I have to agree with Tim on what he looks for and in the exact same order as well of “health, temperament, and appearance”. I do fear that some may view that in the reverse order. When it comes to the standard and showing it is really all about appearance is it not? I don’t see mentions of health being presented in those arenas.
Now I will fully admit it was the appearance that initially drew me to this breed long ago, even though I don’t have experience with other breeds a quirky cat (Bengal) for a quirky guy like myself couldn’t have been a better fit. While human nature suggests we are all attracted to the ‘shiny’ and ‘pretty’ things in life we do have to fall back on the expression “don’t judge a book by its cover” every once and a while. I think many are still attracted to Bengals due to ‘the look’ and the health and temperament can sometimes be a ‘roll of the dice’ for many.
I’m not making a point that blues should be ‘accepted’ just because I happened to own one either. Rather if I was aware from the get go with what I know now and I had even a slight interest in competitive showing or that they don’t fit the accepted standard, then I as a pet owner may have possibly skipped over buying a blue. That would have been one of the biggest mistakes I could have ever made.
I do better understand what Elaine was trying to convey now. There are so many colors and variations that some line has to be drawn somewhere I guess as far as the standard goes. I was under the impression that that browns, silvers, marbles, (and blues and melanistics) were recognized colors even if the latters were not fit for competition. When we add smokes, charcoals, reds, cinnamons, albinos, and whatever else there may be this really makes it confusing, at least for me it does.
I still do think however that if a pet owner has a non-standard that they still should given the opportunity to be allowed to compete along side any other ‘reconigzed’ Bengal even if it means that they will come in last place every time.
I wish I could have been so succinct previously as the above sentence
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