ALC - abbreviation for Asian Leopard Cat

ALTERS - a term given for a cat of show quality that has been spayed or neutered, therefore eliminating it's ability to reproduce.

ARROWHEAD ROSETTES - a distinctively triangular shaped spot, preferably with a hollow lighter centre which makes it a true rosette.  (Check out Joy for an example.)

ASIAN LEOPARD CAT -  the Asian Leopard Cat is a small (8 - l2 pound) forest dwelling leopard used in the creation of the Bengal breed, originating in Asia.  There are l6 different subspecies, only one of which is endangered due to its habitat taken over by human population.  A skittish and nervous little cat, it does not make a good pet and requires special facilities and housing.

BLACK (MELANISTIC)- having a black background with black markings

BLUE COLORATION - peach background with bluish grey markings

BENGAL - the name given to this exciting new breed of cat.  This breed originally comes from crossing an Asian Leopard Cat to a domestic cat.  The resulting hybrid was then continually bred back to domestic cats to produce the domestic Bengal.  Once the cats have reached four generations away from their wild ancestors, the breed is recognized as a domestic and eligible for showing.  In present breeding programs it is generally 4th. generation or beyond Bengals that are bred to Asian Leopard Cats, with the hybrid females then bred back to Bengal males to again reach the fourth generation.

BLUE LIST - a Pixie-Bob of known heritage, going back to the original Legend Cats and having at least one cross to "Pixie".

BOBCAT - a common name for the American Lynx

BOB-TAIL - a natural short tail found on Pixie-bobs and some other breeds.  Can be as short as no tail at all (called a rumpy) one vertebrae (called a rumpy-riser), 1" to 2" (called a stumpy), 2 - 5 inches (called a bobcat length tail), a half tail, a 3/4 length tail.  Usually has kinks or knots but should be flexible.

BREEDING STOCK - animals known to carry the genes to produce offspring that will most likely exhibit the traits desired by the breed standards.  The animal themselves may not be show quality, but may have some valuable genes to pass along within the breed.

CCA - Canadian Cat Association

CH. - abbreviation for champion

CHARCOAL - a monotone coloration with jet black markings and a gray based coat. Registered as a brown spotted tabby. Genetically different than a silver. (Check out Joy for an example.)

CLASSIC - having a brown background colour with dark brown/black markings.  (Check out Talon for an example.)

CATTERY - an establishment recognized to breed and care for a number of cats

DOMESTIC - an animal that has become tame and able to exist in human society

"DOUBLE COAT" - having a soft down like undercoat and a harsher thicker outer coat.  Most cats are double coated.

DOUGHNUT ROSETTES - a spot made up of a full circle with a distinctively lighter coloured centre.  Originally seen on the hips of marble bengals, they can now be found on spotted bengals coats as well.

F1 - the first hybrid generation resulting from the breeding of the ALC to a domestic. This can be the result of a domestic cat crossed with a ALC or a Bengal crossed to an ALC.  F1 males are sterile, but F1 females are used in Bengal breeding programs.  This term is also widely used in the cat fancy to describe crosses of two different breeds of cats.

F2 - the second generation resulting from the breeding of an F1 to a domestic.  F2 males are sterile, but F2 females are used in Bengal breeding programs.   (also see F1 further explanation and other meanings).

F3 - the third generation away from the original breeding of the ALC to a domestic, parents are an F2 and a domestic.  Most F3 males are sterile but F3 females are used in Bengal breeding programs. (also see F1 for a further explanation and other meanings).

F4 - the fourth generation away from an Asian Leopard Cat, considered to be a full domestic cat, eligible for showing if also an SBT.

FELIS BENGALENSIS - Latin species name for Asian Leopard Cat, also where the breed name Bengal was derived from.

FILIAL - a genetics term pertaining to a generation following the parental (basically the first generation following the first crossing of the ALC to domestic.)

"FLESHY CHIN" -  having extra thickness and prominence.

