Is my cat bengal and lynx ?

Hi I bought Nola from a girl who told me she was bengal and lynx. She had several bengals so she sounded like she knew what she was talking about. However , she was not a breeder and haven't took my kitten to the vet yet. She called her a poly something as well because she has mitten paws with 7 toes. Her ears point up then fold.
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She also has a bob tail. She has gorgeous Rosetta markings on her. I don't know her generation but she seems very wild and has wild tendancy's. any help would be great.

That poor kitten is WAY too young to be away from her mama . How old did the lady tell you she was?

I believe the breed with a bobtail and curled ears is called Highland Lynx. So it's possible she is part Bengal and part Highland Lynx. While it is technically possible for an actual lynx to breed with domestic cats, it's risky (they'd usually rather eat cats than breed with them :/) and there are a lot of laws about keeping wildcats. And I don't think she'd have the curly ears if she were part actual lynx. Bengals are extremely active cats (even low-content hybrids), so you can expect a lot of that kind of "wildness"! But you'd better hope she doesn't have a lot of truly wild tendencies because wild cats usually aren't so great at litterbox usage :tongue2:.

Cats with extra toes are called polydactyl .

Do get her to the vet as soon as you can. The breeder doesn't sound very responsible so you'll want to get her started on a health care routine quickly.

Thank you.! The girl told me she was 8 weeks. There's now way she was. I got her on aug 6 so one month a go. Those pictures are from one month ago. I uploaded a new pic from tonight. My guess is she was 4-5 weeks. I had to bottle feed her kmr for about a week. She was and still is 100% litter trained which I am grateful for. I believe she is 8 weeks old now so I am going to take her soon. I'm sure the vet can take blood and tell her true breed right? Also could they take her from me if she is too wild?

No, there's no way for a vet to take blood and tell what breed she is. Even the dog breed DNA tests are extremely unreliable, and I don't think they even have them for cats yet. They probably wouldn't have therare breeds like Highland Lynx in their database even if they did exist, anyway. I think there's a way for scientists to determine if a cat has bobcat heritage, but I'm pretty sure it's not available to pet owners.

As for whether they can take her away, that depends on the laws for your state. Your vet wouldn't be the one taking her---they have an obligation to protect their clients' confidentiality---but if Animal Control were to believe that she's a wild hybrid they might. Bengals are usually legal in most places (maybe not high-percentage hybrids, but the later generations) and Highland Lynx don't have any wild blood, so you should be safe as long as you make sure that's what you tell people. Just don't go and tell anyone she has actual lynx in her, because that might be illegal, and just you saying so would be enough "proof" for them. But with those curly ears I don't think anyone will mistake her for a wildcat hybrid. Curly ears are a very domesticated trait.

Oh wow. I defiantly thought verifying the breed was an option. Thank you for your answers. I'm going to try and get a hold of the breeder again and see if she has more info on the parents. I'm dying to know her sure breed. Just crazy hyper at night runs back and fourth as fast as she can on our bed. I can put her down and she climbs right back up. if you look her in the eyes she will pounce down then attack you in the face. Well at least my husband Anyways

I thought that the curly ears and short tail immediately resembled the lynx and then her coat is obviously bengal. Would you say her value is decreased because of the mix or would you say increased because of the rarity. I paid $400 for her.

She purrs 97% of the time we absolutely adore her

Any cat is priceless . And monetary value is determined only by what people are willing to pay. Obviously, a mixed-breed isn't able to be shown (execpt in Household Pet) and should not be bred, but that's no different than a pet-quality purebred. Personally, unless the breeder had done all the proper health testing of the breeding cats and age-appropriate vet care for the kittens, I wouldn't pay anything beyond a few dollars for food and litter. But as long as you're happy, that's all that counts . She is very pretty and I suppose a lot of people would pay for that alone.

As I said, Bengals are extremely smart and active kitties. Besides the Asian Wildcat blood, they were generally mixed with the more active Oriental breeds. And kittens in general are extremely active all the time :tongue2:. You'll probably want to encourage her not to jump at peoples' faces though. . .could get real interesting when she's grown :lol3:.

Wild lynx don't have curly ears. That's a gene that's only found in domestic cats. The bobtail gene is also pretty common in domestic cats too.

