Bengal Colours
Bengals come in a variety of different colours and patterns, from a bright ivory colour to a solid black.
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At TLC Bengals, we have carefully chosen our bengal family so they can produce all the colour variants below.
Some people are not interested in the variants and love bengals for their behavioural traits and personalities, but others have a definite look in mind. If this is you then scroll down to learn about the different colour that we offer.
Coat Pattern
Before we even get into colours, it's important to note the pattern type of the bengal has a massive impact on how the bengal looks and even how the colours are presented.
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Unlike other colour genetical elements which may or may not be present, each bengal will have one (and one only) of the three variants.
PATTERENED
GENETIC CODE: A/A, A/a or A/APB
CHARCOAL
GENETIC CODE: Apb/a or Apb/Apb
SOLID
GENETIC CODE: a/a
These bengals are the most common and appear with spots, rosettes or a marbled effect. While they often look the most wild, the pattern actually comes from the domestic side of the cat.
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We specialise in rosetted bengals here at the Tiny Leopard Club.
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Pictured is ​Hugo, our Silver Sepia Bengal.
Charcoal bengals are easily identified by their face mask, cape down their back and dark tail. These bengals can still have patterned fur but it tends to be less striking than the patterned bengals.​
The charcoal effect comes from the Leopard Cat side of the bengal.​​
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Pictured above is Zaya, our Silver Lynx Charcoal, one of the most beautiful charcoals we've ever seen!
Solid bengals are rare and often appear with a ghosted pattern.
The bengal's appearance will heavily depend on the colour and other genetical elements, for instance the melanistic bengal appears solid black with a panther-like ghosted pattern.
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Pictured above is Fureverbuddys Cairo, our Silver Smoke who is due her first litter this year!
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Colours
There are four main colour groups: Brown, Silver, Blue and Snow. Snow is then broken down into a further three groups. The silver, blue and snow genes are all generated from different genetic traits and so more than one may be present, for instance you can have a silver blue snow bengal (like our very own Storm!)
Brown
Genetic Code: B
Silver
Genetic Code: I
Blue
Genetic Code: d/d
The original bengal and the first to be recognised by TICA. Brown has the biggest colour range of the bengal breed, from tan to beige to chocolate.
Silver is produced from the inhibitor gene which prevents warm colours coming through, producing a white base coat with striking dark markings.
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Silver can appear as the only colour of the bengal, or mixed with any of the other colours e.g. Silver blue, silver snow
Also referred to as 'dilute'. They have a powder blue-grey coat with some cream tones. These bengals are rare and incredibly sough-after.
Blue can appear on its own as the primary colour, or mixed with any of the other colours, e.g. silver blue, blue snow.
Snow
If you're looking for a mini snow leopard then this is the bengal for you! Snow comes in three genetical variants: the lightest is the lynx, with its light cream body and blue eyes. The darkest is the sepia.
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Snow can be present along with all of the other colours and patterns listed above, with the exception of brown.
Seal Lynx
Genetic Code: cs/cs
Seal Mink
Genetic Code: cs/cb
Seal Sepia
Genetic Code: cb/cb
The lightest colour bengal, these are born almost clear white with a pattern that develops as they get older.
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These are incredibly sought after, especially as the seal lynx always has blue eyes.
Their coat can be ivory or light tan, with blue-green or aqua eyes.
It is the middle-ground of the snows and is produced by mixing a lynx with a sepia.
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The darkest of the snows. They are born with their markings which tend to improve over time to create a high-contrast pattern.
Sepia Bengals have either green or gold eyes.
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