I
84-Lancast«r Fuming, Saturday, March 28, 1998
Bengal Cats Spell ‘Alternative Agriculture’ For Canton Couple
(Continued from Pago 82)
itage, images of wildcats prowling
through your living room might
scare you away. But in fact the
Bengal breed is very widely
known for its mild temperament
Breeders agree that well bred
Bengals are quick, curious and
sometimes mischievous, but they
are also loving, trusting, and enjoy
human attention. These character
istics have been selected for genet
ically as much as die unique spot
ted pattern.
Still, there> is die allure of the
jungle to die Metcalfs.
"Red has always liked wildlife
and tigers. He said these are a
touch of wildlife in the home,” said
Beth.
“But they’re very much a
domestic cat,” noted Fred.
The Bengal breed was started
only about 20 years ago when
researchers in Beltsville, Md. dis
covered that Asian Leopard Cats
were at least partially immune to
the feline leukemia virus. Other
research projects have grown from
this initial study such as if temper
ament is inherited, or more depen
dent on environment and to study
the genetic components of coat
color, pattern and texture, espe
cially die rosetted pattern that
appears only in wild species,
according to a Jean Mills book,
“Breeding Better Bengals."
Another reason for the develop
ment is, according to Mills, to
“develop a substitute pet for cat
lovers everywhere who long to
adopt a wild feline.”
While the cross of an Asian Leo
pard cat and a domestic Brown
Tabby was the initial mating, sub
sequent matings were done
between the first generation
offspring and the Egyptian Mau
and the Ocicat Oddly enough, the
first generation males were sterile,
but the first generation females
were breeders.
For generations following, care
ful matings were made to screen
out the unfavorable characteristics
and most reputable breeders will
follow the bloodlines closely in
both directions, keeping track of
the genetics of the parents, but also
recording the characteristics of the
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offspring.
The Metcalfs have two breeding
females, one breeding male, live
kittens of various ages, and one pet
quality cat
Maharaja was the first male
breeding cat they purchased. He is
what breeders call a Snow Leopard
Bengal because his coat is more of
a grey white with the characteristic
Mack spots.
Maharani, their first breeding
female, is a brown spotted leopard.
She also has the characteristic
brown spots, but has the dominant
brown coat color.
There is also a marbled coat pat
tern, but the Metcalfs prefer the
spotted pattern.
The cats and their offspring
have competed in various shows in
the Northeast and been honored
with numerous awards. They have
exhibited the best Bengal kitten a
couple of times and Maharaja
holds the title of Best Beal Point
Lynx Bengal Cat of the Year in
1995.
“It’s easier than showing
horses,” said Metcalf. “When the
show is over at night, you take the
cats right up to your hotel room.”
A show quality cat is one with
exceptional color and spotting,
ideally with rosetted spots or gra
dual layers of color in the spots. It
also has an exceptionally soft pelt
and small ears. Temperament is
also very important for all Ben
gals, not just the show quality cats.
Because the breed is relatively
new, the show ring standards are
not yet set in stone.
What distinguishes a pet quality
cat from a show quality cat are the
formerly listed characteristics as
well as price.
A show quality cat commands a
price of $1,500, while a pet quality
cat sells for a third of that price. It’s
not all gravy, however, as the Met
calfs point out
“I probably have at least $lOO in
each kitten in vet bills and shots
before we sell them,” said Beth. “I
figure if people are going to pay
that much money, I want them to
have a healthy cat that’s been
tested and has its shots.”
They also have the usual cate
fees for food and litter and a stan
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430 Concrete Ave., Leola, PA
717-656-2016
dard breeding fee can be $l,OOO.
The cats are also registered with
The International Cat Association.
“We don’t cut comets,” said
Metcalf. “When we have to travel
by plane we don’t ship the cat as
freight, we take it as carry-on lug
gage. We often drive to meet peo
ple when they’re interested in a
sale. Buyers for each cat get a vet
folder and a bag of good quality cat
food.”
Finding homes for the cats has
been surprisingly easy for the Met
calfs, but they do make sure that
the homes they go to are
acceptable.
Once Mien they were visiting
Metcalfs mother, they had some
cats with them. His mother had
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
For the 11th consecutive year.
Quitters’ Heritage Celebration re
turns to the Holiday Inn Lancaster
Host Resort and Conference Cen
ter in Lancaster, from April 2-5.
