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Marble Bengal Cat Facts, Origin & History (With Pictures)

Cassidy Sutton

By Cassidy Sutton

marble bengal cat

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Dr. Paola Cuevas

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There is a wide range of colors in the Bengal breed, but there are only two patterns: spotted and marble. Today, we’re discussing the Marble Bengal cat and how this breed came to be.

The Marble Bengal has a blotchy, swirl effect to its coat with sometimes high contrast in color. The pattern almost looks like a kaleidoscope if you’re standing above the cat, which we think is cool.

But how did Bengal cats develop such exciting features? Let’s find out. hepper cat paw divider

The Earliest Records of the Marble Bengal in History

Marble Bengals are still fairly new to the world. The first recorded Marble Bengal was born in 1987 with the help of famous American cat breeder Jean Mill.

Jean Mill worked as a conservationist to help protect the Asian Leopard Cat. At a time when the Asian Leopard Cat population was declining due to poaching, Mill stepped up to the plate and crossed an Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic cat. Her efforts were successful and made her the founder of the modern Bengal breed.

Veterinarians, zookeepers, and rescues gave Mill tom cats, knowing she could use them in her work to create Bengals with unique patterns and colors. Plus, she also loved cats, so they went to a good home!

The first Marble Bengal kitten was named Millwood Painted Desert. Her fur was rust-colored, resembling ice cream with caramel drizzle on top—a true beauty. She was an instant success at a cat show in Madison Square Garden.

marble bengal cat
Image Credit: Ofrockwood, Wikimedia Commons

How the Marble Bengal Gained Popularity

The marble look doesn’t naturally occur in Asian Leopard Cats, so Painted Desert didn’t take long to gain popularity. At the cat show in Madison Square Garden, judges and audience members from all over the country wanted to see the beautiful “caramel-drizzled” kitten.

Jean Mill did most of the successful breeding moving forward, but other breeders followed suit. The descendants from the early Marbled Bengals contributed to the first rosette spots you see in Spotted Bengals.

Formal Recognition of the Marble Bengal

The International Cat Association (TICA) recognized the Bengal cat as a breed in 1986 as an experimental breed, just 1 year before Painted Desert was born in 1987. Six years later, the Marble Bengal won the 1993 TICA Championship and helped the breed receive full recognition.

The Cat Fanciers Association recognized the breed in 2016. Other clubs, such as the Canadian Cat Association, the United Feline Organization, and the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, have also recognized the breed.

Marble Bengal Cat in Tree
Image Credit: Kutikova Ekaterina, Shutterstock

Top 3 Unique Facts About Marble Bengals

1. “Sparbled” Bengal is a Cross Between Marbled and Spotted.

Sparbled is a bonus coat coloring amongst Bengals. This unique coloring is a cross between spots and marble, although it’s not an official pattern in Bengals. Breeders don’t consider Sparble Bengals a true Marble Bengals. Instead, they’re deemed spotted or rosette-patterned Bengals.


2. The Bengal’s Coat Was Used to Dissuade Fashionable Women From Buying Exotic Fur.

The beloved Bengal coat patterns and coloring are what make Bengals so unique. Not only does it look stunning, but it also has conservation practices behind it. Jean Mill knew people wanted to buy expensive fur, not knowing what they were supporting. So, she wanted a cat breed with an exotic-looking fur pattern and color to steer fashionable women away from buying fur that looks like their friend’s pet.


3. The Toyger Breed Is the Closest Domestic Relative to the Bengal Breed.

Toyger cats look and act the most similar to a Bengal cat. In fact, the only difference between the two breeds is that Bengal cats have spotted fur, and Toyger cats have vertical striped fur.

bengal cats licking eachother
Image Credit: Ilona Koeleman, Shutterstock

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Do Marble Bengals Make Good Pets?

Are you convinced you want a Marbled Bengal yet? Before you buy one, we have to briefly discuss what it’s like to own one.

Regardless of whether they’re spotted or marbled, Bengals have a wild side. They’re descendants of the Asian Leopard Cat, so they need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Some owners see the fur coloring and patterns and don’t think too much about how much exercise a Bengal cat needs.

That said, newer Bengal generations show a calmer, docile side compared to their ancestors. These cats are several generations removed from the Asian Leopard Cat, so they don’t require any special care.

Still, they’re highly active creatures with an intense desire to explore and hunt. They especially love to climb and need a place to be vertical. Bengal cats are great pets if you can satisfy these needs.

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Conclusion

Marbled Bengal cats are truly one of a kind. They happened by accident, but what a happy accident it was! The marbled pattern is breathtaking and literally show-stopping.

The Bengal cat wasn’t created for looks only. Jean Mill saw a need to help save the Asian Leopard Cat. After reading this post, we hope you can look at a Bengal and appreciate Jean Mill’s efforts to conserve a wild cat species.

 

Featured Image Credit: Anna Pozzi – Zoophotos, Shutterstock

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