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Summary  Coat colours and patterns are highly variable in cats and are determined mainly by several genes with Mendelian inheritance. A 2‐bp deletion in  agouti signalling protein  (  ASIP  ) is associated with melanism in domestic cats. Bengal cats are hybrids between domestic cats and Asian leopard cats ( Prionailurus bengalensis ), and the charcoal coat colouration/pattern in Bengals presents as a possible incomplete melanism. The complete coding region of   ASIP   was directly sequenced in Asian leopard, domestic and Bengal cats. Twenty‐seven variants were identified between domestic and leopard cats and were investigated in Bengals and Savannahs, a hybrid with servals ( Leptailurus serval ). The leopard cat   ASIP   haplotype was distinguished from domestic cat by four synonymous and four non‐synonymous exonic  SNP s, as well as 19 intronic variants, including a 42‐bp deletion in intron 4. Fifty‐six of 64 reported charcoal cats were compound heterozygotes at   ASIP  , with leopard cat  agouti  (  A   Pbe  ) and domestic cat  non‐agouti  ( a ) haplotypes. Twenty‐four Bengals had an additional unique haplotype ( A2 ) for exon 2 that was not identified in leopard cats, servals or jungle cats ( Felis chaus ). The compound heterozygote state suggests the leopard cat allele, in combination with the recessive  non‐agouti  allele, influences Bengal markings, producing a darker, yet not completely melanistic coat. This is the first validation of a leopard cat allele segregating in the Bengal breed and likely affecting their overall pelage phenotype. Genetic testing services need to be aware of the possible segregation of wild felid alleles in all assays performed on hybrid cats.

Who's behind that mask and cape? The Asian leopard cat's Agouti ( ASIP ) allele likely affects coat colour phenotype in the Bengal cat breed