The following is the Bengal Breed Standard published by The TICA Executive Office. It defines the benchmark by which all Bengals are judged at TICA cat shows.
BENGAL (BG)
General Description:
The goal of the Bengal breeding program is to create a domestic cat which has physical features distinctive to the small forest-dwelling wild cats, and 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. The Bengal cat should visibly appear different from other domestic cats. It’s basic appearance should resemble a small, forest dwelling wild cat. A Bengal cat is an athletic animal, alert to its surroundings; a friendly, curious, confident cat with strength, agility, balance and grace. It is a medium to large cat which exhibits a very muscular and solid build.
Females are generally smaller than males and exhibit proportionately similar qualities. Its wide nose with prominent whisker pads and large oval, almost round eyes in a slightly small head enhance the wild appearance and expressive nocturnal look. Its very slight, to nearly straight, concave profile and relatively short ears with wide base and rounded tips add to the Bengal’s distinctive and unique appearance. The coat area is one of the most distinguishing features of the Bengal cat. The short, dense coat, displaying either a randomly spotted or marbled pattern, has a uniquely soft and silky feel. The coat may be glittered or not glittered, with neither type to be given preference. A thick, low-set, medium-length tail adds balance to the cat.
Categories: Traditional, Sepia, Mink, Pointed.
Division: Tabby.
Colors: Brown Spotted Tabby, Brown Marbled Tabby, Seal Sepia Spotted Tabby, Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby, Seal Mink Spotted Tabby, Seal Mink Marbled Tabby, Seal Spotted Lynx Point, and Seal Marbled Lynx Point only.
Head
Shape: Broad modified wedge with rounded contours. Longer than it is wide. Slightly small in proportion to body, but not to be taken to extreme. The skull behind the ears makes a gentle curve and flows into the neck. Allowance to be made for jowls in adult males. Overall look of the head should be as distinct from the domestic cat as possible.
Ears: Medium to small, relatively short, with wide base and rounded tips. 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. Light horizontal furnishings acceptable; but lynx tipping undesirable.
Eyes: Oval, almost round. Large, but not bugged. Set wide apart, back into face, and on slight bias toward base of ear. Eye color independent of coat color except in the lynx points. The more richness and depth of color the better.
Chin: Strong chin, aligns with tip of nose in profile.
Muzzle: Full and broad, with large, prominent whisker pads and high, pronounced cheekbones. Slight muzzle break at the whisker pads.
Nose: Large and wide; slightly puffed nose leather.
Profile: Curve of the forehead should flow into the bridge of the nose with no break. Bridge of nose extends above the eyes; the line of the bridge extends to the nose tip, making a very slight, to nearly straight, concave curve.
Neck: Long, substantial, muscular; in proportion to the head and body.
Body
Torso: Long and substantial, not oriental or foreign. Medium to large (but not quite as large as the largest domestic breed). Consideration should be given to allow for smaller size, in balanced proportion, of females.
Legs: Medium length, slightly longer in the back than in the front.
Feet: Large, round, with prominent knuckles.
Tail: Medium length, thick, tapered at end with rounded tip.
Boning: Sturdy, firm; never delicate.
Musculature: Very muscular, especially in the males, one of the most distinguishing features. Allowance to be made for the generally slighter musculature of the females.
Coat/Color
Length: Short to medium. Allowance for slightly longer coat in kittens.
Texture: Dense and luxurious, close-lying, unusually soft and silky to the touch.
Patterns: Spotted or marbled. Coat may be glittered or not glittered, with neither type to be given preference.
Spotted: Spots shall be random, or aligned horizontally. Rosettes showing two distinct colors or shades, such as paw print shaped, arrowhead shaped, doughnut, or halfdoughnut shaped or clustered are preferred to single spotting but not required. Contrast with ground color must be extreme, giving distinct pattern and sharp edges. Strong, bold chin strap and mascara markings desirable. Virtually white undersides and belly desirable. Blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks, spotted legs, and spotted or rosetted tail are desirable. Belly must be spotted.
Marbled: Pattern shall be random giving the impression of marble, with a horizontal flow when the cat is stretched. Vertical striping undesirable. Preference should be given to cats with three or more shades; i.e., ground color, markings, and dark outlining of those markings. Contrast must be extreme, with distinct shapes and sharp edges. Virtually white undersides and belly desirable. Belly must be spotted.
