Fine Print Bengals Cattery

I have decided to focus on the traditional coat color and pattern — brown/black rosetted. Many bengal breeders seem to be gravitating towards newer trends in coloration and coat, such as snow, charcoal, silver, and even marbled. I am preserving the original coloration with a rosetted pattern, while building on the other characteristics of the breed.

There are several types of markings in bengals, including single-spotting, rosettes, and marbling. I have always preferred rosetting, which can be seen on all my cats and kittens. There are variations of rosettes, such as arrowhead rosettes, paw print rosettes, and donut rosettes. Typically, my kittens have donut rosettes – large with thick, dark borders. Depending on which traits are passed from the parents of a litter, some kittens may have smaller rosettes.

Some of my kittens would be considered “clouded,” with exceptionally large but distinct rosettes, reminiscent of a clouded leopard. This was my preference when I began breeding. I also have a preference for light and clear background coats, which contrast strongly with the warm tones of the rosette centers. 

With the addition of my newest additions to my cattery, I am hoping to begin producing wild, exotic features in my kittens aside from the markings. Exotic head shapes, prominent whisker pads and nose-leathers, short and thick tails, small round ears, and overall a markedly “wild” appearance.

It is difficult for me to choose just one vision of the breed to work toward. In the beginning, I was quite fond of highly rufoused (reddish) cats, with large, vivid rosettes and abundant glitter; however, more recently I’ve taken interest in smaller, flowing rosettes on cats with overall more wild body structures and nocturnal-esque facial features. With my current assortment of breeding cats, I expect a variety of kittens that express both of these breed ideals I have.

Appearances aside, I also strive to produce cats of sound health. I work to keep my home flea-free, and all adult cats are kept up to date on vaccinations, including the household tabby cat. All of my cats (and the border collie dog) regularly visit the veterinarian for check-ups and preventative care. I have genetic testing performed on all me breeding cats to ensure they do not possess harmful genetics which could be passed on to their offspring. None of my cats are allowed to roam outside freely at any time, preventing contact with the associated dangers of disease, harsh weather, traffic, and aggressive animals.