Bengal Cat standards and characters for show

Bengal Cat description and standards

1. Bengal
Judges Breed Seminar
Las Vegas, NV
June 29, 2016

2. Bengal
Judges Breed Seminar
Las Vegas, NV
June 29, 2016

3. Bengal Judges Breed Seminar
Overview
General Description
Standard Point Allocation
What makes the Bengal distinct?
Head
Body
Coat/Color/Pattern
Allowances/Penalize/DQ
History & Origins
Handling Tips

4. General Description
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

5. Bengal General Description
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.
HelmiFlick
HelmiFlick

6. Bengal General Description
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.
Non-Domestic Cat Species
Asian Leopard Cat (Borneo camera trap), Ocelot
and Margay (Ecuador camera trap)

7. Bengal General Description
The Bengal’s head, expressive nocturnal look, and stunning
markings give the breed a wild appearance.
Audra Mitchell

8. Bengal General Description
The coat is like no other: short, soft, silky to the touch,
luxurious, and preferably glittered.
HelmiFlick
Glitter

9. Bengal General Description
Bengals are alert and active, with inquisitive, dependable
dispositions. Males are generally larger than females.
HelmiFlick

10. Point Allocation
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

11. Current Bengal
Miscellaneous
Status Standard
POINTS
HEAD
BODY
COAT &
COLOR
PATTERN
•Emphasizes
characteristics distinct
from other domestic cats
•Points split 50-50
type and coat/pattern

12. Standard Point Allocation
Coat & Color PatternHead Body
Head (30)
Skull (5)
Muzzle (6)
Profile (4)
Ears (6)
Eyes (6)
Chin (3)
Body/Torso (20)
Boning (5)
Musculature (5)
Legs/Feet (5)
Tail (5)

13. Standard Point Allocation
Points
Head Body Coat & Color Pattern
Coat & Color (25)
Texture (10)
Coat Color (10)
Eye Color (5)
Pattern (25)
Contrast (10)
Pattern (15))

14. What Makes Bengals Distinct?
Consider how the parts of the standard work together to
create the wild look of the Bengal that is distinct from other
domestic cats
Combination of type and markings/pattern

15. What Makes Bengals Distinct?
Face: Head/Pattern/Eyes
Length of head from
forehead to back skull
Large, expressive eyes
Vivid facial markings,
including white/light
around eyes and
muzzle

16. What Makes Bengals Distinct?
AthleticBody/Pattern/Color

17. Head Type Study
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

18. Bengal Head Type I
Broad, modified wedge
with rounded contours,
Longer than wide, with
high cheekbones.
No flat planes.
(Allowance for jowls on
mature males.)
MUZZLE: Full and
broad, with prominent
whisker pads.
CHIN: Strong,
substantialHelmiFlick
Muzzle
Top of head
rounded, not flat
Chin

19. Bengal Head Type II
NOSE: Large and
wide, slightly puffed
nose leather.
EARS: Medium to
small, with a wide base,
rounded tips being
desirable. Set far apart,
following the contours
of the face in frontal
view
Light, horizontal
furnishings acceptable,
tufts are undesirable.
HelmiFlick

20. Bengal Head Type III
EYES: Shape is round
[rounded] to oval.
Large, but not bugged.
Set wide apart, with a
slight bias toward the
base of ear
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.HelmiFlick

21. Bengal Head Type IV
Top of skull flows back into
the neck, with visible back
skull.
No flat planes.
PROFILE: [Straight to
almost straight, slight concave
curve ]Gently curved
forehead to nose bridge.
Nose may have a slight
concave curve.
Bridge of nose extends
above the eyes. [with no
break]
HelmiFlick
Back skull, flows
into neck
Bridge of nose
extends above eyes
Overall head length
v. width

22. Bengal Head Type IV
CHIN: Strong,
substantial, aligns with
tip of nose in profile.
EARS: [Set more on the
side than the top of the
head.]
Slight tilt forward in
profile view.
HelmiFlick

23. Body Type Study
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

24. Bengal Body Type 1
HelmiFlick
BODY: Long and substantial, muscular, particularly the males. Hindquarters slightly
higher than shoulders.
NECK: Thick and muscular, long in proportion to the body.
HEAD: Slightly small in proportion to body, not to be taken to extreme

25. Bengal Body Type 1
HelmiFlick
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.

26. Type Examples
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

27. Head Examples
Longer than it is wide, no flat planes
Correct Incorrect
Too short. Wider than long
Allowance for jowls in males
Too narrow
Skull flat

28. Head Examples: Profile
Correct Incorrect
Audra
Mitchell
Convex
Too much of a dip
Dip/break in profile
HelmiFlick
Audra Mitchell
Bridge of nose does NOT
extend above eyes

