The Silver Bengal Cat: Genetics, Breeding Practices, and Specialization ========================================================= The Silver Bengal Cat is not only our favorite here at Moonshine Bengals; it is our primary focus. Our goal is to create and enhance the silver Bengal cat's appearance. We aim for a wild look with a very social personality and high-contrast black markings on a clear, white background. Imagine a beautiful, exotic snow leopard! We also prioritize health and diversity within the breed. Breeding for this specific look is challenging. It all comes down to how certain genes come together to create this stunning cat. While achieving a certain appearance is one of our main goals, we must also maintain proper structure, health, genetic diversity, breed standards, and temperament. Putting all these elements together can be quite the challenge in breeding a high-quality silver Bengal. Today, we will answer some questions about what makes a Bengal cat silver and why producing a top-of-the-line silver Bengal cat line is so challenging. Let’s Start with the Basics: What Makes a Bengal Cat Silver? Technically speaking, a silver Bengal cat is actually a brown Bengal with at least one copy of a gene called the inhibitor gene (I). This gene inhibits the warm, brown tones in the coat, resulting in the silver Bengal look. The inhibitor gene is dominant, meaning only one copy from a silver parent is needed to produce a silver kitten. One parent must be silver to produce silver offspring. Simple, right? Unfortunately, producing a very high-quality silver Bengal cat is not that easy. There are many hidden factors involved in creating that beautiful black-on-white silver coloring that people love and seek out when purchasing their silver Bengal kittens. Here are a couple of examples of different silver Bengal cats with varying looks and contrast. These are just a few examples of silver Bengals here at Moonshine Bengals. I won’t list other silvers of lesser quality, as they aren’t my pictures to use. However, if you start looking at silvers, you will notice the differences. Look closely at the clear white background with defined black spots and rosettes in the cats above. As you can see, there are varying levels of contrast in the silver Bengal cat and how the inhibitor gene presents itself. When a silver cat receives two copies of the inhibitor gene (I/I), it is considered homozygous for silver. This requires a silver-to-silver breeding, where the kitten gets one copy of silver from each parent. A silver cat with two copies of the silver inhibitor gene is considered pure or homozygous for silver. This means the silver coloring tends to look more pure, with no warm tones coming through the coat. A pure silver cat can only produce silver offspring, as it will always pass the inhibitor gene to its kittens. Since the inhibitor is a dominant gene, all kittens will get at least one copy and be silver. This is the goal in most silver programs, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Often, it can take several silver-to-silver breedings over a few generations to end up with a homozygous or pure silver Bengal cat. The first cat pictured above comes from a 15-year-plus silver-only breeding program that also outcrossed with a pure silver American Shorthair to achieve that level of quality in coat contrast. Idunn is most likely pure for silver, but I will only know for sure if I breed her to a male that is not pure for silver and has produced non-silver offspring. Then I will know if she is pure for silver or not. Odin, the second cat in the pictures, is not pure for silver. He is a third generation of silver-to-silver breeding, with a dad that was pure for silver and a mom that was not. He can still produce brown offspring if paired with a female that also has only one copy of the silver inhibitor gene or if paired with a non-silver cat. If you look closely at his pictures, you can see some minimal warm tones around his face, feet, and rosettes. The last cat shown, Olla, is most likely pure for silver. You can see the pure white background with literally no brown or warm tones coming through on her coat. She just had her first litter of seven kittens, and all are beautiful silvers like her, with varying levels of contrast. Either she or my male Laz is most likely pure for silver, and more breedings and pairings over the next year will help determine if one or both are pure for silver. What Makes a Silver Bengal Cat High Quality? Many breeders want to produce a rainbow of colors in their program, such as different shades of browns, snow lynx, snow mink, snow sepia, silver, smokes, silver snows, charcoals, silver charcoals, blues, and more. They aim to have a little bit of everything in their program. There’s nothing wrong with this approach; it’s fun to produce a variety of colors in a litter or with different pairings. However, the quality in each color group can start to lack. The issue with producing silvers in this way is that you are unlikely to achieve the quality and contrast seen in our silver Bengals without focusing on specialization. There are indeed some beautiful silvers that come from non-silver programs, but the results are much less consistent. Out of ten silver kittens, you will typically see a varying degree of quality and contrast. You may have one or two beautiful silvers with excellent color and contrast and minimal tarnish. However, the other eight might develop varying degrees of tarnish and even fading contrast over time, leading to a soft silver appearance. Some