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Our Breed Goals
Our breed goals for the cattery are fairly narrow as we are
working with relatively few cats. Like with all quality
breeders, the cats’ health is a top priority. Our cats are
routinely screened for HCM, and their expansive, natural
environment discourages the health problems that thrive in close
quarters. Limiting the number of cats we breed decreases
our health risks which makes the breeding experience a pleasure.
Solana Ranch Declaration |
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Aesthetically, however, our main breed goal is to maintain the wild look of
a small forest dwelling cat, specifically the Asian Leopard Cat, Margay, and Ocelot, into the SBT generations of the Bengal. Our Bengals are distinctly different in their skull shape and body structure which translates to the unique way in which they move – just like the small
wild
cats.
Maintaining
the
physical
look of
the wild
cat is a |
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challenge for Bengal breeders as in nature the cats’
structure is constantly redefined by survival-of-the-fittest
which doesn’t occur in a domestic environment. This is an
especially difficult challenge to meet and the SBT level.
Solana Ranch Declaration typifies our goal,
and the cats in our program are catalysts to future success. |
| Changing our Cattery Name |
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| As our experience grew in breeding Bengals, our family grew as
well. We now have two wonderful "human" children in our lives
which prompted a move to a property that adjoins our children’s grandparents.
While exploring the 1904 farm house, we discovered a postcard
addressed simply to "The Solana Ranch, |
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The original 1904 Solana Ranch |
Lincoln,
CA".
Since our
original
cattery
name,
Bijou
Bengals,
had no
deep,
personal
significance,
we
decided
to
revitalize
the old
ranch
name to
signify a
new chapter in our lives - a new home, a new family,
and a new generation of Bengals.
Solana Ranch Bengals is a member of
both The International Cat
Association and
The International Bengal Cat Society. |
*Header photo: Our son, Jarob, with Independence,
our F2 Queen. |
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