The Bengal cat first appeared in the USA in the 1960s and 1970s. The first litter was bred by Mrs. Jean Mill who crossed an Asian Leopard cat with an American Shorthair. Modern Bengals can also be produced by crossing an Asian Leopard cat with an Abyssinian, Burmese, or Egyptian Mau. Since the first three generations of males produced from these crosses are usually infertile, a cat must be at least four generations away from the Asian Leopard cat to be considered a Bengal. The breed is not related to the Bengal Tiger. Instead, the name originates from the Latin name for the Asian Leopard cat, Prionailurus Bengalensis.
Bengals are usually not lap cats although they are friendly and affectionate. They are very active cats who would rather play or at least, follow you around the house. You can bond with a Bengal kitten just by playing with it a couple times a day for at least thirty minutes. Many people describe the Bengal personality as being more like a dog than that of a cat. They often enthusiastically greet their owners at the door. Some can be trained to sit, shake hands, fetch objects, and even walk on a leash. The easiest way to train a Bengal is through their love of play.
