Where can i get Bengal cats in JB?

[peejal76]

Hi.
Any Johorean here? Pls someone tlg bagi some info mana nak cari some pets nursery in JB yg ader bengal cats, and some advised about petshoppe yg in term of price+customer services?

[adamyala]

hi peejal..
alang alang nak cari bengal..kat sini jer
kat janda baik...
gerenti puashati..

http://www.pendekar-bengal.com/sale.html

[nurkasih]

Originally Posted by adamyala

hi peejal..
alang alang nak cari bengal..kat sini jer
kat janda baik...
gerenti puashati..

http://www.pendekar-bengal.com/sale.html

Hye

We call the place...breeder..heheh tapi nursery pun ok jugaklah..

Nway the best one is Pendekar Bengal cam kak Zai atas tue cakap... Bloodline memang beshh.. meleleh jer air liur tengok Bengal dier...

And diorang boleh send kucing2 tueh... Da ke obersea diorang send... Nway kan, masa u beli u kena sign agrement... adalah terms and conditions dier sbb kalau tak silap i... Bengal corak dier akan berubah dari semasa ke semasa dan makin tua makin pudar and tak cantik.. Itu yang I tahu masa buat internet research nak beli Bengal dulu.. tapi tak kesampaian sbbd ada 3 ekor..dah tak larat da....

Serento Bengals pun registered ngan TIKA http://www.freewebs.com/serengetibengals/ tapi i takder first hand experience...

Price dier?..Kalau bersurat beranak nieh tak kurang dari RM1000 agaknyer..Tak lebih dari Rm3000 Itu normal... Tapi quality terjamin...

[hashimi]

Salam to all.

Shimi ader mklumat sal Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), tp bukan bengal la. dijual dari siam. rege dlm rm300. tp kalo nk lesen boley dpt resit yg boley di issues untuk lesen (for CITES import permit). resit tu rege dlm rm80. untuk lesen plak dlm rm10 (from perhilitan). so total rm390.

shimi just boley gtaw je la. sbb shimi x support penjual tu sbb "wild caught" product. kalo captive breed boley la recommend. per pun pkir yg terbaek utk hidupan liar sblum beli wildcaught animal. byk risiko; penyakit, more fierce than domestic cat. tp kalo nk breed sniri tu boley la. dgn syarat lepas balik dlm habitat dier lepas dier dah beranak. anak tu amek jaga then spayed. parent dier lepas balik dlm hutan. skurangnya populasi liar dlm hutan x berkurang. Tp apapun shimi x recommend la, just boley gtaw mklumat.

[mrsdolittle]

Dear all,

Maaf akak menyampuk... first of all selamat hari raya & maaf zahir batin...

Adik2 ku sekalian... buat pengetahuan adik2 BENGAL CAT adalah salah satu ddaripada binatang yang dah hampir pupus dan tidak sesuai dijadikan binatang kesayangan.

Biarkanlah mereka di dalam hutan, tempat asal mereka. Bengal Cat merupakan haiwan Nocturnal, maknanya haiwan yang aktif di dalam gelap dan bersembunyi dari tempat yang terang.

Kiranya kita ubah kejadian semulajadi ciptaan tuhan ni, kesihan kan dia. Kira macam ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Maaf ya dik... jangan ambil hati. Mungkin banyak yang tak tahu tentang habitat dan cara hidup sebenar setiap binatang yang tercipta.

Maaf zahir batin...

[alfian]

salam aidilfitri semua,
rasanya akak mrsdolittle ni dah tersilap
yang peejal cari KUCING BENGAL bukan HARIMAU BENGAL
yang dah nak pupus tu HARIMAU BENGAL
KUCING BENGAL memang dibiak dan dok dalam rumah saja
khusus untuk dijadikan haiwan kesayangan
takde kucing bengal kat dalam hutan tu, menurut apa yg saya baca la...
kucing bengal hasil kacukan ALC Asian Leopard Cat dgn Domestic cats
lepas tiga generasi baru dapat kucing bengal....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_%28cat%29

...The Bengal is a relatively new hybrid breed of cat, which exhibits the "wild" markings (such as large spots, rosettes, and a light/white belly), and body structure reminiscent of the wild Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).[1] The Bengal cat has a desirable "wild" appearance with a gentle domestic cat temperament, provided it is separated by at least three generations from the original crossing between a domestic feline and an Asian Leopard Cat.[1]

The name Bengal was derived from the taxonomic name of the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), as shown above, and not from the more widely known Bengal tiger species, which is unrelated to the Bengal's ancestry....

di sini boleh baca tentang HARIMAU BENGAL, memang endangered species pun...

http://animals.nationalgeographic.co...gal-tiger.html


kalau saya silap tolong betulkan

Originally Posted by mrsdolittle

Dear all,

Maaf akak menyampuk... first of all selamat hari raya & maaf zahir batin...

Adik2 ku sekalian... buat pengetahuan adik2 BENGAL CAT adalah salah satu ddaripada binatang yang dah hampir pupus dan tidak sesuai dijadikan binatang kesayangan.

Biarkanlah mereka di dalam hutan, tempat asal mereka. Bengal Cat merupakan haiwan Nocturnal, maknanya haiwan yang aktif di dalam gelap dan bersembunyi dari tempat yang terang.

