Bengal BREED STANDARD

Broad modified wedge with rounded  contours. Longer than it is wide. Slightly small in proportion to body,  but not to be taken to extreme. The skull behind the ears makes a gentle  curve and flows into the neck. Allowance to be made for jowls in adult  males. Overall look of the head should be as distinct from the domestic  cat as possible. 

Medium to small, relatively short,  with wide base and rounded tops. Set as much on side as top of head,  following the contour of the face in the frontal view, and pointing  forward in the profile view. Light horizontal furnishings acceptable;  but lynx tipping undesirable. 

 Oval, almost round. Large, but not  bugged. Set wide apart, back into face, and on slight bias toward base  of ear. Eye color independent of coat color except in the lynx points.  The more richness and depth of color the better. 

 Strong chin, aligns with tip of nose in profile. 

 Full and broad, with large, prominent whisker pads and high, pronounced cheekbones. Slight muzzle break at the whisker pads. 

Large and wide; slightly puffed nose leather. 

 Curve of the forehead should flow  into the bridge of the nose with no break. Bridge of nose extends above  the eyes; the line of the bridge extends to the nose tip, making a very  slight, to nearly straight, concave curve. 

Long, substantial, muscular; in proportion to the head and body. 

Long and substantial, not oriental or foreign. Medium to large (but not quite as large as the largest domestic breed). 

 Medium length, slightly longer in the back than in the front. 

 Large, round, with prominent knuckles. 

 Medium length, thick, tapered at end with rounded tip. 

 Sturdy, firm; never delicate. 

 Very muscular, especially in the males, one of the most distinguishing features. 

Short to medium. Allowance for slightly longer coat in kittens. 

Dense and luxurious, close lying, unusually soft and silky to the touch. 

 Spotted or marbled. 

Spots shall be random, or aligned  horizontally. Rosettes showing two distinct colors or shades, such as  paw print shaped, arrowhead shaped, doughnut or half-doughnut shaped or  clustered are preferred to single spotting but not required. Contrast  with ground color must be extreme, giving distinct pattern and sharp  edges. Strong, bold chin strap and mascara markings desirable. Virtually  white undersides and belly desirable.   

 All variations of brown are allowed.  Markings various shades of brown to black. Light spectacles encircling  the eyes and a virtually white ground color on the whisker pads, chin,  chest, belly and inner legs is desirable. 

 Seal Sepia Tabby, Seal Mink Tabby,  and Seal Lynx Point Tabby: Pattern can be various shades of brown. There  should be very little or no difference between the color of the body  (pattern) markings and point color.