Bengal Cat Glitter
🐾 Highly Desirable in Bengals, But Not All Bengals Have It....
Let's talk about "Bengal cat glitter" and why it's one of the coolest features you will ever see on a cat. As if the "living room leopard spots" on a Bengal cat weren't cool enough by themselves. We also have the shimmering, flashy, amazingly soft, silky, iridescent, luxurious pelt of the Bengal cat, just to make sure all the other cats know they're just a little more unique than the rest.
Glitter on a brown bengal
Glitter on a snow bengal
🐾 What Causes Bengal Cat Glitter? (The Real Science)
Bengal cat glitter is not just a visual effect — it is actually caused by the structure of the hair itself.
Scientific research has identified a gene called FGFR2 (Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2) as being responsible for the glitter effect in Bengal cats. This gene influences how the hair shaft develops, allowing light to reflect and refract in a way that creates that signature shimmering, sparkling appearance in the coat.
In simple terms, glitter is not about color — it’s about how the hair interacts with light.
Another really interesting finding is that this trait does not come from the Asian Leopard Cat, but instead comes from the domestic cat side of the Bengal’s ancestry. Through selective breeding, this beautiful feature became more and more prominent over time.
Recent genetic research on Bengal cats has helped scientists better understand how traits like glitter are inherited and expressed. You can read more here:
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-wild-bengal-cat-genome.html
This has also been confirmed in published scientific research identifying the FGFR2 gene responsible for this unique coat trait:
https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)00304-X
Breeders today even have access to DNA testing that can help identify cats carrying the glitter trait, which has made it easier to consistently produce highly glittered Bengal kittens.
🐾 What Is Bengal Cat Glitter in the Fur?
Not all Bengals are lucky enough to have this amazing phenomenon we call "Bengal glitter", but on the ones that are, it resembles golden or silvery shimmering flakes, and sometimes even copper or platinum. If you have never seen it in person, it is AMAZING!!! The best way to describe it, is that it looks a bit like sprinkling store-bought metallic glitter dust on your cat, except it's built right into the hair!
This glitter in the Bengal cat’s fur is especially striking on cats with shorter, velvety coats or pelts where the light really gets in there and makes it shimmer. I tell my girls that our cats have been sprinkled with magic fairy dust by Tinker Bell!
When glittery Bengals were first shown, some judges tried to rub the glitter off with a cloth, as they were convinced that it was an artificial add-on that some savvy breeder had applied to the cat's coat to make it stand out!
Glitter makeup, body glitter, etc., is regularly used all over the body and face by young women on the way to a fun night at the club, and that's why Bengals are always ready to party! They come pre-equipped with party glitter!
On some Snow Bengals, the glitter effect appears well, but on others it's harder to see. Then there's a select few Snow Bengals that have it, and it looks more like a pearly dust! Very elegant!
Our beautiful girl Nola Daze has tons of pearl and gold glitter all over her coat.
🐾 Why Some Bengal Cats Have More Glitter Than Others
Not all Bengal cats have the same level of glitter, and some may appear to sparkle much more than others.
This can depend on several factors, including the structure of the coat, the length and texture of the fur, and even the lighting conditions. Bengals with shorter, denser, more pelted coats often show glitter more intensely because light can reflect more easily off the hair.
Color also plays a role. Brown Bengals tend to show a rich golden sparkle, while Snow Bengals may have a softer, pearly or icy shimmer that can sometimes be harder to capture in photos.
Breeding also plays a role, as selecting cats with strong glitter traits can increase the likelihood of producing kittens with more noticeable sparkle. While breeders often observe this, the exact inheritance pattern is still being studied.
🐾 Types of Bengal Cat Glitter (Mica vs Satin)
Breeders commonly describe two visual types of Bengal cat glitter, often referred to as “mica” and “satin.” While these are not officially defined scientific categories, they are helpful ways to describe how the glitter appears in the coat.
Mica (Gold-Tipped) Bengal Glitter
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This glitter affects the tips of the hairs only and produces its effect in reflective hair tips. If you look at this under a microscope, you'll see what appears to be tiny reflective flecks embedded in the tips of the hair, often described as looking similar to mica.