Kiranya kita ubah kejadian semulajadi ciptaan tuhan ni, kesihan kan dia. Kira macam ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Maaf ya dik... jangan ambil hati. Mungkin banyak yang tak tahu tentang habitat dan cara hidup sebenar setiap binatang yang tercipta.

Maaf zahir batin...

[nurkasih]

Originally Posted by alfian

salam aidilfitri semua,
rasanya akak mrsdolittle ni dah tersilap
yang peejal cari KUCING BENGAL bukan HARIMAU BENGAL
yang dah nak pupus tu HARIMAU BENGAL
KUCING BENGAL memang dibiak dan dok dalam rumah saja
khusus untuk dijadikan haiwan kesayangan
takde kucing bengal kat dalam hutan tu, menurut apa yg saya baca la...
kucing bengal hasil kacukan ALC Asian Leopard Cat dgn Domestic cats
lepas tiga generasi baru dapat kucing bengal....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_%28cat%29

...The Bengal is a relatively new hybrid breed of cat, which exhibits the "wild" markings (such as large spots, rosettes, and a light/white belly), and body structure reminiscent of the wild Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).[1] The Bengal cat has a desirable "wild" appearance with a gentle domestic cat temperament, provided it is separated by at least three generations from the original crossing between a domestic feline and an Asian Leopard Cat.[1]

The name Bengal was derived from the taxonomic name of the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), as shown above, and not from the more widely known Bengal tiger species, which is unrelated to the Bengal's ancestry....

di sini boleh baca tentang HARIMAU BENGAL, memang endangered species pun...

http://animals.nationalgeographic.co...gal-tiger.html


kalau saya silap tolong betulkan

Itu pasal..sayer pun pelik baca post mrsdolittle... Ini yang dibreed di rumh yang memang di domesticated dah..kalau lepas kat utan susah nak hidup... Bengal cat ngan Bengal tiger are two different things.... Maybe corak2 tueh je lebih kurang tapi dah banyak beza.. Bengal orang jarang bela sbb tak ramai tahu kewujudannya.. orang kenal Kucing Siam dan Kucing Parsi jer..lain ornag tak kenal...

[adamyala]

Originally Posted by mrsdolittle

Dear all,

Maaf akak menyampuk... first of all selamat hari raya & maaf zahir batin...

Adik2 ku sekalian... buat pengetahuan adik2 BENGAL CAT adalah salah satu ddaripada binatang yang dah hampir pupus dan tidak sesuai dijadikan binatang kesayangan.

Biarkanlah mereka di dalam hutan, tempat asal mereka. Bengal Cat merupakan haiwan Nocturnal, maknanya haiwan yang aktif di dalam gelap dan bersembunyi dari tempat yang terang.

Kiranya kita ubah kejadian semulajadi ciptaan tuhan ni, kesihan kan dia. Kira macam ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Maaf ya dik... jangan ambil hati. Mungkin banyak yang tak tahu tentang habitat dan cara hidup sebenar setiap binatang yang tercipta.

Maaf zahir batin...

salam anum,
selamat hari raya...
dah sehat ke ? lama tak nampak anum

betul la adik2 tu ckp
kucing bengal memang domesticated , bukan nature dia dok dalam hutan
jadi, tak cruel la kalau kita bela kucing bengal kat rumah
kalau lepas dalam hutan memang tak hidup la dia

maaf zahir batin anum
keep up your rescue work

ps: adik2 semua, mrsdolittle adalah wakil SPCA

[nurkasih]

Originally Posted by adamyala

salam anum,
selamat hari raya...
dah sehat ke ? lama tak nampak anum

betul la adik2 tu ckp
kucing bengal memang domesticated , bukan nature dia dok dalam hutan
jadi, tak cruel la kalau kita bela kucing bengal kat rumah
kalau lepas dalam hutan memang tak hidup la dia

maaf zahir batin anum
keep up your rescue work

ps: adik2 semua, mrsdolittle adalah wakil SPCA

Owhh hehehe..

[FurKids]

Untuk bacaan kalian ... baca, jangan tak baca ... jangan buat bantal .... besok saya kasi ujian .... hehehehheeeee!!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From http://www.hengeveld.com/~judith/bengal.html:

The Bengal
Magnificent and cuddly, this breed is a domestic reproduction of a leopard.

By Jean Mill

HAVE YOU EVER visited the zoo and longed to caress and cuddle the magnificent wild cats? The dream of owning one clashes with reality: It is impractical, unwise and illegal to keep a tiger or a leopard as a pet, but an approximation of their beauty in miniature, can be privately owned.

Domestic reproductions of leopards are called Bengals. They are hybrid descendants of crosses between the domestic cat (felis catus) and the 10-pound wild leopard cat (felis bengalensis) indigenous to the jungles of Southeast Asia.

Hybridizations between different species of animals is controversial. Due to environmental pressures, species are being added to threatened and endangered lists at a frightening rate, so those who argue that existing gene pools must be kept pure have a valid point, especially in regard to certain species. In the plant kingdom, however, we owe many of our most useful products to deliberate crosses. Genetic pioneers such as Luther Burbank have given us nectarines, tangelos and disease-resistant grains.

