The CHEETOH is a new hybrid house pet which
has an interesting history.  The Cheetoh came
about  3 years ago when Carol Dryman used a
very specific blood line of Bengal and Ocicat.
The BENGAL cat was an interesting accident in the 1960’s, so the story goes - some of this
may be rumor.  A lady by the name of Jean Sugden Mill obtained an Asian Leopard Cat
(Felis Bengalensis) that was named Maylaysia. To her surprise this gal liked a black
domestic shorthair male which resulted in the first Bengal.  Various domestic shorthairs
were used such as the Egyptian Mau in the later development of the breed. Jean was
involved with a lot of breeding projects over the years and in 1980 she got involve with
Dr Willard Centerwall of Loma Linda University which had been involved with a research

The OCICAT, as well, came about by accident.  For all of its
dramatic appearance and obvious appeal, we might not have had
the Ocicat today but for several experimental breeds in 1965 by
Virginia Daly, owner of Cats of Dalai that were intended to
produce a different outcome.  
project involving the ALC, Domestic cats and the study of
Feline Leukemia.    In the 1980’s, Jean and several interested cat
breeders made a concerted effort to develop that which is the
Bengal cat today. For those of you that are in need of a detailed
history there is a detail history by Jean herself at www.
millwoodbengals.net and go to the MILESTONES@MILLWOOD.
One of the breedings between a
pedigree Abyssinian and a Seal Point
Siamese produced a total surprise:  an
exquisite kitten with bright golden spots
on an ivory background.  This was
Tonga, the original Ocicat. Although
Tonga was sold as a pet with a
neutering agreement, other spotted
Ocicats were produced through
subsequent mating of Tonga’s sire and
dam and other relatives that formed the
foundation of the Dalai Ocicat breeding
program.  
Bengal
Egyptian Mau and Asian Leopard Cat
Abyssinian
Seal Point Siamese
Ocicat
The CHEETOH Cat is now a recognized breed and
registered with the United Feline Organization. We are
also recognized by TICA - The International Cat
Association - as an Experimental New Breed.
The CHEETOH is the newest wild/domestic hybrid cat, utilizing very
specific bloodlines of the Bengal cat and the Ocicat breeds. The
Cheetoh was first researched and developed by Carol Drymon of
Wind Haven Exotics in 2001 and the first litters arrived at Wind
Haven in 2003. Subsequently, other qualified breeders throughout
the United States were invited to participate in the Cheetoh breeding
program. This program is based on very specific breed standards and
a 5 year breeding plan that was several years in the making.
In summation, the CHEETOH is being bred to
create the wildest looking domestic cat in the
feline kingdom, an extremely large, sweet-natured
lap cat that looks like a true jungle cat that has a
completely dependable, docile nature that can be
trusted around anyone, especially children.

The CHEETOH, though
fierce in appearance, is at
all times an incredibly
social and loving cat,
seldom aloof or showing
any tendencies towards
aggressive or standoffish
behavior.  They have an
enormous amount of
energy, especially the cubs,
which is the reason they
are so adept at keeping
themselves and their
human companions
entertained.  The
CHEETOH cat is also
extremely intelligent and
curious, often showing a
very unfeline sense of
humor.
The CHEETOH Cat incorporates the distinctive
characteristics of both the Ocicat and the Bengal, but
has its own unique attributes. These include extremely
large size, unsurpassed gentleness of character, and the
wild look that can otherwise only be found in the
jungles.