Colour variant specific to the Bengal breed that produces soft colorpoint phenotypes called snow, in their three forms: seal lynx point (cs/cs), seal mink (cb/cs) and seal sepia (cb/cb). The rosette pattern is maintained on a cream or ivory background. It results from the cb (Burmese) and cs (Siamese) variants of the TYR gene. It is not associated with disease.

Limited to the Bengal breed and lines with colorpoint ancestry. There are no reliable frequency figures by form; limited data. The lynx point form is usually the most frequent in European Bengal populations.

- Cream or ivory base coat with darker rosette pattern
- Seal lynx point (cs/cs): greater contrast, blue eyes
- Seal mink (cb/cs): intermediate contrast, greenish or blue-green eyes
- Seal sepia (cb/cb): lower contrast, yellow-greenish eyes
- No systemic manifestations

The snow colour was introduced into the Bengal breed through crosses with domestic cats carrying colorpoint variants (Siamese and Burmese) during the consolidation of the breed. The molecular characterization of the cs and cb variants of the TYR gene was published in 2005 (Lyons and colleagues), which made it possible to distinguish the three forms by genotyping. The nomenclature seal lynx point, seal mink and seal sepia was adopted by analogy with the standard of other colorpoint breeds. Limited data on the relative frequency of each form in Spanish Bengal litters.

- Know the TYR genotype (cs, cb, C) of the breeding animals before mating
- To obtain snow: mate carriers (cs or cb) with each other, or with snow
- Mating cb/cs x cb/cs produces the three forms in an approximate ratio of 1:2:1
- Inform the buyer that the exact form depends on the genotype and that the blue eyes of lynx point are specific to the variant

Differentiating the three forms by genotype is more reliable than by phenotype, especially in adult animals with complex patterning. The blue eyes of lynx point are similar to those of the Siamese. Do not confuse with animals with dilution or with other non-snow colorpoints. The genetic test distinguishes cb, cs and c when they are included in the panel.

1. Lyons LA et al. 2005, Tyrosinase mutations associated with Siamese and Burmese patterns in the domestic cat (Felis catus). Anim Genet. PMID: 15771720. 2. Lyons LA 2015, DNA mutations of the cat: the good, the bad and the ugly. J Feline Med Surg. PMID: 25701860. 3. Imes DL et al. 2006, Albinism in the domestic cat (Felis catus) is associated with a tyrosinase (TYR) mutation (describe el alelo c de albinismo completo, no el colorpoint). Anim Genet. PMID: 16573534. OMIA:000202-9685.