The oldest animal hybrid is the mule (donkey x horse). Natural crosses between dogs and wolves, cattle and bison also have occurred but are less well known. Most animals prefer to mate with their own species, but when separated from herds or packs, they may choose unexpected mates.

Remember the moose that formed a much-publicized bond with a cow in New England? In Malaysia, leopard cats are more common than bobcats are in this country, so it seems reasonably safe to assume that hybridization between wild and domestic cats occurs there naturally from time to time, just as it does here.

A Little History

In 1963 I deliberately crossed leopard cats with domestic cats for several important reasons. At that time, wild cats were being exploited for the fur market. Nursing female leopard cats defending their nests were shot for their pelts, and the cubs were shipped off to pet stores worldwide. Unsuspecting cat lovers bought them, unaware of the danger, their unpleasant elimination habits and the unsuitability of keeping wild cats as pets.

Most of the wild kittens from this era ended up in zoos or escaped onto city streets. I hoped that by putting a leopard coat on a domestic cat, the pet trade could be safely satisfied. If fashionable women could be dissuaded from wearing furs that look like friends' pets, the diminished demand would result in less poaching of wild species.

A Dream Come True

Today Bengals are about the size of American Shorthairs. They are known for their beautifully spotted or marbled coats with high contrast between the pattern and background colors. Their colors come from the wild--black, brown or rust on bright shades of tan, gold or mahogany. Like its wild counterpart, an ivory version of the Bengal is called a snow leopard. The preferred pattern is leopard spots, not tabby stripes, on legs and ribs. Ivory-to-white undersides and small, rounded ears also are desirable.

Temperament is of primary concern, both to breeders and to pet buyers. Modern-day, carefully bred kittens have loving, outgoing personalities. The instinctive suspicion of the wild cat has been bred out through careful selection. The two main things breeders look for are sweet temperament and beautiful, wild appearance.

First-cross (F1) hybrids tend to be shy, nervous, untouchable cats, much like their wild fathers. Like mules and bison/cow hybrids, first-generation hybrid Bengal males are infertile, but their F1 sisters can reproduce. In subsequent generations, males are fertile so outcrosses to domestic cats are no longer needed. In fact, they are undesirable because breeding back to domestics dilutes the precious wild inheritance.

Personality Traits

Well-bred Bengals are affectionate, purr enthusiastically and are exceedingly intelligent, a trait probably inherited from the wild cat's natural selection for jungle survival. They use the litter box, like to climb and run, and are quick and curious about everything. Bengal owners report that their cats retrieve, learn parlor tricks and love water, sometimes coming right into the tub to play with human toes.

Even as adults, Bengals are entertaining and playful, but as in other breeds of domestic cats, they vary greatly in appearance and behavior. For example, most Abyssinians are loving and calm, but a few are independent and aloof. Some Abys are born with the perfect agouti coat, while others show tabby markings. So it is with Bengals. In general, skittish, fearful kittens seldom become affectionate pets, but they may bond to certain family members.

Bengal kittens often go through an ugly stage of grayness between 2 and 6 months of age in which the clearly contrasted markings are spoiled and blurry. This muting is probably nature's way of protecting the young; baby cheetahs go through a similar fuzzy stage. Then, depending on the seasons, the gray ticked coat falls out and the rufous coloration returns, unless, of course, the kitten was gray (tawny) at birth. All Bengals must have a black tail tip, regardless of body color. Blue, red and dilute colors are not recognized Bengal colors, although Bengals with Ocicat blood often produce them.

Two beautiful but rare coat types not described in the standard are the snow leopard and the marbled. Much like its wild cousin, the real snow leopard, the Bengal color/pattern is ivory with subtle, dark markings of equal intensity all over the cat. The marbled has no counterpart in the wild, and in captivity it no two marbled Bengals are alike. The pattern may be sharply defined patches of color; reminiscent of a stained glass windows, or flowing, twisting streams of clear color. Both of these patterns are breathtaking and exciting because they have never before been seen on domestic cats. Fewer than 50 snow leopard and marbled Bengals have been produced to date.

Buyer Beware

Anyone considering purchasing a Bengal from a cattery beyond driving distance should request photos of available cats and kittens to confirm their beauty and uniqueness. Look beyond the unusual markings for correct conformation. Bengals should have heavy whisker pads, full chins and rounded nostrils. Small ears complete the "wild look" of the head. A good Bengal body is deep and heavily muscled. The legs are sturdy and the feet are large.

Prospective buyers should be aware of some of the pitfalls that accompany skyrocketing popularity: Unscrupulous breeders seeking to cash in on high prices and the snob appeal of owning a rare breed buy one Bengal male and mate him to various domestic queens. The resulting kittens are called Bengals but, aside from being spotted, bear little resemblance to the standard. In fact, some outcrossed kittens touted as Bengals have nothing more than the domestic classic tabby or pointed appearance, much like kittens available at any animal shelter.

The best place to see a Bengal is at a cat show affiliated with The International Cat Association. At this time, the Cat Fanciers' Association and the American Car Fanciers' Association exclude cats with wild blood from their shows.

