What are Bengal kitten fuzzies??
Found in Bengal kittens only. Starting around 4 weeks old and lasting until the kitten is about 16-20 weeks old. It’s at it’s worst around 7-13 weeks old, right about the time the kitten is ready to go home. Bengal kittens begin to have longer “guard” hairs protruding from their coat. In the wild Asian Leopard cubs have these guard hairs to help camouflage them from predators. Many consider it a stage of being an “ugly duckling” where the Bengal is about to begin a great transformation. The kitten looses contrast and its coat takes on a dull appearance. The undercoat becomes more prominent in the weeks to come and continues to change color(becoming more beautiful) until the cat is about a year old.
Appearance
Bengal cats have “wild-looking” markings, such as large spots, rosettes, and a light/white belly, and a body structure reminiscent of the Leopard Cat. The Bengal’s rosettes or spots occur only on the back and sides, with stripes elsewhere. The breed also features “mascara” (horizontal striping alongside the eyes), and foreleg striping.
The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes several Bengal colors (brown, seal lynx point, mink, sepia, silver, blue) and patterns (spotted and marbled) for competition. In the New Traits class, other colors may be shown, as well as longhairs.
Bengals are medium size and muscular cats. Male cats weigh between 12-16 pounds, whereas females weigh between 10-14 pounds. Bengals should retain the look of the wild but with the temperament of a well balanced domestic cat.
Bengal Colors
Below are some of the most popular Bengal colors:
- Brown Spotted Tabby- includes leopard spotted or rosetted, black or dark brown spots and rosettes on beige, tan, or reddish background
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Seal Lynx- snow Bengal, blue eyes, have the lightest color, pattern brownish grey to tan or buff
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Seal Mink- snow Bengal, aqua or green eyes, pattern is seal mink to dark seal mink
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Seal Sepia- snow Bengal, green or gold eyes, pattern is seal brown to dark seal brown
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Silver Spotted- black spotted on light silver or grey background, minimal tarnish(red-gold hues often seen on face and feet), with medium silver centers to the rosettes Blue- No matter how dark, this pattern will not look black, they are blue. Usually
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Blue has a peachy color on background or face. This peachy is the brown gene showing through. Blue is a dilute color and it is recessive. Both parents must carry or be blue to produce blue kittens.
Bengal Patterns
Bengals officially have two types of patterns: spotted or marbled. However, there are unique varieties of each type of pattern.
Spotted Varieties:
Arrowhead
A pattern of spots or rosettes that are triangular in shape, with the tip of the “arrow” pointed to the back of the body.
Single Spots
There is no second color to the spot, just the solid spot against a contrasting background.
Arrowhead rosetting with some single spots
Clouded Rosettes
A rosette style that emulates the Clouded Leopard in large, full rosettes that appear to fit together like a puzzle. Has an almost snake-like appearance.
Paw Print Rosettes
Open on one side with small spots edging the second color.
Clouded rosetting with paw prints
Doughnut Rosettes
A rosette that is completely outlined with a dark color and the center color is different from the background.
Doughnut rosetting
Marbled Varieties:
The marbled pattern occurs nowhere else in nature, while called a Brown Marbled, look for the tricolor marbled kitten. Patterns should be symmetrical on both sides of the body and the pattern should swirl and flow around the body, like the colors in a glass marble. Marbled Bengals also come in all three snow variations, the Seal Sepia, the Seal Mink, and the Seal Lynx Point.
All Bengals except the Seal Lynx Point Snow must have a black tipped tail and black paw pads. The Seal Lynx Point has a bitter chocolate colored tail tip and can have a rose tinted nose and paw pads.
Marbled kittens start with blackish grey coats with small streaks of lighter colored fur scattered about their coat.
The Blue and the Silver both come in Spotted or Marbled patterns.
Regardless of colors and patterns, all Bengals should display the same conformation which is reminiscent of their ancestor the truly beautiful Asian Leopard Cat.
Glitter
Bengals can also have what is known as a “glitter.” Glitter looks as though the Bengal was sprinkled with gold or crystal dust, shimmering in the sunlight. It is quite beautiful! This trait should not be mistaken for the typical sheen seen on a healthy coat. Glitter is different. There are actual flecks of gold seen on the hair shaft — on the snow Bengal, the glitter is crystal colored. Not all Bengal cats are glittered.
Spotted, marbled, traditional colored or unrecognized color, the most desired characteristic in any Bengal cat is that it looks like a leopard cat, but has the temperament of a house cat. Bengals are confident and curious. They are busy and ready to “help” in any situation. They love to play and are extremely intelligent. Bengals are easily leash trained, The Bengal cat is the perfect family pet!
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