General Type Standard

The Bengal should be alert, friendly and affectionate and in excellent physical condition with a dependable temperament. The Bengal’s wild appearance is enhanced by its distinctive spotted or marbled tabby coat which should be thick and luxurious. The Bengal is a large to medium cat, sleek and muscular with a thick tail which is carried low. The female may be smaller than the males.

Head and neck
Broad medium wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than it is wide with high cheek bones. The head should be rather small in proportion to the body but not taken to extremes. The profile has a gentle curve from the forehead to the bridge of the nose. The line of the bridge of the nose extends to the nose leather making a very slight concave curve. The nose is large and broad with a slightly puffed nose leather. The muzzle should be full and broad with a rounded, strong chin and pronounced whisker pads created by the widely set canine teeth. The neck should be thick, muscular and in proportion to the body. Allowance should be made for jowls in adult males.

Ears
Medium to small, rather short with a wide base and rounded tips. Set as much on the side as on the top of the head, following the contour of the face in the front view and pointing forward in profile. Light horizontal furnishings are acceptable, but ear tufts are undesirable.

Eyes
Almost round, oval preferred, large but not bold. Set on a slight slant toward the base of the ear.

Body
Long, sleek and muscular. Large to medium and robust with the hindquarters slightly higher than the shoulders, showing depth of flank.

Legs and Paws
Legs of medium length, strong and muscular. The hind legs should be a little longer than the front and be more robust. The paws should be large and rounded.

Tail
Medium length, thick and even, with a rounded tip; may be tapered towards the end.

Coat
Short to medium in length, very dense, luxurious and unusually soft to the touch. Allowance should be made for a slightly longer coat in kittens.


Brown (Black) Marbled Bengal Pattern Description

Marbled Pattern - The spectacles which encircle the eyes should preferably extend into vertical streaks which may be outlined by an "M" marking on the forehead. Broken streaks run over the head on either side of a complex scarab marking, down the neck and onto the shoulders. Strong, bold chinstrap, mascaras markings, distinct broken or unbroken necklet(s) and blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks are desirable. There should be a distinct pattern with swirled patches or streaks, clearly defined but not symmetrical, giving the impression of marble, preferably with a horizontal flow. Contrast must be extreme with distinct shapes and sharp outlines. The stomach must be spotted (except in Blue-Eyed Snow kittens). The legs may show broken horizontal lines and/or spots. The tail may be ringed, marbled and/or spotted along its length, with a solid dark-coloured tip. The marbled markings should have as little similarity to the classic tabby as possible. A vertical striped mackerel tabby tendency is also undesirable.


Colour Description for Brown (Black) Marbled Bengals

Brown Tabby - All variations are allowed in Bengals but a high degree of rufous colour yielding a yellow, buff, golden or orange ground colour is preferred. Markings may be black or various shades of brown. There may be a light coloured "thumb print" on the back of each ear. A very pale colour, preferably white, is highly desirable on the whisker pads and chin and may extend onto the chest, underside and inner legs. Alternatively, the chest, underside and inner legs may be pale in contrast to the ground colour of the flanks and back. White or very light coloured spectacles encircling the eyes are desirable. The eye rims, lips and nose leather should be outlined in black and the centre of the nose leather should be brick red. Paw pads and tail tip must be black. The overall appearance should be of gold dusting. A grey base coat should not be penalised.
Eye Colour - Gold, green or hazel, deep shades preferred.


SCALE OF POINTS

Head and Neck 15
Ears 5
Eye Shape and Colour 5
Body 20
Legs and Paws 10
Tail 5
Coat Texture 10
Coat Colour 10
Pattern and Contrast 20
Total 100


Withhold all awards for: Aggressive behaviour

Withhold Certificates and First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for:

Long, rough or coarse coat
Distinctly ticked coat
Tail tip not the required colour
Whip tail
Stomach not spotted (Except in Blue-Eyed Snow kittens)
Incorrect paw pad colour
Oriental head type, e.g. straight profile, large flared ears
Cobby or Abyssinian, Burmese or Oriental body type
White patches or spots other than those referred to in the colour descriptions.
Any other defects as listed in the preface to the GCCF SOP booklet

Article © and reproduced by kind permission of the GCCF