Before you buy a Bengal, request a pedigree showing several generations of registered Bengals without other breeds. In general, the more TICA registered Bengals on the pedigree, the better. For a list of responsible breeders send a self addressed stamped envelope to Leslie Hall, Secretary, International Bengal Cat Society, 1547 Greenley Rd., Bakersfield, California 93312.

Copycats

To Bengal breeders and owners, hybridization is not a black and white issue. Many give generous financial support to breeding programs dedicated to establishing and maintaining viable, pure gene pools of wild cats. Yet they take the position that Bengals do not compromise the magnificence of their Wild ancestors. Instead, they allow cat lovers to own something similar, just as people buy prints of great museum paintings they admire but could never own. If it were not for reproductions, most people wouldn't know what Mona Lisa looks like. Zoos are the galleries of living fine art; Bengal breeders are the leopard's printmakers, the copy artists for public consumption.

If as the World Wildlife Fund predicts, wild spotted cats become extinct in the next 100 years, their breathtakingly beautiful coats will still be alive and well on much-loved domestic Bengals in homes and high rises all over the world.

Note: No matter what color of coat the Bengal has, Its tail must have a black tip. Spots rather than stripes on the legs are preferred.


CAT FANCY February 1991

[FurKids]

... dan semoga artikel ini (http://www.messybeast.com/small-hybr...of-hybrids.htm) akan dapat memberi sedikit fahaman yg baik atau menyelesaikan silap-faham sekiranya ada:

IMPACTS OF DOMESTIC X WILDCAT HYBRIDS
Copyright 1993-2007, Sarah Hartwell

IMPACT OF SMALL CAT HYBRIDS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

According to some researchers, traditional conservation efforts to protect the Scottish wildcat may be misguided. It has interbred with domestic cats for around 2000 years, so long that it no longer makes sense to preserve the wildcat as a separate pure-bred species. Discounting the Kellas cat, a variety derived from wild/domestic hybrids, there are essentially two groups of wildcats. One group more closely resembles the domestic cat. The other, with less contact with domestic cats, resembles the true wildcat, but no-one knows how pure it really is. Genetic markers suggest that the difference between wildcats and domestic cats is small. Instead, the slow displacement of wildcat by the more adaptable feral domestic or by hybrids is evolution in action. Attempts to conserve or reintroduce supposedly pure-bred wildcats are simply doomed to failure. Although wildlife groups will disagree, some researchers argue that the pure wildcat should only be protected if it plays an important role in the local ecosystem.

Cryptozoologist are often credulous individuals who cite myth as fact. Cryptozoology bulletin boards are littered with claims that Maine Coons are part Lynx, Norwegian Forest Cats and Siberian Cats are part Scottish Wildcat (by which I assume the writers mean European Wildcat!), that Bengals are part Leopard and other folklore. Unfortunately would-be crytozoologists exist in a world apart from cat breeders who could provide them with accurate information about a breed's origins or about the ease of difficulty domestics with wildcats (and hence the likelihood of such hybrids occurring naturally). Many seem unaware of how widely domestic cats vary in type, size and pattern and hence misidentify wholly domestic cats as hybrids. The concerns about wildcat hybrids going feral are therefore overstated.

In the Fortean Times, cryptozoologist Karl Shuker suggested that escaped Leopard Cats (F. bengalensis) may have resulted in hybrid offspring in Britain although the difficulties encountered in the Bengal breeding programme suggests otherwise.. he wrote that there was a "... realistic chance that interbreeding between escapee jungle cats, leopard cats and feral domestic cats has begun in Britain's countryside" but fails to take into account the problems encountered by Bengal breeders. His suggestion of a "self-perpetuating strain of notably large hybrids" is unrealistic, since continued interbreeding will restore the smaller sized "norm". Likewise the suggestion that non-native genes will lead to an "unpredictable addition to the British ecosystem" is faulty since the wild influence is diluted by interbreeding with the native population. Domestic cats will simply assimilate the non-native genes, from whatever source, as they have done throughout their long evolution. Only where the non-native species predominates or in isolated colonies where an exotic male breeds with his hybrid daughters and grand-daughters will there be any real shift from moggy to wild species type.

Nigel Brierly feared the impact of Maine Coons on the environment, however he was under the misconception that the breed was a huge Lynx-hybrid. His experience of the breed was limited to one or two aberrant individuals which lacked the genial temperament typical of the Maine Coon breed. This, along with exaggerated claims about the average size of Maine Coons, led him to conclude that they were "not ideal pets" and that they represented a threat to the Brown Hare in the UK. The Maine Coon contains no wild genes, is not a vicious giant and poses less of a threat to Brown hares than is posed by the hare coursing bloodsport.

What are the dangers of feral cats breeding with escaped wildcats or with escaped hybrids? Unless an escaped wildcat/hybrid finds its way into a small, isolated domestic cat population and its progeny are fully fertile, Shuker's fears of a self-perpetuating strain of notably large hybrids are very wide of the mark. However, would-be cryptozoologists have seized upon the idea.

