However that's OK, because it has helped change the Bengal cat breeding industry.

The name "defiant" was meant as a statement to exisiting breeders in that MY cattery was not business as usual where the pet buyer is a means to an end. In many ways the Bengal breeders of 1997 are still out there, and are still doing things wrong in terms of treatment of pet buyers. Many still put more value on cat shows and NOT letting blood lines outside of their cattery. They don't sell high quality cats to pet owners and they don't care much for pet buyers. Oh, they play the part, but once the sale is done, they are focused on other things. Cat shows, new blood, and saving a buck.

That behavior has astounded me for years. And good for you many new Bengal catteries are on track. They have the pet buyer in mind and YOU are benefiting.

You are flat out important to me. And I was a pet owner before becoming a breeder. You can bet the kittens bred here are excellent family members. So what about the Bengal cat?

What is a Bengal Cat? There is no relation to a tiger. Cross bred from an Asian Leopard and domestic short haired tabby; a Bengal has somewhere between 8 and 12% wild blood, they are more docile than most house cats. Although many foundation Bengals are great as pets, you cannot take a foundation Bengal to a cat show. The Bengals you see at shows are no less than 4 generations removed from the Asian Leopard cat. A pedigree via the International Cat Association (T.I.C.A) will assure the cat show club (and you) that your cat is a pure bred Bengal cat. The general disposition of is Bengal is that they are confident, alert, friendly, affectionate, and FUN! Both boys and girls are active friends. They are not aloof and enjoy human company. If you own only one Bengal, you've got a lap cat for certain. Bengal cats have normal litter box habits and easily acclimate to other felines. Although it has domestic behavior it carries some of its ancestors traits, such as a love for water, a love for heights, a wild look, and something that can't be conveyed over the Internet... a silky soft short-haired pelt which does not shed as much as a domestic.

There is a little bonus, something its Asian Leopard Cat ancestor does not have. A Bengal Cat has "glitter," small fine golden hairs that sparkle in the sunlight. There are many more reasons the Bengal Cat is fascinating. Surf the Defiant Breeders web site to learn it all!