29. Head Examples: Chin
Correct Incorrect
Strong, substantial, aligns with tip of nose in profile

30. Head Examples: Muzzle & Nose
Correct Incorrect
MUZZLE: Full and broad,
with prominent whisker
pads
NOSE: Large and wide,
slightly puffed nose leather
Audra Mitchell
HelmiFlick

31. Head Examples: Ears
Correct
Incorrect
Medium to small, with a wide base, rounded tips being desirable. Set far apart,
following the contours of the face in frontal view
Audra
Mitchell
HelmiFlick

32. Head Examples: Eyes
Correct Incorrect
Too small,
hooded
Too slanted
HelmiFlick

33. Neck & Backskull
Correct
Incorrect
NECK: Thick and muscular, long in proportion to the body
No backskull
Top of skull flows
back into the neck,
with visible back
skull

34. Body Examples
Correct Incorrect
Long and substantial,
muscular, particularly the
males. Hindquarters slightly
higher than shoulders.

35. Body Examples: TAIL
Correct Incorrect
HelmiFlick
HelmiFlick
HelmiFlick
Thick, tapered at the
end with rounded tip.
Medium in length, in
proportion to body

36. Coat Pattern, Texture and
Color Study
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

37. Bengal Pattern
Two Basic Patterns
Rosetted/Spotted
Marbled
Outlined, with 2
tones preferred,
all
colors/patterns

38. Bengal Pattern
Regardless of color/pattern, the two most
important considerations for pattern are:
CONTRAST
FLOW
Random
Horizontal or
Diagonal

39. Rosetted/Spotted Patterns
•Rosettes and spots
shall be random, with
a horizontal flow to
their alignment
•Contrast with ground
color must be extreme,
showing distinct
pattern with sharp
edges.
•Rosettes are two toned,
with dark outlines, and
lighter centers.
•Rosettes can be many
different shapes: donut,
pancake, paw print,
arrowhead, clustered,
and are preferred to
single spotting.
HelmiFlick

40. Marbled Pattern
•Contrast with ground
color must be extreme,
showing distinct
markings with sharp
edges.
•Markings are two
toned, having a
horizontal or diagonal
flow.
•There should be no
resemblance to the
Classic Tabby pattern
•Circular pattern or
bullseyeis undesirable.
•The more random the
pattern, the better.
•Additional color tones
inside the pattern,
giving a “stained glass”
effect is desirableHelmiFlick

41. Bengal Pattern: Bellies Must Be
Spotted/Patterned
HelmiFlickHelmiFlick

42. Coat Texture
•With qualities unique to the breed
•Short, close lying, soft, silky, luxurious, ideally
glittered.
•Allowance for slightly longer coat in kittens.
Correct
Incorrect

43. Bengal Coat: Glitter
•Glitter is an effect
created by
hollowness on the
ends of hair shafts
•Appears as a sparkle
or shine, reflecting
light
•Difficult to see in
photos

44. Bengal Pattern: Flow
Correct Incorrect

45. Bengal Pattern: Contrast
Correct
Incorrect
HelmiFlick
Audra Mitchell

46. Pattern Elements: Dark Mascara, chin straps; white
ground color on the whisker pads, chin, chest
HelmiFlick
HelmiFlick

47. Desired Pattern Elements:
Whited Tummy, R/S Tail
Rosetted/spotted tail desirable, as
opposed to rings/stripes
Whited tummy/Whited
Expression
HelmiFlickHelmiFlick