In an example from the deer world, Waipiti were introduced into Red Deer herds to improve Red Deer type. However, the Red Deer type degenerated instead because the Waipiti genes were swamped out. Hybrids must be selectively bred using the best specimens from each generation and backcrossing to those from preceding generations to fix traits in the population. Left alone, nature breeds out the influence of introduced individuals (who are usually in a minority) until the norm is restored. As Robinson noted, the hybrids do not breed true and over the succeeding generations there is a selective return to the original genetic combination prevalent in the area

Apart from the Jungle Cat and African/European Wildcat (F libyca subspecies), which readily mate with domestic cats, there is a greater likelihood of non-native genes - in very dilute amounts! - entering the moggy population from designer-breeds than from escaped exotic pets.

Though fascinating to hypothesise what would happen if all these errant exotic genes met up in the cat population at large, studies suggest that we need not worry about races of oversized hybrids. As a cat rescue worker I find the prospect of domestic-cat-sized, "queer-tempered", rosette-patterned, stumpy-tailed, tufted-eared felids no worse than the bad-tempered ferals I already encounter. F. catus already contains such a hotch-potch of genes that it would absorb any infusion of new blood from escaped exotics without tripling its size or endangering livestock. Any wild-type genes will be so greatly outnumbered by domestic type genes that their influence will be negligible or quickly lost.

THREAT TO WILDCAT SPECIES

In recent years, cat breeders in North America, have experimentally crossed domestic cats with a number of different wild species to produce wild looking domestic breeds. Some of the more complex hybrids involve several different wild parents as well as a variety of domestic breeds. The wild species used were originally restricted to Leopard cats (F bengalensis) in the Bengal, Bobcats (F rufus) in the Desert Lynx and, to a much lesser extent, Geoffroy's Cat (F geoffroyi) in the Safari. Anthony Hutcherson's article in "TICA Trend" (journal produced by The International Cat Association) noted that a far wider variety of wild species are now being used: F chaus, F geoffroyi and F serval. Since that article, the list expanded to include the Fishing cat F viverrina. Interestingly, part of the rationale behind these hybrids was conservation of wildcat species. There is also a specialist cat fancy, REFR (Rare and Exotic Feline Registry) for hybrid breeds. Hutcherson said it was hoped that these hybrids would relieve pressure on the world's wild cats, adding; "Perhaps people will be more concerned over the plight of some of the wild cats if their loving companion is one with a wild heritage."

This issue was referred to Dr. Jill Mellen, Conservation Research Coordinator of the Metro Washington Park Zoo in Portland, Oregon. She was apparently unaware of the substantial increase in the number of wildcat species now involved in hybridization or of the popularity of hybrid breeds. She was appalled by the trend. Part of her job is to facilitate the conservation of wildcat species through education and through captive propagation of endangered wild species. Dr Mellon considered the pet trade (include use for hybridization) to be yet another factor contributing the decline of wildcat populations.

The wildcats used for hybridization are captive bred and not collected from the wild; however they might have been more useful as part of a captive breeding program for their own species and not for producing wild-looking pet cats. Hybrid breeders assured her that they use only captive-bred cats which were bred for the pet trade. Those cats might otherwise have been neutered, declawed and kept in unsuitable conditions by persons with no experience of wildcats and potentially abandoned destroyed if they became unmanageable. The advantage of a wild looking domestic cat is that it can be owned without a permit and kept in a household environment. If wild looking domestic cats are available, safe and suitable for an ordinary household environment, the demand for wildcat pets might decrease.

The European Wildcat, especially the Scottish subspecies, has become endanged through continued natural hybridization with free-ranging domestic cats. The hybrids also compete with the true wildcats; in particular because domestic cats breed more frequently. Dr Mellon considered this particularly relevant in the case of Bobcat hybrids. She felt that calling them "natural hybrids" is incorrect since domestic cats are an introduced species in the USA. The occasional Bobcat x domestic hybrid is therefore unnatural and could accelerate population decline in Bobcats. The Bobcat model cannot be compared to the European Wildcat situation since the amount of hybridization is extremely low and most accounts are based on the appearance of the offspring not on a witnessed mating! Dr Mellon's definition of natural is nit-picking. Natural, in the context used by cat enthusiasts, means "occurring in the wild state, not arranged by breeders".

The goal of hybrid breeds is to produce a cat that is wild in appearance but domestic in temperament. These cats appeal to owners who might otherwise buy a wildcat, but lack the facilities or expertise to care for it properly. Though wildcats are undeniably attractive and exotic looking, Dr Mellon considered the need to "own the wild look" to be selfish. Unfortunately this seems to be an innate desire in humans - many ancient cultures around the world had menageries; modern zoos are derived from menageries. However, the number of wildcats used in these programs is small and if it reduces the ownership of wildcats as exotic or novelty pets then it is of value to the wild species.

Mellon was concerned about the well-being of the individual wildcats used in hybrid breeding programs and the impact on the populations of wild cats. Responsible breeders take great care of their wildcats; as mentioned earlier those cats might otherwise have been sold to inexperienced or unsuspecting pet owners. Are the individual wild cats housed adequately in accordance with standards governing the size of enclosure and the dietary requirements? In the case of responsible breeders, the answer is yes. In the case of backyard breeders, these do not house their own domestic cats adequately. They are no better or worse than those whose wildcat "pets" (including pumas and ocelots - neutered, defanged and declawed) are seized from inadequate conditions by Animal Control agencies. Breeders of exotic hybrids issue a wealth of information on diet and accommodation on the web, illustrating a commitment to caring for their charges.

