COLORS, MARKINGS and WHITE UNDERBODY
THE BROWN SPOTTED LEOPARD
The traditional color of the Bengal is that of the leopard, Black/Brown upon gold or brown. The intensity of the "leopard spotted" Bengal can vary considerably. The spots can go from deep brown to black. They maybe rosetted or spotted. The base color can vary from gold to orange, known as rofous. It can vary from strong yellowish pink to moderate orange, which is actually part of the leopard or brown spotted division. Sorrels have brown spots on an orange background. Bengal spots should be horizonal with little to no vertical. The quality of the individual Bengal is determined to a large degree by the richness of color, contrast of color and the pattern of the markings.
Leopard and sorrel colored kittens go through many stages before they develop their true color. Often they do not develop their true color until materity at which time the color darkens. Kittens go through the fuzzies which occur about 10 to 12 weeks of age. A detailed description of the fuzzies can be found below.
SILVER ROSETTED BENGAL
The Awesome Silver, newly recognized in 2004 for Championship titles, they have grey to white background with pewter to jet black markings, and whited tummies.
Silvers can be either spotted with rosettes or be marbled. A high degree of contrast is desirable. The coat should be clear with little to no 'tarnishing' or yellowish discoloration on the face, feet, tummy or spine. Silvers are born with their markings and rtain them as the marks darken with maturity.
SNOW LEOPARD BENGAL
Snow Leopards are off white or ivory with soft golden, grey or brown spots. They can also be known as the Seal Mink as above. Their eyes can b aqua, green or golden in the mink. Snows are further classifed as either seal lynx point, silver seal lynx point (below is a picture of a silver seal lynx point Bengal) sea mink or sepia, depending on their genes. Above is a Seal Mink, below is a Seal Silver Lynx Point that always have blue eyes.
Generally the Mink and Sepia colored snows have more pronouned markings than those of the lynxpotted tabby or lynx pointed snow. The lynx tabby or pointed snow kittens are born almost solid white. The ghost pattern gradually develops as they mature. About 8 or 10 weeks, the pattern of spots may be very faint.
It may take up to a year for the blue eyed snow to develop its full colored markings. The mink and sepia snow kittens are born with a very distinct pattern and markings. Below is the Silver Seal Lynx Point Tabby or as some know him as Lynx Pointed Snow. He has ice blue eyes. There are Silver Seal Mink with green eyes.
SEAL SILVER LYNX POINT
The Seal Silver Lynx Bengal is one of the most beautiful snow Bengal. The Silver inhibitor gene tends to make the background color clear. They are whiter in color, more rare than the the seal lynx point. Always clear coated, always with blue eyes that may or may not be very light in color. The Silver Seal Lynx Point is NOT Silver in color, but can produce Silver kitten when bred to a Brown Spotted Tabby.
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THE FUZZIES
Bengal kittens are born spotted or marbled. Often going through what is called the 'fuzzy stage' which occurs between 6 to 16 weeks This correlates to the camouglage state of wild cubs. About 4 months, the coats will become soft, silky and have a glaze as the markings will become more definitve.
On occasion, recessive genes produce an offf-colored kitten. These may be 'blue' (light grey or battleship grey spots), or may even be solid black. These kittens are not meant to be bred or shown, since the colors are not recognized in the breed standard. They do, however, make beautiful pets, with the same exciting and alluring personality of the Bengal.
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