Cashmere History and General Description

The goal of creating the Bengal breed was to develop a cat with the personality of a domestic cat and the look of a wild cat. The small Asian leopard cat is the foundation cat for the Bengal Breed. The first generation (F-1) is derived from the breeding of these leopard cats to domestic cats.

In the beginning of the Bengal breed, mixed breed cats as well as Maus and Abyssinians were used. Any of these cats, as individuals, might have carried the recessive longhair gene. A Himalayan, (longhaired oriental) was also bred in.

So it is no wonder that there have been longhaired kittens from short haired parents in many Bengal litters since the beginning of the Bengal breed. Many of those cats who carried for longhair carried for "non traditional" Bengal colors, such as blue, as well.

Some of these colors have become recognized for show status, and some have fanciers who are working toward their recognition. Instead of recognizing the Longhair as such a genetically understandable "variety", however, many breeders just tried to "sweep them under the carpet". Not long ago, for example, a new breeder told us she had a longhaired kitten in her litter. When she asked the breeders from whom she got the stud and the queen "how this could be", they answered; "it´s a genetic defect"!

Sadly, it´s a true story and not an isolated incident, either. Many Bengal breeders who haven't happened to experience having a recessive longhaired kitten "pop up" in one of their own litters simply believe that every longhaired Bengal is a "mix" -- but we know the truth - they are not "mixed cats" and they certainly have no genetic defect!