BENGAL CATS IN CANADA

The History of my Bengals arriving in Canada

I breed only Bengals including both hybrids and SBTs.

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I first became interested in Bengal cats while watching an animal show on television. That program dates back to 1989! The host of the show was interviewing Tony Brady, a breeder of bengal cats who lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Tony was dressed up in a khaki outfit, very much like an animal trainer. In fact, he was a professional actor, and world traveler, and never missed an opportunity to dramatize a situation.

Tony had brought a litter of five, 4 months old bengal kittens and their mother to the studio. I was so amazed, and awe struck by the kittens, because I had never seen brown spotted bengal cats before. They looked so wild, and yet, they were so gentle and playful.

During the program, he explained how he was the first person in Canada to have imported bengal cats from Jean Mill in California and began breeding them. Jean Mill is the originator of the bengal cat, as we know it today.

He also explained how the bengal cat breed originated as a hybrid. It was my first introduction to the Asian Leopard Cat: (scientific name: Prionailurus Bengalensis) the beautiful, shy, small cat which was used to crossbreed an ordinary domestic cat. On that day, I knew I had to own one, or two, if possible.

I decided that I, too, wanted to breed bengal cats. I contacted the TV station and got information about Tony. I phoned him, and he invited me over. He told me he would show me his newly developed "Bradot" bengal cat lines.

Tony was so gracious and kind. He put me on his bengal cat waiting list immediately. It was the beginning of a long friendship. Unfortunately, Tony has past away since. I waited 6 months, literally counting the weeks. In the meantime, he invited me down to his cattery several times after his queen became pregnant. Finally, she gave birth to a litter of 4 bengal kittens! One male was mine!!

Six months later, Tony sold me a female bengal kitten. The rest is history. In 1990, I jointed the International Cat Association (TICA) and registered my cattery as "ROSETTEA CATTERY". Four years later, I joined the Canadian Cat Association (CCA), where I set the CCA bengal cat standards.

Over 20 years later, through selective breeding, a lot of patience, and research, I produced these fabulous domestic bengal cats...some of whom have been titled the BEST in Canada!

By the way, my name is Lisa Arvay and we, my cats and I, all live in Burlington, Ontario, CANADA.