tarnish can become more pronounced as they mature, and some silver kittens may eventually appear more brown than silver as adults. When breeders pair very warm brown cats, especially those with more red tones in their coats, with silvers, this issue tends to arise. The inhibitor gene not only inhibits the warm tones but can also diminish the contrast, resulting in a grey-on-grey silver if you get the inhibitor gene without the contrast. Not all silver inhibitor genes are represented the same way in silver cats. When breeding silvers, it’s crucial to get a stronger inhibitor gene in the coat to achieve a clear white background. However, this can wash out the contrast in the rosettes. Therefore, you must breed higher contrast cats to maintain that contrast while obtaining the clear-coated, white background from the stronger inhibitor gene (I). Ticking is another challenge in the silver Bengal cat, which can also wash out the contrast of the rosettes, but that’s a whole other topic for another day. There are still ways for breeders to pair silvers with browns for better success in producing quality silver offspring. For instance, pairing cool brown Bengals with high contrast and a clear background coat can yield very nice silver offspring. However, pairing a standard warm brown Bengal with a silver is a bit hit or miss in terms of quality. You won’t necessarily know what you’re getting until the kitten has fully matured and has its adult coat. Silvers can change significantly from kitten to adult. Silver-to-silver breedings tend to produce more consistently high-quality silver kittens than brown or snow-to-silver pairings. The charcoals and smokes, with their darker overlay, often hide a lot of the underlying tarnish in the silver offspring. Thus, the silver charcoals and smokes from non-silver-focused programs may look better than the traditional silver without the darker overlays. Conclusion: The Importance of Specialization In summary, you are much more likely to get a higher quality silver Bengal cat from a breeder who specializes in silvers and understands how genetics affect appearance. This is in contrast to breeders who produce silvers for fun. Next time, we will cover how to enhance genetic diversity and increase health in the small gene pool of the silver Bengal cat. Stay tuned!

So, you've seen the surfing bengal cat, the travel bengal cat, cats out walking on a harness...and now you want one.  Great! You have came to the right place, but first, things need to be discussed and considered before you decide if an Adventure Bengal Cat is right for you. Time and Training Lets start with the big one, time and training.  This is a huge investment over time.  I like to tell people getting a bengal cat is more like getting a puppy in many ways, except you don't have to take it outside multiple times a day to use the bathroom.  A puppy takes a lot of time and training over time to master going out for walks and being a good canine citizen you can take anywhere with you.  This same concept apply's to training your bengal kitten to be an ideal adventure companion.  I start out all my kittens with harness and backpack training very young, but that training needs to continue once they leave our home and move into yours.  You have to commit to taking them out regularly and building a bond with them.  This process can take a lot of time and patience, and a headache if they decide they don't like something. Bengals can be very vocal.  I have 1 bengal that meowed and wailed every time she was in the car, even for 5 plus hour drives.  It was a nightmare.  We left her travel enclosure in the back seat of the car and took her out multiple times a week for a couple of months and got her a low dose sedative for long road trips and she is gradually growing out of it.  Last long car ride, she was quiet and content the whole drive.  Now, before I scare you, not all cats are like this. This is my only one that has been like this, but I had to take the time and energy to work through car anxiety with her and still am.  Once she's out of the car, she's ready to have a good time and is very friendly and social.  Each cat has their own temperaments and personalities that could result in different issues you will have to overcome in training your adventure kitten.  Make sure you are prepared to do your research and commit to the time and energy to train your kitten, if an adventure cat is what you're seeking. Adventure Cat Traits and Personality A cat that naturally takes to a cat harness and is easy to train as an adventure cat tends to be a more confident, curious, explorative, high energy, and are highly social.  These are all great traits for your bengal pet companion...right?  Yes and No.  If you are looking for a cat best friend that you can travel with, train, and spend a lot of time with, yes, these are all wonderful breed attributes and temperaments.  Even if you want those characteristics, but maybe are less concerned about the traveling and adventuring with your cat, this type of cat will still make an excellent pet if provided with plenty of social interaction and daily enrichments. The catch is DAILY social interaction and enrichment.  If you are looking to get an adventure bengal to just take out here and there and not spend time with it daily, a bengal with these characteristics will not be a good fit for your life style. A more independent, less social bengal cat, would be a better fit for your lifestyle in this case. This super cool cat comes with daily responsibilities to ensure its needs are met. Daily Needs of an Adventure Cat So you think you still want an adventure cat and are willing to meet the daily needs of this amazing animal...read on.  