Marbled Bengal Development
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It is hard to imagine when you see a newborn marbled Bengal, what it will look like once it's pattern has developed. That plain looking kitten with big blocks of solid markings can develop into a beautiful whirl of complex squiggles and swirls flowing along the length of the body & down the legs with an appearance of liquid fluidity. It fascinates me watching their patterns open up & transform over the first few months & even beyond. To give you an idea, here are a series of photos of a snow, brown & silver kitten from birth to 5 months of age. 
1 day 
 1 week 
 2 weeks 
 5 weeks 
  14
weeks
 
 5
months
3-D
Embossed Marbling
Another
fascinating occurance in some marbles is the 3-D effect. This is where
the markings comprise of slightly longer hairs than the background so
when viewed at a particular angle, they appear to be embossed onto the
coat. It can happen with the spotted cats too, but there are less known
cases so far, or maybe because the pattern consists of larger areas
with the marbles it is easier to notice. It is also more apparent when
the cat is alert or excited.
I was delighted to discover this unusual feature in both Slavess Celisse & Slavess Idol Eyes at around 6 months of age. Their sire, Owlsdene Marbled Montague does appear to have it on close inspection but to a lesser degree. These photos were taken after smoothing the coat flat as much as possible.     The
Marbled future
As with the spotted/rosetted Bengals, the marbles are still being developed until we achieve consistency in our interpretation of the breed standard. There aren't as many breeders focusing on the marbles as there are the spotteds/rosetteds but their popularity is increasing as the standard improves. My personal aim is to have marbled Bengals with more of a connected horizontal flow to the pattern, less remnant of the circular bullseye marking from the domestic classic tabby, more open chaotic markings with tri-colouring & sharp contrast, plenty of acreage between the markings helping them to stand out & to emphasise the embossing. All the while keeping focused on good type & health. Rather than trying to replicate wild cats such as the clouded leopard, king cheetah or marbled cat, my vision of the marbled domestic Bengal is of something quite unique & instantly recognisable as what it is. We have a long way to go but the journey should be fun. Ren
Slaven, Slavess Bengals, 2010.
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