Bengals - which is more popular?

This question is mainly to Nial as he and Teri are breeders, but any Bengal owner or want to be owner can answer.

Just curious, is the Marbled or the Spotted pattern more popular in (1) the show rings, or (2) as a pet?

Which do pet owners prefer and why? For those that show, which pattern is more popular with the judges or for those showing.

I'm answering as a Bengal owner. I prefer the brown Spotted Bengals with big rosettes. However, I think all Bengals are beautiful!

The marbled cats have their followers with the judges and the pet owners, but it is the spotted/rosetted cats who are the most popular.

Spotted/rosetted place higher and more often than marbles in most shows.

Marbles are stunning, but they take much longer to become stunning than the spotted. It can take up to 2 years for a marble pattern to mature.

We have steered our program away from marbles in the last few years, because I feel you either have to do marbles or rosetted, they both deserve a complete commitment.

We have placed many marbled cats over the years, as pets and breeders and they are every bit bengal. Our oldest and dearest bengal pet is a marble and our rescue boy is also a marble. http://www.bengalshowcats.com/Meridianourpets.html

Here is a good breeder with super marbled cats: http://www.bahiyabengals.com

I love the rosetted brown tabbies the best - but- I have seen some tri-colored marbles (pictures only, not real life, sigh..) that are very striking. And then there's Nial's new stud Steely (silver tabby) he's gorgeous!

I guess I prefer the well marked, typey Bengals. (Not quite the answer you wanted I would guess.)

I personally adore the big pancake and arrowhead rosettes - I like a bengal coat to look like leopard spots, but that's just because I have a weird thing for leopard print.

But owning one of each type of bengal, I have to say that my Penny's marbling is not a simple classic marbling, because her marbles actually have spots IN them, and the "rings" on her tail are also spots - it's a really unique coat pattern that she has. Much more complex than the swirls and bullseyes I see on classic tabbies.

Then again, I know nothing about typing, really, I just know that I love the breed in general.

But yeah...it's all about the spots.

In my state on the bench, it's all brown spotted/rosetted except for one seal mink alter.

Originally Posted by GingersMom

Much more complex than the swirls and bullseyes I see on classic tabbies.

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I've only seen one marble in person, and it was a 3-4 month old kitten but I agree it is different to a classic tabby. Just like Oci's are different to spotted tabbies.
The kitten I saw also had spots in the marbling.

I have one of each type of Bengal, and I would say my spotted Bengal is the wildest and most unique looking Bengal, I don't know if it's because he's spotted or if it's because he a lot more wild looking in the face. Most people who see them in person, think my spotted boy is absolutely stunning, and my marbled girl is cute. So, I would have to say Spotted seems to be more popular.

I'd take a silver marbled myself. I love the marbling much more so than the spots.

I LOVE the marbled pattern - I especially love the look of the seal mink (is that right?) marbled in Nial's signature

I think the rosettes that Rome and London have are gorgeous, but love that marble - Penny has always been my favourite Bengal colours wise

Originally Posted by Yosemite

I'd take a silver marbled myself. I love the marbling much more so than the spots.

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We have very similar tastes in cats!

I think marbles can be stunning (like Nials Ares ) but unnatural looking. I prefer the more natural looking brown spotties, especially with rosettes.

I have one of each and love them both to pieces. BUT Takoda's marble pattern is the most gorgeous thing ever. I love the marbles.

Magnum has arrowhead spots and he gets the most attention from visitors Ohhhing and Ahhhing over him. Everyone loves his spots but they love Takoda's pelt. He's so sleek and smooth.

My heart though belongs to the marbles.

Originally Posted by sarahp

I LOVE the marbled pattern - I especially love the look of the seal mink (is that right?) marbled in Nial's signature

I think the rosettes that Rome and London have are gorgeous, but love that marble - Penny has always been my favourite Bengal colours wise

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Awww, Penny sends you some headbutts and shows you her belly in thanks for your admiration.

Not an owner or breeder but he spots and rosettes are my favorite

Considering all the facts - rosetted, hands down

Originally Posted by sarahp

I LOVE the marbled pattern - I especially love the look of the seal mink (is that right?) marbled in Nial's signature

I think the rosettes that Rome and London have are gorgeous, but love that marble - Penny has always been my favourite Bengal colours wise

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The marble girl in my signature is Isabella, she is a seal lynx point, with blue eyes.

I just posted some new pictures of Penny, for those of you that wanted to get a look at her marbling.

Originally Posted by Kai Bengals

The marble girl in my signature is Isabella, she is a seal lynx point, with blue eyes.

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Ahhhh ok thanks I don't know the terminology, but I know what I like

I started out just liking the spotted bengals because hey! it was the leopard type look I was attracted to.

However the more I've learnt about the breed and then seeing how the marbled cats have developed I like them just as much.

Still I know there's a higher demand for the spotted kittens in the UK (I had a talk about that with Nikita's breeder).