© Cat Control Council of Australia

GENERAL STANDARD

The Bengal is a medium to large, sleek, very muscular cat with a thick tail, which is carried low. Its wild appearance is enhanced by a distinctive spotted or marbled tabby coat, which should be thick and luxurious. It should be alert, friendly and affectionate and in excellent physical condition, with a dependable disposition. Males are generally larger than females.

SCALE OF POINTS

FAULTS / PENALTIES

Refer to general list of faults for all breeds, plus:

PENALISE:

• Long, rough or coarse coat.
• Distinctly ticked coat.
• Spots on body running together vertically, forming a mackerel tabby pattern.
• Circular bulls-eye pattern on marbleds.
• Any distinct locket on neck, chest, abdomen or any other area not provided for in the standard.
• Whip tail.
• Any tendency towards oriental fineness of body and/or tail.
• Substantially darker point colour.

WITHHOLD:

• Belly not spotted.
• Paw pads not all the same colour or not consistent with their colour description.
• Tail tip incorrect colour.
• Challenging exhibit or exhibit unable to be handled.

COAT AND COLOUR

COAT TEXTURE: Short to medium length, thick and luxurious, like a pelt, unusually soft to the touch and with a luminous sheen.

COAT PATTERNS - SPOTTED

Spectacles: Which encircle the eyes should preferably extend into vertical streaks, which should be outlined by an "M" marking on the forehead. A coloured thumbprint (ocelli) is preferred on the back of the ears. A strong, bold chinstrap, mascara markings, distinct broken or unbroken necklace(s) and blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks or spots are desirable. Broken streaks or spots run over the head, on either side of a complex scarab, down the neck and onto the shoulders, where they may break up into rosettes or spots.

Rosettes: Are formed by a part circle of spots around a distinctly lighter centre. Arrowhead-shaped spots are preferred. Larger spots may be rosetted. This is preferred to single spotting, but is not essential.

Spots: Should generally be large, well formed and distributed at random, or in horizontal alignment. Contrast with the ground colour must be extreme, giving a distinct pattern and a shape outline to the spots. Spots should not run together vertically to form a distinct mackerel tabby pattern.

Belly: Must be spotted.

Legs: Have broken horizontal lines and/or spots.

Tail: Should have rings, streaks and/or spots along its length, with a dark solid-coloured tip.
 

COAT PATTERNS - MARBLED PATTERN

Spectacles: Which encircle the eyes should preferably extend into vertical streaks, which should be outlined by an "M" marking on the forehead. A coloured thumbprint (ocelli) is preferred on the back of the ears. Broken streaks run over the head on either side of a complex scarab marking, down the neck and onto the shoulders. A strong, bold chinstrap, mascara markings, distinct broken or unbroken necklace(s) and blotchy horizontal streaks are desirable.

Markings: Are uniquely different from the classic gene, with as little "bulls-eye" similarity as possible. Instead, the pattern is random, with large, swirled patches or streaks, clearly defined but not symmetrical, giving the impression of marble, preferably with a horizontal flow when the cat is stretched. Vertical, striped mackerel influence is also undesirable.

Belly: Must be spotted.

Legs: Have broken horizontal lines.

Tail: Is widely ringed and/or marbled along its length, with a dark solid-coloured tip.

In the marbled pattern, 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.

Recognized colours are divided into 2 main groups:

COAT COLOUR:   NON-SNOW GROUP - BROWN

Markings: May be virtually black or various shades of brown or tan. The preferred ground colour ranges from light tan, orange, golden, yellow or greyish brown, with the pattern clearly visible, with a high degree of rufousing. Light spectacles encircling the eyes and a very light shade of the ground colour on the whisker pads, chin, chest, belly and inner legs (in contrast with the ground colour of the flanks and back) is desirable. The tip of the tail equals the darkest shades of the markings. Sorrel or Golden colours are included in the brown range. The Leopard is brown with black spotting. The overall appearance should be of gold dusting, called glitter, which is most desirable. A grey base coat should not be penalised.

Eye colour: Gold, green or hazel, with deep shades preferred and should harmonise with intensity of coat colour.

Eye rims and lips: Black or to harmonise with coat colour.

