Spotted Royalty: How Wild Is the Bengal Cat Genome?

Bengal cats, popular for their unique and exotic looks, resulted from crossbreeding domestic cats with Asian leopard cats. Research has shown that their distinctive features are primarily due to selective breeding, enhancing traits already present in domestic cats.

If you’re wondering who holds the title of domestic cat royalty, look no further than the stunning Bengal breed. They take the prize for the most popular breed in The International Cat Association (TICA) registry due to their unique, exotic appearance and affectionate charm of a beloved house companion. Despite their top marks among cat lovers, the Bengal breed has been around for less than a century, which is the blink of an eye compared to most domestic cats that have been around for thousands of years.