Bengal cats colors

Bengals are one of those unique feline breeds, which is considered highly demanded because of its distinctive and catchy appearance and unique character traits. The breed first appeared in the States, where a wild Asian leopard cat was crossed with a regular short-haired cat. The Europeans, for the first time, were able to see such a wild cat in northeastern South Asia - in a historical area called Bengal, from which the name of this magnificent breed originated.

The main difference that the modern breed has is the unique leopard pattern, which helps the animals to be considered a unique color. This kind of feature Bengal cats got from their distant ancestors living in a wild environment. The hair of the representatives of this breed has a very beautiful and even shine, which becomes especially noticeable in the bright sun.

Experts today distinguish 3 primary colors characteristic of this breed: brown (almost golden), silver and 3 more snowy colors. In any of these color nuances, there are 2 generally recognized pattern types: spots and marble. There are special tables by which one can easily determine the color of the Bengal and a description of the features of its color.

Any designation of cat hair color has a number of groups.

• Name of the breed itself - 3 large English letters.
• The name of the base color - 1 or 2 lower case letters, while the second s means silver color, the second y means golden (n is the black color of the breed, ns is black, smoky, ny is black with golden).
• Secondary part The current index will be listed if necessary, and will consist of two numbers. The first is the type of the same trait that describes, for example, the color of the peephole or the presence of white patches on the coat, and the second number describes the trait itself.

Many reveal the correct color of the Bengals by number:

• With "0" - the presence of white colors in wool;
• With "1" - the size of the tipping at the silvery group of the breed;
• With "2" - type of pattern in the breed tabby;
• With "3" - selection of the type of color of a point group;
• With "5" - the expression of the length of the tail (if there are anomalies of the tail);
• With "6" - eye color, it is indicated when the colors may vary.

If, when breeding this breed, breeders strive to maximize the appearance of the cats to the original (wild), then in colors they have long won even nature itself. First of all, it is necessary to mention here those pets, from which Bengal received all the best for their breed. Abyssinian cats allowed to add warm tones of apricot to the background of Bengal wool. Burmese cats gave their unique color called sepia.

Siamese brightened the body, while leaving bright points with darker and more contrasting ones. Mau from Egypt presented her silver and bronze color. American cats with short hair laid marble color in the breed. The result was a surprisingly bright and beautiful cat.

Bengals have a lot more varieties than can be supposed. Any particular color trait of a given breed has its own separate name and specific characteristic. Bengal cat is represented by many different colors, they can be divided into 3 types:

• marble;
• rosette;
• spotted.

The distinctive quality of this amazing breed is a special color.

Bengal wool has a peculiar and bright pattern - stain. It is also often called “spotted” - from English spotted or “marble” - from English marble, and it should be as sharp as possible in transitions.

Spots come in the form of well-known rosettes - this is a large spot with a border of dark colors and a much lighter middle. It can be in the form of a circle, an oval or even a pointed shape, which in informal circles is called “oyster”, “dart”, “tip”, “paws”.

Marble colors are rated a little less than others, but it’s more difficult to work with. Marble clear divorces are located strictly in the horizontal plane. In cats, brown tabby is most common in all its large selection.

The traditional color (brown tabby) is inherent in this breed from the very first days of its existence. This is the color that gives wildlife to Asian leopard cats. The color of the eyes changes from rich green to bright yellow.

Classic marble is simply unique in appearance, and it is almost impossible to repeat a similar pattern. It represents a large number of different spots, sometimes even the strangest parameters. Such a cat can only appear after crossing its parents with similar stains and characteristic patterns on their body. Marble color patterns always have a uniform color, they are quite clear and bright. On the body of such a cat does not have a divorce or half-washed areas of wool.

The basis of this kind of wool colors in Bengal cats are spots of different sizes, close to the circle. These spots are most reminiscent of the pattern on the body of a wild leopard - an ancient cat, from which Bengals originated. Horizontal stripes in color are also common, but only on the cat's shoulders.

The color scheme can vary from very light to bright brown, and even to charcoal black. This kind of coloring today can be considered one of the most popular.

Rosette rosettes look like stretched rings and half rings, they can be remotely similar to a small foot print, a dart or even a bunch of grapes. Large round spots with full color are also called rosettes.

It is extremely important that they do not merge into tiger stripes, as this is considered a minus of the breed. Large types of outlets also do not have to go one into another.

The standard for today's breed of Bengals is the following original pattern on the face:

• at the side - very dark, but bright stripes;
• on the forehead - image similar to "M";
• on the neck - stylish "necklace".

Small spots, stripes or a pattern resembling butterfly wings are visible on the shoulders. Drawing on the legs may be speckled or even striped.

The tip of the tail will be only black, along its entire length there may be sockets on gold or bright rings. On the stomach, breast, chin, as well as on the pads and the inside of the paws, the rings are always lighter than the main background, there may be spots on the stomach.

Of the huge number of species of colors, nature presented these small wild predators with only one black spotted tabby, and it is ideal for high-quality camouflage in a wild environment. Wool can have colors from soft sand and gray to the darkest chestnut, it depends on the habitat of the cats.However, the process of hybridization made its own changes to the Bengals, and very interesting varieties appeared in the standards.

