STANDARD OF POINTS

BROWN (BLACK) SPOTTED BENGAL PRELIMINARY STANDARD OF POINTS

 BREED NUMBER 76 30

The Bengal should be alert, friendly and affectionate and in excellent physical condition with a dependable temperament.  The Bengal’s wild appearance is enhanced by its distinctive spotted or marbled tabby coat which should be thick and luxurious.  The Bengal is a large to medium cat, sleek and muscular with a thick tail which is carried low.  The females may be smaller than the males.

HEAD AND NECK – Broad medium wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than it is wide with high cheek bones.  The head should be rather small in proportion to the body but not taken to extremes.  The profile has a gentle curve from the forehead to the bridge of the nose.  The nose is large and broad with a slightly puffed nose leather.  The muzzle should be full and broad with a slightly rounded, firm chin and pronounced whisker pads created by the widely set canine teeth.  The neck should be thick, muscular and in proportion to the body.  Allowance should be made for jowls in adult males.

EARS – Medium to small, rather short with a wide base and rounded tips.  Set as much on the side as on the top of the head, following the contour of the face in the front view and pointing forward in profile.  Light horizontal furnishings are acceptable but ear tufts are undesirable.

EYES – Oval-may be slightly almond shaped, large but not bold.  Set on a slight slant toward the base of the ear.

BODY – Long, sleek and muscular.  Large to medium and robust with hindquarters slightly higher than the shoulders, showing depth of flank.

LEGS AND PAWS – Legs of medium strength, strong and muscular.  The hind legs should be a little longer than the front and be more robust.  The paws should be large and rounded.

TAIL – Medium length, thick and even, with a rounded tip; may be tapered towards the end.

COAT – Short to medium in length, very dense, luxurious and unusually soft to touch.  Allowance should be made for a slightly longer coat in kittens.

BROWN (BLACK) SPOTTED BENGAL TABBY PATTERN description

SPOTTED PATTERN – The spectacles which encircle the eyes should preferably extend into vertical streaks which may be outlined by an “M” marking on the forehead.  Broken streaks or spots run over the head on either side of a complex scarab marking, down the neck and onto the shoulders where they may break up into rosettes.  Rosettes are formed by a part circle of spots around a distinctly lighter centre.  Strong, bold chin strap, mascara markings, distinct broken or unbroken necklet(s) and blotchy horizontal shoulder streaks or spots are desirable.  Spots may vary in size and shape but should generally be large, well formed and distributed at random, or in horizontal alignment.  Contrast with the ground colour must be extreme giving a distinct pattern and a sharp outline to the spots.  Arrowhead shaped spots are desirable.  Larger spots may be rosetted.  This is preferred to single spotting but is not essential.  The stomach must be spotted.  The legs may show broken horizontal lines and/or spots.  The tail should have rings, streaks and/or spots along its length, with a solid dark coloured tip.  Spots should not run together vertically forming a mackerel tabby pattern.

BROWN (BLACK) SPOTTED BENGAL COLOUR description

BROWN TABBY – All variations are allowed in Spotted Bengals but a high degree of rufus colour yielding a yellow, buff, golden or orange ground colour is preferred.  Markings may be black or various shades of brown.  There may be a light coloured spot on the back of each ear.  These are preferred and are known as Ocelli.  A very pale colour, preferably white, is highly desirable on the whisker pads and chin.  The chest underside and inner legs are also pale in contrast to the ground colour of the flanks and back.  White or very light coloured spectacles encircling the eyes are desirable.  The eye rims, lips and nose leather should be outlined in black and centre of the nose leather should be brick red.  Paw pads and tail tip must be black.  The overall appearance should be of gold dusting.  A grey base coat should not be penalised.

EYE COLOUR – Gold, green or hazel, deep shades preferred.

 Withhold all awards for:  Aggressive Behaviour

 Withhold certificates and first Prizes in kitten open classes for:

1 - Long, rough or coarse coat
2 - Distinctly ticked coat
3 - Tail tip not the required colour
4 - Whip tail
5 - Stomach not spotted
6 - Incorrect Paw pad colour
7 - Oriental head type, e.g. Straight profile, large ears.
8 - Cobby or Abyssinian, Burmese or oriental body type
9 - White patches or spots other than the Ocelli
10 -Any other defect as listed in the preface to the GCCF SOP Booklet