# where did domesticated cats come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143 "2012-08-30T14:25:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143/41 "2012-08-31T21:29:09Z")
The Bengal cat was bred very recently, for using its fur for pelts. It was not for mere fashion, but to save its “founder breed,” the Asian leopard cat. It takes only three generations for the crossing to become, officially, a cat. My brother has one, and it is constantly yacking. Long and different phrases. I never know how much he is talking to us – like when he wants the door opened – or why just walking around the house alone he keeps on yacking. > **[Bengal cat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_%28cat%29)** > > The Bengal cat is a domesticated cat breed created from a hybrid of the Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), with domestic cats, especially the spotted Egyptian Mau. It is then usually bred with a breed that demonstrates a friendlier personality, because after breeding a domesticated cat with a wildcat, its friendly personality may not manifest in the kitten. The breed's name derives from the leopard cat's taxonomic name. > Bengals have a wild appearance; their golden shimmer comes from... ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143/42 "2012-08-31T21:37:42Z")
An interesting similar case is with the Savannah cat (although it was not bred in an attempt to save another species), with different population genetics and surprising issues with civil law; in NYC, it is persona non grata. From its Wiki [description](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savannah_%28cat%29), I wanna get me one. Too bad I’m allergic. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143/43 "2012-08-31T21:37:47Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > Those Savannas are indeed beautiful. And [freaking](http://f1hybrids.com/savannah-cats-for-sale/) [expensive](http://www.savannahcats.com/pricing.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143/44 "2012-08-31T21:52:09Z")
Just found this [list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felid_hybrid) of wild felid species with domestic cats. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143/45 "2012-09-02T19:00:49Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > T > > My brother has one, and it is constantly yacking. Long and different phrases. I never know how much he is talking to us – like when he wants the door opened – or why just walking around the house alone he keeps on yacking. > [ Heh, one of our cats is the same. He has a huge volume range, as well as a vast repertoire of different “words.” He is pretty much a non-stop talker. The other one, fortunately, almost never makes any noise other than a feeble meow when he wants to be fed. Very amusing cats. ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143/46 "2012-09-02T20:31:56Z")
[how about one of these?](http://toygers.org/) Gorgeous or what!?! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143/47 "2012-09-02T22:54:38Z")
The ancient Egyptians once worshipped cats as gods. Cats never got over it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143/48 "2012-09-03T04:17:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > In addition, unlike the undomesticated ancestors of dogs, the small cats were no direct threat to humans. I dunno. A couple of years back, a Bengal ate my baby. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143/49 "2012-09-03T14:50:29Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I dunno. A couple of years back, a Bengal ate my baby. In Russia, babies eat Bengals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-domesticated-cats-come-from/633143.md?page=2)