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"I want a spotted
kitten...one that looks like a little leopard." Most people searching for
a bengal are looking for spots! That is until they see a
top quality marble bengal in
person. Then we
hear, "That is the most beautiful cat I have ever seen...what is THAT?"
A marble bengal
is a cat that looks like a leopard...just a different kind
of leopard. The marble pattern should be a combination
of swirls and rosettes flowing in a horizontal fashion.
We use the
Clouded Leopard,
King Cheetah
and
Margay/Ocelot
as our personal "wild cat" pattern goals. An
outstanding marble pattern is unlike anything ever seen
on a domestic cat before!
 
Bengal
kitten "Paint the Wind" has a
clouded leopard type pattern...compare
her to the pattern on the clouded leopard cub.
Marble bengals, like
spotted bengals are a work in process as we strive for a more
dramatic, clear, outlined, flowing pattern.
An
interesting "big cat" pattern that models some of our personal marble
bengal goals is that of the
King Cheetah
. The King Cheetah is an African Cheetah exhibiting a rare fur pattern
mutation. Like the marble bengal, a recessive gene must be inherited
from both parents in order for this "blotchy" pattern to appear.
We were
thrilled to have the opportunity to photograph such a rare animal in person.
King Cheetahs have been seen in the wild only six times after first being
discovered in Zimbabwe in 1926. The DeWildt Cheetah Research Centre in South
Africa specializes in breeding this cat in captivity.
Though a few
claim to have already achieved the rare King Cheetah or
Clouded Leopard pattern , we feel it is still very much a
work in progress. The truth is that the King Cheetah
pattern is as rare in marble bengals as it is in the wild.
Some of our bengals
with King Cheetah type
patterns.
 
 
Where Are We Going?
Each
generation of our marble bengals are taking us closer to our goal
of developing patterns that look like they can be found in the wild.
The greatest challenge may be our desire to duplicate the amazing
outlined chaining patterns
found on the ocelot
and margay.
Double Champion Adventure Beach Margay Spirit
Is it possible?
We say yes!
Ocelot
Margay
Stunning
tri-color outlined marbles
are also possible in "snow bengals. This is our seal lynx Painted
Spirit son Sprit Quest.
It is important to
remember that we will never truly have a "wild look" unless we continue
to
focus on more than pattern.
Small round ears
and thick tails
among other qualities create a wild look on bengals. They are
difficult to achieve but cannot be ignored.
See our page
Bengal "Type" 101
.
We love taking our m
We love to take our
marble bengals to cat shows (and out on their leashes) and enjoy the excited
response from people who have never seen an
outstanding
marble bengal before.
 
Our amazing boy
Painted Spirit.
 
  
See more marble kittens at:
[PAINTED
SPIRIT KITTENS] and
at:
[PAINTED
SPIRIT KITTENS AT THE SHOWS]
Come join us on
our journey. All great things take time.
Check back in often to see our marble dreams coming
true!
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