Dr Mellon hoped that the wild cats were legally obtained (as opposed to illegally obtained, wild-caught animals) and that the owners had the appropriate wild animal permits. Again, the answer is yes. However does America as a whole have a problem with black market wild animals (i.e. wild caught animals); if so, this should be tackled on a national level and not by targeting individual breeders. The advantage of the wild looking domestics is that no permits are required. It is not known how many wildcats are being kept illegally as pets in the USA, or how many illegally kept wildcats are abandoned when the owner can no longer cope.

Her greatest concern about the captive hybridizations was the apparent disregard for what a species is all about. Each wildcat species has evolved for a particular niche in nature. She considered it presumptuous of humans to want to "mix and match" the genes of wildcats in order to produce a wild-looking domestic pet and consequently diluting the wild genes that nature evolved over thousands of years. Hybrid breeds do nothing to enhance the conservation of endangered cats, but support the further loss of genetic material. Yet those genes will only be diluted if the hybrids escape into the wild population and then only if enough hybrids (or domestics) escape so that their genes prevail as is happening with Scottish wildcats in Britain.

Recent research shows that "species" is largely a human concept and that many animals interbreed with close relatives in the wild; this is found in species as diverse as butterflies, birds and dolphins. Hybridization is now believed to have evolutionary value as it provides faster adaptation to a new or changing environment; even if only a few offspring are fertile these may be better adapted to the environment than either parent was. Where cats hybridize in the wild it demonstrates that the cats themselves have scant regard for the concept of species; as illustrated by the plight of the Scottish Wildcat. A tomcat will mate with whatever is available and on oestrus so long as it is a cat of roughly the right size. Humans are forcing wildcat species closer together (through habitat destruction) and inter-species matings may become more common as the cats make do with whatever mates they can find. Unfortunately many of those inter-species matings will not produce offspring and where offspring are produced, many will be infertile. The escape of hybrid pets will do no more and no less damage to the wild population than existing free-ranging domestic cats.

The greatest threat to the F silvestris and all of its subspecies (except for the domestic cat) is hybridization in the wild with stray or feral domestic cats. Hybridization has been taking place over a long period of time. Not surprisingly, hybrization has been happening for longer in areas where domestic cats have been present for thousands of years i.e. in those areas where the cat was domesticated. Domestic and feral tomcats appear to have a competitive advantage over male wildcats in access to oestrous females. This is due to domestic cats usually being larger and more populous. (Mendelssohn 1989). Hybridization in captivity demonstrates that distinctive characteristics of the African wildcat, such as its long legs and reddish-backed ears, are generally lost (Smithers 1983). Hybrids are often distinguishable by white markings caused by the gene for white spotting which is common in the domestic cat popuation.

In South Africa, it is impossible to find pure wildcats near to human settlements where there are domestic cats. Some "wildcats" have the common domestic cat trait of white legs and white patches on their bodies indicating hybrid ancestry. Hybrids have also been found far from human habitation e.g. in the Kalahari some 75 km from the nearest human settlement habitation while feral domestic cats have been found in Rub el Khali (uninhabited sand desert in the south-eastern Arabian peninusla), hundreds of kilometres from any human habitation. As well as hybridization, wildcats are threatened by feline panleukopenia which is carried by the more resistant feral domestic cat.

Dr Mellon urged TICA to reconsider its support of wild x domestic cat "breeds", but with so many wildcats already being bred for the pet market (where they will most likely be neutered and therefore their genes will be lost completely) the hybrids are a drop in the ocean. It is up to the breeder of the wildcat to decide whether or not to sell their stock as pets, to hybrid breeders or to species breeders. With natural hybrids, it is up to owners to neuter their free-ranging cats. With habitat destruction, pollution and hunting killing off animals at an unprecedented rate, soon those wildcat genes may not exist outside of zoos and wild looking domestic breeds. With domestic cats so widespread, it seems inevitable that hybridization will lead to the virtual extinction of the pure African and European wildcats and their replacement by hybrids. While humans want to conserve the pure-bred wildcats, nature is selecting for the far more successful genes of the domestic cat.

A couple of wildlife rescue centre websites have taken it upon themselves to perpetuate serious misinformation about Bengals and similar hybrids: that if owners are lucky the F5 generations might eat cat food and be house-pets, that the hybrids are seriously maladjusted and will take on German Shepherds and stalk old ladies. Those sites state that people create hybrids to get wild-looking cats with tame temperaments but end up with domestic-looking cats with wild temperaments. They are then surprised at receiving hate mail from owners and breeders of Bengal cats! While their aim of protecting wild species is commendable, they may face a legal challenge against such blatant misinformation about later generations hybrids, since the breed standards call for unchallenging temperaments.

To set the record straight: F1 hybrids (those with a wild species as one parent) and F2 hybrids (those with a wild species in the grandparent generation) are not housepets. An F4 bred back to a wild cat results in an F1 hybrid (not in an F5) because there is a purebred wild ancestor in the parent generation. In many countries, a special licence is required for cats so close to a wild ancestor and they must be housed in secure accommodation and licensed as hybrids. The pet quality Bengal is F4 onwards. The percentage of wild genes in F4 and later generations is extremely small, only a few percent and the temperaments are wholly domestic. Reputable breeders are cautious when homing early generation hybrids and will take great care in socialising the cats and ensuring they go to owners competent to look after cats with a high percentage of wild blood. The later generations of Bengal are less wild than feral domestic cats; I can personally vouch for this, having handled both feral cats and Bengals. Poor ownership can result in antisocial behaviour in any breed of cat, whether later generation hybrid or wholly domestic; I can also vouch for this, having been on the receiving end of a poor socialised Persian cat's temper.

