Bengal cats were created by breeding Asian leopard cats (ALCs) with domestic cats. The breeding program was first started by Jean Mill in the early 1960s, with the goal of creating a domestic cat that had the wild and exotic appearance of the ALC, but with the temperament and behavior of a domestic cat.
The first breeding of an ALC with a domestic cat was a Siamese, and the resulting offspring was then bred back to an ALC. This process was repeated several times over the years, until the Bengal cat breed was established.
The breeding program was controversial, and it took many years for the breed to be accepted by cat registries. The International Cat Association (TICA) was the first to recognize the Bengal as a breed in 1983. Today, Bengal cats are recognized by all major cat registries, and they are considered a popular and unique domestic cat breed.
It's worth noting that breeding wild cats with domestic cats can be controversial, and it's important to consider ethical and welfare issues when breeding or buying a Bengal cat.