Hi all,

Introducing myself. I adopted a cat last week from a local shelter (I've been volunteering there for a month). She was my favorite there -- purrs loudly every time I pet her; most affectionate cat I've ever seen. She's adapted well to her new apartment home after being surrounded by other cats in a "cat porch" at the shelter.

I took her to the vet today as instructed within ten days of adoption, and I was surprised -- they said she was a "Bengal." I'd never heard of this breed before; I thought she was just a generic domestic shorthair with tabby markings. The shelter didn't apparently know any differently, either.

Her name is Mallory.

Mallory is a beautiful girl. From the pictures, I'm not seeing any rosetting or marbling. I see striping, which is common in tabbies, but not in bengals. The bengal breed began with an Asian Leopard cat and a domestic tabby and/or Egyptian Mau (also called bronze spotted tabby). Thus, the rosetting comes from the ALC or the Mau. I think tabbies are gorgeous kitties. There are many photos of bengals online that you can compare your Mallory with. All bengals have tabby in them, but not all tabbies are bengals. Thank you for rescuing her and enjoy her.

Your cat is what's called a tortie (the vertical stripes suggest a tortoise shell). Very attractive markings and coloration though. Congrats for your new addition, she sounds like a real sweety.

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The little monsters 3

Some vets really do know about Bengals, but I believe yours is mistaken in this case. It's not just coat coloring but also body composition. I'm a beautiful cat with strong tabby patterns, and there could be another breed mixed in there but I doubt Bengal. It couldn't hurt to have a DNA test done if you feel like spending the money.

Also, toroiseshell cats do not have stripes but rather a patch pattern. (I had a show-quality tortie as a child)

Thanks. I also checked out a FB group for this kind of cat, and the consensus was that mine was a mix. Here is another angle for her body type. She does have high hind legs relative to her front ones:

Another bengal trait is a silky soft pelt. Many bengals have glitter. I think tabby kittties are stunning cats.

In that photo, my attention does go to the long legs and triangular head.

Maybe personality is the way to know here - does she talk a lot/constantly (trilling, muttering, chattering to herself or to you or the wall or the door)

Does she like water? Have a lot of energy? Act doglike when she loves a person?

She follows me and my husband from room to room and meows/rubs against legs while doing so. Haven't exposed her to any water yet other than her drinking water. She has been more energetic since she left the shelter and likes playing with a variety of cat toys that we got her. She is doglike in that she follows owners from room to room. The only other cats I've had like that are a Nebelung mix and a Maine Coon mix, two breeds that also exhibit that tendency.

I had a Bengal mix myself and it became more obvious as I got to see his personality.

Hi all. After further research, I now think Mallory is mostly Oriental Shorthair. I have a pending DNA test for her just in case, but in the meantime, both her personality and appearance have more in common with that breed than any other, Bengal included. Savannah, Egyptian Mau and some similar breeds had also been considered, but Mallory's body type is very Oriental Shorthair, as is her personality, and the broken mackerel tabby markings are more acceptable in that breed than in the spotted ones.



I'll let you know if there's any Bengal in her DNA. Interestingly, Oriental Shorthairs have been bred with Bengals to create a breed called the Serengeti, which is one of the other breeds I'd been looking up.

How wonderful that you are curious enough to do a DNA test. Please let us know what you find out. At least your question will be answered. She is a beautiful kitty, regardless.

Update?

Results still pending. Says it takes 6-8 weeks. Will definitely update upon arrival. :)

Results are finally in. She's a generic DSH, showing no likelihood for any of the 27 breeds they have listed. Her wildcat ancestry also showed low percentages, so there is no hybridization.

I was a little excited at first because they had Egyptian Mau at the top, so I thought that meant she was close to that breed -- but when I looked at the actual bars for that breed and all the others, they were right in the middle, which indicates DSH.

Thank you for the results of the DNA test! At least now you know for sure. Regardless, all kitties are beautiful! And she is very special to you which she should be.