Make sure to talk to the vet about spaying her very soon. Kittens can go into heat as young as 4 months so you'll want to get that taken care of quickly.

Poor girl, a result from an irresponsible BYB breeder, whose only good deed was to get this little one a good home.

I agree with you Beauty she was surely 4-5 weeks on the first pics, not a day more, when you got her.

So she still has these curled ears?  It was no small kitten-curled?

My guess the tail and the polydactyl paws are likewise results of inbreeding or being careless with using which stud to breed with.

The "wilderness", how does it shows?   My guess it is mostly kitten behavior!  Kittens do plays wildly with their siblings. Chasing them, wrestling, attacking, biting on their tails (and moms tail too).   If they dont have siblings, they do what they can with their owners. Papers at home murdering them mercilessly, etc.... [Now I saw there were a few extra posts. It IS typical kitten behavior!!!]

Also, possibly she didnt get properly  fostered and socialized. Mom with kittens perhaps being kept not in the flat as family members, but in a cage.   Altough  what you describe is kitty behavior.  Let your husband use glasses or googles when they play war games together, althoug I suspect she strikes with soft paws at his face.

Bengal she is, I believe this.  The Lynx connection?  I wonder if it is a misunderstanding because of her having the tabby M on her forehead.

Thus she is essentially a tabby with spots, although these spots are bengal rosettes.

A pointed and tabby is called for lynx point.   I wonder if here, tabby as such, would be also called for lynx?  Im not sure, but this is my guess for the moment.

This short tail being not lynx-parent but a deformation as I think it may be.

400 bucks?  Sorry, you got scammed.  It would be a resonable price for a bengal of pet quality at 10-12 weeks.

But being happy for someone giving a good home for a small kitten, which cant be used for shows [not even household class] nor breeding, no vet works done, and no papers?   Scam.  

Of course, for YOU she will surely be worth these money and more.    

But contact them, speak more. Get the info you can, the little one has right to her parentage and ancestry, even if she wont get her pedigree papers.   She wont, they dont want to give solide traces and proofs of their deed.

Good luck!

I agree with Willowy about the probable cross that was meant.  not a Bengal x  Lynx,  meaning the wild species Lynx.   but a Bengal    crossed with a cat breed called the  Highland Lynx , also called "Highlander" now  in The International Cat Association,  where it is in the Preliminary New Breed class. )   http://www.tica.org/public/breeds/hgs/intro.php    And the kitten does look like a cross of Bengal and Highland Lynx  since she has rosettes,  a bobtail and curled ears.    It sounds like this   irresponsible, illegal backyard breeder  either said  Highland Lynx and you just remembered the "Lynx" part,  or else she doesn't even know the name of the breed she bred her Bengal to    

This kitten definitely  has a little Asian Leopard Cat ancestry from the Bengal side.  She might have  some Jungle Cat  and maybe some American Bobcat on the Highland Lynx side.  Probably not a large amount of  any of these.     Did the "breeder" say what F generation the Bengal parent was? Some Highland Lynx were bred by crossing so-called "Jungle Curls" ( a cross of  the Jungle Cat  with domestic cats having a mutation for curled ears)   with  the  Desert Lynx,  another breed not recognized by major registries , which is at least reputedly part Bobcat (the scientific name for the American bobcat is "lynx rufus".  So that's where that "lynx" word comes from in the name)   but I don't think DNA tests have been able to tell if it  has any bobcat ancestors  and Highlanders are considered a domestic breed.

I  also agree with Willowy,  that you should take her to a vet ASAP.     She needs to get checked out ,   start  her vaccinations  and probably needs to be de-wormed .

 The vet wont  take her from you.   These breeds are not illegal in Florida  .   

Ask the vet what age she is now. 

   I would report this "breeder"  for selling kittens under 8 weeks  ( and probably with no shots) .    She is literally putting kittens' lives at risk and it is cruel to both the kittens and the mother cat to sell them so young,  but   she does not care.  She only wants the money.   she wants to shove them out the door before she actually has to pay for food and extra litter  and spend any time  cleaning up after them and socializing them.   

Here is a link  to the pet law in Florida.   See number 4  that puppies and kittens under 8 weeks  can't be sold.      There's also someting  in this law sayng  puppies and kittens should have had shot and de-worming before being sold. 