48. Bengal Proposed
Colors/Patterns
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

50. BengalColor/PatternsProposedforChampionshipStatus
CFABengalBreedCommitteeMaterials
Charcoal
Tabby
Charcoal
Tabby
Charcoal
Tabby
Charcoal
Tabby
Rosetted/
Spotted
Marbled Rosetted/
Spotted
Marbled Rosetted/
Spotted
Marbled Rosetted/
Spotted
Marbled
SILVER SILVER SILVER SILVER
Black/
Brown
Full
color
Black/Brown
R/STabby
Black/Brown
MarbledTabby
BlackSilver
R/STabby
BlackSilver
MarbledTabby
Black/Brown
R/SCharcoal
Tabby
Black/Brown
Marbled
Charcoal
Tabby
BlackSilver
R/SCharcoal
Tabby
BlackSilver
Marbled
Charcoal
Tabby
PointedSealR/SLynx
Point
SealMarbled
LynxPoint
SilverSealR/S
LynxPoint
SilverSeal
MarbledLynx
Point
SealR/S
Charcoal
LynxPoint
SealMarbled
Charcoal
LynxPoint
SilverSealR/S
CharcoalLynx
Point
SilverSeal
Marbled
CharcoalLynx
Point
Mink SealMinkR/S
Tabby
SealMink
MarbledTabby
SilverSeal
MinkR/S
Tabby
SilverSeal
MinkMarbled
Tabby
SealMink
R/SCharcoal
Tabby
SealMink
Marbled
Charcoal
Tabby
SilverSeal
MinkR/S
Charcoal
Tabby
SilverSeal
MinkMarbled
Charcoal
Tabby
Sepia SealSepiaR/S
Tabby
SealSepia
MarbledTabby
SilverSeal
SepiaR/S
Tabby
SilverSeal
SepiaMarbled
Tabby
SealSepia
R/SCharcoal
Tabby
SealSepia
Marbled
Charcoal
Tabby
SilverSeal
SepiaR/S
Charcoal
Tabby
SilverSeal
SepiaMarbled
Charcoal
Tabby
Blue SILVER SILVER SILVER SILVER
Full
color
BlueR/S
Tabby
BlueMarbled
Tabby
BlueSilverR/S
Tabby
BlueSilver
MarbledTabby
BlueR/S
Charcoal
Tabby
BlueMarbled
Charcoal
Tabby
BlueSilverR/S
Charcoal
Tabby
BlueSilver
Marbled
Charcoal
Tabby
PointedBlueR/SLynx
Point
BlueMarbled
LynxPoint
SilverBlueR/S
LynxPoint
SilverBlue
MarbledLynx
Point
BlueR/S
Charcoal
LynxPoint
BlueMarbled
Charcoal
LynxPoint
SilverBlueR/S
CharcoalLynx
Point
SilverBlue
Marbled
CharcoalLynx
Point
Mink BlueMinkR/S
Tabby
BlueMink
MarbledTabby
SilverBlue
MinkR/S
Tabby
SilverBlue
MinkMarbled
Tabby
BlueMink
R/SCharcoal
Tabby
BlueMink
Marbled
Charcoal
Tabby
SilverBlue
MinkR/S
Charcoal
Tabby
SilverBlue
MinkMarbled
Charcoal
Tabby
Sepia BlueSepiaR/S
Tabby
BlueSepia
MarbledTabby
SilverBlue
SepiaR/S
Tabby
SilverBlue
SepiaMarbled
Tabby
BlueSepia
R/SCharcoal
Tabby
BlueSepia
Marbled
Charcoal
Tabby
SilverBlue
SepiaR/S
Charcoal
Tabby
SilverBlue
SepiaMarbled
Charcoal
Tabby
Note:ProposedAOVincludesLonghairandShorthairversionsoftheaboveandofeveryothercolorintabbywiththe
abovetabbypatternsorsolid(aka“melanistic”),exceptforred,cream,tortie/torbieorbicolors(i.e.,nocombinationsof
“withwhite”allowed).Thisresultsin480possiblecolor/patternsforChampionshipandAOVcombined. Newly proposed for CFA

51. BengalColor/PatternsProposedforChampionshipStatus
CFABengalBreedCommitteeMaterials
WCCAssociationRecognizedColors/Patterns
Rosetted/
Spotted
Marbled Rosetted/
Spotted
Marbled
SILVER SILVER
Black/
Brown
Full
color
Black/Brown
R/STabby
Black/Brown
MarbledTabby
BlackSilver
R/STabby
BlackSilver
MarbledTabby
PointedSealR/SLynx
Point
SealMarbled
LynxPoint
SilverSealR/S
LynxPoint
SilverSeal
MarbledLynx
Point
Mink SealMinkR/S
Tabby
SealMink
MarbledTabby
SilverSeal
MinkR/S
Tabby
SilverSeal
MinkMarbled
Tabby
Sepia SealSepiaR/S
Tabby
SealSepia
MarbledTabby
SilverSeal
SepiaR/S
Tabby
SilverSeal
SepiaMarbled
Tabby

52. Selected Color Descriptions
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

53. Brown (Black) Tabby
•All variations of brown allowed [Cold to warm]
•Ground color from buff, tan, honey gold,( to
orange.)
•Markings may be various shades of tan, brown,
and black.
•Extreme contrast between ground color and
markings
•Distinct shapes, well defined edges, two toned.
•Lighter color spectacles enhance the eyes.
•Much lighter to white ground color on the whisker
pads, chin, chest, belly, and inner legs desirable.
•Nose leather: Brick red, outlined in black.
•Paw pads: Pink to brick red, allowances for black
or brown.
•Eye color: Gold to green.

54. Black Silver Tabby
•Ground color from clear silver white to
pewter gray.
•Markings medium gray to jet black, with
good contrast to ground color.
•Minimal to no warm tones on face, back,
and legs; tarnish is undesirable.
•Color on chest and belly lighter than
ground color.
•Area around eyes, temples, and muzzle
lighter than ground color.
•Black skin pigment around eyes and lips
•Nose leather: Brick red, or black.
•Paw pads: Black.
•Eye color: Any color other than blue.

