There is a place I walk where I sometimes spot Leopard Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), and I was lucky enough again the other week to see this one, hidden down low in some grasses, its beautiful face framed, as my wife shone the torch beam to one side.
One of the many issues and dangers that this wild cat faces is interbreeding with local cat populations (feral or otherwise). Nearby some people often feed stray cats, with boars and rats also turning up in considerable numbers now.
So, not very surprisingly I came across this fat cat: sort of like the result of a leopard cat having had sex with a marshmallow. There are some of the Leopard like distinctive markings, but really, could never be confused with the real thing. I called him Lord Varys.
One pet that people see on social media and then crave is the Bengal cat....A Bengal cat is a domesticated cat breed created from hybrids of domestic cats, especially the spotted Egyptian Mau, with the Asian leopard cat. The breed name comes from the leopard cat's taxonomic name. It is a striking animal, but really breeders are just trying to cash in, and its known that Bengal cats can have health and behavioural issues stemming from their wild genes and hybrid breed, including urinating all around the house and having chronic diarrhoea. Bengals are the result of the deliberate and unnatural breeding of domestic cats with Asian leopard cats, many of which are taken from the wild to fulfil this demand. Which is why I am not keen on these breeds.
Its your choice. Do you want wonderful and exotic sightings of this rare Leopard cat, t