FUZZIES - a stage that all bengal kittens go through.  This is similar to the camouflaging that young cats would go through in the wild.  Frizzy hairs tend to muddle the kitten's pattern, but don't worry, this is a stage that they grow out of shortly.  It can be up to a year before the kitten's pattern is fully developed and visible.

GENERATION - the process of begetting offspring

GENETICS - the science dealing with the interaction of the genes in producing similarities and differences between individuals related by descent OR the inherited characteristics of an organism

GLITTER - a term given to the hollow hair shaft on many cats of the Bengal breed. This gives the effect of the cat being sprinkled with glitter dust. On brown-based cats, the glitter is golden... on the snow varieties, the glitter is crystal like. Gives a luminous look especially to legs, similar to the shimmer on a hummingbird.  (Check out Shine for an example, look at her feet and face.)

GOLDEN - bright golden colour not usually found on domestic cats.

HONEY-GOLD - a descriptive term used to describe a particular shade of Bengal. A butterscotch or caramel background colour with dark brown spots.  (Check out Sheena for an example.)

HORIZONTAL PATTERN - the marble variation flowing along the body in a horizontal fashion, much like the markings on a boa constrictor.  Bulls eye, circle and C shaped markings are not as highly valued.  (Check out Kimono for an example.)

"HEAVY BROW" -  gives the Pixie-bob an almost hooded appearance over their eyes.

HYBRID - an animal or plant produced by a male and female of different species, varieties, or breeds. 

INTENSITY - a term referring to the brilliance and contrast of a bengal's coat. 

IVORY - the creamy white background colour found on many snow bengals.  (Check out Tedushu for an example.)

"LARGE BONED" - strongly built with a heavy frame

LEOPARD - an orange to beige base color with dark brown to black spots

"LEATHER" - refers to the nose area or paw pads

LEGEND CAT - cats believed to be the offspring of a natural mating between a bobcat and a domestic barn cat

LITTER -     1. the group of kittens born at one time to one mother
                  2. a disposable material used by cats as an indoor toilet

"LOFT" - a coat that stands up off the body rather than lying flat against the skin.

LYNX SPOTTED/MARBLE - having darker points (at the ears, feet, tail etc) that have stripes resembling those of a lynx.  (Check out Avalanche for an example.)

LYNX-TIPPED EARS - hair growing out of the top of the ears like that found on a lynx or bobcat

MACKEREL - vertical striping

MAHOGANY - a rich dark brown colour, similar to the colour of the wood of it's namesake.  (Check out Talon for an example.)

MARBLE - a variation of the classic tabby pattern influenced by the Asian Leopard cats rosette pattern. This creates a flowing, boa constrictor type pattern to the coat, usually with the 'centers' of the markings 'falling out' into a complementing colour. Bengals come in brown marble, tri coloured marble and 3 shades of snow marble.  Some cats have chain rosetting, a series of loops usually found near the dorsal (back) stripe. (Check out Charo for an example of a marble.)

MELANISTIC - black background with brownish-black markings. The melanistic gene is a recessive one and must be present in both parents for it to show up in a litter.  They often display faint rosettes and markings, similar to those of a black panther.

MINK SNOW - colouring has gray-black or brown markings on an ivory or beige base. Minks generally have aqua coloured eyes. This colour comes from one Siamese colour gene and one Burmese colour gene.

OCELLI - the round white circles often found on the backs of wild cats ears.  One belief is that these spots evolved to reflect light so that the young could follow their mothers in the dark.  For a good example, look at the back of a Tiger's ears.  Generally found on F1 Bengals and in gradually decreasing amounts down through F2 - SBT's. 

NEUTER - the process of altering a male animal's ability to reproduce by removing part or all of the reproductive organs

PAW PRINT ROSETTES - a spot made up of several spots with a distinctively lighter coloured center. (Check out Storm for an example.)

PELT - a short, dense coat of fur that is soft and downy to the touch, not coarse like hair. In Bengals it is used to describe the single (as opposed to a double coat) short silky coat desired for show and breeding. It is the "pelt" coat that tends to be less allergenic than a regular double coated cat. Bengals are single coated while Pixie-Bobs have a double coat. 