Satin (Hollow-Air) Bengal Glitter
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It looks just like mica, but in this case, it affects the whole hair shaft, refracting light and giving the coat a pearly effect, which is also known as "oyster." Satin hair shafts contain tiny air pockets along their length, which refract light and give the coat a smooth, soft silkiness unlike any other cat fur you've ever touched.
These air pockets can become elongated, which makes the fur even softer and silkier.
Much like the Snow or Marble Bengal gene, glitter was at first concluded to be a recessive gene. More recent evidence seems to point to the possibility that glitter is actually an accumulative gene. An accumulative gene is a very precious asset to the breeder, since if you breed two kitties that are well-glittered, then the offspring will have even more glitter than Mom and Dad! Breeders can continue this process until we arrive at a Bengal cat that glitters so much we'll have to hand out sunglasses to everyone who passes by!
Glitter is a highly sought-after feature as the glitter gene can also help to produce clearer coats with less ticking in new generations, which breeders strive for.
In my opinion the glitter that our Bengals have on their coats can only be described in one word..... magical!!!!
Here's our snow mink Bengal girl covered in glitter! It's difficult to photograph Bengal glitter. It's all over her, but you can really see it going down her back in this picture.
🐾 Does Every Bengal Cat Have Glitter?
Not every Bengal cat has glitter. While it is a highly desirable trait, some Bengals may have little to no visible shimmer in their coat.
Even among glittered Bengals, the intensity can vary greatly. Some may have a light dusting of sparkle, while others appear almost completely coated in a glowing, iridescent sheen.
The picture above is of Gogees Warhawk. One of the first Bengal cats ever to display the glitter gene on its coat. Jean Mill had one or two before this, but this was the first Bengal cat with glitter to be shown at cat shows and become well known.
🐾 Where Did Bengal Cat Glitter Come From?
The information below was provided by Gene Ducote owner of Gogees:
"In an early breeding, we produced Gogees Warhawk, our first "Glittered" Bengal, and were suddenly awestruck. He was so spectacular, with his silky coat of golden glitter. To isolate and "lock in" that gene, we bred Warhawk to his sister, and the rest is history. Our bloodlines have become famous for producing and perpetuating the wonderful gold-tipped glitter that is so unique to the Bengals. There were times, when we were showing Warhawk, that judges were trying to wipe off the glitter, thinking we had sprayed his coat with something to make him sparkle."
Learn more about Gogees bengal cats.
All of our breeding cats are highly glittered. All of them have Gogees Bengal cat ancestors in their pedigrees, and two of our original Bengal cats actually came from Gogees before Mrs. Gene retired!
Results of my cats genetic test from Wisdom Panel
🐾 Is There a Genetic Test for the Bengal Glitter Gene?
Yes — there are now DNA tests available that can help identify genetic markers associated with the Bengal glitter trait.
For example, testing through Wisdom Panel can show whether a cat carries one or two copies of the genetic variant linked to glitter. Cats with two copies are much more likely to display a visible glitter coat, while those with one copy may carry the trait without showing it as strongly.
This aligns with recent scientific research that has identified the FGFR2 gene as being responsible for the glitter effect in Bengal cats.
While research is still ongoing and genetics can be complex, DNA testing has become a very helpful tool for breeders looking to better understand and produce this beautiful trait.
We are proud to say that all of our breeding Bengal cats carry strong glitter traits, and many carry two copies of the variant, which contributes to producing highly glittered kittens!
Our beautiful Bengal cat, Chocolate Kisses covered in shimmering Bengal glitter all over her highly contrasted coat.
🐾 Want to Own Your Very Own Glittered Bengal Kitten?
If you would like to have your very own glittered Bengal kitten running around your house looking all sparkly and awesome, then you have come to the right place! Bengal glitter is one of the first things that I thought was so amazing about this very special cat breed.
Please see our available kittens page or contact us to get on our waitlist so you can have first pick of our next litter of Bengal kittens.
Pictured below are two of our very first glittered Gogees Bengals we started our breeding program with.
Gogees Dark Angel of Belle Ami
Gogees Prince Lestat of Belle Ami
🐾 More Pictures of Bengal Cat Glitter
Please note… Bengal cat glitter is very difficult to capture in a picture, and these pictures do not do them justice.
