Bengal & Savannah: Coat Patterns, Colours & Genetics

Bengal & Savannah: Coat Patterns, Colours & Genetics

Bengal Cat Coat Patterns

1. Spotted / Rosetted (Most Popular)

Inspired by wild felines; spots are random, diagonal or horizontal, with strong contrast.

- Arrowhead Rosettes: Arrow-shaped, tips point backward (Asian Leopard Cat style).

- Clouded Rosettes: Large, connected puzzle/cloud shapes (clouded leopard look).

- Paw Print Rosettes: Central spot + surrounding dots like a paw print.

- Donut/Pancake Rosettes: Dark outline, lighter centre; extra large = "pancake" (jaguar style).

- Single Spotted: Solid one-colour dots (cheetah style).

2. Marbled 

Swirling, asymmetrical horizontal/blotched patterns (not circular like classic tabby), like poured marble or snakeskin.

Bengal Cat Colour Varieties

Brown

- Base: Grey-tawny to warm orange-gold; markings: black/reddish brown.

- Preferred: Bright orange-brown base, black tail tip, red nose, green/gold/hazel eyes, white belly.

Silver

- Inhibitor gene (I/i) gives near-white/steel-grey base, no yellow/rust; dark grey–black markings, black tail tip, red nose, green/gold eyes.

- Variants: Silver Charcoal, Silver Snow, Blue Silver.

Snow (3 Genetic Types)

Type Genotype Base Coat Markings Eyes 

Seal Lynx Cs/Cs Pale white-cream Light/dark seal Bright blue 

Seal Mink Cb/Cs Ivory/cream Warm seal Blue-green/aqua 

Seal Sepia Cb/Cb Ivory/tan Deep seal brown Green/gold 

Blue

- Recessive dilute gene (dd); soft powder blue/grey base, cream undertones, dark blue-grey spots/marbling.

Black (Melanistic)

- a/a non-agouti; all black with subtle ghost markings/spots visible in sunlight; "mini black panther" look.

Charcoal (Apb Gene)

- True Charcoal: Apb/a – dark base, distinct dark "Zorro mask" (upside-down Y) + dark dorsal cape.

- Double Charcoal: Apb/Apb – darker overall, less intense mask.

- Works with all colours: brown, silver, snow, blue.

Savannah Cat Coat (Serval Hybrid) 

Accepted Pattern: Only Spotted

- Bold, solid round/oval/elongated spots; stripes run from head, fan over shoulders, align with body spots .

Standard Colours

- Brown Spotted Tabby: Golden/buttery base, jet black spots (closest to wild serval).

- Silver Spotted Tabby: Pale silver base + black spots.

- Black: Melanistic; faint spots at birth, solid black as adult.

- Smoke: Pale undercoat, black tips + dark spots.

Key Bengal Genetics Basics

Agouti Series (Pattern Control)

- A/A: Normal spotted/marbled, no hidden genes.

- A/a: Patterned, carries recessive solid gene.

- a/a: Solid/black (melanistic).

- Apb/a: True Charcoal (needs one Apb + one a).

- Apb/Apb: Double Charcoal.

- Apb/A: Patterned, carries Apb but no charcoal look.

Other Key Genes

- I/i: Inhibitor = Silver base.

- D/d: Dense vs Dilute (d = blue, lilac, fawn).

- C series: Cs/Cb = Snow types.

- L/l: Short (dominant) vs Long hair.

Rule: Recessive traits (blue, snow, solid) only appear if both parents pass the same recessive allele.