Bengal
About the Breed
To most cat lovers, spots spell “wild” and spotted cats command attention. While there are other spotted breeds, only the Bengal takes spots one step further, sporting dramatic rosettes with dark outlines for a look like no other breed. Although actually descended from a wild ancestor, these exotic-looking felines boast many generations of careful breeding dedicated to replicating the look of a wild cat, paired with a sweet personality. Throughout the development of the breed, selecting for the best temperaments has been top priority. Consequently, today’s Bengal is a remarkably beautiful animal that is as playful and loving a companion as anyone could want. It also offers a veritable rainbow of colors and patterns to choose from.
Breed History
Two unrelated goals gave birth to the Bengal breed. In 1963, conservationist Jean Mill, who was working to preserve a small arboreal wildcat known as the Asian Leopard Cat, crossed a black domestic tom with a female Asian. Meanwhile, Dr. Willard Centerwall was beginning a breeding program to produce similar crosses, seeking to produce a domestic cat with the Asian’s natural immunity to feline leukemia. Mill went on to obtain breeding cats from Centerwall and used them, along with spotted domestic cats, to develop the Bengal breed. She eventually produced sweet-tempered cats that were five generations out from the original wildcats. The new breed was gradually recognized throughout the cat fancy; it became extremely popular in the show ring and as a pet. CFA accepted Bengals for registration in 2016, requiring five generations of pure domestic ancestry. They were advanced to championship status in 2018.
GENERAL: The Bengal is a medium to large cat with a sleek, muscular build. Boning is substantial. Hindquarters slightly higher than shoulders. The tail is thick, with rounded tip, and carried lower than the back. The Bengal’s head, expressive nocturnal look, and stunning markings give the breed a wild appearance. The coat is like no other: short, soft, silky to the touch, luxurious, and preferably glittered. Bengals are alert and active, with inquisitive, dependable dispositions. Males are generally larger than females.
HEAD: Broad, modified wedge with rounded contours, longer than wide, with high cheekbones. Slightly small in proportion to body, not to be taken to extreme. Top of skull flows back into the neck, with visible back skull. No flat planes. Allowance for jowls on mature males.
PROFILE: Gently curved forehead to nose bridge. Nose may range from straight to a slightly concave curve. Bridge of nose extends above the eyes; the line of the bridge extends smoothly to the nose tip.
NOSE: Large and wide, slightly puffed nose leather. Bridge of nose extends above the eyes.
CHIN: Strong, substantial, aligns with tip of nose in profile.
MUZZLE: Full and broad, with prominent whisker pads.
EARS: Medium to small, with a wide base, rounded tips being desirable. Set far apart, following the contours of the face in frontal view, slight tilt forward in profile view. Light, horizontal furnishings acceptable, tufts are undesirable.
EYES: Large and dominating, the eyes should be a prominent feature of the face. Shape is rounded with some angularity of the top eyelid acceptable. Set wide apart, in the lower third of the skull when viewed in profile. Boning holds the eye at a parallel angle to the nose bridge in profile and prevents an overly protruding appearance. While there is acceptable variation in the shape of the eye, size and positioning should convey a nocturnal expression. Eye color independent of coat color, except in the Lynx Points, where Blue is the only acceptable color. Richness and depth of color is always preferred.
NECK: Thick and muscular, long in proportion to the body.
BODY: Long and substantial, muscular, particularly the males. Hindquarters slightly higher than shoulders.
BONE: Substantial, never delicate.
LEGS: Medium long, slightly longer rear legs. Muscular.
PAWS: Large and round, with prominent knuckles.
TAIL: Thick, tapered at the end with rounded tip. Medium in length, in proportion to body.
COAT: Short, close lying, soft, luxurious with minimal resilience. May be glittered (iridescent shimmer to the coat, caused by light reflection or refraction at hair tips).
ALLOWANCES: Smaller size, in balanced proportion, in females. Jowls in mature males. Slightly longer coat in kittens. Slightly larger ears in kittens. Eyes slightly almond shaped. Incorrect paw pad color.
PENALIZE: Kinked or otherwise deformed tail. Rosetted/Spotted Tabby Pattern – Rosettes or spots running together vertically forming a mackerel tabby pattern. Marble Tabby Pattern – Circular bull’s eye pattern. Snow Tabby Pattern – Substantially darker point color as compared to color of body markings.
DISQUALIFY: Clearly visible tail kink or tail deformity. Cow hocking. Crossed eyes. Rosetted/Spotted Tabby, Marble Tabby, Charcoal Tabby, Snow Tabby Patterns – Belly not patterned. Any distinct locket on neck, chest, abdomen, or anywhere else.
ROSETTED/SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: Rosettes and spots shall be random, with a horizontal flow to their alignment, and a pattern like no other breed. Ground color should be clear, and as uniform in color as possible. Contrast with ground color must be extreme, showing distinct pattern with sharp edges. Rosettes are two toned, with dark outlines, and a lighter center. Rosettes can be many different shapes, such as round donut, pancake, paw print, arrowhead, or clustered, and are preferred to single spotting. Strong, bold chin strap and mascara markings desirable. Backs of ears have a thumbprint. A much lighter to white ground color on the whisker pads, chin, chest, belly, and inner legs, in contrast to the ground color of the flanks and back. Blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks, spotted legs, and spotted, or rosetted tail are desirable. Belly must be spotted. Allowance for spotted pattern without rosettes. These cats are not required to have two tone markings.
MARBLE TABBY PATTERN: The Marble pattern is a modified classic tabby pattern with horizontal, diagonal, or random pattern flow, as opposed to a circular pattern flow; there should be no resemblance to the classic tabby pattern seen in other breeds. Contrast with ground color must be extreme, showing distinct markings with sharp edges. Two toned markings are preferred. Additional color tones inside the pattern, giving a “stained glass” effect is desirable. Patterned shoulder markings, and multi-toned markings on legs, feet and tail desirable. Rosettes and spots can be present, particularly on the legs. Distinct mascara and other facial markings desirable. Lighter colored spectacles enhance the eyes. A much lighter to white ground color on the whisker pads, chin, chest, belly, and inner legs, in contrast to the ground color of the flanks and back. Light thumbprints on back of ears are desirable. Belly must be patterned.
CHARCOAL TABBY PATTERN EFFECT: Charcoal Tabby Effect can be present and shown in all acceptable tabby patterns and colors (e.g., Black Charcoal Silver Spotted Tabby). Any color Charcoal Tabby meets the Rosetted/Spotted or Marble Tabby descriptions with more dramatic spectacles. There is less contrast between pattern and ground color as well as a darker overall appearance in between a tabby and a solid. Mask runs from the nose bridge to the nose tip and connects from the mascara lines to the nose bridge. A wide, dark, “cape” on the dorsal side may be present.