Bengal Colours & Patterns

A recognised Bengal colour and one of the most iconic. Brown Bengals display a warm, rich background ranging from tawny golden to deep mahogany, with dark brown to black markings.

Brown Bengals have the widest range of background shades, from cool grey-brown tones to hot, rufous orange-gold. The most prized brown Bengals have a warm, buttery ground colour with high contrast, jet-black rosettes, and a light, almost white belly. Black paw pads and a dark tail tip are characteristic. Eye colour ranges from gold to green. Adelhills focuses on striking contrast and rosetted patterns in Brown.

A recognised Bengal colour with a striking, cool-toned appearance. Silver Bengals have a near-white to pale silver background and dark grey to black markings.

The silver colour is produced by the inhibitor gene (I), which suppresses the production of yellow/warm pigment (phaeomelanin) in the coat. This results in a clear, bright silver or white background with dark, high-contrast markings. Silver Bengals can vary from very light and icy to a slightly warmer silver. Tarnish (warm yellow tones) is considered a fault. The best silvers have crystal-clear backgrounds with intense black rosettes. Adelhills focuses on striking contrast and rosetted patterns in Silver.

A recognised Snow variation. The lightest of the snow Bengals, Seal Lynx Points are born almost completely white and develop their markings over time. They have striking blue eyes.

Seal Lynx Point Bengals carry two copies of the Siamese colourpoint gene (cs/cs). Kittens are born white or very pale and their markings gradually darken over the first few weeks and months. Adult coats range from ivory to cream with light tan to dark brown markings. They always have blue eyes, which is unique among the snow varieties. The contrast between background and pattern intensifies with age.

A recognised Snow variation with beautiful contrast. Seal Minks carry one copy each of the Siamese and Burmese colourpoint genes, creating a perfect middle ground.

Seal Mink Bengals (cb/cs) are born with visible markings and have an ivory to cream/caramel background with warm brown markings. They develop richer colouring than Seal Lynx Points and often have the best contrast of the three snow varieties. Their eye colour is typically aqua or blue-green, which is highly prized. Seal Minks can only be produced by breeding a Lynx to a Sepia, or two Minks together.

A recognised Snow variation and the warmest and darkest of the snows. Seal Sepias carry two copies of the Burmese colourpoint gene and are born with clearly visible markings.

Seal Sepia Bengals (cb/cb) are the warmest-toned snow variety. Their background ranges from warm cream to golden-caramel, with chocolate to deep brown markings. They are born with visible pattern and develop richly coloured coats. Eye colour is gold, green, or hazel -- they do not have blue eyes. Sepias can sometimes be mistaken for very light brown Bengals, but their warmer, more buttery tones and lighter background distinguish them. Adelhills focuses on striking contrast and rosetted patterns in Snow.

A recognised Bengal colour with a soft, steel-blue to powder-blue coat and darker blue-grey markings. This colour is produced by the dilute gene.

The blue colour is produced by two copies of the recessive dilute gene (d/d), which dilutes black pigment to a blue-grey. Blue Bengals have a cool, slate-blue to soft powder-blue background with darker steel-blue markings. They often have a slightly peachy undertone to their belly. The overall effect is softer and more subtle than the bold brown or silver.

A distinctive pattern overlay rather than a separate colour. Charcoal Bengals display a dark, smoky appearance with a dark "cape" across the back and a dark facial mask.

The charcoal trait is produced by specific combinations of the agouti gene (Apb allele from the Asian Leopard Cat). Charcoal Bengals have a darker background colour, reduced contrast between ground and pattern, a distinctive dark dorsal cape, and a "Zorro mask" on the face with dark nose bridge. Charcoal can occur in any base colour: brown charcoal, silver charcoal, snow charcoal, and blue charcoal are all possible. The trait adds a dramatic, moody quality to the coat.

A non-recognised colour. Melanistic (black) Bengals appear solid black at first glance, but their pattern is visible in certain light, creating a stunning "ghost" marking effect.

Melanistic Bengals carry two copies of the non-agouti gene (a/a), which produces solid-coloured rather than banded hairs. While they appear black, their Bengal pattern is still present and can be seen in bright light or sunlight as a subtle, glossy pattern against a matte background -- similar to the pattern visible on a black panther (which is actually a melanistic leopard). Melanistic is not recognised for showing.

A non-recognised colour. Cinnamon Bengals display a warm, reddish-brown hue that is lighter and warmer than standard brown, with lighter brown markings.

The cinnamon colour is produced by the b1 allele of the Brown gene, which lightens the eumelanin pigment to a warm, reddish tone. Cinnamon Bengals are quite rare and are not accepted for showing in most registries. The overall effect is a striking, warm-toned coat that stands apart from traditional brown Bengals.

A non-recognised colour. Chocolate Bengals have a warm, rich brown coat with darker chocolate-brown markings, lighter and warmer than standard brown.

The chocolate colour is produced by the b allele of the Brown gene, creating a warm, milk-chocolate tone in the markings rather than black. Chocolate Bengals are rare in the breed and are not accepted for showing in most registries. They can be distinguished from brown Bengals by their lighter, warmer marking colour and pink-toned paw pads.