History of Bengal cat

The Bengal cat is a hybrid breed which has been developed over several generations by selectively crossbreeding domestic cats with the Asian Leopard Cat. The Bengal cats name comes from the Latin name for Asian Leopard Cat “ felis bengalensis” The Bengal cat combines the beautiful wild colours and markings of the Asian Leopard Cat with the dependable, trusting nature of the domestic cat.

The first 3 generations of the Bengal are reffered to as foundation generations. The foundation generation are known as F1, F2 and F3 Bengals. To better understand, a Bengal cat with a ALC parent is called a F1 Bengal. A F1 mated with a domestic male is called a F2 Bengal. Kittens from a F2 female and a domestic cat are a F3 Bengal. Kittens from a subsequent F3 breeding with a domestic cat are F4.The F4 generation and onwards are called domestic cats and are known as Stud Book Tradition (SBT) Bengals. These generations can be registered and shown.

The Asian Leopard Cat is a small wild cat that can be found in the forests of Southern Asia. Their was a concern in the 1960’s of the possible extinction of the Asian Leopard Cat this led Jean Sugden (later Mill) of California to try to conserve the breed by mating it with a domestic cat. Years later Dr W Centerwall at the University of California continued the breeding program while investigating the Asian Leopard Cats natural immunity to feline leukemia. Because of these people the beautiful Bengal came about. The first Bengal was registered in 1983.

The T.I.C.A. Bengal Breed Standard, effective 5/1/2004

HEAD	35 points (out of 100 total points)
Shape	6 points
Ears	6 points
Eyes	5 points
Chin	3 points
Muzzle	4 points
Profile	6 points
Nose	2 points
Neck	3 points
BODY	30 points (out of 100 total points)
Torso	5 points
Legs	4 points
Feet	4 points
Tail	5 points
Boning	6 points
Musculature	6 points
COAT COLOR & PATTERN	35 points (out of 100 total points)
Texture	10 points
Pattern	15 points
Color	10 points

  The closer to all 100 possible points in the breed standard that a cat receives each time said cat is judged in a show ring, the more points the cat will accumulate towards achieving championship titles and recognition from that cat association (in this illustrated case, from T.I.C.A.).

CATEGORY:		All.
DIVISIONS:		Tabby and Silver/Smoke Division.
COLORS:		Brown Tabby, Seal Sepia Tabby, Seal Mink Tabby, Seal Lynx Point, Black Silver Tabby, Seal Silver Sepia Tabby, Seal Silver Mink Tabby, Seal Silver Lynx Point. Spotted or Marbled Patterns ONLY.
PERMISSIBLE OUTCROSSES:		None.

   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.

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.

Nose: Large and wide; slightly puffed nose leather.

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).

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.

   COAT:

Length: Short to medium. Allowance for slightly longer coat in kittens. Texture: Dense and luxurious, close-lying, unusually soft and silky to the touch.

COLORS: Brown Tabby: All variations of brown are allowed; however, a high degree of rufousing is preferred. Markings various shades of brown to black. Light spectacles encircling the eyes and a virtually white ground color on the whisker pads, chin, chest, belly and inner legs is desirable. Seal Sepia Tabby, Seal Mink Tabby, and Seal Lynx Point Tabby: Pattern can be various shades of brown. There should be very little or no difference between the color of the body (pattern) markings and point color.

PATTERN: Spotted or marbled. Spotted: Spots shall be random, or aligned horizontally. Rosettes showing two distinct colors or shades, such as paw print shaped, arrowhead shaped, doughnut or half-doughnut 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: See TICA Uniform Color Description (74.1.1.2.1).

   TEMPERAMENT:

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.

   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 wildcats, 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. 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. 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 short, dense coat 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.

ALLOWANCES: Smaller size, in balanced proportion, of females. Slightly longer coat in kittens. Jowls in adult males. Eyes slightly almond shaped. Mousy undercoat.

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.

WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS (WW): Belly not spotted. Paw pads not consistent with their color group description, or paw pads not all of the same color.

 

TICA Bengal Breed Standard

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