Domestic Shorthair vs Bengal
The check that settles it
A spotted domestic shorthair is a spotted tabby. A Bengal has rosetted spots, a glittered coat and a distinctly long muscular body.
Confirming a domestic shorthair
- Moderate in every dimension — no exaggerated feature anywhere.
- Any colour and any pattern. Calico, tortoiseshell, tabby and tuxedo are patterns, not breeds.
- No documented pedigree, which is what a breed actually is.
- Generally healthier and longer-lived than the exaggerated pedigree breeds.
Confirming a bengal
- Rosetted spots: two-toned, with a darker outline around a warmer centre. Plain spots are a spotted tabby.
- A glittered coat — individual hairs with translucent tips, catching the light.
- Long, muscular body with hindquarters slightly higher than the shoulders.
- A small head in proportion to a large body.