The Bengal Cashmere is attracting increasing attention worldwide. Its long, silky coat, softened wild appearance, and temperament identical to the short-haired Bengal make it a fascinating variation.
However, behind this legitimate enthusiasm lies a major and largely unspoken risk: structural inbreeding resulting from extremely reduced bloodlines.

This article does not seek to assign blame, but to highlight an already observable genetic drift, in order to safeguard the future of the Cashmere Bengal — and of the Bengal breed as a whole.

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A European diffusion based on an overly narrow genetic base

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An objective fact must be clearly stated:
the vast majority of Bengal Cashmere cats currently circulating in Europe originate from a very limited number of founding bloodlines, essentially stemming from two major genetic sources.

These lines have been widely redistributed, crossed, and rebranded under multiple cattery names, creating an illusion of diversity while the underlying genetic base remains extremely narrow.
This phenomenon is well known in population genetics: multiplying names does not create genetic diversity.

In the short term, this situation may appear harmless.
In the medium to long term, it creates a fertile ground for hidden inbreeding, which is often impossible to detect through pedigrees limited to a few generations.

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Acknowledging the value of pioneering work

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It would be intellectually dishonest to deny the quality of the foundational work behind these early Cashmere lines.
The work carried out on the longhair gene established an interesting genetic base, particularly in terms of type, structure, and color.
After several generations of selection, these cats undeniably present promising, coherent, and visually refined profiles.

This pioneering effort allowed the Cashmere Bengal to emerge, gain visibility, and be taken seriously within Europe. It represents an important foundational stage in the history of this genetic expression.

However, in genetics, the quality of a starting point never guarantees long-term sustainability if that base is not expanded.

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When rarity becomes a danger

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Here lies the Cashmere paradox:
what currently defines its rarity and value — a limited number of individuals — is precisely what can threaten its future.

When the same bloodlines are repeatedly reused:

• allelic diversity decreases,

• recessive defects accumulate,

• immune resilience weakens,

• fertility may decline,

• and overall vitality gradually erodes.

These effects are slow, cumulative, and often invisible at first, making them particularly dangerous.
Inbreeding is not always dramatic. Sometimes, it acts as a silent erosion.

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A constructed genetic alternative — not a theoretical one

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In response to this concentration of bloodlines, our position is clear: we have deliberately chosen to build a genuine genetic alternative.

Rather than recycling already overexploited lines, we have identified, selected, and integrated alternative and complementary bloodlines that are still underrepresented, not overused, and possess real genetic potential.

 

This approach is not based on rhetoric, but on a thorough analysis of origins, genealogical trajectories, and saturation zones.
Our objective is not to oppose existing foundational lines, but to intelligently complement them, introducing new genetic material capable of strengthening diversity, resilience, and long-term sustainability in the Cashmere Bengal.

These alternative lines provide:

• broader allelic diversity,

• reduced inbreeding pressure,

• complementary profiles in type, structure, and longhair expression,

• and a sound foundation for long-term generational work.

 

👉 Being an alternative does not mean starting from scratch — it means refusing genetic recycling.
It means building differently, on expanded foundations.

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The Cashmere must not repeat the mistakes of the classic Bengal

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The short-haired Bengal already offers a clear example of what happens when a breed is worked in a closed circuit for too long:
genetic saturation, bottlenecks, and emerging fragilities.

Originally, the Cashmere represented a unique opportunity for genetic diversification.
But if it too becomes locked into a reduced-bloodline model, it risks not only losing that role, but amplifying existing genetic drifts.

 

👉 The Cashmere cannot be a solution if it becomes a genetic clone under a different coat.

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Why multiple bloodlines are essential

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Responsible Cashmere breeding requires accepting a fundamental reality:
one single bloodline, no matter how high-quality, is not sufficient.

A serious program must rely on:

• multiple genuinely independent bloodlines,

• complementary genetic origins,

• a thoughtful alternation between Cashmere and carriers,

• and a clear refusal of inbreeding, even when disguised as “light linebreeding”.

Multiple bloodlines make it possible to:

• compare longhair expressions,

• correct genetic drift,

• preserve strong type,

• and most importantly, make informed choices rather than endure genetic outcomes.

 

Building — not freezing

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he Cashmere Bengal is neither a trend nor an anomaly.
It is a natural, ancient, valuable, and demanding genetic variation.

Its future does not depend on the accelerated reproduction of a few founding cats, but on:

• patience,

• long-term vision,

• genetic diversity,

• and a clear ethical framework.

👉 Recognizing the value of pioneering work does not eliminate the need to go further.
On the contrary, it creates the responsibility to build beyond that base.

 

Conclusion: safeguarding the future of the Cashmere

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Inbreeding is not inevitable.
It becomes a problem when it is ignored, minimized, or justified by rarity.

Preserving the Cashmere Bengal means accepting that:

• genetics must prevail over speed,

• diversity over uniformity,

• and that the sustainability of a line is measured in decades — not litters.

The Cashmere deserves more than short-term success.
It deserves a genetically sound future.