Characteristics...

Bengals are medium sized cats - a male may weigh as much as 20 lb (9 kg), and a female commonly weighs 7 to 12 lb (4 to 6 kg.) A male is generally a large cat in relation to the female.

Bengal cats are either spotted or have marbled coat patterns. Spots with at least two colors present (rosettes) are particularly desirable.

Color and pattern

The following colors and patterns are recognized and eligible for competition:

• Brown Spotted Tabby
• Brown Marbled Tabby
• Seal Sepia Spotted Tabby
• Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby
• Seal Mink Spotted Tabby
• Seal Mink Marbled Tabby
• Seal Spotted Lynx Point
• Seal Marbled Lynx Point

Silver was also recently accepted as a color variation eligible for championship status. Blue and Melanistic (black) are additional colors that occur, but are not yet recognized by most associations that accept the Bengal breed.