PETS - animals meant to be sold or purchased as a pet ONLY.  May not be bred or shown.  Pet stock usually falls a little short of the breed standard, which by no means makes them inferior in personality.  Sometimes breeding/show quality cats are offered as pets because they are not required by the breeder for their breeding program at that time.

PEWTER - the darker gray colouring usually seen as a base colour on charcoal leopards. (Check out Joy for an example.)

PIXIE-BOB - a breed believed to have an ancestor of Bobcat heritage.  These cats are stockily built, have a wild appearance and dog-like personalities.

POLYDACTYL - "many fingered".  A harmless genetic mutation resulting in a cat having more than the usual amount of toes

"PUFFY NOSE" -  a nose having a larger leather surface than the normal kitty cat nose.

QUEEN - the breeders term given to the female of the cat species

RANDOM PATTERN - a pattern not aligned in horizontal or vertical rows.  (Check out Tobasco for an example.)

ROSETTES - a flowerlike cluster of markings, arranged in circles, as in the coat of a leopard.  (Check out Shocker for an example.)

RUFOUS - a reddish, coppery tone. 

SBT -  a cat fancy term meaning Stud Book Tradition.  Refers to 4 generations of Bengal to Bengal breeding.  A fourth generation Bengal resulting from crosses back to Bengals only, would be an SBT as would all resulting generations of Bengal to Bengal breeding if not crossed back to an F1, F2 or F3.  So an SBT could be a fourth generation at the earliest or could be as far away as l6 generations (about as far as the breed goes at its farthest).  For further explanations of registration codes, please visit TICA.

SEAL LYNX SNOW - coloring that has gray-black or taupe markings on an ivory or beige base. These cats have blue eyes. This colour comes from two Siamese colour genes, one contributed by either parent.  (Check out Avalanche for an example.)

SEAL POINT - a rich brown tone colouring the points (ears, feet, tail etc) of a cat, inherited from two Siamese colour genes, one contributed by either parent.

SEPIA SNOW - colouring has dark brown/dark gray markings on off-white to creamy yellow base. Sepia's generally have aqua coloured eyes. This colour comes from two Burmese colour genes.

SHOW QUALITY STOCK - these are the highest quality cats/kittens.  They most closely reflect the breed standard and exhibit qualities that should propel them to high show status.  They should have only slight faults, and an excellent outgoing personality to allow strangers to handle and evaluate them.

SILVER - intensely white with dark markings, may be spotted or marbled.  Usually very high contrast as kittens and lose intensity as they mature.

SPAY - the process of altering a female animal's ability to reproduce by removing part or all of the reproductive organs

SORREL - light brown or orange spots or marbling.

STUD - the breeders term given to the male of the cat species

TABBY - a coat pattern that can be spotted, mackerel or classic.  For a further description of tabby genetics, please visit TICA.

TAN - light wheat colour

TAWNY - tan colored, without bright rufous tones, spots are generally dark brown or black

"THROW KITTENS" - a breeders term for the type of kittens that a particular cat usually creates.  A queen who is known to have many high quality kittens could be said to 'throw' high quality kittens.

TIBCS - The International Bengal Cat Society.  One of the main cat organizations that recognizes and promotes the Bengal breed.

TICA - The International Cat Association

TICKING - banding of colours on the hair shaft

TRI-COLORED MARBLE - a marble pattern containing black, gold and rust. (Check out this tricolored marble boy!)

"TYPE" - A distinctive "look" that distinguishes one breed from another.  A "typy" cat will be distinguishable by its silhouette.

"TYPY" - see type.

WHISKER PADS - the surface on either side of the cats face where the whiskers protrude from. 

"WILD" HEAD - showing the facial features of the wild ancestry the breed is meant to reflect.  Dependent on breed for exact features.

WOOLY - a distinctly thick textured hair.