In this article I’m looking at – do Bengal kittens spots change as they age?
Bengal kitten pattern development and color changing is something that anyone considering adopting a Bengal kitten needs to be aware of.
Because, yes, Bengal cat spots fade as they age. Their coats will also change in color over the next couple of years.
I’m sure you’ll love your Bengal just the same, regardless of how dark or light their coats end up. But it’s nice to know what to expect in the coming years as they grow up.
Here is everything you need to know about Bengals coats’ changing in color and pattern as they grow up:
Why Do Bengal Kittens Change Their Spots and Color?
The best guess as to why Bengals change color as they grow up ties back to their survival needs in the wild.
Bengals come in a range of browns, cinnamon, grey, beige and so on, but all kittens start out with a light/pale coat and spots.
Bengal kittens have what’s called a “Camouflage coat” when they are born. They have a silvery to sandy base color, and brown spots also called marbling or rosetting.
Their color and markings aren’t ideal for blending in with their surroundings, but they are still protected by their mothers so it’s not needed.
As they age their base color darkens, as does their spotting or rosetting. This helps them blend into their natural surroundings a lot better.
Meaning they can hunt more successfully by stalking prey and lying in wait. As well as blending in to avoid catching the eye of predators.
When Do Bengals Coat’s Change Color?
At around 12-14 weeks Bengals will typically start to visibly darken. As kittens, their coats are very light, and they still have their guard hairs which are long hairs that give them a more fuzzy coat.
Their coats gradually darken over the next 10-12 months and as they shed their guard hairs they’ll be a lot more streamlined.
In my experience, a Bengal’s coat is fully matured when they are around a year old. I had a Bengal that went from a pale sandy color to a dark reddish/orange within a year.
If you look back at pictures of the same Bengal as a kitten and now as an adult, you’ll see the same rosetting in the same places, but it will be a lot darker.
You may also notice slight changes to how dark their coats are seasonally too. A Bengals summer coat will be a little lighter as you may expect, while their winter coat will be thicker and darker.
If you enjoyed this article – do Bengal kittens spots change? Check out some of my other posts, including which breeds of cat are hypoallergenic, and my list of the most playful cat breeds.
