There are four different types of Bengal cats, depending on their colour and their patterning. Bengal patterns can be either spotted or marbled while the background colours are either brown (ranging from a pale cream to a deep chocolate and sometimes a firey hot red) or white (again ranging from a stark icy white to a warm cream). The four most common types are thus called Brown Spot, Brown Marble, Snow Spot, and Snow Marble. Snow Bengals are further broken down according to eye colour so you will often hear the phrase "blue-eyed snow", "any other coloured snow" and "seal lynx", "seal sepia", and "seal mink", depending upon which registry the cat is listed with (either the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy or The International Cat Association, respectively.)

All Brown Bengals, whether spotted or marbled, have a brown background colour that can be as pale as spun gold or as red as a maple trees' leaves in the autumn with darker chocolate or charcoal swirls on the marbled Bengals or spot outlines (known as rosettes). All Brown Bengals will have eyes that are gold, green, or hazel, the deeper shade the better. In the Brown Spotted Bengal, rosettes are formed by a lighter coloured center inside a darker ring of spots. Strong contrast between the two spot colours, as well as the base colour is preferred. Furthermore, rosettes that are distinctly formed and larger sized are sought after when breeding or showing, as well as those that have arrowhead or horseshoe shaped rosettes. The rosettes can be either randomly spread across the body of the cat, or in a horizontal flow. Both types of Brown Bengals should have distinctive spots, stripes and streaks on the legs and tail, as well as pattern on the belly.

Brown Marbled Bengals, on the other hand, have a light caramel to a deep russet or even black colour, with darker brown or charcoal swirly patches or non-symmetrical streaks. The swirls should have a horizontal flow. The greater the colour contrast between light and dark, the more attractive the Bengal. Again, the stomach should be patterned, with the legs and tail also having distinct markings. Furthermore, the less similarities a Marble has with the common Tabby cat, the better.

In contrast to Brown Bengals, Snow Bengals all have a white or cream background with dark brown or dark brown-ish gray swirls or spots. The Snow Spotted is similar to the Brown Spot above, as far as the large sized rosettes and sharp contrast of shades. Snow Marbles should also have swirly patterns, randomly spread or flowing horizontally. The more difference in the marble colouring, the better. Some Snow Bengals have eyes that are gold, green, or blue-green (any other coloured), alongside the blue-eyed snow Bengals.