WHAT IS THE BENGAL STANDARD?

HEAD

 

A shortened version of wedge shape with a rounded outlines

 

Shape 

 

Slightly smaller in proportion to body. The skull behind the ears makes a gentle curve and flows into the neck. 

 

Ears 

 

Medium to small, relatively short, with a wide base and rounded tops. Set as much on side as top of head. 

 

Eyes 

 

Oval, almost round. Large, but not bugged. Set wide apart and on slight bias toward base of ear. This is opposed to almond shaped, hooded and small beady eyes.

 

Eye color independent of coat color except in the lynx points in which they should be blue. 
The more vibrant the color the better!

 

NOTE: browns, silvers, minks, and sepias cannot have blue eyes
 

Chin 

 

Strong chin, aligns with tip of nose in profile

 

Muzzle 

 

Full and broad, with large, prominent whisker pads 

 

Nose 

 

Large and wide; slightly puffed nose leather (skin surface of the nose). 

 

Profile 

 

Curve of the forehead should flow into the bridge of the nose with no break. Bridge of nose extends to the nose tip, making a slight, to nearly straight, concave curve.

 

Neck 

 

Long, substantial, muscular; in proportion to the head and body

BODY

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Torso

 

Long and substantial. Medium to large (but not quite as large as the largest domestic breed).

 

Legs

 

Medium length, slightly longer in the back than in the front

 

Feet

 

Large, round, with prominent knuckles

 

Tail

 

Medium length, thick, tapered at end with rounded tip.

 

Boning

 

Sturdy, firm; never delicate.

 

Musculature

 

Very muscular, especially in the males.

 

COAT

 

Color

 

Brown

 

All variants of brown are allowed with brown to black colored markings. White base colors on the whisker pads, chins, chest, belly and inner legs.

 

Seal Lynx Point/Seal Mink/Seal Sepia (Color points)

 

All variants of cream and tan with dark brown/tan colored markings. These markings should be of little difference from the point color (points are nose, ears, tail etc.)

 

Silver

 

A silver/pewter base color with preference to dark dense black markings. The coloring should be free of yellow/brown/red tones (tarnish).

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Charcoal 

 

These cats have higher concentrations of black (melanin) pigment. They typically have a solid black thick strip down the back (cape). The face is generally black with white spectacles around the eyes (mask).
 

• Brown charcoals will have a base color of brown

• Silver charcoals will have a base color of silver/pewter

• Seal Lynx/Mink/Sepia charcoals will have a base color of creamy white 

 

Texture

 

Dense and luxurious, close‐lying, unusually soft and silky to the touch.

 

Pattern

 

Spots/Rosettes

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Spots shall be random or aligned horizontally.

 

Rosettes should be two distinct colors or shades (the outline should be a different color than the inside of the rosette which can be a different color than the base color).

 

Contrast with base color must be extreme, giving distinct pattern and sharp edges. 

 

Strong, bold chin strap and mascara (streaks on the “cheeks”) markings desirable

 

Blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks, spotted legs and spotted or rosetted tail are  desirable. 

 

Belly must be spotted. 

 

Marble

 

Markings, while derived from the classic tabby gene, should be uniquely different with as little "bull's‐eye" similarity as possible. Rather it should be random with horizontal flow. Belly must be patterned. Little resemblance to a tabby cat is desirable.

 

 

Preference should be given to cats with three or more shades; i.e., base color, markings, and dark outlining of those markings.

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Check out a more about the  official Bengal Standards as written by TICA