Bengal Breed Standard: GCCF
Article © and reproduced by kind permission of the
GCCF
| Bengal Standard of Points Breed
Number 76
(Effective 01/06/2006) |
| Brown (Black) Spotted Bengal |
(Championship) |
76 30 |
| Brown (Black) Marbled Bengal |
(Provisional) |
76 20 |
| Blue-Eyed Snow Spotted Bengal |
(Provisional) |
76b 30 |
| Blue-Eyed Snow Marbled Bengal |
(Preliminary) |
76b 20 |
| AOC-Eyed Snow Spotted Bengal |
(Provisional) |
76a 30 |
| AOC-Eyed Snow Marbled Bengal |
(Preliminary) |
76a 20 |
(With effect from 01/06/2007, the
Snow Marbled Bengals will be promoted to Provisional Status)
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 round 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 nose is large and broad with a slightly puffed nose leather. The muzzle should be full and broad
with a slightly rounded, firm 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.
Bengal Tabby Pattern Descriptions
Spotted 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
or spots run over the head on either side of a complex scarab marking, down the
neck and onto the shoulders where they may break up into rosettes. Rosettes are
formed by a part circle of spots around a distinctly lighter centre. Strong,
bold chin strap, mascara markings, distinct broken or unbroken necklet(s) and
blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks or spots are desirable. Spots may vary in
size or shape but should be generally 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 sharp outline to the spots.
Arrowhead-shaped spots are desirable. Larger spots may be rosetted. This is
preferable to single spotting but is not essential. The stomach must be spotted
(except in Blue-Eyed Snow kittens). The legs may show broken horizontal lines
and/or spots. The tail should have rings, streaks and/or spots along its length,
with a solid dark coloured tip. Spots should not run together vertically forming
a mackerel tabby pattern.
Effective from 01st June 2007 the above Description will be as follows:
Spotted 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 or spots run over the head on either side of a
complex scarab marking, down the neck and onto the shoulders where they may
break up into rosettes. Rosettes are formed by a part circle of spots around a
distinctly lighter centre. Strong, bold chin strap, mascara markings, distinct
broken or unbroken necklet(s) and blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks or spots
are desirabale. Spots may vary in size and shape but should be generally 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 sharp outline
to the spots. Rosettes and arrowhead-shaped spots are desirable.
Larger spots may be rosetted. This is These
are preferred to single spotting but is
are not essential. The stomach must be spotted. The legs may show broken
horizontal lines and/or spots. The tail should have rings, streaks and/or spots
along its length, with a solid dark-coloured tip. Spots should not run together
vertically forming a mackerel tabby pattern.
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 chin straps, mascara markings, distinct broken
or unbroken necklet(s) and blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks or spots are
desirable. There should be a distinct pattern with large swirled patches or
streaks, clearly defined but not symmetrical, giving the impression of marbled,
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 Descriptions for Spotted and Marbled Bengals
Brown Tabby-All variations are allowed 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.
Blue-Eyed Snow
(Siamese restriction of coat pattern) -The ground colour should be
ivory to cream. The pattern may vary in colour from charcoal to dark or
light brown with light coloured spectacles, whisker pads and chin. There
may be a light coloured "thumb print" on the back of each ear. 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 should be brown with
rosy undertones. The colour may be darker on the points than on the
body; as little contrast as possible is preferred. The tail tip must be
dark brown or charcoal. The overall appearance should be of pearl
dusting.
Eye Colour-Blue, deep shades preferred.
AOC-Eyed Snow
(Burmese/Tonkinese restriction of coat colour) -The ground colour
should be ivory to tan, with the pattern clearly visible. The pattern
may be charcoal or shades of brown with light coloured spectacles,
whisker pads and chin. There may be a light coloured "thumb print" on
the back of each ear. 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 should be dark brown with rosy undertones. The tail tip
must be dark brown or charcoal. The overall appearance should be of
pearl dusting.
Eye Colour-Gold, green or blue-green.
|
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
|
