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Goals/Standards of
Bengal Breeding
"The
goal of the Bengal breeding program is to create a domestic cat which has the
physical features distinctive to the small forest-dwelling wild cats, but 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." (From TICA Bengal Breed Standard.)
 TICA
RECOGNIZED CATEGORIES & DIVISIONS OF THE BENGAL
(When you enter
your Bengal in a show, your cat will be entered in one of these)
| Category |
Division |
Description |
| Traditional |
Tabby |
Brown
Spotted Tabby (or, what we call leopard-spotted) and Brown Marbled Tabby
(like Malarki!) |
| Sepia |
Tabby |
Seal
Sepia Spotted Tabby, and Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby. (These are both green
or gold-eyed snow Bengals, and both the spotted and marbled seal sepias
are in the same division, unlike the "Traditional Category"
where spotted leopards and marbles are judged separately.) |
| Mink |
Tabby |
Like
the "Sepia" category above, this category is for both spotted
and marbled seal mink snow Bengals; Seal Mink Spotted Tabby, and Seal
Mink Marbled Tabby. |
| Pointed |
Tabby |
This
is the category that Marshamelo competes in. This category is for all
the blue-eyed snow Bengals, both Seal Lynx Point Spotted (like Marsha)
and Seal Lynx Point Marbled. |
UNDESIRABLE
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR ALL BENGALS
(Your Bengal
kitten or cat is probably NOT "show quality" if s/he has any of these
markings)
Distinct
lockets on neck, chest or abdomen; spots on the body running together vertically
as in a mackerel tabby pattern; circular bulls-eye pattern on a marble; and a
substantially darker point color (as compared to the body marking color) of any
snow Bengal; belly not spotted (no award); paw pads wrong color or not all the
same color (no award).
THE
BENGAL TEMPERAMENT (ALL BENGALS)
(Being in a show is
very stressful, so long before entering your Bengal in a show, work with your
cat on getting used to new situations and being handled by strangers)
The
Bengal is expected to be an alert, curious, friendly, confident and
unchallenging cat. A show Bengal will be disqualified in the ring if the cat
shows any threat to harm or exhibits a definite challenging behavior. It is
acceptable for a show Bengal in the ring to show fear, complain, or try to flee.
AWARDING
OF POINTS AT A SHOW
| Physical
Trait |
Number
of Points |
Desired
Breed Standard |
| HEAD |
10
PTS. |
The
Bengal head should be longer than it is wide (with exception of jowls in
full adult males), and be a broad, modified wedge, slightly small in
proportion to the body, with a gently curving forehead to the bridge of
the nose, which extends above the eyes. The nose is large and wide, and
the nose leather is slightly puffed.
|
| EARS |
10
PTS. |
The
Bengal ears are medium small, and short, with a wide base and rounded
tips, to be set as much on the side as the top of the head, and pointing
forward in the profile view. Lynx tipping on the ears is not desirable;
however, light horizontal furnishings are acceptable.
|
| EYES |
5
PTS. |
The
Bengal eyes are slightly almond shaped to oval, and are considered large
(but not "bugged"), and are to be set wide apart, and back
into the face. For seal lynx point snow Bengals, the color is blue; for
seal mink and seal sepia snow Bengals, the color is green to gold to
blue-green.
|
| NECK |
5
PTS. |
The
Bengal has a muscular and thick neck, in proportion to the head, and a
long neck that is in proportion to the body.
|
| BODY |
10
PTS. |
The
Bengal body type is to be long and substantial, medium to large, very
muscular (which is especially important in males). The Bengal body is
never to be "foreign" or "oriental", or to be as
large as the largest domestic breed.
|
| LEGS |
5
PTS. |
Bengal
legs are also very muscular, and the back legs are to be slightly longer
than the front legs, with substantial bone structure.
|
| FEET |
5
PTS. |
The
Bengal feet are round and large.
|
| TAIL |
5
PTS. |
The
Bengal tail is to be medium in size and length, thick, with a rounded
tip in the accepted color for the category. No tail kinks allowed.
