Bengal cats and Charcoal colour
The foundation cats of the Bengal breed were hybrids of the domestic cat and the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) (Prionailurus bengalensis). Some Bengals have a darker coat colour, dark face mask and dorsal stripe, these are termed Charcoal. Charcoal colour is the result of the ALC Agouti gene (Apb) combined with the domestic cat non-agouti gene (a).
We can test for Charcoal colour in Bengals. To do this we need to test for both the ALC Agouti gene and the domestic cat non-agouti gene since Charcoal Bengals are Apb/a, so please tick the boxes for Agouti AND ALC Agouti on the submission form.
The foundation cats of the Bengal breed were hybrids of the domestic cat and the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) (Prionailurus bengalensis). Some Bengals have a darker coat colour, dark face mask and dorsal stripe, these are termed Charcoal. Charcoal colour is the result of the ALC Agouti gene (Apb) combined with the domestic cat non-agouti gene (a).
We can test for Charcoal colour in Bengals. To do this we need to test for both the ALC Agouti gene and the domestic cat non-agouti gene since Charcoal Bengals are Apb/a, so please tick the boxes for Agouti AND ALC Agouti on the submission form.
Please note - the domestic cat Agouti and ALC Agouti genetic tests are performed independently, you can have either one test or the other or both, just tick the appropriate box(es) on the submission form. If you choose just one test we will only be able to give you the results for that test.
If we have already tested your Bengal for the domestic cat Agouti gene we can perform the ALC Agouti test on the DNA we already have, please just complete the online submission form for EXTRA genetic tests and tick the box for ALC Agouti.
Interpretation of results - domestic cat Agouti test
Please note - we cannot comment on the ALC Agouti result if we only test for domestic cat
Agouti.
Test Result |
Interpretation |
Agouti (A/A) |
Has two copies of the Agouti gene (A/A). Cat will have agouti banded hair. |
Carrier of nonAgouti (A/a) |
Has one copy of the Agouti gene and one copy of the non-Agouti gene (A/a). Cat will have agouti banded hair. |
Non-Agouti |
Has two copies of the non-Agouti gene (a/a). Cat will have solid colouration. |
Interpretation of results - ALC Agouti test
Please note - we cannot comment on the domestic cat Agouti result if we only test for ALC
Agouti.
Test Result |
Interpretation |
ALC Agouti (Apb/Apb) |
Has two copies of the ALC Agouti gene (Apb/Apb). Cat will have agouti banded hair. |
Carrier of ALC Agouti (Apb/A or Apb/a) |
Has one copy of the ALC Agouti gene (Apb/A OR Apb/a). Cat maybe a Charcoal (Apb/a) or a carrier of ALC Agouti (Apb/A). |
Does not carry ALC Agouti (A/A, A/a or a/a) |
Has no copies of the ALC Agouti gene. |
Interpretation of results - Combined ALC Agouti AND domestic cat Agouti tests
Test Result |
Interpretation |
Agouti (A/A) |
Has two copies of the Agouti gene (A/A). Cat will have agouti banded hair. |
Carrier of non-Agouti (A/a) |
Has one copy of the Agouti gene and one copy of the non-Agouti gene (A/a). Cat will have agouti banded hair. |
Non-Agouti (a/a) |
Has two copies of the non-Agouti gene (a/a). Cat will have solid colouration. |
ALC Agouti (Apb/Apb) |
Has two copies of the ALC Agouti gene (Apb/Apb). Cat will have agouti banded hair. |
Carrier of ALC Agouti (Apb/A) |
Has one copy of the ALC Agouti gene and one copy of the domestic cat Agouti gene (Apb/A). Cat will have agouti banded hair |
Charcoal (Apb/a) |
Has one copy of the ALC Agouti gene and one copy of the domestic cat non-agouti gene (Apb/a). Cat will have Charcoal colouration. |
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