SHOWS 311B: Breed Standards

Chapter 8: Bengal

TIBCS Standard

The BENGAL BREED STANDARD Please Note: The Bengal Breed Standard as accepted in different show organizations in different countries may vary slightly. 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, but 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. Temperament: Temperament must be unchallenging. Any sign of definite challenge shall disqualify. Cat may exhibit fear, seek to flee, or generally complain aloud, but may not threaten to harm. Bengals should be confident, alert, curious, and friendly cats. Recognized Categories/Divisions/Color: Traditional Category / Tabby division; Brown Spotted and Brown Marbled only. Sepia Category / Tabby division; Seal Sepia Spotted and Seal Sepia Marbled only. Mink Category / Tabby division; Seal Mink Spotted and Seal Mink Marbled only. Pointed Category / Tabby division; Seal Lynx Point (spotted or marbled) only. Pattern: ............30 points The Spotted Pattern: Spots shall be random, or aligned horizontally. Rosettes formed by a part-circle of spots around a distinctly redder center are preferable 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. Blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks desirable. Belly must be spotted. The Marbled Pattern: Markings, while derived from the classic tabby gene, shall be uniquely different with as little "bull's-eye" similarity as possible. Pattern shall, instead, be random giving the impression of marble, preferably with a horizontal flow when the cat is stretched. Vertical striped mackerel influence is also undesirable. Preference should be given to cats w/three or more shades; ie., ground color, markings, and dark outlining of those markings. Contrast must be extreme, with distinct shapes and sharp edges. Belly must be spotted. Color: ..............10 points 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, brown, tan, or various shades of chocolate or cinnamon. 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 the eyes, lips, and nose should be outlined w/black, and center of nose should be brick red. Paw pads and tail tip must be black. Seal Lynx Point: Ground color should be ivory to cream. Pattern can vary in color from dark seal brown, light brown, tan, or buff, with the light spectacles, whisker pads, and chin. There should be little difference between color of body markings and point color. Tail tip must be dark seal brown. Eye color: blue. Seal Sepia Tabby / Seal Mink Tabby: Ground color should be ivory, cream, or light tan with pattern clearly visible. Pattern may be various shades of sable brown to bitter chocolate. Ivory cream spectacles encircling the eyes, and ivory cream whisker pads and chin are desirable. There should be very little or no difference between the color of body markings and rosy undertones allowed. Tail tip should be bitter chocolate (dark seal sepia/mink). Eyes may be gold, to green, to blue green.  Conformation: ............. 60 points total (see below) The conformation gives the Bengal cat a basic "feral" appearance. It is medium to large, sleek, and very muscular with hind quarters slightly higher than shoulders. The head is a broad modified wedge with rounded contours, longer than it is wide, with a large nose and prominent whisker pads. The ears are medium set, medium small, short, with a wide base and rounded tips. HEAD: ...............10 points Shape: Broad modified wedge w/rounded contours. Longer than it is wide. Allowance to be made for jowls in adult males. Size: Slightly small in proportion to body, but not to be taken to extreme. Profile: /gently curving forehead to bridge. Bridge of nose extends above eyes. Nose has a very slight concave curve. Nose: Large and wide; slightly puffed nose leather. Muzzle: Full and broad, with large, prominent whisker pads and high, pronounced cheekbones. EARS: ..................10 points Size: Medium small, basically short ears, with wide base and rounded tips. Placement: Set as much on the side as top of head, following the contour of the face in the frontal view, and pointing forward in the profile view. Furnishings: Light horizontal furnishings acceptable; but lynx tipping undesirable. EYES: ..................5 points Shape: Oval, may be slightly almond shaped. Size: Large, but not bugged. Placement: Set wide apart, back into face, and slightly bias toward base of ear. Color: Brown tabby = --. Seal lynx point= blue. Seal sepia tabby or seal mink tabby= aqua (blur-green) NECK: .................5 points Size: Thick and muscular, large in proportion to head. Length: Long and in proportion to body. BODY: ................. 10 points Shape: Long and substantial, but not oriental or foreign. Size: Medium to large  (but not quite as large as the largest domestic breeds) Boning: Robust. Never delicate. Musculature: Very muscular, especially in the males, one of the most distinguishing features. TAIL: .............. (points included in Body) Shape: Thick, tapered at end with rounded tip. Size: Medium large. Length: Medium LEGS: ................5 points Length: Medium, slightly longer in the back than in the front. Boning: Large and substantial. Never delicate. Musculature: Very muscular, like the body. FEET: ...............5 points Size: Large Shape: Round COAT: .............10 points Length: Short to medium. Allowance for slightly longer coat in kittens. Texture: Thick, luxurious, and unusually soft to the touch. Penalize: Spots on body running together vertically forming a mackerel tabby pattern, circular bulls-eye pattern on marbles, substantially darker point color (as compared to color of body markings) on Lynx points, Seal Sepia or Seal Mink. Any distinct locket on the neck, chest, abdomen or any other area not provided for in the standard. 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.  Also any penalties/disqualifications applying to all cats. i.e. ill health, genetic or other deformities, etc.  (The following points should one day be added or corrected in the Standard but at this time are not included. Eye Color of the Brown Tabby should be green, gold or amber.  Body - 5 points: Tail - 5 points.  5/1/91 The International Bengal Cat Society, Inc

TICA Standard