Cross Breeds

Do Bengal cats' eyes flash blue from a camera flash?

Public Comments

1. The color you see flashing is the result of the tapetum. It's a reflective coating on the retina that helps with night vision. In the case of most cats, it is green. Sometimes, with blue-eyed animals it will flash red because they actually lack the pigment in the tapetum lucidum. I've seen a blue tapetum in a calf, and I would imagine it is possible in cats. I don't know that it is linked to the bengal breed though. I've seen them with green reflection, but not blue. Both of my cats have a green tapedum (domestic short hair, and persian mix).
2. All kittens(Bengals included) are born with blue eyes. Some keep the blue and others become other shades of green amber etc. It is my undersanding that the blue is a lack of pigment. So while kittens, the "red eye" is actually "blue eye." If you take a picture from the side, you will be able eventually get pictures that don't have that, but it is like 10% or less from my experience. I do have pictures of my blue eyed, seal lynx snow bengal without the "red eye" though they are few and far between.