This is just from what I have gathered online (from Wikipedia) and what I have been told. Please add to this thread if you have further info. I am beginning with the four most common spotted breeds. Two are recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the Egyptian Mau and the Ocicat, as they are not outcrossed with any wild cat. All four are recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA), which allows for hybrid outcross breeds. I am not very familiar with the other cat breed registries, but maybe someone else can add to this information.
As a point of interest, the CFA has famously held to their stance of no hybrid crosses within their registration and this debate has raged within the organization for decades. I am a member of the CFA Yahoo Group and I can tell you, there are proponents for both sides of the debate within the organization. The discussion gets quite heated so it is no wonder that there can be differing opinions on The Cat Site board as well.
Bengal - The Bengal is a hybrid breed of cat, formed by the cross of a domestic feline and an Asian leopard cat (ALC). Jean Mill did have a hand in the formation of the modern Bengal, but other breeders were working toward similar goals at the same time. Most of the first generations of Bengal cats were produced by using the ALC with Egyptian Maus.
Bengals can be identified by their athletic builds and their coats are covered with rosette spots. Their fur is dense and some are described as being more pelt-like than a domestic cat.
Bengals come in many different colour and pattern combinations, for example; Seal Sepia Spotted Tabby and Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby, Seal Mink Spotted Tabby and Seal Mink Marbled Tabby, Seal Lynx Point Spotted Tabby and Seal Lynx Point Marbled Tabby.
Egyptian Mau - Egyptian Maus are a small to medium sized short-haired cat breed. They are one of the few naturally spotted breeds of domesticated cat. The spots of the Mau occur only on the coat. There are no spots on the actual skin. The spotted Mau is an ancient breed from natural stock; its look has not changed significantly as is evidenced by artwork over 3,000 years old. Unlike other spotted cats such as the Ocicat or Bengal cat, the Egyptian Mau is a natural breed.
The modern Mau is said to have originated in 1952, in Italy, when exiled Russian Princess Natalie Troubetskaya met the cat of the Egyptian Ambassador to Italy. She convinced him to obtain several cats from Egypt for her, and she began to breed them. From her the Mau has been described as having a "troubled" look, with their round eyes and open expression.
Maus can officially be of three different colour patterns; silver and black spotted, bronze and black spotted and smoke and black spotted. Variations that may occur are pure black or diluted silver. Additionally, from time to time a classic tabby pattern kitten will come along. These cats are not used in any breeding program.
Ocicat - The Ocicat is an all-domestic breed of cat which resembles a wild cat but has no wild DNA in its gene pool. The breed is unusual in that it is spotted like a wild cat but has the temperament of a domestic animal. It is named for its resemblance to the ocelot. The breed was established from Siamese and Abyssinian stock; later, American Shorthairs (silver tabbies) were added to the mix and gave the breed their silver color, bone structure and distinct markings.
Ocicats have have a large, strong body, muscular legs with dark markings, and powerful, oval shaped paws. The body shape of the Ocicat is partway between the svelte Oriental and the sturdy American Shorthair. The breed's large, well-muscled body gives an impression of power and strength. I think this why Ocicats are more often mistaken for Bengals than Egyptian Maus are. Maus are generally of a more delicate build than the Ocicat.Closer to an Abyssinian in build.
There are twelve colors approved for the ocicat breed; Tawny, chocolate and cinnamon, their dilutes, blue, lavender and fawn, and all of them with silver: black silver (ebony silver), chocolate silver, cinnamon silver, blue silver, lavender silver and fawn silver.
Savannah - Savannah cat is the name given to the offspring of a domestic cat and a Serval—a medium-sized, large-eared wild African cat. The unusual cross became popular among breeders at the end of the 20th century, and in 2001 the International Cat Association (TICA) accepted it as a new registered breed.
Savannah cats are one of the larger breeds of domesticated cats. The Savannahs' tall and slim build gives them the appearance of greater size than their actual weight. Size is very dependent on generation and sex, with F1 hybrid male cats usually being the largest. F1 and F2 hybrids are usually the largest, due to the stronger genetic influence of the African serval ancestor. Male Savannahs tend to be larger than females. Early-generation Savannahs can weigh 20 lbs or more, with the higher weight usually attributed to the F2 or F3 neutered males, though this is not the norm. Later-generation Savannahs are usually between seven and 30 lbs. Because of the random factors in Savannah hybrid genetics, size can vary significantly, even in one litter.