These cats are so fun and full of personality and will leave you entertained for hours.  Mine sprint through the house, play together, play with their toys, and are always checking in to see what I'm up to.  After about 2 - 3 hours of play, they usually find a lap to curl up into for a nice long nap.  Here are some things we have done to create a balance with our active bengal cats that has helped significantly: Creating an Interactive and Enriching Environment for you Bengal Cat 1.  Catio: I put this at the very top for a very good reason.  I have found a catio with outdoor access to be the #1 enrichment for a bengal cat.  I have been able to solve every behavior issue I've encountered personally just by providing my bengal cats with outdoor access.  If you have the option to add a safe, enclosed outdoor area with some climbing options for your bengal cat, I would recommend this over anything else on this list.  If a catio is not an option for you, no worries, there are other options.  It may require a bit more work and effort daily on your part, but you can still find that balance with your smart and active bengal cat, which leads to the next option below. 2.  Outdoor Access for Enrichment: Not everyone can provide a catio for their bengal cat so outdoor access is your next best option.  If you harness train your bengal cat you can take it places with you and out for walks.  Get your cat used to being in a cat backpack and going in and out of it, so you can take it in and out of a safe place when needed.  The cat strollers are another great option if you have smooth trials and pathways to walk.  One thing I've started doing is leaving my travel/car enclosure in the backseat of my car, so I can bring my bengal cat with me when I'm running errands (except for in the summer time cause it's too hot to leave them in the car for any amount of time).  I have a good size enclosure that fits in the back seat nicely.  They have a small travel litter box that stays in there, a travel water bowl, a couple toys, and a cat hammock.  I usually bring some treats and catnip for them.  If I'm a passenger, I take the cat out and let them sit on my lap and look out the window.  Once mine get used to the car, they love it.  Some cats take some time to get used to the car and others take to it right away. 3.  Climbing areas/Cat Towers: Cats love to climb and perch and for bengal cats, this is a must.  Giving you cat plenty of options to get up high is important to them.  A large cat tower, wall shelves, and window perches are just a few ideas to give them climbing options.  There are all sorts of design options and products out there to fit any living situation. A perch in a window is a huge bonus for your bengal cat too. Bengaluxe Óðr of Moonshine Bengals enjoying his window perch 4.  Treat Training: Bengal cats, well bred and socialized ones, are so smart and love spending time with their people.  If you are wanting yours to be an adventure cat, there is a lot of training you can do with your cat that makes your life easier when traveling with your cat and also provides outlets for their energy.  You can use the treat training to teach them to sit still while putting their harness on, put their head through the harness, getting in and out of the carrier/backpack, sitting on your shoulder, etc.  You can also teach them fun tricks just like you would a dog.  This is also a wonderful way to build a stronger bond with your bengal kitten. 5.  Cat Room/A Space to Call it's Own: Do you have a spare room in your house? Laundry room? Large Bathroom?  Your Bedroom? I've always found it very beneficial to have a "safe" place to keep your bengal cat, especially in those first training days/months.  A place where you can cat proof and lock them up when you're gone or can't keep an eye on them is very beneficial in the beginning.  I've found that after my cats are over a year, I am typically able to leave them out free roaming the house, leave all doors open, but I like to be able to keep an eye on them to see what they are getting into and doing in those kitten months. I tend to gradually expand the area as they mature.  That way I can train, block off areas, and do what is needed to keep my kitten and house safe.  If you don't have this option, just make sure you take the time to cat proof all areas in your house that you can't block off and put things of value and meaning securely away.  Each cat is different in what they like to get into when bored.  At least with one room they can call their own, you can minimize and prevent the mischievous behaviors that can occur when you're gone or busy throughout your entire home. Cat Room with Outdoor Catio Acess Interactive Cat Toys 1.  Flirt Pole/Feather on a String: Bengal cats love these!! They love to stalk it and chase it and I have yet to see them get tired of it.  They love it when you get interactive with it throughout the house, up the stairs, on the couch, on the cat tree...don't just sit in one spot.  My bengals will try to break into closets and cupboards trying to get this toy out, so you need to have a secure place to store it 😂 2.  Laser Pointer: This is another huge hit at our house.  My bengals used to start getting amped up and excited when I'd start to walk in the direction of the laser pointer.  This one is a little easier for you as you can just sit there and have them run around. The laser is a very easy way to play and interact with your bengal cat. 3.  