Patterns and Colors in Bengals Explained:

We believe that pictures speak louder than words in the explanation of color and pattern.  So we have put information here from breeders who specialize in certain pattersn and colors.  We believe their expertise will make the understanding of pattern and color easier.  You may find that you will fall in love with a pattern or color new to you!

• Brown Spotted

• Brown Rosetted

• Brown Marble

• Silver Spotted

• Silver Marble

• Sepia Marble

• Seal Lynx Point

• Colors Not Showable in Regular Classes

• Melanistic (black)

• Blue

• Summary of Colors Available

• Summary of Patterns Available

• Understanding the Marble Pattern in the Bengal

Brown Spotted

 This is an example of a black spotted bengal.  The markings are large black spots with no lighter brown centers.  This cat has a slightly darker background color.  Background colors in the brown spotted go from a very light wheaten color to a darker reddish brown.

Markings go from dark black to a brown.  This is Koppiekatz Oreo Casanova owned by Bruce and Vicki Safely.

Brown Rosetted

A rosette is any marking where there is a darker outline color with a center of a lighter coordinating color.  This cat has black outlines with a brown center to each marking. 

Rosettes can come in a variety of shapes.  Arrowhead rosettes are just that, arrowhead markings with a lighter color center.  Paw Print rosettes with a paw print in the pattern where the center is a lighter color brown and  pancake rosettes, large flat circles with a dark outline and lighter brown centers.   This cat is Koppiekatz Hero, owned by Bruce and Vicki Safely

Brown Marble

This is Zendada Sun Dog owned by Julie Gracie Moseley.  He is a spectacular marble bengal.  Marble patterns can be any sort of random pattern similar to marble.  It should not resemble any sort of bullseye pattern.  This would be similar to a domestic cat and is not desired in our bengals.

Silver Spotted

This is an example of a silver spotted bengal.  Silver Bengals should be very clear silver backgrounds with a dark black marking.  Spots do not have a lighter grey center to the markings.  This is SilverSir of SimplySimes.  He was owned by Beth Bearry and Lori Simes

Silver Rosetted

This is an example of a rosetted silver cat with a clear silver background and very black outlines to the markings.  Again, notice that within the "rosettes" a lighter color (in this case, silver or grey)

Silver Marble

This is a very famous silver marble... Kingsmark All That Jazz bred by Karen Sausman who had produced a great many wonderful offspring.  Notice the very random pattern of the marble markings.  This cat exemplifies the random nature of markings and "chaining" desired in a marble pattern.

Snow Spotted

Seal Lynx are born white and develop their coloring and markings more slowly.  As adults they usually have a very much lighter almost white base coat with lighter colored tan to brown markings.  They also have clear blue eyes. This girl is Greenmansions Ashesvroses owned by Shiela Cox.

This little doll is Greenmansions Serenade a beautiful F3 Seal Lynx Girl with exquisite blue eyes owned by Shiela Cox of Greenmansions bengals.

Snow Rosetted

This cat is RW GRC Greenmansions Othello (a seal 
mink rosetted Bengal with stunning aqua eyes).  owned by Shiela Cox of Greenmansions Bengals and is an excellent example of a rosetted Seal Mink or Snow bengal.  Notice the lighter centers with a darker outline on the markings.

 Snow Marble

This is an example of a snow marble bengal.  This cat is owned by Beth Bearry and Lori Simes.  Notice the random pattern to the marble markings, the brown markings with the off white background color.

Sepia Marble

Sepia is a color slightly different from the snow or seal color designation.  It is characterized by an ivory or slightly warmer background color than the snows or seal colors.  This color also comes in a spotted variety, However this color is a bit unusual and no photos were readily available of a spotted sepia bengal.  This girl is owned by Beth Bearry and Lori Simes of SimplySimes Bengals.

Seal Lynx Point

Seal Lynx Point Bengals are similar to other snow or seal bengals.  However, it is characterized by a white background color, lighter tan to brown markings on the body and sky blue eyes.  This color is later in developing pattern markings than other varieties of color in the bengal.    This color also comes in a spotted as well as a marble variety.  They should have very blue eyes.  This kitten was owned by Holly Webber of Foothill Felines.

NON SHOWABLE COLORS FOLLOW -- 

The following colors although registerable with TICA, cannot be shown in any current color classifications for the bengal cat.

Melanistic (Black with black spots)

Melanistic kittens have black spots under a black outer coat. The spots may not be evident unless in bright light.  This color can be registered, but not shown currently.  This kitten was owned by Holly Webber of Foothill Felines.  Melanistic bengals also are available in a spotted and marbled variety.  The pattern is simply difficult to see in other than bright light.

Blue

This is an example of a blue spotted bengal.  Its markings are in what is known as an arrowhead pattern.  Notice the cold steel blue of the coat color.  This cat was owned by Karen Sausman of Kingsmark Bengals.

• Brown
• Silver
• Seal or Snow
• Sepia
• Blue - (not showable in regular show classes)
• Melanistic - (not showable in regular show classes)

Bengals come in the following patterns:

• Rosetted - Arrowhead pattern
• Rosetted - Pawprint pattern
• Rosetted - Pancake pattern
• Rosetted - all other patterns.      (all rosetted and spotted varieties are shown in the spotted classes
• Spotted - Arrowhead Pattern
• Spotted - all other patterns    
• Marbled - Chained rosetted 
• Marbled - Bullseyed (not desired)
• Marbled - Tri-color with dark edges and lighter centers
• Marbled - Solid Filled or marble pattern filled with one dark color

With all of the variety available in the bengal breed, there is sure to be a color and pattern to suit just about everyone.  The pictures here represent only a small fraction of the pattern examples out there.  We could post pictures for pages and pages and still not completely represent the color and pattern nuances available.

For more about the specifics of the marble pattern, see the incredibly detailed account of the marble pattern by Julie Gracie Mosely below:

Understanding well, the marble pattern in the bengal

RockyMeountain Bengals looks at the Marble Bengal