LOOK OF THE WILD


The most unique and defining quality of the Bengal breed is the look of the wild cat. This is seen through the coat pattern, the luxurious pelt, the skeletal frame and musculature, the gait, the head and the distinctive call.

COAT PATTERN
There are no other domestic cat breeds (excepting a few rare individual cats ) that have rosetting in their pattern. It seems that the rosette is a distinct and unique gene from the wild Asian Leopard Cat (ALC). The influence of the ALC pattern and rosetting genes with that of the domestic classic tabby pattern has also created the lovely horizontally flowing marble pattern -which at its best is outlined so it resembles a camouflage pattern of long horizontal rosettes. The influence of the wild ALC creates 'acreage' or 'space' between the spots/rosettes and also increases the spot size. Usually the other domestic spotted breeds are characterised by lots of small spots which are often more vertically aligned and are less distinct - having less contrast and more ticking in the coat.









PELT
The Bengal has a pelt like coat. It is very soft and velvety and also sheds far less then the norm. Many are also glittered. The browns may have a golden glitter which appears like gold dust or glitter on each hair shaft. The snows have what is called 'pearl glitter'. The ALC does not have glitter. This gene is inherited from 'Tory of Delhi' - one of the original and very important domestic studs used in Jean Mill's programme to produce the breed.

FRAME , GAIT, MUSCLATURE
The Bengal is solid boned and long bodied - some having an extra vertebrae. They have very well angulated hind quarters which gives them a crouching, low to the ground stance and movement and extra power for huge leaps and acrobatic feats!! They have pronounced shoulders and a forward thrust to their movement. Their gait is thus powerful, low to the ground, flowing and graceful. When seeing a good example you are impacted by the true essence of the wild. Their musculature is more pronounced then in other domestic cat breeds. Particularly in the adult males, the muscle is very evident. Tails are carried low and are a definite part of their flowing movement. The ALC tail is very thick (as are many wild cat tails), so such tails also add to the look of the wild.

pics show low to the ground, forward thrusting movement with pronounced shoulders, powerful hind quarters and thick tail






HEAD
The shape and proportion of the head is another important feature. The wild cats have long, relatively straight profiles with large whisker pads and small rounded ears. The whisker pads are as wide as the outer corner of the eyes. A common domestic has much smaller whisker pads and a wider, shorter face often with an indented 'stop' or break in their profile. The wild head type is thus typified by a rounded backskull, a relatively long, straight profile, large whisker pads and small rounded ears that are set reasonably wide apart.

showing straight ALC type profile and rounded backskull







Profile of an ALC



CALL
The Bengal has a unique call, in some it is a leopard type 'cry' rather then a 'meow'. Some also sound bird like in their chirping meows as they 'speak' to you.

The beauty of a quality Bengal is indeed a great pleasure to behold.


Frame and musculature of a running cheetah



written by Tracie Davies
Wildkatt Bengals
www.wildkatt.id.au