Bengal Breed Standard: SACC
©
The Southern Africa Cat Council
The Bengal should be alert, friendly
and affectionate with a dependable temperament. The luxurious coat is a
distinct feature of the breed. The overall look of the head should be as
distinctly different from the domestic cat as possible. Bengals take at least
two years to mature.
| Head |
A broad medium wedge, with rounded contours; longer
than it is wide, with high cheekbones. Rather small in proportion to the body,
but not taken to extremes. The curve of the forehead should flow into the bridge
of the nose with no break. The line of the bridge extends to the nose tip,
making a very slight to nearly straight concave curve. The nose is large and
broad. The muzzle should be full and broad with a strong chin and large,
pronounced whisker pads. |
| Ears |
Medium to small in size; the smaller ear preferred;
wide at base with rounded tips; set as much on the side as on the top of the
head. The ears follow the contour of the face in the front view and tilt forward
in profile. Inner ear may be slightly tufted. |
| Eyes |
Oval, almost round, large but not bold. Set wide
apart and with a slight slant towards the base of the ear. |
| Neck |
Long, substantial, muscular and in proportion to
head and body. |
| Body |
Medium to large in size. Long and substantial.
Neither oriental nor foreign. Very muscular in mature males. Allowances to be
made for females being less muscular and smaller. |
| Legs |
Medium length, strong and muscular. Hind legs are a
little longer than the front legs. |
| Paws |
Rounded. |
| Tail |
Medium length, thick with a rounded tip. |
| Coat |
Short to medium in length; very dense, luxurious
and unusually soft to the touch. Coat may be glittered or not glittered with
neither type to be given preference. |
SCALE OF POINTS |
| | Head and ears | 15 |
| | Eyes shape, set and colour | 5 |
| | Body, legs tail and paws | 30 |
| | Coat Colour and texture | 25 |
| | Pattern | 15 |
| | Condition | 5 |
| | Temperament | 5 |
| | | 100 |
FAULTS
Long, rough or coarse coat.
Whippy tail.
Barely visible pattern.
Belly not spotted.
Tail tip not dark.
Penalise mackerel tabby pattern on spotted cats.
Any distinct locket anywhere on the body.
Any defects listed in Relevant to All Breeds Section.
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