal type). So, although Jean is credited with
laying the foundation for the DBC, others also contributed. Interestingly, the
Kent bloodlines are considered, by some, to be the most genetically "pure,"
thus, more closely approximating the "wild look" of the ALC. This, of
course, is a matter of conjecture, and as such, should be put into proper
perspective.
