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.
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.
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.
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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