You asked for the position of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture on the sale and purchase of Bengal cats and how other states address this issue. Asian leopard cats are small wild cats that resemble ocelots.
Most Bengal cats are at least four generations removed from Asian leopard cats.
Bengal cats generally weigh between eight and 16 pounds and were recognized as a breed by The International Cat Association in 1984. The law barred the importation of Bengal cats after June 6, 1996. The department has historically opposed allowing Bengal cats in the state out of a concern for rabies. In particular, USDA has not conducted a study to determine the length of time Bengal cats can pass the rabies virus through their saliva. Bengal cats are considered unvaccinated for purposes of the rabies control laws, whether or not they have received the standard cat rabies vaccine.