[nurkasih]

Amboihh Fk,,,panjangnyer..juling dah bijik mater... Rupanya gitu eh.. Si Pendekar bengal tueh breed F1 punyer... Ini untuk ornag yang suka nampak ganas tapi comel kot.. But then, it is still a beautiful cat nway..

[adamyala]

FK, sudah dapat lomang sama rendang kaa...?
Itu bengal cat sangat cantik maaaa....kak zai pun mau satu lepas kat living room . Rupa saja garang, tapi temp memang ayu2 selasehku sayang. Akak selalu dukung yang kat petsmore punyer ....
cunnn sangatttt

about the articles...thanks for sharing....
memang ada pros and cons tentang asal usul bengal
begitu juga dgn persian dan exotic dan famous breeds yang lain
semua ada 'story' masing masing masa breed tu nak develope
bagus kalau kita ada knowledge mcm ni...
tapi yang penting, jaga kucing2 kita dgn baik
tak kira apa breed sekali pun....

[mrsdolittle]

Originally Posted by adamyala

FK, sudah dapat lomang sama rendang kaa...?
Itu bengal cat sangat cantik maaaa....kak zai pun mau satu lepas kat living room . Rupa saja garang, tapi temp memang ayu2 selasehku sayang. Akak selalu dukung yang kat petsmore punyer ....
cunnn sangatttt

about the articles...thanks for sharing....
memang ada pros and cons tentang asal usul bengal
begitu juga dgn persian dan exotic dan famous breeds yang lain
semua ada 'story' masing masing masa breed tu nak develope
bagus kalau kita ada knowledge mcm ni...
tapi yang penting, jaga kucing2 kita dgn baik
tak kira apa breed sekali pun....

Salam Kak Zai, Furkids & adik2 yang lain,

Selamat hari raya maaf dan ampun dipinta sempena hari baik bulan baik ni.

Sememang dari mulanya Anum memang bercakap tentang Bengal Cat... dan bukan Bengal Tiger... .

Semua dah baca FK punya post kan, ok.... at certain point i may be wrong... but, knowing the fact that "nature has been tempered" and breeders pun banyak taking advantage of the people who is too concern about the looks of an animal, i am sorry to say.... i am against it.

Banyak stray kat tepi jalan tu yang boleh dibantu dan perlukan bantuan... why not adopt stray yang berbagai rupa adanya.... and its for free... pahala pun dapat sekali kan....

We should stop the breeders and people who does criss-crossing breeds ni semua... apa faedah yang kita dapat? Duit banyak habis lagi adalah... Salahkan ubah ciptaan atau kejadian asal tuhan... (secara logik la... bukan Anum cakap, tuhan cakap... ).

Apapun, kalau ada yang dah terbeli atau tersengaja breed atau tersengaja cross tu, cukuplah setakat ni sahaja... jaga baik-baik nyawa yang dah ditercipta hasil creativity makhluk tuhan bernama manusia...

Jangan esok ada pulak Bengal Man... opppsss dah ada pun... Beggali...

Jangan marah ya... ini cuma pendapat ikhlas buat adik2 yang lain , bukan Kak Zai atau FK tau...

Duit raya ada ke untuk saya... sesiapa?

[FurKids]

Kak Zai, lomang dan rondang yg dapat tu tak berapa standard mcm yg makan dulu-dulu, beli topi jalan ajer sebab tak pasti gerai mana yg lebih sodap ... boli kat gerai yg nampak ramai orang (memang mentaliti orang kita, ramai pelanggan erti sodap! hehehehheeee!!!!!). Kat mana sodap, Kak Zai, selain daripada umah Kak Zai?

Balik kepada cerita kucing, saya pun tak kira breed aper Bengal ke, Beggali (Kak Anum punyer breed/ciptaan baru ) ke, Svenggali ke, Carigali ke ...... tapi kecenderongan saya adalah kepada yg muker sepohsen terbiar kena campak mcm sampah kat longkang, warong, tepi jalan, tong sampah .... tapi setelah dikasi makanan premium dan air bersih serta tempat tinggal bersih, jadi come-lote .....

Kucing campak longkang dan tepi jalan pun ada yg spotted ... saya ada kutip dua ekor, slim-melim mereka, manja, affectionate dan cukup vocal apabila perasan kehadiran saya atau semasa saya meninggalkan mereka ... mengiaw panggil kuat mcm kucing nak beranak! (Eh, eh .... come to think of it, kucing beranak tak bising la .... )

[mrsdolittle]

Originally Posted by FurKids

Kak Zai, lomang dan rondang yg dapat tu tak berapa standard mcm yg makan dulu-dulu, beli topi jalan ajer sebab tak pasti gerai mana yg lebih sodap ... boli kat gerai yg nampak ramai orang (memang mentaliti orang kita, ramai pelanggan erti sodap! hehehehheeee!!!!!). Kat mana sodap, Kak Zai, selain daripada umah Kak Zai?

