The probable ancestor of domestic cats is the African Wildcat (F lybica/F silvestris lybica) which, through mutation and selection, has given rise to modern F catus. The Jungle Cat (F. chaus) may have made a minor contribution. In 1991, Tabor argued that its influence on domestic cat evolution is under-estimated ("Cats: the Rise of the Cat" Roger Tabor (BBC TV series & book)). Characteristics found in the Abyssinian breed (ticked colouration, ear-tufts) apparently support this view (see Domestication of The Cat) although it is not widely accepted. In the 1800s it was believed that domestic cats in each country evolved from indigenous wildcat population e.g. from Scottish wildcats in Britain and from Jungle cats in India.

According to Charles Darwin in "The Variation Of Animals And Plants Under Domestication" (1860s): "In India the domestic cat, according to Mr. Blyth, has crossed with four Indian species. With respect to one of these species, F. chaus, an excellent observer, Sir W. Elliot, informs me that he once killed, near Madras, a wild brood, which were evidently hybrids from the domestic cat; these young animals had a thick lynx-like tail and the broad brown bar on the inside of the forearm characteristic of F. chaus. Sir W. Elliot adds that he has often observed this same mark on the forearms of domestic cats in India. Mr. Blyth states that domestic cats coloured nearly like F. chaus, but not resembling that species in shape, abound in Bengal; he adds, "such a colouration is utterly unknown in European cats, and the proper tabby markings (pale streaks on a black ground, peculiarly and symmetrically disposed), so common in English cats, are never seen in those of India."

J Jackson & JM Jackson (1967) reported a male Jungle cat and tortoiseshell-and-white female domestic cat produced 2 hybrid litters. The first litter comprised 2 female and 3 male hybrid kittens, the second comprised 5 male and 3 female hybrid kittens. The hybrids inherited the long legs, tall pointed ears and relatively short tail from the Jungle cat. They inherited the white spotting trait from the domestic cat, having white patches on their coats. Their tails were black-ringed which could have come from either parent. The 3 female kittens from the first litter were mated back to their Jungle cat father and produced 4, 6 and 5 kittens respectively. Other early hybrids between the domestic cat and Jungle Cat were reported by E Hamilton (1896), K Ackermann (1898), RI Pocock (1907), SS Flower (1929) and S Zuckerman (1953), J Jackson & JM Jackson (1967)

The International Zoo Yearbook, 1970 reported two male hybrids were born at Kaunas, Lithuania (formerly USSR) in 1968 to an Amur leopard Cat (F bengalensis euptilura) and a Jungle Cat (F Chaus). Both species hybridise with the domestic cat, F bengalensis being the wild parent of the Bengal breed.

During the latter part of the 20^th Century, a number of Jungle Cats have been seen in Britain, including some found as road kill. Presumed Jungle Cats and hybrids have also been sighted around cities in the feral cat population. 18th Century sailors sometimes acquired Jungle Cats from villages in India where the cats scavenge around villages and towns, much like urban foxes in Britain. These cats, kept as ratters or trade goods, may have jumped ship at various British ports, breeding with the feral colonies which congregate around dockyards. Early British sightings of Jungle Cats (also called Swamp Cats) tend to be centred around ports.

First-cross (F1) hybrids between domestic cats and the larger Jungle Cat are vigorous, large and fertile, though subsequent generations become smaller through continued interbreeding with the more numerous domestic cat. Eventually the Jungle Cat genes are so dilute that the hybrids are indistinguishable from moggies. Roy Robinson noted that hybrid animals do not breed true and in succeeding generations there is a selective return to the original genetic combination prevalent in the area (Genetics for Cat Breeders, 3rd Ed). Only repeated back-crossing to pure-bred Jungle Cats would maintain Jungle Cat attributes in hybrid offspring - the 75% hybrid shown here has been back-crossed to preserve the Jungle Cat size and type.

At present, chromosomal and DNA analysis cannot distinguish between Jungle Cats, Jungle Cat hybrids and domestic cats and if Tabor's theory is correct, F. chaus is simply breeding with its own much-hybridized distant descendants. Even if this species is not an ancestor of modern domestic cats, if it has been present in the UK for 200 years its genes may already be present or widespread in the domestic population, compounding problems of DNA analysis. Elsewhere, Jungle Cats are being deliberately crossed with domestic cats to create new domestic breeds. In the USA, F chaus has been used to develop the Chausie. It has also been crossed with the European (Scottish) Wildcat to produce the Euro-Chaus, demonstrating that F chaus and F silvestris are inter-fertile. The hybrid Chausie has also been crossed with F silvestris to produce the Euro-Chausie. The Euro-Chaus is considered an exotic, rather than a domestic, pet.

Jungle cat hybrids and Bengals were introduced early into some Pixie-Bob lines. After TICA initially recognized the PixieBob there was an open registry and similar-looking cats of American Bobtail, Japanese Bobtail, Maine Coon, Manx may have been registered as PixieBob. TICA also permitted "Legend Cats" (supposed bobcat hybrids) to be registered as PixieBobs and there are suggestions that spotted Chausie variants were registered as Legend Cats. A Jungle Cat hybrid called El Gato del Oro, became the most awarded Pixie-Bob of all time.

Another Jungle Cat hybrid is in development by the Mandala Exotic Cats. Called the Stone Cougar, it has been bred from a pure Jungle Cat and domestic cats with 50% Jungle Cat blood. The domestic cats have thick, low-slung bodies, very thick tails and small ears. They have been carefully selected so they have no dominant coat colour/pattern genes and will produce golden cats with a cougar-like appearance. Below are photos of "Cutter" a 10 month old Stone Cougar bred by Chuck Cunningham (photos used by permission of Mandala Exotic Cats). Cutter is approximately 18 lbs and estiamted adult weight is 22-25 lbs.

MESSYBEAST SMALL CAT HYBRIDS