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In 1996, Mike and Marie Bloodgood fell in love with a developing breed of domestic cat called the Bengal cat and started a Bengal cat breeding program known as Bamboo Cattery. As they researched the breed's history, they soon realized that what they fell in love with was the Leopard Cat inheritance that was used in creating the Bengal cat breed. As they began purchasing Bengal cats closer and closer to the foundation Leopard Cats, they continued to be amazed at their wonderfully affectionate, intelligent, and unchallenging nature which they never had seen before in other non-domestic and domestic cats.LCF's HISTORY/FOUNDERS
Having over 30 years of experience of being an accomplished breeder of over 170 different exotic, endangered species, and domestic breeds of animals, Mike and Marie found themselves fascinated by the Leopard Cat species and understood the importance of preserving this threatened and sometimes endangered species both in captivity and in their native lands.
Mike and Marie's dreams came true in 2000 when they were offered two male Leopard Cats named ZaRu (pure p.b.eupilurus) and ZaHaDum (unknown subspecies) from friend and mentor Sandra Roan. They then imported their first bottle-raised Leopard Cat (pure p.b.chinensis) the following spring and soon found themselves purchasing other pure subspecies and involved in rescuing Leopard Cats in need of a home.
Despite cleaver marketing, Mike and Marie had learned about how the Leopard Cat species had been exploited by the original Bengal cat breeders in an effort to create the domestic Bengal cat breed, with little regard for their species, so they vowed that they would set an example and never do the same and is why they soon started a Leopard Cat breeding facility called the "Leopard Cat Foundation®" which quickly grew into one of the largest breeding/research facilities of it's kind in the world.
They also showed by example that creating wonderful Bengal cats does not have to be at the expense of a threatened or endangered species. In fact Mike and Marie were able to find ways to make Bengal cats pay back to the species they owe their creation to. They did this by using the funds they raised from the sale of their wonderful Bengal cats and invest it into the Leopard Cat Foundation.
They soon found that the need for a facility like the Leopard Cat Foundation® was in dyer need to save the species, but raising Bengal cats was not profitable enough to support such a large program and they started to find themselves falling into debt quickly. They soon realized that if LCF was going to continue to reach it goals, they would have to seek financial support from the generosity of others who also care about the Leopard Cat species fate.
During their years of breeding Mike has won numerous awards and titles from his peers, including Lifetime Outstanding Breeder Award in a Breed Association in 1994 and Master, Grand Master, and the first Supreme Grand Master Breeder Awarded by a International registry and has even been credited with developing a breed of dog called the Mountain View Cur®, and a domestic cat breed called the Pantherette®.
Mike's articles on breeding have been published for over a decade in national, international magazines, organizational newsletters and is being sought after to write more. Mike has judged for many organizations and registries over the years and both Mike and Marie have served and are serving on several genetic advisory boards and committees.
Mike is a Lifetime Advisor, founding member, served two 3 year terms as Director, and has served 6 consecutive terms as President of The International Bengal Breeders' Association Inc. (TIBBA).
He has been CEO and All-breed Show Judge of the International Progressive Breeders Alliance (IPBA) animal registries, and their subsidiaries like the International Progressive Exotic Breeders' Alliance (IPEBA) exotic animal registry, the International Progressive Cat Breeders' Alliance (IPCBA) domestic cat registry, and the International Progressive Dog Breeders' Alliance (IPDBA) domestic dog registry since 1996.
Marie is also an All-breed Show Judge, EO, and Registrar of the International Progressive Breeders Alliance (IPBA) animal registries, and their subsidiaries. She is also a Lifetime Advisor, founding member, and serving has served two terms as Director of The International Bengal Breeders' Association Inc. (TIBBA) Mike & Marie are also Filial Bengal Cat Consultants of the early generation Bengals aka: Filial Bengals as well as members of Feline Conservation Federation and list goes on.
Mike, Marie and children are all members of the Upton Baptist Church in Upton, Kentucky. They are very actively serving in their youth programs, missionary work, and Sunday school. Marie serves on committees, and Mike is serving as an ordained Deacon of the Church and give all the credit for their successes in life to almighty God.
Mike's love for God's creations started as a young child and he grew up raising all kinds of species of animals and had his own Game Farm by age 15. Many visitors thought Bloodgood's Game Farm in New Paltz, New York was a better experience than the well-known Caskill Game Farm about an hour away.
Mike worked closely with New York's Department of Environmental Conservation 'DEC' which had an office just two miles from his home. He has also always had an excellent working relationship with US Fish & Wildlife Officials for nearly 35 years.
Marie's love for animals also started at a young age. Though her parents were not animal enthusiasts, she did enjoyed raising rabbits, saving abandoned kittens, and spending her time with nature on her parents 20 acres growing up in Highland, New York.
Shortly after their marriage in 1978, Mike and Marie became best of friends with world renowned Star Breeder and Master Breeder Udo Schulze and his family in Slathill, New York. Udo has set many new breeding records leading exotic world with numerous first captive breedings and specialized in raising endangered species for reintroduction back into the wild.
Interesting enough, Udo had raised Leopard Cats over 30 years earlier and has personally raised more species of animals than anyone living today. In the 80's, Mike used his engineering skills and Game farm experience to help Udo build natural habitats and pens for the rare species that Udo and his wife Crysta were working to save and have been credit with saving several South American and African species from extinction. Udo remains one of the top animals consultants in the world and is now retired and moved just 4 miles from LCF's facilities in Bonnieville, Kentucky in 2006.
In the meantime, with Marie's support, Mike continued his career as an Aerospace Machinist and started their family while maintaining their own personal breeding programs caring for over 50 species of birds, fish, reptiles and animals at a time and have worked with over 170 different species, subspecies and breeds of animals over the years.
LCF is a family-run facility and would not be possible without the continued help, dedication, and sacrifices made by Mike, Marie, their three children, Rosemarie, Mike Jr., Crystal and many friends and mentors. They also decided if LCF was going to succeed, they would have to discontinue several of their other exotic animal programs.
Mike continues to use his machinist, engineering skills and past animal experiences to design state of the art habitats and animal husbandry equipment for LCF. See "About LCF's Facilities".
They are working with private breeders and some Zoo's around the world in an effort to establish a healthy gene pool of each known subspecies of Leopard Cat and has become one of the world leading experts and authorities on Leopard Cat behavior, breeding, nutrition, and care in captivity and in the wild.
URGENT!
HOME PAGE
WHAT IS A LEOPARD CAT?
LEOPARD CAT PHOTO GALLERY
ABOUT LCF's FACILITIES
LEOPARD CAT RESEARCH
ADOPT A LEOPARD CAT PROGRAM
LEOPARD CAT CARE
LEOPARD CAT PRODUCTS
PURCHASING A LEOPARD CAT
LEOPARD
CAT HYBRIDS (Bengal Cats)
Charter member of 
International Progressive Exotic Breeders' Alliance
Feline Division