ColorsFour colors recognized are brown tabby, seal sepia tabby, seal mink tabby, seal lynx point tabby.
Brown Tabby: All variations are allowed; however, a high degree of rufinism yielding a yellow, buff, tan, golden, or orange ground color is preferred. Markings may be virtually black, tan, or various shades of brown. Light spectacles encircling the eyes and a virtually white ground color on the whisker pads, chin, chest, belly, and inner legs (in contrast to the ground color of the flanks and back) is desirable. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose should be outlined with black, and center of nose should be brick red. Eye color may be gold, copper, green, bronze, brown or hazel, the more richness and depth of color the better. Paw pads and tail tip must be black.
Seal Sepia Tabby: Ground color should be ivory, cream, or light tan with pattern clearly visible. Seal sepia tabby pattern may be various shades of seal sepia to a dark seal sepia. Ivory or cream spectacles encircling the eyes, and ivory or cream whisker pads and chin are desirable. There should be very little or no difference between the color of body markings and point color. Paw pads should be dark brown with rosy undertones allowed. Tail tip should be dark seal brown. Eye color should be gold, but may also be gold-green, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Seal Mink Tabby: Ground color should be ivory, cream, or light tan with pattern clearly visible. Seal mink tabby pattern may be various shades of seal mink to a dark seal mink. Ivory or cream spectacles encircling the eyes, and ivory or cream whisker pads and chin are desirable. There should be very little or no difference between the color of body markings and point color. Paw pads should be dark brown with rosy undertones allowed. Tail tip should be dark seal brown. Eye color should be aqua (blue-green) but may
also be green, or green-gold, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Seal Lynx Point: Ground color should be ivory to cream with pattern clearly visible. Pattern can vary in color from dark seal brown, light brown, tan, or buff, with light spectacles, whisker pads, and chin. There should be little difference between color of body markings and point color. Paw pads should be dark brown with rosy undertones allowed. Tail tip must be dark seal brown. Eye color must be blue, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Scoring
HEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 points
Shape. . . . . . . .. . . . 6
Ears . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chin . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Muzzle . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Nose . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Profile. . . . . . . .. . . . 6
Neck . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
BODY . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 points
Torso. . . . . . . . . . . .. 5
Legs . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Tail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Boning . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Musculature. . . . . . . 6
COAT/COLOR/PATTERN . . . . . 35 points
Texture. . . . . . . . . .. . 10
Pattern. . . . . . . . . . .. 15
Color. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Allowances: Smaller size, in balanced proportion, of females. Slightly longer coat in kittens. Jowls in adult males. Eyes slightly almond shaped.
Penalize: Spots on body running together vertically forming a mackerel tabby pattern on spotted cats; circular bulls-eye pattern on marbled cats; substantially darker point color (as compared to color of body markings) in Seal Sepia, Seal Mink, or Seal Lynx Point cats. Any distinct locket on the neck, chest, abdomen or any other area. Do not penalize for mousey undercoat.
Withhold All Awards: Belly not spotted. Paw pads not consistent with their color group description, or paw pads not all of the same color.
Temperament must be unchallenging; any sign of definite challenge shall disqualify. The cat may exhibit fear, seek to flee, or generally complain aloud but may not threaten to harm.
In accordance with Show Rules, ARTICLE SIXTEEN, the following shall be considered mandatory disqualifications: a cat that bites (216.9), a cat showing evidence of intent to deceive (216.10), adult whole male cats not having two descended testicles (216.11), cats with all or part of the tail missing , except as authorized by a board approved standard (216.12.1), cats with more than five toes on each front foot and four toes on each back foot, unless proved the result of an injury or as authorized by a board approved standard (216.12.2), visible or invisible tail faults if Board approved standard requires disqualification (216.12.4), crossed eyes if Board approved standard requires disqualification (216.12.5), total blindness (216.12.6), markedly smaller size, not in keeping with the breed (216.12.9), and depression of the sternum or unusually small diameter of the rib cage itself (216.12.11.1).
See Show Rules, ARTICLE SIXTEEN for more comprehensive rules governing penalties and disqualifications.
Revised 09/30/02 Bengal Breed Standard, 05/01/2003
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