The Bengal Cat originates from a domestic cat (Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Burmese, or Egyptian Mau) and a Asian Leopard Cat (ALC).  During the 1960's researchers such as California's Jean Sugden (now Jean Mills) were studying cat related diseases such as leukaemia and other cancer related viruses.  It was noted that wild cat types such as the lion and tiger were immune to some of these diseases.  The wild Asian Leopard Cat was bred to the common house cat in an effort to study the immune defences of the wild cat family to these diseases.

In 1963 Jean Sugden (Mills) crossed a female ALC and a male black domestic cat, the results were a mixture of solid and spotted kittens.  One of the spotted female offspring was then mated back to the father and the resulting litter had spotted kittens.  This was the beginning of the Bengal, but didn't progress as Jean Sugden had become a widow. 
In the 1970's Jean Sugden acquired 8 female ALC/Domestic offspring from the University of California.  The cats were the result of a project to investigate the ALC's natural immunity to Feline Leukaemia.  It was from this moment on that the Bengal was established and the Bengal Breed was finally registered with the TICA (The International Cat Association) in 1983, with the first to be shown in 1985 in the New Breed/Colour Class.

This gorgeous ancestor is the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC). The domestic Bengal gets its name from the Asian Leopard Cat's scientific name (Felis bengalensis).  The goal in producing the Bengal is to recreate the look of its wild ancestor the ALC in a domestic cat.

The F refers to Foundation Generation which is the cross between ALC & Domestic.  The F number is used for quick reference.

F1    -    Is the first generation cross, meaning one parent is an ALC with 50% or higher wild blood

F2    -    Is the second generation there will be a grandparent who is an ALC -  Males are usually  sterile

F3    -    Is the third generation - Some males are fertile

F4    -    Is the last generation before a cat is recognised as a true Bengal - Both sexes are usually fertile

Coat

Bengals do not have fur but more of a pelt coat, this is a lovely soft coat that came from their wild ancestors.  At around seven weeks the kittens will begin to get what is called the fuzzies, this is something else that is past down from their ancestors providing them with a camouflage in the wild.  The fuzzies is when a kitten begins to grow longer guard hairs which disguise the spots from a front view, but the beautiful markings can still be seen from behind.

Glitter Coat    -    Most Bengals are bred with a glitter coat which looks just like someone has got a handful of gold glitter and sprinkled it over.  The glitter gene is said to have come from a foundation cat called "Millwood Tory of Delhi" which Jean Mills found in India.  The same effect appears on snow Bengals looking more like a pearl dust.