Please read this link as it has a very basic reference to genetics in general. But also includes information on red as well as information on cinnamon. https://cfa.org/.../2024/02/ColorsPatternsGenetics.pdf

Hi All I'm not going to go into the "normal" colours readily available for people to purchase.  Those can be easily seen and identified almost everywhere when searching Bengals.  I'm going to "try" to give people an idea of the more unusual and exotic colour/pattern combinations that I have come across and also bred. 

My Adonis is one of those more unusual colour combinations in Australia, not saying that he is the only one but from what I have seen there are not too many out there.  One of his current offspring to a standard brown has produced a Silver male.  So for Silver testing atm this is the best test.

From his current litter with Umbra he has proven that he is a Silver.  Silver is classified as a dominant gene meaning, the cat has to be a Silver to be able to produce a Silver. 

I know from his DNA test and the above kitten that he is basically a Silver Seal (Snow) Lynx point that carries a double Charcoal gene (which was classified from his DNA test).  Which is why he has such a dark mask which contrasts so beautifully with his stunning blue eyes. 

A Charcoal Bengal (Apb/a or Apb,Apb agouti genes) is darker than the traditional recognized Bengal colours. The black smokey charcoal colour was particularly seen in early generation F1 and F2 Bengals. 

The Charcoal trait is inherited of colour and can be seen in each colour class: browns, Silvers, Snows (Lynx) Charcoal, Mink Charcoal, sepia charcoal) and even blues

I might not always be correct in my analysis of them but I'm only too happy to be corrected. 

The Silver Bengal

Yes Silvers are not so rare or unusual. But when added to another colour becomes harder to see and identify. Particularly as there are very few tests available to DNA this colour. 

MOST OF MY CURRENT LITTER WITH SHANDY ARE Seal Silver Lynx Charcoals. But the Silver is still very hard to visually see but WHICH WILL BE STUNNING ONCE fully mature

Silver (I, i or I,I inhibitor gense) is more lack of colour. This gene inhibits any warm colours and gives an almost white base coat contrasted with striking dark markings. 

The Silver colour was added to TICA championship in 2004 for the Bengal Breed.

Silver cats come in different shades with backgrounds varying from white to a very dark steel grey colour.

Silvers can also be found in any other colour combination: Silver Snow, Silver Charcoal, Blue Silver etc.....

A silver bengal also has:

• As little tarnish (yellow/rusting brown) in the main coat as possible
• A Dark grey to jet black markings
• A black tail tip
• A brick red nose
• Green or golden eyes.

 

This gene is known as the silver gene and controls the degree of “shading”.
• “I” is the mutant and is dominant.
• “i” is recessive and is the wild type.
• Shading causes the agouti band to be lighter in color.
It can also cause the agouti band to be wider (Wb), so
much so that the agouti ban extends all the way to the
root. The effect is to produce a hair shaft that has a
colored tip in whatever color is determined by the color
genes.
• When the light colored hair shaft is near white, it is
called Silver. When it is a warm cream color, it is
called Golden.

Clouded Rosettes

Overview

Bengal cats have complex genetics that result from breeding domestic cats with Asian leopard cats. This hybridization has led to a variety of coat colors and patterns, including the unique charcoal pattern and rosettes. 

Origins

 

• Bengal cats are a hybrid cat breed that originated in the 1960s. 

 

• The International Cat Association (TICA) officially recognized the Bengal cat breed in 1986. 

 

• The breed's name comes from the Asian leopard cat's taxonomic name, Prionailurus bengalensis. 

 

Genetics

• Multiple genes interact to determine a Bengal cat's traits. 

 

• For example, the charcoal pattern is caused by a combination of a domestic cat non-agouti allele and an Asian leopard cat agouti allele. 

 

• Other genetic traits include silver, mink, sepia, lynx, and melanistic (smoke).  These are our more common recognised and some of standardised colours although not all of them are currently recognised unfortunately with Australian Associations.

 

 

• Breeders and owners can test for alleles associated with charcoal patterning. 
• DNA samples can be collected from cats through cheek swabs. 
• Photographs of both sides of the cat and any pedigree or registration records can also be included.

The two DNA Testing sites I have had experience with available are: - 

UC Davis - https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/  - The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) has several DNA-related facilities and research programs, including the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) and the Genome Center. which so far I have been very impressed and happy with in regard to speedy response and authentic results. 

Orivet Australia - https://www.orivet.com/ - Which I plus a couple of my friends haven't been very happy with. Problems are too long to get back to you with results. Inaccurate results.  

I havent had any experience with any other DNA sites. 

 

BENGAL GENETIC BREAKDOWN