Standard TICA allocates 5 different colors. All of them, according to genetics, are black, but due to the increased degree of ruphism, the colors of cats often look yellowish-brown, leopard. Because these colors are called:

• brown spotted marble tabby;
• silver spotted marble tabby;
• seal sepia spotted marble tabby;
• seal mink spotted marble tabby;
• seal spotted marble lynx-point.

In all of the above colors, the specialists allowed 2 of the above-described types of pattern. In addition, a number of standards takes into account the blue colors. In this case there may be combinations of all 4 listed colors and 2 patterns with silver wool.

Sometimes breeders get completely black cats (melanistic), chocolate-colored kittens, and even lilac cats with a tortie-colored coloring.

Brown tabby is considered the original type of the modern Bengals breed. A wild cat Malaysia had a similar color at one time and was crossed with an Abyssinian black cat. The specks and divorces (and monophonic as well) of their descendants are either completely black, with a transition to a shade of dark chocolate, and brick-brown color, and even with a yellowish-brown subtone.

Outlets are very highly rated in this noble breed. They are either two-color, or consist of 3 colors, with 3 shades still preferable. This is a breed with tiger-colored legs, which is very popular among potential owners.

This is the most original color in the breed. The clarified coloring of wool can be considered characteristic here, and sometimes the title color can be based on a whitish or pale gray color. Snow color is rich in color range.

On top of the pale light background of the pattern, you can see different tones: from dark brown to bright orange, with different forms of the pattern itself being allowed. There may also be noticeable stripes or even spots. The color of the eyes of such a cat is bright blue, but the tip of the tail will be brown, but sometimes other options can be found.

Usually it has shades ranging from pale yellow to rich gold, the pattern itself can be black or chocolate. The standard of such an unusual color is a catchy black stroke that emphasizes the cat's eyes, outlines its nose and mouth.

The cat will have paws and the tip of the tail of black color, but the spots in other places of the body can be close to the chocolate tone. The eyes will be green or even bright yellow, but with different shades.

The cat of this color has the main white-silver hue of the background, with a discreet grayish tint. Drawing on such a silver background is brightly highlighted with a bright black color with contrast, most often it is clearly outlined as much as possible. The shapes of the spots differ; long stripes or small spots are acceptable.

In the back, the cat may have a slight darkening of the coat, but it may not be. In the wild, there is a snow leopard having a similar color.

The basic background of red color will be warm - from bright yellow to rich golden hues. Drawings on the cat's torso will be different black or darkest color of chocolate. The color of the animal's eyes is the noble shades of bright yellow or green, almost emerald. Cat's paws and the tip of its tail will be the usual black color. The main feature is the black skin around the eyes, nose and mouth.

Sometimes, but there are Bengal cats that have a completely unusual color.

This is usually called the black Bengal cat, because it is considered to be the owner of black patterns placed on the same black background. This drawing resembles the coloring of a black panther (a special color version of the wild leopard).

The pattern and title of such Bengals has a black color. In the sun, the pattern is clearly visible, and therefore it can be understood that it is the Bengali breed, and not some other.

Black Bengal cat is an extremely rare species of this breed. Breeders associations most often do not approve of this kind of color, so it is not considered popular.

The basis of the color of Bengal wool in this case are cool and bright colors of gray color. On them the main drawing will be most clearly and clearly delineated. There are almost no blurry spots or stripes, the pattern is bright and clearly visible on the faded background of the main color. Around the eyes of this cat there is a bright rim. The spots are scattered on the torso of the cats rather evenly, the color is similar to the traditional spotted color, but it stands out with a brighter and darker coloring of the pattern.

This is a very rare color Bengal. Wool of babies with a similar color is like silver, but has a pleasant tint of blue.

Most often they are in the form of a circle, there may be stripes on certain parts of the body.

On the belly and in the chest area of ​​a kitten, you can often see a peach reflux. Blue color is today considered the last Bengali coloring of those that appeared officially, and that may be in the cat.

Snow coloring, which is recognized as the brightest, and at the same time is also very effective and original, is divided into the following types.

• Sepia. It is considered the darkest of all types of Bengal snow colors. The background is a flashy gold, very close to a bright orange. The colors of the hull and spots are not very visible. The pads of the paws and the tip of the tail will have a catchy brown shade. The eyes play a golden or bright yellow subtone.

• Minx. The main background has a cream or golden color. Patterns on the torso of the cat are both dark orange and light brown, quite contrasting to the main color. The tip of the tail is brown. Eye color - bright blue, piercing.
• Lynx. The main color has stunning shades of ivory, and sometimes it is cream. Patterns on the body most often marble, but there may be sockets, and even spots. Paws, muzzle, tail and ears will be significantly darker than the main background. The eyes are blue.

Kittens of all the listed colors at birth have a white or light color, as they grow (not earlier than the year the animal turns), the drawing begins to change - it becomes more distinct. Fully color "matures" by about 1.5 years, when the cat becomes an adult.

Read more about the Bengal cat in the video below.