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Defiant? Why Defiant? Well, it all started back in 1993. I liked Bengal cats due to the boy Bengal cats grew very large and played like a dog. In all these years, I've learned that breeding outstanding Bengals is in fact a challenge.

Hardly knowing what to expect, I had no idea what a long road producing good SBT Bengals it would be. I've learned that Bengals are one of the most complicated cats to be breeding, I attended cat shows, and also watched friends buy cat after cat from Breeders that in many cases didn't appear to care about giving a hand up to a fellow breeder. This has been an underlying issue to many beginner breeders. Old school breeders usually embellish the truth about filial Bengals to keep them from exploring breeding filials. Now I'm not endorsing that every beginner breeder take up breeding filials but if you become serious they are not the jykel and hydes many portray them as. So where did I start?

I had known of Pat Killmaire of Aluren, located in Southern New Jersey. $2600 later I had my first high quality breeder and show Bengal. Pat mentored me and I'm very greatful to this day for her assistance and toleration of late night calls when litter birthings went off the natural path and needed human intervention.

I began to learn from attending cat shows just how petty many breeders are. The cat fancy is female dominant sport and I was and still am an outsider. Being a man I could get away with being matter of fact. Or could I? The fact is in this breed you either get in line or get shunned. But thats a cat show. I realized that cat shows and many existing breeders didn't want a new breeder, FOR ANY REASON. Times have changed some. They see you as erroding their profits. It took me a couple years to truly understand this but it took me no time to realize that many breeders were lying to me about what was ethical in this business. This is when I decided to become Defiant. How so? In that I speak from the heart, pull no punches, and tell it like it is. My focus is in the socialization. It's talked about a lot in this industry but my cats prove to be very different than many other breeding programs. My Bengals are NOT skittish, wild, aloof, or afraid. So Defiant is a name of this cattery, not a descriptive word for Bengals. Remember I'm emphasizing demeanor here.

Now after a few years on the web and a good many satisfied pet owners I've come into my own. I know my place. Its still the demeanor of the kittens I produce. I believe you get out of a pet what you put in. I clearly remember what I felt when I was a pet buyer before becoming a breeder. I still understand that parting with your hard earned cash makes this an important decision and you have to trust someone to make the right purchase from. My history starting back in the early 90's documents my worth to you as your breeder.

Bengals have a short history. Who created the Bengal? Most current history propogates it is Jean Mill (not true but she did take the lead in gaining their acceptance with T.I.C.A.). Jean Mill lives in California. Her daughter Judy Sudgen has taken up her mantel as expert in the field. Judy gives seminars in California if your lucky enough to attend one. Judy if you are reading this, send me a ticket or come over to the right coast! As for Judy's mother Jean... Some rumors have been spread that Jean stole the fire from Dr. Gregory Kent. With the attitude Dr. Kent carries, I wonder if some justice has been done. Perhaps he has such an attitude due to being trumped by Jean? I'd be cynical if too if I was left from the history books for something I had a hand in. But, hey, I'm here to tell you, both of them were in on it. There were others too like Les Hall and Bill Engel. As for Dr. Kent, you can find some of Dr. Kent's postings on the discussion page here at the Defiant web site. Dr. Kent strongly advocates his own breeding of Bengals and the way he discusses matters many get turned off by him. I have yet to find a breeder that has not found him self centered and close minded to only his way in breeding.

So when did the Bengal originate? Well, word is back in the 1960's. If you listen to Gene Ducote who has really perfected the Bengal, she claims 1986. That's regarding getting these cats recognized by Cat Associations. TICA was the first to accept the Bengal. It's been a long road for the Bengal Cat, but more and more people are recognizing this cat as "special" and great Bengal pets are available all over the US, Canada, Europe and as far as Australia and New Zealand. Yet as I mentioned earlier some books proclaim the Bengals inception is 1983 by Jean Mill. I've found that hybridization of Leopards had taken place as early as the 1940's in Japan.

Bengals are controversial, but not for good reason. Unfortunately, many speculate it's due to their misleading name. So, we have become Defiant in the face of many breeders, and Bengal enthusiasts. So what makes us Defiant? It is our approach to breeding. We take a PRO pet owner approach. Yes we care to improve the breed etc... but do not bring the Bengal cat breeding industry politics into your life. You want a great family member, that is what we deliver.