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Learn about Bengal Cats

Bengal cats are a beautiful domestic cat with the look that you see on larger cats in the wild. All domestic cats, whether pedigreed or not, come in a variety of colors and patterns. Bengals can have spotted, golden and many other patterns. The Bengal cat comes in a wide range of colors, shades and patterns within the breed.

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The pattern and color is dependent on both parent's genetic background. Even within the same litter the kittens can be different from one another. The mapping of the feline genome allowed the genes that control coat, color and pattern in cats to be studied and identified with DNS tests. Genetic testing allows breeders to predict the possible outcome of an upcoming litter and can prevent diseases to become an integral part of a breed.

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Basically there are only three basic breed-accepted colors: Brown, Silver and the three Snow colors (Seal Lynx, Seal Sepia and Seal Mink Point). Within each color category, Spotted and Marble are the two accepted types of patterns.With so many Bengal cat variations, it can be hard to know where to begin when you are searching for a cat. 

spotted and marbled Bengal cat patterns

In the image above you can see the two (2) coat patterns of the Bengal cat: Spotted and Marbled. But don't let the 2 coat categories fool you. There are many unique varieties of each type of pattern and a wide range of Bengal cat colors. 

ten different patterns on Bengal cats

The Spotted Bengal Cat

The spotted coat is the  most popular coat on a Bengal cat. Characteristics of a spotted Bengal cat: small to medium sized spots all over their coats. The large, random, two-tone rosetted markings are particularly prized because they look like mini leopards. This pattern style appeared when believed that larger and sparser spots were more desirable. The original spotted tabby pattern found in domestic cats has been modified by selective breeding.

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On a single spotted coat, the coat is covered in random, diagonally or horizontally aligned spots on the torso, tummy and legs. Large dark spots on a light ground color is usually preferred. Single spotted means that the spots are monochrome. Single spotted Bengals are allowed to compete in cat shows, but they are not preferred.

four spotted pattern types

As mentioned earlier, the most popular spotted coat for a Bengal car is the "Rosetted Bengal". Spots are called rosettes when the spots are two-toned contrasting colors and are very distinct from the background color. The Bengal cat is the ONLY domestic cat with rosetted spots.

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There are three main types of rosettes: Arrow-head, Paw-print, and Donut.

Rosette patterns on Bengal cats

The Bengal cat breed standard calls for the spots to be horizontally aligned instead of vertically aligned as they are on the classic tabby.

The Marbled Bengal Cat

The marbled coat pattern is derived from blotched tabby stripes that swirl. The ideal marble Bengal cat has a horizontally flowing, random, asymmetrical pattern made up of swirls and two or more colors.

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There are four official types of marbled Bengal cats: reduced horizontal flow, horizontal flow, chaos pattern, and sheet marble patterns. The descendants of the early marbled Bengals breed by Jean Mill of Millwood Cattery have contributed the outlining gene and horizontal flow which produced the first rosetted spots in the 2000's.

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In 1993, the marbled Bengal was granted championship status within the TICA.

four marbled pattern types

Bengal Colors

Bengal cats come in a variety of colors. There are about six Bengal colors, divided into standard and non-standard by TICA. The standard colors are brown, snow, and silver. The non-recognized colors are charcoal, blue and solid black (Melanistic). Regardless of the color or tone, the pattern on a Bengal cat should yield a high degree of contrast. 

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The Brown Bengal is the most popular of the Bengal cat colors and the first to be recognized by TICA in 1983. The Snow Bengal cat comes in a range of colors which are associated with a form of albinism that comes from Siamese and Burmese cats ancestry. They are not pure white Bengal cats. The Silver Bengal is more a lack of color with an almost white base coat. The Charcoal Bengal is darker than the traditional recognized Bengal colors. They present a black smoky charcoal color. This trait can be seen in each of the color classes. The Blue Bengal is very rare and have a powder blue/gray coat with some cream tones. The Black (Melanistic) Bengal cat have black patterns on a black ground color, similar to a black panther. See the differences in the colors below. 

brown Bengal cat

Brown Bengal Cat

  • Eye color: Brown, copper, gold, green, hazel eyes.

  • Ground color can range from gray-tawny to orange-gold.

  • Spotting, rosetting or marbling color can range from black, light brown to a darker reddish brown.

  • Background Shades: Golden, Cream, Tawny, Honey, Taupe, Tan, Beige, Caramel, and Cinnamon. Orange Brown is the preferred ground color.

  • Tail: tipped in black

  • Nose: red

  • Belly: white

snow seal sepia Bengal cat

The Snow Sepia Bengal Cat

  • Coat: Ivory, cream, light tan color

  • Markings: Various shades of seal sepia to dark seal sepia markings

  • Tail: Dark seal brown tail tip

  • Eyes: Green or gold eyes

silver charcoal Bengal cat

Silver Charcoal Bengal 

  • Coat: dark greyish/brownish

  • Markings: dark spotted or marbled patterns. May have ghost markings.

  • Face: darker face mask

  • Tail: black tipped

snow seal lynx Bengal cat

Snow Lynx Bengal Cat

  • Coat: A very light white cream color

  • Markings: Dark or light seal markings

  • Tail: Dark seal brown tail tip

  • Eyes: Blue eyes. Always.

silver Bengal cat

Silver Bengal Cat

  • Coat: As little tarnish (yellow/rusty brown) in the coat as possible

  • Markings: Dark gray to jet black markings

  • Tail: A black tip tail

  • Nose: A brick red nose

  • Eyes: Green or golden eyes

blue Bengal cat

Blue Bengal Cat

  • Coat: A steely blue ground color

  • Color tones: Peachy undertones

  • Markings: Blue markings that will never turn black

  • Tail: A dark gray tail tip

  • Eyes: Gold, green or hazel eyes

snow seal mink Bengal cat

Snow Mink Bengal Cat

  • Coat: Ivory, cream, light tan color

  • Markings: Various shades of seal mink to dark seal mink markings

  • Tail: Dark seal brown tail tip

  • Eyes: Blue-green or aqua eyes

charcoal Bengal cat

Charcoal Bengal Cat

  • Coat: dark greyish/brownish

  • Markings: dark spotted or marbled patterns. May have ghost markings.

  • Face: darker face mask

  • Tail: black tipped

  • Eyes: Hazel to gold

black Bengal cat

Black (Melanistic) Bengal Cat

  • Coat: black

  • Markings: Faint dark brown to black ghost spots

  • Availability: Very rare breed

  • Variation: Smoke Bengal is the Silver variation of the melanistic

  • Eyes: hazel to gold eyes

Fur Characteristics

Bengal fur glitter

Glitter is a special characteristic of the Bengal cat. Not all Bengals have glitter but they are the first domestic cat that does. The coat shimmers and sparkles. Even in low lighting you can see the glitter on the Bengal.

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Glitter is a translucent hollow hair shaft that catches the light and reflects it. It is present throughout the coat and it is beautiful.

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Patina and Ticking Patina are two characteristics a Bengal cat can have that are slightly different from one another. Patina is black or dark tipped hairs that blur the pattern. Ticking is where all of the fur on the cat looks blurry due to lack of contrast in the fur. This is caused by multi-colored hair shafts giving the fur a faded or less bold look.

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(Images used on this page are from their prospective owners (noted on the photos) or from the creative commons of Wikipedia. We are not assuming any right to these images and are using them for educational purposes only.

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