Bengal Cat Coat Genetics Part 1 - Spotted And Rosetted Coat Pattern Article

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Bengal Cat Coat Genetics Part 1 - Spotted and Rosetted Coat Pattern

Bengal cat coat genetics explained. Spotted and rosetted coat pattern.

Author: Pocket Leopards Bengals

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Bengals are known for their spotted coats. The gene responsible for spotting is dominant. That means that it only takes one spotted parent to get spotted kittens. The spotted gene cannot be carried recessively, so if you don't have at least one spotted parent, you know you will not get any spotted kittens. Two marbles cannot produce spotted but two spotted can produce marbles if they both carry recessively for the marble gene (more on that on the marble page).

Some bengals have rosettes which are two toned spots, like that of a Leopard. Usually a rosette will have a dark outline with a lighter color inside.

Some bengals are spotted but not rosetted or have very few rosettes.

These can be very beautiful as well. Below is an example of a spotted bengal that is not very rosetted. He has a few rosettes but overall his coat has spots only. Some spots are inky black and the color reaches right down to the base of the hair, right next to the skin. Interestingly, bengals do not have spotted skin.

Spots and rosettes come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The different shapes of rosettes are called things like: paw print, arrowhead, doughnut, and pancake. Breeders are developing cats with different shapes all of the time. Undoubtedly, we will see more descriptive terms for rosettes as they are developed.

Spots and rosettes should be horizontally aligned. The more horizontal the better. Some cats even have rosettes that link together horizontally, this is called "chain rosetting.

Spots that run together in the other direction forming a vertical line is not desired in the bengal breed. Generally these lines are seen on the torso on the bengal, right behind the front legs. These lines are called "rib stripes" or "rib bars". Rib stripes are considered a fault and genrally if a cat has rib stripes the cat is not going to be of show quality.

About Author

Terra Sinclair in a bengal cat breeder in Sacramento CA. She enjoys the genetic aspect of working with these cats. Pocket Leopards Bengals website: http://www.littleleopardcats.com picture examples: http://www.littleleopardcats.com/bengalcolorspatterns/spottedrosetted.html

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Bengal Cat Coat Genetics Part 1 - Spotted and Rosetted Coat Pattern