The Bengali Connection
There was an other interesting woman who was influential when it comes to cat breeds. Here name was Jean Mill owner of Millwood cattery, better known as the founder of the Bengal cat breed, but also the Himalayan Cat breed.
Egyptian Mau breeding
Jean Mill got information that a spotted male cat was living in a rhino enclouse.
Mill registered ”Millwood Tory of Delhi” as an Egyptian Mau, and also imported Egyptian Mau kittens from India. Tory was used to overcome the hybrid sterility problem in the first generations of Bengal Cats She offered Tory to Egyptian Mau breeders to strengthen their bloodlines.
Interesting enough Mill also inspired her daughter Judy Sugden to establish a new cat breed, the Toyger. The intention was to make people aware the situation of the endangerd wild tigers.