Want To Meet A Bengal? Don't Miss Today's Show

What word best characterizes a bengal? There are dozens that might work but mesmerizing says it all.

As the two-day Evergreen Cat Fanciers fall show concludes today in the Seattle Center Rainier and Olympic Rooms, you'll have a chance to meet two bengal cats and two kittens entered in the championship class of The International Cat Association event.

This breed is a hybrid, the outgrowth of crossing domestic cats such as the American shorthair and the Egyptian Mau with the 10-pound wild leopard cat of the jungles of Southeast Asia. Long, muscular and striking, it resembles its wild counterpart from many respects.

Jean Mill, of Covina, Calif., a breed pioneer, said in a February 1991 Cat Fancy story, "Temperament is of primary concern, both to breeders and to pet buyers. Modern-day, carefully bred kittens have loving, outgoing personalities. The suspicious nature of the wild cat has been bred out through careful selection."

Different approaches

According to Olympia breeder David Born, West and East Coast breeders accentuate different traits. "Some of the large East Coast breeders have worked toward coat and color and domesticating the breed so they would be sure that it would be popularized. West Coast breeders have focused on personality as well, but concentrated on selective breeding and developing more of the wild type (configuration)."

"This is still a relatively new breed," says Susan Schwab, Bothell breeder, "and judges are still learning, too."

The goal of Seattle breeder Sheila Leaman's cattery is to preserve the wild leopard appearance without losing the temperament of the domestic cat. "I also put a special emphasis on the gold-dusted silky fur and vivid contrast between spotting and background color."

This independent creature loves to hunt and wade in shallow water. At play, kittens' stalk their toys like prey. This is not your basic indoor-outdoor pet, however. Breeders recommend if you want to keep your bengal, enclose it.

Pet-quality bengals range from $300 to $800, and show stock $1,500 and up. Size ranges from 10 to 18 pounds for males and eight to 12 for females.

According to the standard, spots shall be random, or aligned horizontally.

All variations of the brown spotted tabby are allowed. However a high degree of rufinism yielding a yellow, buff, tan, golden or orange color is preferred. Spots may be black, brown, tan or various shades of chocolate or cinnamon.

Don't buy an F1

F1 is one of the bengal breeder buzzwords. It means a first-generation cross. These are shy, nervous and untouchable, much like their wild fathers, says Mill, and never use their litter boxes.

Today's more refined offspring, according to the standard, "may exhibit fear, seek to flee or generally complain aloud, but may not threaten to harm." They are also expected to be confident, alert, curious and friendly - which translates into playful, stalking and climbing.

Adds Schwab: "When you're dealing with so many genetic elements, each litter is a surprise package."

Color change

What you see in a bengal kitten isn't necessarily what you'll get, according to Mill. They often "go through an ugly stage of gray between 2 and 6 months of age in which the clearly contrasted markings are spoiled and blurry." Eventually the gray ticked coat is lost.

Mill advises purchasers, "Before you buy a bengal, request pedigrees showing several generations of registered bengals without other breeds. In general, the more TICA-registered bengals on the pedigree, the better."

Show hours today are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 seniors and children and children under 6 are free when accompanied by an adult. An admission discount of $1 will be given to anyone bringing an unopened can, bag or box of pet food (minimum six ounces) for donation to the Seattle-King County Humane Society Pet Food Bank.

Peg goes home

Peg, the German shepherd mix featured in this column last week, has already made herself comfortable in the North Seattle home of Lilyen and Harry Chesser.

Several parties came to the Seattle Animal Control shelter last Tuesday, hoping to adopt the charismatic three-legged dog that captured the hearts of the entire staff.

"It's a perfect match," says Lisa Hawthorne, animal-control officer who had taken Peg, a onetime stray, home on several occasions. "I couldn't be more pleased. In fact, a part of me went with her.

"The key factor in selecting the Chessers was that Lilyen is home all day and would be able to devote attention on the dog," says Hawthorne. "Plus, Lilyen loves to go on rides and so does Peg.

"I needed an older dowager," jokes Mrs. Chesser. "I've been in a wheelchair for more than 20 years and Peg has three legs. What a pair, huh?"

The Chessers' Lhasa apso was euthanized last year at age 14 1/2 as a result of numerous ailments.

"The family wanted to get me another small dog," says Mrs. Chesser, "but earlier this year I had a dream about a special German shepherd. You won't believe it, but Peg's face is identical to the dog I dreamed about. It's like a dream come true."

Mail information regarding dog/ cat events to Classified Division, attn. Marilyn Fairbanks, Dog/ Cat Events, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA. 98111. All releases must be in writing and received by Monday prior to Sunday publication. Be sure to include a public phone-contact number. Also don't forget to phone in for my pet tip of the week on The Seattle Times InfoLine, 464-2000, then press PETS (7387).