55. “Snow” Bengal Colors
Seal Lynx Point, Seal Mink
Tabby, Seal Sepia Tabby
Seal Sepia Tabby
Seal Lynx Point
Seal Mink Tabby

56. Seal Lynx Point (SLP)
Silver Seal Lynx Point (SSLP)
SSLP
SLP
HelmiFlick
HelmiFlick

57. Seal Mink Tabby & Seal Sepia Tabby
Cool to Warm Tones
HelmiFlick
Seal Mink Tabby Seal Mink Tabby
Seal Sepia Tabby Seal Sepia Tabby

58. Blue Tabby
•Ground color is pale blue gray to slate
blue gray,
•Markings medium blue to darker blue.
•Good contrast between ground color and
markings.
•Warm fawn tones can be present on face,
back, and legs.
•Underside and chest lighter in color than
ground color
•Area around eyes, temples, and muzzle
lighter than ground color.
•Dark blue pigment around eyes and lips
•Nose leather: Rose, outlined in dark blue
•Paw pads: Aubergine/purple
•Eye color: Any color other than blue
HelmiFlick

59. Charcoal Tabby
•Charcoal Tabby is an
intermediate
phenotype between
solid and tabby
•Effect is possible on
all tabby colors (e.g.,
brown, silver)
•Decreases contrast,
primarily dorsally,
which appears as
“cape” or “mask”
•Result of mismatch
between agouti
protein and its
receptor

60. Allowances, Penalize, DQ
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

61. Allowances, Penalize, Disqualify
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:
•Rosettes or spots running together vertically forming a mackerel tabby pattern
•Circular bull’s eye pattern.
•Substantially darker point color as compared to color of body markings in “snows”
DISQUALIFY:
•Belly not patterned
•Any distinct locket on neck, chest, abdomen, or anywhere else
•Kinked, or otherwise deformed tail
•Cow hocking
•Crossed eyes

62. Breed History & Origins
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

63. Brief History
Domestic Bengal Breed
•1963. Jean Mill crossed a domestic cat with an
Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurusbengalensis
•1970’s. Asian Leopard Cat X Domestic Cat
hybrids were shown in CFA and ACFA
•1980. First Bengal registered in TICA
•1986. Jean Mill registered 14 “Leopardettes”as
Bengals
•1990’s to present. Bengal one of the most
popular pets and show cats
•Bengals show in Championship in TICA,
GCCF, FIFE, ACFA as well as Australian &
South African Cat Fancy Organizations
•2016. Accepted for Miscellaneous Status CFA

64. Bengal Heritage -The Asian Leopard Cat
(Prionailurusbengalensis)
•Small wild cat species, from 5-15 lbs.
•Asia from the Amur region south to Indonesia, from Philippines west to Pakistan.
•Highly adaptable feline, living in tropical to temperate climates
•Noted and named for the striking, high contrast spotted coat of most subspecies that
makes the cat resemble a smaller version of the Leopard (Pantherapardus)
•Although one subspecies is endangered, this feline is among the most common of all
Asian wild cats
•The Asian Leopard Cat is noted for being shy, easily frightened and retiring though it
frequently lives near human settlements

65. Bengal Heritage –Domestic
Cats
Domestic Cats of many breeds were used as outcrosses
throughout the breed’s history
•Indian Mau
•Egyptian Mau
•Ocicat
•Abyssinian
•Burmese
•American Shorthair
•Domestic Shorthair

66. Handling Tips
Bengal Judges Breed Seminar

67. Bengal Handling Tips
•Handler should be confident and firm
but not overly restraining
•Bengals like to have contact with the
table, 4 feet preferable, but at least 2
touching the table
•Teaser and pole are helpful in getting
them to show off musculature and so
judge can see other traits
•But be careful--they may jump for the
toy! You can get a Bengal in the face
or on the head

68. Handler should be confident and
firm but not overly restraining

69. Bengals like to have contact with
the table, 4 feet preferable, but at
least 2 touching the table

70. Handling Tips
•Teaser and pole are helpful in
getting them to show off
musculature and so judge can
see other traits
•But be careful--they may jump
for the toy! You can get a
Bengal in the face or on the
head

71. Correct Handling

72. Acknowledgments
•Akerrs
•Anglestar
•Audra Mitchell
•Bangles
•Bengaland
•Boydsbengals
•Chanan
•Cheetahsden
•Fractal
•HelmiFlick
•Jazzle
•Junglebook
•Jungletime
•Jungletrax
•Kingsmark
•Medoz
•Rowan
•Speakeasy
•Sundaribengals
•TICA BG Breed Committee
•Traipse Bengals
•Wildfire
•Wildgold
•Wildstyle
•Windyridge
•… And many others