Nose leather: Outlined in black, with the centre of the nose leather in shades ranging from pink to brick red, to harmonise with coat colour.

Paw Pads: Black or to harmonise with coat colour.

COAT COLOUR:   NON-SNOW GROUP - BLUE

Markings: Desired colour of markings to be a strong dark blue to afford a distinct contrast with the ground colour and give sharp edges to the markings so that the coat may have more than two shades of colour – ground colour, markings and outline of markings. Ground colour ranges from warm cream to beige to pinkish mushroom. Ground colour on whisker pads, chin, belly, and inner legs is paler and may be oatmeal or cream. The belly is spotted, the tail is barred and must have a dark blue tip. The overall appearance is that of a cat dusted with pearl glitter.

Eye colour: Gold, green or hazel, with deep shades preferred and should harmonise with intensity of coat colour.

Eye rims and lips: Dark blue or to harmonise with coat colour.

Nose leather: Rose pink outlined with dark blue.

Paw Pads: Dark blue, rosy tone accepted.

COAT COLOUR:   SNOW GROUP - SEPIA

Markings: Are medium to light sepia. The preferred ground colour ranges from ivory, cream or light tan, with clearly visible pattern, often with a high degree of rufousing. A thumbprint (ocelli) is preferred on the back of the ears. Light spectacles encircling the eyes and a very light shade of ground colour on the whisker pads, chin, chest, belly and inner legs (in contrast with the ground colour of the flanks and back) is desirable. The tip of the tail equals the darkest shades of the markings.

Eye colour: Green to gold, with deeper shades preferred and should harmonise with the intensity of coat colour.

Eye rims and lips: Brown or paler shades to harmonise with coat colour.

Nose leather: Outlined in brown, with the centre of the nose leather ranging from rosy tones to brick red, or to harmonise with coat colour.

Paw pads: Seal with slightly rosy tones, or to harmonise with coat colour.

COAT COLOUR:   SNOW GROUP - MINK

Markings: Are medium to light sepia. The preferred ground colour ranges from ivory, cream or light tan, with clearly visible pattern, often with a high degree of rufousing. A thumbprint (ocelli) is preferred on the back of the ears. Light spectacles encircling the eyes and a very light shade of ground colour on the whisker pads, chin, chest, belly and inner legs (in contrast with the ground colour of the flanks and back) is desirable. The tip of the tail equals the darkest shades of the markings.

Eye colour: Aqua or blue-green, with deeper shades preferred and should harmonise with the intensity of coat colour.

Eye rims and lips: Brown or paler shades to harmonise with coat colour.

Nose leather: Outlined in brown, with the centre of the nose leather in shades ranging from pink to brick red, to harmonise with coat colour.

Paw pads: Seal with slightly rosy tones, or to harmonise with coat colour.

COAT COLOUR:   SNOW GROUP - SEAL LYNX POINT

Markings: May be in a range from dark seal to light brown. The preferred ground colour ranges from medium to light brown, cream, ivory, to almost white, harmonising with the colour of the markings. A coloured thumbprint (ocelli) is preferred on the back of the ears. Light spectacles encircling the eyes and a virtually white ground colour on the whisker pads, chin, chest, belly and inner legs (in contrast with the ground colour of the flanks and back) is desirable. The tip of the tail equals the darkest shades of the markings. There should be little difference between the colour of the body markings and of any points. The overall appearance should have a paler effect of pearl dusting, called crystal, which is most desirable.

Eye colour: Blue, with deeper shades preferred and should harmonise with the intensity of coat colour.

Eye rims and lips: Brown or paler shades to harmonise with coat colour.

Nose leather: Outlined in brown, with the centre of the nose leather in shades ranging from rosy tones to brick red, or to harmonise with coat colour.

Paw pads: Seal with slightly rosy tones, to harmonise with coat colour.

COAT COLOUR:   SILVER GROUP - BLACK SILVER

Markings: Ground colour is pure silver-white. The pattern is dense black.

Eye colour: Green to gold, with deeper shades preferred and should harmonise with the intensity of coat colour.

Eye rims and lips: Black.

Nose leather: Brick red outlined with black.

Paw pads: Black or seal brown. Black hair extends well up the back of the hind legs.

PENALISE: Brown tinge or rufousing to coat.