Cat Wheel: My bengal cats LOVE their cat wheel.  We have a cat wheel option for all of our bengal cats and they use it....a lot!  There is some training involved to show them how it works and what it's for, but once they figure it out, mine will walk and run for hours!! I do get my kittens introduced to it, but I've found it takes some time before they really figure out how fun it is, but after that, they won't want to get off of it. 4.  Treat Dispensers/Lick Mats: If your bengal cat is food motivated, this is another great option for mental stimulation and just keeping them busy. My bengals are all extremely food motivated, but they are selective about what their food preferences are.  Each of my cats has different preferences on their favorite treat or food choice, so you will have to find those few top food items that your bengal goes crazy over.  You can put their favorite wet food or if you do raw on their lick mat instead of feeding them in a bowl.  You can put some of their regular food (if they are super food motivated) in a puzzle toy or their favorite treats.  Sometimes my bengals will act like they aren't interested and than I'll come home and the toy is empty, so it was used while I was gone, which is the point!! 5.  The Good Ole' Card Board Box:  The cheapest and easiest cat toy ever.  Every time I get a good size package in the mail, I'll just simply throw the box on the floor for the week.  The cats are entertained by each new box for hours and sometimes fight over who gets to be in the box 😂  You can even cut out tunnels and passageways for them, put boxes within boxes, stack boxes, and get super creative with it.  Just a super simple, free option for some extra entertainment for your cat....and you. 6. Fetch:  Many bengal cats love playing fetch.  This may not be an option for all bengal cats, as not all have this drive.  You can try training your bengal to fetch to see if it is something they take to or not.  Most of mine don't fetch, but I also haven't spent the time to try to train them.  I do have one that loves to play fetch and it is a fun and great way to expend some of that energy.  It's also important when teaching your cat to play fetch, that you chose the right toy.  Fetch with bengal cats can be very much based on the toy and how much they like that toy.  I've heard stories of bengal cats only fetching one particular toy. Companionship 1.  A Cat Companion: Bengal cats are very social and playful (see above video), which is what make them such cool and entertaining cats to own.  They have a lot of energy, so it makes sense to have a second cat to match their energy.  If you have to go to work every day, leaving the cat home alone, I would very highly recommend having a companion for your bengal cat.  A second bengal cat or another high energy breed would be great, but really any high energy, playful cat would work.   The shelter has plenty of cats and kittens in need of homes, so if a second bengal isn't in your budget or time schedule, that would be your best option.  Otherwise, a lot of people get 2 bengal cats or littermates.  My bengals are constantly playing, wrestling, chasing each other around the house, and then cuddle up and take a nap together.  A dog companion could work for your bengal cat as well, but that will depend on the dog.  My dog will cuddle up with cats all day and love on them, but doesn't play with the cats, so isn't an outlet for their energy.  The right dog could be a wonderful companion for your bengal cat if it runs around and plays with the cat safely. Silver Melanistic Bengal Kittens/Smoke Bengal Kittens Luna and Freyja Cuddling - Bengal Cats make wonderful family pets 2.  You and your family:  If getting another cat or pet isn't an option, this will be your responsibility and only yours.  If you work from home or you family's schedule ensures that your cat isn't spending many hours home alone, or maybe you have the option to bring your cat to work with you?  Everyone's situation is different and unique and every cat is different.  Some will tolerate being home alone all day and others won't at all.  Its important to have all these things thought through before bringing your bengal kitten home. Conclusion Bengal Cats are amazing pets when their individual needs are met.  I was a dog person for many years until owning my first bengal cat.  I loved them so much, I decided to breed them.  I wanted to breed the perfect adventure cat that I could take out like I did my dogs, but was lower maintenance and less needy than my dogs, while still maintaining the high social, trainable, and interactive personality I loved so much.  The bengal cats coming from my program are specifically selected and bred for those traits, while maintaining the correct structure and standards of the breed.  If you think an adventure cat is for you, look no further, as Moonshine Bengals specializes in just that.  If you're looking for a more laid back cat, we may still have a kitten that will fit your lifestyle, as each kitten has it's own individual temperament, personality, and needs.  In my current litter, 1 kitten is super social, always wanting attention, and will have more needs than the others, 1 kitten is in the middle having all those traits, but less intensely, and 1 kitten is pretty laid back and would probably be happy in any type of home while still having great potential for an adventure cat.  So you want an adventure bengal cat?  Contact us today to reserve you perfect bengal kitten!!