The Breed Standard

General Standard

The bengal is a medium to large-sized, sleek, and powerfully muscular cat with a thick, low-set tail. It boasts a wild appearance, emphasised by its broad nose with pronounced whisker pads, expressive almost-round oval eyes, and luxurious spotted or marbled tabby coat. Males are typically larger than females. Bengals are expected to be alert, friendly, and affectionate with excellent physical condition and a dependable temperament.

Head & Neck (25 Points)

Shape: Broad medium wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than wide.
Size: Proportionally small compared to the body but not extreme.
Profile: Gentle curve from skull to neck. Bridge of the nose is high, extending to the tip in a straight or slight concave curve.
Chin: Firm, aligned vertically with the nose tip.
Neck: Long, thick, and muscular.

Ears (5 Points)

Medium to small size, broad base with rounded tips.
Set towards the sides of the head, pointing slightly forward.
Light horizontal furnishings acceptable; ear tufts undesirable.

Eyes (5 Points)

Large, oval to slightly almond-shaped.
Set wide apart with a slight slant toward the ears.
Richness of colour is highly desirable and should harmonise with coat.

Nose & Muzzle

Nose: Broad, large, and slightly puffed leather; may have a slight roman shape.
Cheeks: High cheekbones.
Whisker pads: Prominent.
Jaws: Full and broad.

Body (15 Points)

Medium to large, long, muscular, and robust (never delicate).
Substantial boning.
Belly pouch permissible in adults.

Legs, Paws & Tail (10 Points)

Legs: Medium length, muscular, with rear legs slightly longer.
Paws: Large and rounded.
Tail: Medium to long, thick, even, slightly tapered with a rounded tip.

Coat Texture & Pattern (35 Points)

Coat Texture (10 Points):

Short to medium length.
Dense, plush, close-lying coat.
Luxurious, soft, pelt-like feel with luminous sheen.

Pattern (15 Points):

Spotted:

Spectacles around the eyes extending into streaks.
Preferred markings: rosettes (arrowhead or part-circled with lighter centres), horizontal alignment.
Strong contrast with ground colour.
Patterned belly required.
Legs: Broken horizontal lines or spots.
Tail: Rosettes/spots/rings with a solid dark tip.

Marbled:

Random, large swirled patches (non-symmetrical), horizontal flow preferred.
Strong contrast and three tones (ground, markings, outlines) preferred.
Vertical/mackerel patterns are penalised.

Coat Colour (10 Points):

Brown: Black or brown markings on tan/orange/gold base. Gold dusting (glitter) highly desirable. Blue: Medium to dark blue markings on slate/pale blue-grey. Lighter undersides. Sepia: Ivory to light tan base, light sepia markings. Glitter preferred. Mink: Similar to Sepia, but with aqua/blue-green eyes. Lynx Point: Pale background with light to dark seal markings. Blue eyes. Silver: High contrast black/brown/blue markings over a silver agouti base. Charcoal Variants: Mask, goggles, and cape added to standard colours like brown, blue, and silver.

Condition & Temperament (5 Points)

Must be in excellent health and physical condition.
Temperament must be confident, curious, and affectionate.
Disqualify for aggressive or unhandlable behaviour.

Faults & Penalties

Penalise:

Coarse/long coat
Ticked coat
Vertical striping (mackerel)
Bullseye marbling
Lockets
Whip tails
Oriental body type
Substantially darker point colour

Withhold Awards For:

Non-patterned belly
Incorrect tail tip colour
Aggressive or unmanageable behaviour

Allowances:

Belly pouch in adults
Paw pad colour variations within colour grouping

For full details and judging notes, please refer to the CCCA Bengal Breed Standard documentation.