Drawing quitters and quilt enthu
siasts from all over the United
States and many other countries,
the focus is visual .. . quilts,
quilts, quilts! More than 400 quilts
on exhibit join with over 80 func
tions. classes, lectures, fashion
show and even quilt bingo along
with 75-100 merchants to provide
four knowledge and fun-filled
days at this internationally-rc
nowned event
Teachers confirmed for the
event include Christal Carter,
John Flynn, Marianne Fons, Jane
Hill, Roberta Horton, Melody
Johnson, Nancy Johnson-Srebro,
Faye Labanaris, Libby Lehman,
Mary Mashuta, Katie Pasquini
Masopust, Judith Montano, Liz
Porter, Mary Stori and more.
Feedsack Frenzy, the theme ex
hibit curated by Rita B. Barber
will feature quilts and other items
to help learn about the presence of
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friends over for dinner who wanted
to see their cats, so the Metcalfs
agreed.
“She wasn’t familiar with the
breed,” said Metcalf. “She held
one and was saying that she got rid
of all her cats and her stuff and she
had no intention of having cats
again. When we got home after a
three and a half hour drive, my
'mother had left a message on my
machine telling us that this woman
wanted the show quality cat.”
Metcalf was surprised that she
would want the show quality cat
because of the price, but his
mother assured him that she had
told the lady the price of the cat and
she still wanted it.
“She insisted on having that
the decorative feedsack/textile
and its use.
The evergrowing Quilters’
Heritage Celebration juried and
judged show will award over
$12,000 in prize money donated
by local and national sponsors in
cluding; Itchin’ to Stitch (Wl),
quilt shop/traveling vendor; The
Old Country Store (PA), quilt
shop; Quilting Today Magazine
by Chitra Publishing Inc. (PA);
Fairfield Processing Corporation
(CT), Fiberfil products for quilt
ers; Benartex Inc. (NY), textiles;
Bernina of America, represented
locally by Hinkletown Sewing
Machine Shop, Ephrata, Mountain
Mist (Stearns Technical Textile,
OH), patterns and batt products
for the quilter; EZ Quilting by
Wright’s (MA). publishers and
producers of notions for quilters;
Annapolis Quilt Guild (MD);
Cherrywood Fabrics, Inc., produc
ers of hand-dyed fabrics: Flynn
Quilt Frame Company (MT), quilt
frames/books; The People’s Place
Quilt Museum (PA).
Some things old and several
things new. the third exhibit hall
Pasture Mat
The Golden Standard
In Cow Comfort
Sam Petersheim
cat,” said Metcalf.
Giving up the cats is not always
easy, either.
M We had one that was a pet qual
ity that we had spayed. I didn’t like
her at first," said Beth. "She was
always beneath my feet and getting
into mischief, but I couldn’t get
mad at her. Then Fred sold her and
I was brokenhearted.”
A lady in Williamsport pur
chased the cat. The lady was very
happy with the cal’s mischievous
personality.
“I like to think we’re using our
heads. We make certain they’re
good homes. We’re pot dumping
them,” said Metcalf.
Said Beth, "We want people to
be Bengal-smart, since this is a
new breed.”
will feature section C of Quilt Na
tional ’97. Other exhibits will in
clude the 1997/98 Hoffman Chal
lenge; the 1997/98 Pilgrim Roy
Challenge featuring fabrics from
their line produced by P & B Tex
tiles; the Silver Dollar City Chal
lenge; Miniatures from the Heart,
winners of the sixth Miniature
Quilt Magazine (from Chitra Pub
locations, Inc.) miniature contest
and the Quilting Today Challenge;
Five from Maine - The Expression
of Five; Frigid Piecing; Collective
Fusions; Rock and Roll Icons;
Presenter’s Showcase, from those
teaching at QHC; and Producer’s
Showcase from many of those in
volved in the production of QHC.J
The Fairfield Processing Cor
poration’s Fashion Show will
again be presented at a luncheon.
Show hours: Thursday, 9-5;
Friday, 9-7; Saturday, 9-S; Sunday
11-4. For information on classn
and other functions, contact: Ritt
B. Barber, at the Holiday Inn Lan
caster Host Resort (717)
299-5500.
The Rewards
• Better Cow Health
• Reduced Leg Injury
• Reduced Swollen Hocks
• More Lactation Per Cow - More Milk
• Reduced Bedding Costs
• Pasture Mats Often Pay For
Themselves Within 6 Months.