Balik kepada cerita kucing, saya pun tak kira breed aper Bengal ke, Beggali (Kak Anum punyer breed/ciptaan baru ) ke, Svenggali ke, Carigali ke ...... tapi kecenderongan saya adalah kepada yg muker sepohsen terbiar kena campak mcm sampah kat longkang, warong, tepi jalan, tong sampah .... tapi setelah dikasi makanan premium dan air bersih serta tempat tinggal bersih, jadi come-lote .....

Kucing campak longkang dan tepi jalan pun ada yg spotted ... saya ada kutip dua ekor, slim-melim mereka, manja, affectionate dan cukup vocal apabila perasan kehadiran saya atau semasa saya meninggalkan mereka ... mengiaw panggil kuat mcm kucing nak beranak! (Eh, eh .... come to think of it, kucing beranak tak bising la .... )

FK,

"Beggali" is another ethnic group in Malaysia. They are also known as Punjabi... the ones yang pakai turban tu. Tak pernah jumpa ke? May be the mordern ones are not wearing the turbans anymore.

We can tell or recognize them from their names. Kalau Lelaki, the names ended with Sigh, if perempuan pulak ended with Kaur... tapi mereka bukannya kucing tau...

Cheers......

[FurKids]

B-E-N-G-G-A-L-I la, Num ... not B-E-G-G-A-L-I ......... orang/ancestors mereka yg berasal dari the state of Benggal in India .... mcm Karam SINGH (bukan Sigh) Walia, Karpal SINGH (bukan Sigh) .... aiiiiiii!!!! asyik mengeluh ajerrrr raya nie ..........

...... yes, my dear, we know what/who you mean, cuma pretend donno ajer so that we can pull your legs from your typo .... hehehheeeee!!!!

[mrsdolittle]

Originally Posted by FurKids

B-E-N-G-G-A-L-I la, Num ... not B-E-G-G-A-L-I ......... orang/ancestors mereka yg berasal dari the state of Benggal in India .... mcm Karam Singh Walia, Karpal Singh .... yes, my dear, we know what/who you mean, cuma pretend donno ajer so that we can pull your legs from your typo .... hehehheeeee!!!!

Hahahahahhaha... had a good laugh... i tak perasan yang spelling i tu typo ya... thanks for correcting me.... chill bro....

Oh! Ya... come la pull my legs some more...

[nurkasih]

Originally Posted by mrsdolittle

Salam Kak Zai, Furkids & adik2 yang lain,

Selamat hari raya maaf dan ampun dipinta sempena hari baik bulan baik ni.

Sememang dari mulanya Anum memang bercakap tentang Bengal Cat... dan bukan Bengal Tiger... .

Semua dah baca FK punya post kan, ok.... at certain point i may be wrong... but, knowing the fact that "nature has been tempered" and breeders pun banyak taking advantage of the people who is too concern about the looks of an animal, i am sorry to say.... i am against it.

Banyak stray kat tepi jalan tu yang boleh dibantu dan perlukan bantuan... why not adopt stray yang berbagai rupa adanya.... and its for free... pahala pun dapat sekali kan....

We should stop the breeders and people who does criss-crossing breeds ni semua... apa faedah yang kita dapat? Duit banyak habis lagi adalah... Salahkan ubah ciptaan atau kejadian asal tuhan... (secara logik la... bukan Anum cakap, tuhan cakap... ).

Apapun, kalau ada yang dah terbeli atau tersengaja breed atau tersengaja cross tu, cukuplah setakat ni sahaja... jaga baik-baik nyawa yang dah ditercipta hasil creativity makhluk tuhan bernama manusia...

Jangan esok ada pulak Bengal Man... opppsss dah ada pun... Beggali...

Jangan marah ya... ini cuma pendapat ikhlas buat adik2 yang lain , bukan Kak Zai atau FK tau...

Duit raya ada ke untuk saya... sesiapa?

What to expect.. you are with the S.P.C.A ait... No argument.. n euthanasia need to be look into also...

[alfian]

memang best ni kalo dapat sekor bang shimi. Tapi dia makan apa eh ? salah kasi makan nanti dia tak sehat lak.

Originally Posted by hashimi

Salam to all.

Shimi ader mklumat sal Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), tp bukan bengal la. dijual dari siam. rege dlm rm300. tp kalo nk lesen boley dpt resit yg boley di issues untuk lesen (for CITES import permit). resit tu rege dlm rm80. untuk lesen plak dlm rm10 (from perhilitan). so total rm390.

shimi just boley gtaw je la. sbb shimi x support penjual tu sbb "wild caught" product. kalo captive breed boley la recommend. per pun pkir yg terbaek utk hidupan liar sblum beli wildcaught animal. byk risiko; penyakit, more fierce than domestic cat. tp kalo nk breed sniri tu boley la. dgn syarat lepas balik dlm habitat dier lepas dier dah beranak. anak tu amek jaga then spayed. parent dier lepas balik dlm hutan. skurangnya populasi liar dlm hutan x berkurang. Tp apapun shimi x recommend la, just boley gtaw mklumat.