Sorry, I am not much of a forum poster, but I am sure some of you have been breeding for a long enough stretch to now the answer to my question.

I know silver was introduced in bengals after the breed was accepted in TICA, but what was the official process? How do you do this legitimately if you wanted to introduce a new color to an existing breed? Sorry if this answer is plainly written somewhere... There is a little bit about it on the TICA site, it was just a bit vague, or maybe I'm a bit dimwitted... One of the two for sure. Thanks!!

In TICA it is very difficult to get a new color accepted. It requires several breeders to work together to show and campaign for the new color.

You need 10 TICA breeders in good standing who have shown the new color in "New Trait."

You need 10 TICA breeders in good standing who are currently breeding for the new color.

You need 50 cats of the new color that are registered in TICA. These cats must be registered for at least 3 years prior to the submission of the application for acceptance.

So, it takes A LOT of work, but if you are passionate, it can happen! I am currently helping to get blues accepted!! <3

Yes, but blue is recessive and was hidden in the bengal code already I think (like long hair) when they decided to bring silver in they had to cross out to another breed (silver American shorthair maybe, I read it somewhere but don't remember). How did they get permission to do that and get "purebred" bengals at the end of the project? I am not a bengal breeder; I just like genetics... And I'm curious.

I saw some "ginger" kittens for sale, and I'm sure they don't have papers- they must have introduced a red cat at some point. The markings look neat in red though... So I was wondering if it could legitimately be done.

Thanks!!

JJ - it is the same with ANY new trait! Even with short tails, extra toes, different patterns. They all go through the New Trait process :D


There are TWO pics of blue Bengals in my signature pic! You can see others on my facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/ilikenemerabengals

There are 3 Blue Spotted F3 female Bengals in the world right now and they're all from me! I think thats awesome. And one got her pics published in Bengals Illustrated! Two of them went to breeders so we can continue the blue wave!!