Bengal Standard

Category III	BEN	Bengal Standard
General	Appearance	the Bengal is a domestic cat, which has the physical features of the small forestdwelling Felis Bengalensis or Leopard cat a cat with a basic "feral" appearence and the loving dependable temperament of the domestic cat alert appearence the Bengal is sleek and very muscular
	Size	medium to large
Head	Shape	broad modified wedge, with rounded contours, longer than it is wide allowance to be made for jowls in adult males
	Size	slightly small in proportion to body, not to be taken to extreme
	Profile	gently curved forehead to bridge, very slight concave curve of nose
	Nose	large and wide, slightly puffed nose leather bridge of nose extends above the eyes
	Cheeks	high prominent cheek bones
	Muzzle	full and broad, with large prominent whiskerpads
Ears	Shape	medium to small, basically short ears with wide base and rounded tips light horizontal furnishings acceptable, but tufts undesirable thumb print
	Placement	set far apart, following the contour of the face in the frontal view, pointing forward in the profile view
Eyes	Shape	oval, may be slightly almond shaped large but not bugged
	Placement	set wide apart, with a slight slant towards the base of the ears
Neck		thick and muscular, long and in proportion to body
Body	Shape	long and substantial, large in proportion to head, not oriental or foreign robust bone structure, never delicate very muscular, especially in males; is one of the features hindquarters slightly higher than shoulders
Legs		medium long, slightly longer in the back than in the front very muscular, never delicate
	Paws	large and round
Tail		thick, tapered at the end, with rounded tip medium large, medium length
Coat	Structure	short to medium length allowance for slightly longer coat in kittens texture is thick, luxurious, unusually soft to the touch, and preferably showing glitter
	Colour	for colour varieties refer to the following tables
Condition		perfect physical condition, well balanced physically and temperamentally
Remarks	General	Bengals should be confident, alert, curious and friendly cats
	Coat	a mousy undercoat should not be penalised
Faults	Head	Oriental type of head
	Coat	much darker point colour (compared to colour of body markings) on Snow Bengals, Seal Sepia and Seal Mink Bengals spots on body running together vertically forming a mackerel tabby pattern circular bull's eye pattern on marbles long or coarse coat
Disqualification	Belly	not spotted
	Paw pads	not all of the same colour not consistent with their colour group description
	Tail	tail tip not black for colour varieties n 22/24 tail tip not dark seal to sable brown for colour varieties 31/32/33

Bengal Standard scale of points

Scale of Points		Points
Total		100
Head	general shape, nose, muzzle and teeth, forehead, chin, placement and shape of the ears, neck	20
Eyes	shape, placement and colour	10
Body	size, shape, torso, shape of legs and feet, shape and length of the tail	25
Coat	texture and colour	20
	pattern and contrast	20
Condition		5

Bengal Standard colour varieties

Recognized Colour Varieties
Eye colour	22/24	green, brown, gold
	22/24 31	blue-green, aquamarine, green, gold
	22/24 32	blue-green, aquamarine, green, gold
	22/24 33	blue
Pattern	Marbled	General Description of Coat Colour
	22	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 streched vertical striped mackerel influence is undesirable preference should be given to cats with 3 or more shades: i.e. ground colour, markings and dark outlining of those markings contrast with ground colour must be extreme, with distinct shapes and sharp edges belly must be spotted
	22 31/32/33	there should be little or no difference between the colour of body markings and the point colour
Pattern	Spotted	General Description of Coat Colour
		for the description of the pattern refer to the General Part spots shall be random or aligned horizontally rosettes formed by a part circle of spots around a distinct redder centre are preferable to single spotting, but not required vertical stripes are undesirable blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks are desirable
	24	Contrast with ground colour must be extreme, with distinct shapes and sharp edges. Strong bold chin strap and mascara markings are desirable. Belly must be spotted.
	24 31/32/33	There should be little or no difference between the colour of markings on the body and colour of the points.

Bengal Standard colour varieties

Colour	EMS Code	*Remarks
Brown (black) marbled	BEN n 22	A, B, C, I
Seal sepia/Seal mink marbled	BEN n 22 31/32	D, E, F, I
Snow marbled	BEN n 22 33	D, G, H, I
Brown (black) spotted	BEN n 24	A, C, I
Seal sepia/Seal mink spotted	BEN n 24 31/32	D, E, F, I
Snow spotted	BEN n 24 33	D, G, H, I

Bengal Standard remarks

*Remarks
	A	ground colour: variations of yellow, buff, tan, golden or orange colour chin, chest, belly and inner legs show a cream-white ground colour in contrast to flanks and back
	B	pattern colour: the markings are virtually black, brown, tan or shades of chocolate or cinnamon.
	C	eyes, lips and nose are outlined with black, spectacles encircling the eyes paw pads and tail tip: must be black
	D	ground colour: ivory to cream
	E	pattern colour: clearly visible. Various shades of sable brown to bitter chocolate
	F	ivory cream spectacles, whiskerpads and chin are desirable paw pads: dark brown with rosy undertone allowed tail tip: dark seal to sable brown
	G	pattern colour: dark seal brown, light brown, tan or buff
	H	light spectacles, whiskerpads and chin. Paw pads: dark seal brown tail tip: must be dark seal brown
	I	nose leather: brick red