Viverral Cat

The Viverral cat is very rare and there is not much information on this cat breed, so this is a short post. Another rare cat breed that has a very similar parentage is the Bagral cat or Machbagral cat. Both are wildcat/domestic cat hybrids.

The Machagral is a Fishing cat crossed with a black tabby cat (faint tabby markings). The Viverral cat is also a Fishing cat hybrid, but this time crossed with an F1 -- F3 Bengal cat.

This cat breed is accepted by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry and were first bred in 1995. The Fishing Cat is a typical looking small wildcat, stocky, muscular and what cat fanciers might call "unrefined". 

So, the Viverral is bound to be muscular and have, what cat breeders might call, a substantial body type (see body types).


Asian Fishing Cat - the wildcat half of the Viverral cat - photo by The Brit_2

This Viverral has a wide nose, smallish head (like the Bengal), strong muzzle, small ears relative the head size, and a thick medium length tail. The coat is spotted.

The name comes from the Latin name of the Asian Fishing Cat, namely: Felis viverrina.

I'll add some more info. Sarah Hartwell, a friend and colleague of mine, states that this breed when it was created or soon thereafter was an experimental breed. It is a cross between the Asian Fishing Cat and early generation Bengal cats.

The first hybrids were created in 1995. They became a "genetically stable breed" in 2001. The breed resembles the Fishing Cat. Their temperament is of courses one of a domestic cat but with some wildcat DNA

They are large, solid and muscular. They are prominent whisker pads and a wide nose. The profile is described as slightly convex. The coat is short and plush.

The coat pattern in spots in black, brown or tan. And they have white spectacles around the eyes.

From Viverral Cat to Domestic Cat Breeds (a list of rare cat breeds)