The coat of a Savannah depends on the breed of cat used for the domestic cross. Early generations have some form of dark spotting on a lighter coat, and many early breeders employed "wild-looking" spotted breeds, such as the Bengal and Egyptian Mau, for the cross to help preserve these markings in later generations. The International Cat Association (TICA) breed standard calls for brown-spotted tabby (cool to warm brown, tan or gold with black or dark brown spots), silver-spotted tabby (silver coat with black or dark grey spots), black (black with black spots), and black smoke (black-tipped silver with black spots) only
As a point of interest, the CFA has famously held to their stance of no hybrid crosses within their registration and this debate has raged within the organization for decades. I am a member of the CFA Yahoo Group and I can tell you, there are proponents for both sides of the debate within the organization. The discussion gets quite heated so it is no wonder that there can be differing opinions on The Cat Site board as well.
Bengal - The Bengal is a hybrid breed of cat, formed by the cross of a domestic feline and an Asian leopard cat (ALC). Jean Mill did have a hand in the formation of the modern Bengal, but other breeders were working toward similar goals at the same time. Most of the first generations of Bengal cats were produced by using the ALC with Egyptian Maus.
Bengals can be identified by their athletic builds and their coats are covered with rosette spots. Their fur is dense and some are described as being more pelt-like than a domestic cat.
Bengals come in many different colour and pattern combinations, for example; Seal Sepia Spotted Tabby and Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby, Seal Mink Spotted Tabby and Seal Mink Marbled Tabby, Seal Lynx Point Spotted Tabby and Seal Lynx Point Marbled Tabby.
Egyptian Mau - Egyptian Maus are a small to medium sized short-haired cat breed. They are one of the few naturally spotted breeds of domesticated cat. The spots of the Mau occur only on the coat. There are no spots on the actual skin. The spotted Mau is an ancient breed from natural stock; its look has not changed significantly as is evidenced by artwork over 3,000 years old. Unlike other spotted cats such as the Ocicat or Bengal cat, the Egyptian Mau is a natural breed.
The modern Mau is said to have originated in 1952, in Italy, when exiled Russian Princess Natalie Troubetskaya met the cat of the Egyptian Ambassador to Italy. She convinced him to obtain several cats from Egypt for her, and she began to breed them. From her the Mau has been described as having a "troubled" look, with their round eyes and open expression.
Maus can officially be of three different colour patterns; silver and black spotted, bronze and black spotted and smoke and black spotted. Variations that may occur are pure black or diluted silver. Additionally, from time to time a classic tabby pattern kitten will come along. These cats are not used in any breeding program.
Ocicat - The Ocicat is an all-domestic breed of cat which resembles a wild cat but has no wild DNA in its gene pool. The breed is unusual in that it is spotted like a wild cat but has the temperament of a domestic animal. It is named for its resemblance to the ocelot. The breed was established from Siamese and Abyssinian stock; later, American Shorthairs (silver tabbies) were added to the mix and gave the breed their silver color, bone structure and distinct markings.
Ocicats have have a large, strong body, muscular legs with dark markings, and powerful, oval shaped paws. The body shape of the Ocicat is partway between the svelte Oriental and the sturdy American Shorthair. The breed's large, well-muscled body gives an impression of power and strength. I think this why Ocicats are more often mistaken for Bengals than Egyptian Maus are. Maus are generally of a more delicate build than the Ocicat.Closer to an Abyssinian in build.
There are twelve colors approved for the ocicat breed; Tawny, chocolate and cinnamon, their dilutes, blue, lavender and fawn, and all of them with silver: black silver (ebony silver), chocolate silver, cinnamon silver, blue silver, lavender silver and fawn silver.
Savannah - Savannah cat is the name given to the offspring of a domestic cat and a Serval—a medium-sized, large-eared wild African cat. The unusual cross became popular among breeders at the end of the 20th century, and in 2001 the International Cat Association (TICA) accepted it as a new registered breed.
Savannah cats are one of the larger breeds of domesticated cats. The Savannahs' tall and slim build gives them the appearance of greater size than their actual weight. Size is very dependent on generation and sex, with F1 hybrid male cats usually being the largest. F1 and F2 hybrids are usually the largest, due to the stronger genetic influence of the African serval ancestor. Male Savannahs tend to be larger than females. Early-generation Savannahs can weigh 20 lbs or more, with the higher weight usually attributed to the F2 or F3 neutered males, though this is not the norm. Later-generation Savannahs are usually between seven and 30 lbs. Because of the random factors in Savannah hybrid genetics, size can vary significantly, even in one litter.
The coat of a Savannah depends on the breed of cat used for the domestic cross. Early generations have some form of dark spotting on a lighter coat, and many early breeders employed "wild-looking" spotted breeds, such as the Bengal and Egyptian Mau, for the cross to help preserve these markings in later generations. The International Cat Association (TICA) breed standard calls for brown-spotted tabby (cool to warm brown, tan or gold with black or dark brown spots), silver-spotted tabby (silver coat with black or dark grey spots), black (black with black spots), and black smoke (black-tipped silver with black spots) only
Last edited:
