GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The goal of the Bengal breeding program is to create a domestic cat which has the physical features distinctive to the small forest-dwelling wild cats, but with the loving dependable temperament of the domestic cat. Keeping this goal in mind, judges shall give special merit to those characteristics in the appearance of the Bengal which are distinct from those found in other domestic cat breeds.
CONFORMATION:
The conformation gives the Bengal cat a basic "feral" appearance. It is medium to large, sleek, and very
muscular with hind-quarters slightly higher than shoulders. The head is a broad modified wedge with
rounded contours, longer than it is wide, with a large nose and prominent whisker pads. The ears are
medium set, medium small, short with a wide base and rounded tips.
HEAD:
Shape
Broad, modified wedge with rounded contours. Longer than it is wide.
Allowance to be made for jowls in adult males.
Size
Slightly small in proportion to body, but not to be taken to extreme.
Profile
Gently curving forehead to bridge. Bridge of nose extends above the eyes.
Nose has a very slight concave curve.
Nose
Large and wide; slightly puffed nose leather.
Muzzle
Full and broad, with large, prominent whisker pads and high, pronounced
cheekbones.
EARS:
Size
Medium small, basically short ears, with wide base and rounded tips.
Placement
Set as much on side as top of head, following the contour of the face in the
frontal view, and pointing forward in the profile view.
Furnishings
Light horizontal furnishings acceptable, but lynx tipping undesirable.
EYES:
Shape
Oval, may be slightly almond shaped.
Size
Large, but not bugged.
Placement
Set wide apart, back into face, and on slight bias toward base of ear.
Colour
Both eyes to be the same colour. Brown Tabby (spotted or marbled): Any colour except blue or aqua. Seal Lynx Point: blue. Seal Sepia Tabby: gold, to green. Seal Mink Tabby: blue-green (aqua).
NECK:
Size
Thick and muscular, large in proportion to head.
Length
Long, and in proportion to body.
BODY:
Shape
Long and substantial, but not oriental or foreign.
Size
Medium to large (but not quite as large as the largest domestic breed).
Boning
Robust, never delicate.
Musculature
Very muscular, especially in the males, one of the most distinguishing features.
LEGS:
Length
Medium, slightly longer in the back than in the front.
Boning
Large and substantial. Never delicate.
Musculature
Very muscular, like the body.
FEET:
Size
Large.
Shape
Round.
TAIL
Shape
Thick, tapered at end with rounded tip.
Size
Medium large. Length: Medium.
COAT
Length
Short to medium. Allowance for slightly longer coat in kittens.
Texture
Thick, luxurious, and unusually soft to the touch.
Temperament
Temperament must be unchallenging. Any sign of definite challenge shall
disqualify. Cat may exhibit fear, seek to flee, or generally complain aloud,
but may not threaten to harm. Bengal's should be confident, alert, curious,
and friendly cats.
Penalise
Spots on body running together vertically forming a mackerel tabby pattern,
circular bulls-eye pattern on marbled cats, substantially darker point colour
(as compared to colour of body markings) on Lynx Points, Seal Sepia or
Seal Mink. Do not penalise for mousey undercoat.
Withhold All Awards:
Belly not spotted. Paw pads not consistent with their colour group
description, or paw pads not all the same colour.
Any distinct locket on the neck, chest, abdomen or any other area not
provided for in the standard.
SCALE OF POINTS
Head
10 points
Ears
10 points
Eyes
5 points
Neck
5 points
Body
10 points
Legs
5 points
Feet
5 points
Coat
10 points
Colour
10 points
Pattern
30 points
100 points
PATTERNS:
The Spotted Pattern: Spots shall be random or aligned horizontally. Rosettes formed by a part- circle of spots around a distinctly redder centre are preferable to single spotting, but not required. Contrast with ground colour must be extreme, giving distinct pattern and sharp edges. Strong, bold chin strap and mascara markings desirable. Blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks desirable. Belly must be spotted.
The Marbled Pattern:
Markings, while derived from the classic tabby gene, shall be uniquely different with as little "bulls-eye"
similarity as possible. Pattern shall, instead, be random giving the impression of marble, preferably with
a horizontal flow when the cat is stretched. Vertical striped mackerel influence is also undesirable.
Preference should be given to cats with three or more shades; i.e., ground colour, markings, and dark
outlining of those markings. Contrast must be extreme, with distinct shapes and sharp edges. Belly
must be spotted.
RECOGNIZED CATEGORIES/DIVISIONS/COLOURS:
Traditional Category,
Tabby Division:
Brown Spotted Tabby,
Brown Marbled Tabby only.
Sepia Category,
Tabby Division:
Seal Sepia Spotted Tabby,
Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby only.
Mink Category,
Tabby Division:
Seal Mink Spotted Tabby,
Seal Mink Marbled Tabby only.
Pointed Category,
Tabby Division:
Seal Lynx Point (spotted or marbled) only.
BENGAL COLOURS
Brown Tabby:
All variations are allowed; however a high degree of rufinism yielding a yellow, buff, tan, golden, or orange ground colour is preferred. Markings may be virtually black, brown, tan, or various shades of chocolate or cinnamon. Light spectacles encircling the eyes, and a virtually white ground colour on the whisker pads, chin, chest, belly, and inner legs (in contrast to the ground colour of the flanks and back) is desirable. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose should be outlined with black, and centre of nose should be brick red. Paw pads and tail tip must be black.
Seal Lynx Point:
Ground colour should be ivory to cream. Pattern can vary in colour from dark
seal brown, light brown, tan, or buff, with the light spectacles, whisker pads,
and chin. There should be little difference between colour of body markings
and point colour. Paw pads seal brown. Tail tip must be dark seal brown. Eye
colour: blue.
Seal Sepia Tabby/ Seal Mink Tabby:
Ground colour should be ivory, cream, or light tan with pattern clearly visible. Pattern may be various shades of sable brown to bitter chocolate. Ivory cream spectacles encircling the eyes, and ivory cream whisker pads and chin are desirable. There should be very little or no difference between the colour of the body markings and the point colour. Paw pads should be dark brown with rosy undertones allowed. Tail tip should be bitter chocolate (dark seal sepia/mink).
Any Other Colour:
Any colour other than those listed above are classed as Any Other Colour and cannot be awarded a challenge.
