Charcoal bengal cat markings - "zorro markings"
CHARCOAL BENGAL CATS have distinct markings. They have what are called "Zorro Markings". These markings consist of a mask and a cape. Not all charcoal bengals will have both, but most will. Almost all charcoal bengals should have at least the mask at maturity.
Charcoal bengal Masks
Charcoal bengal cat with a mask. This cat is "Lake Leopards Viper" an F1 charcoal bengal
CHARCOAL BENGAL CATS should have masks at maturity, just as most Asian Leopard Cats have ALC masks. Some kittens will not have masks, but they will develop masks later on.
Charcoal masks are black versions of ALC masks. The mask consists of black color that runs all the way down the nose bridge to the nose, and connects from the mascara lines all the way to the nose bridge. The color of the mask should be black and not brownish and the nose bridge color should be solid all the way down with no gaps in color in between. Charcoal bengals should have white or near white goggles around the eyes. The color should not be dark, solid or smokey around the eyes. Charcoal masks look a lot like a peace sign without the circle around it.
With Charcoal snow bengal kittens, the mask tends to develop first before the cape.
The mask is only one feature to Zorro Markings that charcoal bengals have.
Charcoal masks are black versions of ALC masks. The mask consists of black color that runs all the way down the nose bridge to the nose, and connects from the mascara lines all the way to the nose bridge. The color of the mask should be black and not brownish and the nose bridge color should be solid all the way down with no gaps in color in between. Charcoal bengals should have white or near white goggles around the eyes. The color should not be dark, solid or smokey around the eyes. Charcoal masks look a lot like a peace sign without the circle around it.
With Charcoal snow bengal kittens, the mask tends to develop first before the cape.
The mask is only one feature to Zorro Markings that charcoal bengals have.
Pocket Leopards charcoal seal lynx point kitten with a mask.
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The CHARCOAL BENGAL CAT in this picture has a dark mask. Most seal lynx point snow charcoals develop masks before they develop capes.
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This is "catwoman", a charcoal silver bengal cat. Her mask is not a solid mask yet, but it will fill in later.
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Pocket Leopards "Catwoman" charcoal silver bengal kitten
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The CHARCOAL BENGAL CAT in this picture is "Catwoman", the same cat as the picture above. She is 12 weeks old in this picture and you can see how the mask has completely filled in.
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Pocket Leopards Nite Ryder (silver smoke bengal) and Lake Leopardz Viper (F1 charcoal brown bengal) side by side.
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In this picture we have "Nite Ryder" who is a silver smoke bengal. She is considered a "solid". We also have "Viper" who is a F1 charcoal brown bengal. Notice the difference in the faces. Viper has the tabby facial markings and a charcoal mask, whereas the solid, (Nite Ryder) does not.
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Asian leopard cat MASKS compared to charcoal Bengal masks
Asian leopard cats also have the exact same mask template as charcoals bengals do. The only difference in the two is that charcoal bengal cats have darker masks. For more information on why charcoal bengals might have this same mask, but darker, please visit the charcoal bengal genetics page.
ALC Bahgara Kahn, who is in most bengal pedigrees today, has an ALC mask like most all asian leopard cats.
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This is ALC Kabuki of Millwood. Also an early ALC. Notice the ALC mask.
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charcoal bengal capes
Most CHARCOAL BENGAL CATS have capes at some point in their lives. For some charcoal bengals, it develops as the cat matures. For others, they are born with it. A few of them are born with capes but they fade out later.
Sherakan Dean Winchester of Serial Bengals. This charcoal bengal cat has a "cape"
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Charcoal bengal capes run down the length of the back. Some capes are wider than others. The cape can extend over the pattern and the pattern can become a "ghost" pattern under it. Sometimes the capes seem to completely extend over the body and make the cat very dark. But a ghost pattern can still be seen, much like the ghost pattern on solid bengals.
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Wildcatmagic Darth Sithious of Darkside Bengals. This charcoal brown bengal cat has both a cape and a mask (Zorro markings).
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Darkside Bengals "Tiv" showing both a cape and a mask.
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Pocket Leopards "Frost Flower" charcoal seal lynx point with a cape and a mask. Cape can be seen in this picture.
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This charcoal seal lynx point bengal cat is showing both a cape and a mask as a teenager.
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Pocket Leopards charcoal seal mink teenage cat with a developing cape.
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The charcoal seal mink bengal cat in this picture is a teenage cat that is developing a cape. Notice how the whole cape is one solid color and you can see the ghost markings under it.
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