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Div...Consumer-Services/Consumer-Protection/Pet-Law

lease  do not ever again buy a kitten from someone like this . Giving  her money  encourages her to continue her irresponsible, unethical breeding.  If you want a kitten of a particular breed there are ways to find them.   For example here is a post I wrote advising about how to look for a Bengal breeder.   http://www.thecatsite.com/t/262508/are-they-bengal-kittens#post_3385458

You would pay more for a Bengal kitten 12 weeks old from a good breeder.  but you would have a lot better chance of getting a healthy, well-socialized pet.   and you would not be supporting bad breeding. 

 (@ Stefan,  US$400 would be very low for a 12 week old Bengal kitten from a reputable breeder.     

 Stefan,    I was curious what is this Jungle breed.   I had not heard of it.   It's apparently an   experimental breed in TICA  ( which does not mean much;   anyone can register something as an experimental breed,   and  use  TICA to keep track of pedigrees.)  There were 4  cats  registered last year as EXPERIMENTAL JUNGLE.     ( Experimental breeds all get EXPERIMENTAL in front of the name

 I found a website and see it is a cross of Bengal and Chausie  which you prbably know is a ybrid of Jungle Cat  (Felis chaus)  and domestic cat,     and they were just     promoted to championship status in TICA  starting the 1st of May this year.  

I would be surprised if this Jungle breed gets to the next level  when they have to actually   get approved by the Board.   because I don't think they want to encourage breeds  that are crosses of  multple exotic species Not that it's not done in TICA's   recognized hybrid breeds.    but it's not officially permitted outcrosses .  

     I didn't see   on the Agenda from  TICA's  Annual meeting   any proposal from Jungle breeders for them to move up to Registration Only       (which sounds like it would be the lowest level,  but it's actually a step up  than Experimental.    Anyone can register anything as experimental.    but for Registration Only they have to get approval from the Board of Directors.  )       But I might have missed it.  

Yes, it seems to be an experimental breed so far, with only demos on cat shows.

Here a couple of links by the constructor, the first in english, dont really explaining much about the ancestry, but showing pics:

http://www.junglecat.eu/

and http://ramvoira.pl/   in polish.   Not either here they tell much about the ancestry - save one ancestor part are apparently Bengals.

the probably a Bengal x Highlander -- but you can test some for cat breeds, especially the exotic and 'wild' breeds with the University of Davis in California -- they have extensive genetic information on the Bengals

I have finally confirmed ( A year later of course) That my Nala girl's Mother was 100% Bengal and her father was 50% Highland Lynx and 50% Bengal . The dad is identical with the short tail and curled ears. I recently have purchased a full bred High lynx who of course has the curled ears mega toes and short tail. Both are doing great!!! My nala has the energy just like a bengal as she is. She looks just like a beautiful bengal with curled ears and a short tail. (My opinion even prettier) Thanks for everyone's response previously. I have attached a up to date pic of my babys todate.

Thanks

She is stunning! I have never seen a cat like this. 

Thank You!!! They are certainly something else!!!

Beautiful cat!! 

This question was probably answered years ago, but she's a polydactyl which means extra toes.

I am looking for a male kitten just like the one you have.  I live in the mountains in Ky.  I have a beautiful short tailed female and her son and both have nice spots.  Male looks more like the bobcat.  I had a beautiful male that went missing.  Now I need a mate for my female to increase that gene pool rather than mate the female and son.  I have 5 new kittens with short or no tails with spots at this time.  I can't tell you exactly what this breed is or what breeds are involved, but like your kitten, they are beautiful.   Please let me know if I can get a male like yours.

@canterbury welcome to TCS!

This is an old thread and so you are unlikely to get a reply.

You also should know that TCS is a pro spay and neuter site, unless you're a fully qualified professional breeder.  You are also unlikely to find a breeder who will sell you a cat to breed from unless you are a registered breeder or being mentored by one.

In our forum rules:

3. This is a pro-spay-and-neuter website. Please make sure to spay and neuter your cats. Unless you are a professional breeder and your cat is part of a professional breeding program, please educate yourself to the importance of spaying and neutering by the time your cat is 4-6 months old. If you take care of a feral colony, please make sure to do so responsibly by practicing TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) protocols within the colony. Read More Here.

THANKS, M HUFF