Did you know that the Bengal cat breed actually traces its origins to a doctor who was
trying to cure leukemia? Well, now you do. In the 1960’s at Loma Linda University Medical
Center, Dr. Willard Centerwall developed an interest in the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC),
specifically its immunity to the feline leukemia virus. Pursuing this interesting trait, he began a
project on whether the ALC could pass immunity through hybridization, or the pairing of this cat
to a domestic cat. His hope was that if this trait could be passed on, he could study this and gain
a better understanding of the virus, as human leukemia behaves similarly to feline leukemia.
Unfortunately, this trait was not passed on to further generations in hybridization, and while the
experiment was not a success, this spawned the beginning of the Bengal breed.
In 1980, after Dr. Centerwall was no longer pursuing his experiment, Jean Sudgen Mill
received her first hybrid cats from what was left of his program. Although she was not a
scientist, she had big things in mind for this little cat. Jean Mill saw this as an opportunity to
minimize exploitation of small spotted wild cats for fur and to offer an alternative to people
keeping illegal pets. Her hope was that if they became popular, it would decrease desire for real
furs as fashion, however I doubt even she thought they would one day become one of the most
popular and recognizable breeds of cat in the world.
She was not the only one who had come up with this concept. In the 1970’s, Bill Engler, a
zookeeper, bred an ALC to two domestic cats with this purpose in mind. His pursuit
unfortunately ended with his death in 1977 after three generations of hybrids, none of which
contributed to the breed as we know it today. There is a rumor that he did leave behind a little
something of this program. While many believe the Bengal got its name from the Asian Leopard
Cat’s scientific name, Felis Bengalesis, some claim it was Bill Engler who named them, deriving
it from the abbreviation of his own name, B.Engle (Bengal Cat History – How Did the Bengal
Cat Originate, Accessed 21 Sept. 2023).
Yet where Engler had failed, Jean Mill succeeded despite not being a scientist. She took
the leftover hybrids of Dr. Centerwall’s project, as well as her own ALC named Kabuki, and a
domestic street cat from India, Millwood Tory of Delhi. These were the cats that created the
foundation of the Bengal breed. Other breeds such as Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, Abyssinian,
Bombay and British Shorthair were also used to create the breed. While other breeders did
contribute to the Bengal program, it was Jean Mill who worked to get them accepted in The
International Cat Association (TICA), the main registering body for purebred cats in the United
States. Today Jean Mill is considered the mother and creator of the Bengal cat.
trying to cure leukemia? Well, now you do. In the 1960’s at Loma Linda University Medical
Center, Dr. Willard Centerwall developed an interest in the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC),
specifically its immunity to the feline leukemia virus. Pursuing this interesting trait, he began a
project on whether the ALC could pass immunity through hybridization, or the pairing of this cat
to a domestic cat. His hope was that if this trait could be passed on, he could study this and gain
a better understanding of the virus, as human leukemia behaves similarly to feline leukemia.
Unfortunately, this trait was not passed on to further generations in hybridization, and while the
experiment was not a success, this spawned the beginning of the Bengal breed.
In 1980, after Dr. Centerwall was no longer pursuing his experiment, Jean Sudgen Mill
received her first hybrid cats from what was left of his program. Although she was not a
scientist, she had big things in mind for this little cat. Jean Mill saw this as an opportunity to
minimize exploitation of small spotted wild cats for fur and to offer an alternative to people
keeping illegal pets. Her hope was that if they became popular, it would decrease desire for real
furs as fashion, however I doubt even she thought they would one day become one of the most
popular and recognizable breeds of cat in the world.
She was not the only one who had come up with this concept. In the 1970’s, Bill Engler, a
zookeeper, bred an ALC to two domestic cats with this purpose in mind. His pursuit
unfortunately ended with his death in 1977 after three generations of hybrids, none of which
contributed to the breed as we know it today. There is a rumor that he did leave behind a little
something of this program. While many believe the Bengal got its name from the Asian Leopard
Cat’s scientific name, Felis Bengalesis, some claim it was Bill Engler who named them, deriving
it from the abbreviation of his own name, B.Engle (Bengal Cat History – How Did the Bengal
Cat Originate, Accessed 21 Sept. 2023).
Yet where Engler had failed, Jean Mill succeeded despite not being a scientist. She took
the leftover hybrids of Dr. Centerwall’s project, as well as her own ALC named Kabuki, and a
domestic street cat from India, Millwood Tory of Delhi. These were the cats that created the
foundation of the Bengal breed. Other breeds such as Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, Abyssinian,
Bombay and British Shorthair were also used to create the breed. While other breeders did
contribute to the Bengal program, it was Jean Mill who worked to get them accepted in The
International Cat Association (TICA), the main registering body for purebred cats in the United
States. Today Jean Mill is considered the mother and creator of the Bengal cat.