|
| COAT |
10
PTS. |
The
Bengal coat is unique in that it is thick, luxurious and very soft to
the touch (we call this a "pelt"). The hair length is short to
medium.
|
| COLOR |
10
PTS. |
Varies
by Category; See Below for Detailed Description by Category. |
| PATTERN |
30
PTS. |
Varies
by Category; See Below for Detailed Description by Category.
|
TRADITIONAL BROWN TABBY (SPOTTED & MARBLE) COLOR CHARACTERISTICS
Almost
all acceptable background colors are allowed; however, the preference of the
judges will be given to those Bengals exhibiting a high degree of "rufousness"
as in orange, gold, yellow, and buff highly contrasted backgrounds. The
markings, whether spotted or marbled, may be various shades of chocolate brown,
cinnamon, tan, or black. All paw pads and tail tips must be black. White
markings are very desirable on the face; especially around the eyes, whisker
pads, chin, and even chest and belly. The eyes, nose and lips of these cats
should be outlined in black, and the center of the nose should be red.
SEAL SEPIA AND SEAL MINK TABBY (SPOTTED & MARBLE) COLOR CHARACTERISTICS
In
these snow Bengal classes, judges will be looking for a cream, ivory or light
tan background color, with clear contrast to the markings, which shall be
various shades to chocolate brown, including sable. Eye color may be green,
gold, or blue-green. All paw pads in these classes must be dark brown (pink
undertones are allowed), and the tail tip should be a dark brown. White or ivory
markings are very desirable on the face; especially around the eyes, whisker
pads, and chin. The body markings should be virtually the same color as the
point markings.
SEAL LYNX POINT TABBY (SPOTTED & MARBLE) COLOR CHARACTERISTICS
Basically,
very similar to the seal sepia/seal mink classes, with the exception that seal
lynx point snow Bengals will generally have a lighter background color, and will
always have blue eyes.
SPOTTED PATTERN CHARACTERISTICS
The
judges will be looking for certain things in a spotted tabby Bengal, whether a
snow Bengal or a traditional Bengal. All bellies MUST be spotted! Mascara
markings on the head and a strong chin strap are PREFERRED. Horizontal shoulder
streaks are DESIRABLE. As for the spots themselves, rosettes are preferred, but
not mandatory; however, the spots need to be randomly aligned or aligned
horizontally, and preference will be given for the most contrast between the
spots themselves and the background color of the cat.
MARBLED
PATTERN CHARACTERISTICS
The
marbling on cats like Malarki needs to be as different as possible from the
classic tabby marbling; i.e., it is preferable for a marble Bengal not to have
the "bulls-eye" on the side. Judges will stretch out the cat to look
for a horizontal flowing pattern to the marbled Bengal, and they will also give
preference to a marbled Bengal with three or more shades of colors (one
background color and two or more distinct colors in the marbled markings
themselves). Again, the marbled Bengal must have a spotted belly.
SHOW
TITLES
When earned and
confirmed by TICA, the abbreviation becomes part of your Bengal's registered
name! Altered (spayed/neutered) Bengals can compete for titles also in the
"Alter Class"!
| Title |
Required
Points to Achieve |
| CH
"Champion" |
300
points from 4 different judges, plus one final |
| GRC
"Grand Champion" |
1000
points with 6 finals/4 different judges, 3 in Top 5 Specialty or Top 10
All Breed. |
| DGC
"Double Grand Champion" |
2000
points plus 1 final in Top 5 Specialty or Top 10 All Breed as a Grand
Champion. |
| TGC
"Triple Grand Champion" |
3000
points plus 1 final in Top 5 Specialty or Top 10 All Breed as a Double
Grand Champion. |
| QCH
"Quad Grand Champion" |
4000
points plus 1 final in Top 5 Specialty or Top 10 All Breed as a Triple
Grand Champion. |
| SGC
"Supreme Grand Champion" |
6000
points plus 1 Best Cat as a Quad Grand Champion. |
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