~ a brief look at hybridization

Hybrids between wild and domestic cats, as we see in the now popular 'bengal cat' (a cross between a domestic cat and the tiny Asian leopard cat*) has been described as an attempt by pet owners to own something which is wild looking without being wild. It is also described as a chance to breed an exotic looking pet in captivity without risking the depletion of wild populations.

More unusual hybrids have been produced for curiosity and entertainment. Some people have deliberately crossbred tigers and lions to produce 'tigons' and 'ligers'.

It is very difficult for conservationists to have anything good to say about the hybridization of wild cats. It is another form of extinction. Crossbreeding wild cats means losing the unique characteristics of each species. It has nothing to do with the preservation of animals which are fast disappearing from the wild.

Hybrids seem to satisfy people's fascination with anything different or unusual. Like the developers of hybrid roses and white tigers, people take pleasure in the act of creating something new, unusual and potentially marketable.

To many this is a harmless and interesting activity. However, it is not without its criminals. Wild Asian leopard cats have been taken out of the wild, smuggled into this country and placed with prospective domestic cats for breeding, which they have killed.

One also wonders what happens to the offspring of successful pairings if they have inherited the instincts of the wild parent. Small wild cats belie their cute appearance. They have to be tough and aggressive to survive their low position on the food chain. One favorite zoo keeper saying goes "It's the cute 'n cuddly ones that'll kill you".

The same problems apply with wolf-domestic dog hybrids. No one disputes that domestic dogs can be dangerous. By introducing the wild instincts of the wolf, the most likely logical consequence is an increase in unpredictability. Nevertheless, it is this element of wildness which fascinates some people.

Some natural biological barriers do curb the successful hybridization of wild cats. For example tigons and ligers show reduced fertility rather like mules  which are a cross between a horse and a donkey.

The production of hybrids has long been a valued practice in the agricultural world, among food crops and domestic livestock. It also brings economic benefits to cat breeders who hope to create a new level of excitement for pet owners. For conservationists, hybridization is a foreign concept and one not likely to benefit the preservation of wild populations.

*The bengal cat  is not a cross between a domestic cat and a leopard - a wild cat which can weigh anywhere from 60 - 120lbs. The confusion arises because many people have heard of leopards, from nature documentaries on Africa, but few have heard about the tiny, spotted Asian leopard cat, the true wild founder of hybrid bengal cats.