Bengal patterns

The spotted pattern is the most popular and commonly bred of the two recognised patterns. This may be due to the spotted gene being dominant to the marbled gene, or it may be due to the fact that the spotted Bengal most closely resembles the Asian Leopard cat.

The spotted Bengal has:

• Large or small spots.
• Random or horizontally aligned spots.
• Dead (solid) or rosetted* spots with two or three distinct colours or shades.
• Single spots (vertical stripes and rib bars are undesirable).
• Extreme contrast between the ground colour and the spots, giving distinct pattern and sharp edges.
• Striped legs and tail, though some spotting is preffered.
• A spotted belly.

*Rosetted spots are preffered but are not set by the breed standard. There are three main types of rosetted spots:

• Doughnut: large open spots that are filled with colour and outlined with a darker colour.
• Arrowhead: triangular shaped spots that point towards the back of the body with the base of the spot fading into the background.
• Paw print: dark spots around a larger shaded spot filled with colour.

The marbled Bengal is a result of the domestic tabby's that were used in the early development of the breed.

The marbled gene is recessive so in order to produce a marbled Bengal, the colour must be carried by both parents.

The marbled pattern develops more slowly than the spotted pattern and can take up to two years to fully develop.

The marbled Bengal has:

• A random swirling pattern.
• Horizontally flowing pattern (vertical striping and/or the classic 'bulls eye' pattern are undesirable).
• Marbling within marbling.
• Strong contrast between the ground colour and the markings, giving distinct shapes and sharp edges.
• At least two or three distinct colours or shades.
• A spotted belly.

There are three main types of marbled pattern:

• Horizontal: diagonal or horizontal flow of pattern from the upper shoulder towards the back or lower hip of the cat.
• Chaotic:
• Sheet: large area of pattern that is closed or solid.

You may also find chaining within the marbled patterns. This is a diagonal or horizontal flow of long rosetted type striping with black outlining, looking almost like chain links.