[Excerpt from the TICA (The International Cat Association) Website]

• In compliance with the rules of TICA:  

• Your cat must be TICA registered and be an SBT (at least 4 generations Bengal to Bengal.  

• Your kitty must be well mannered, comfortable in his surroundings and easily handled by the judges. One scratch, bite or other act of aggression will get your cat immediately disqualified.  

• All breeds are expected to behave properly in the ring.  

• CFA does not recognize the Bengal as a registered breed because it is:
  a descendant of the ALC. As Ellen Crockett, a TICA Judge explain to the Bengals-L last week, this whole issue goes back to WAY before there even were Bengals - back in the early 70s there was a show which had some BIG cats - tigers, etc on display for publicity - there was a huge problem with the way the show cats behaved due to the smell and noise of the big cats.
  That year CFA passed a show rule which forbade any animal but felis domesticus in the show hall - this had to be amended in the early 90s to allow service dogs - to comply with the ADA.

• CFA may never recognize the Bengal. This is an association which requires EIGHT generations of 'purity' to import an Abyssinian, Siamese or some other breed - many of them adhere to what I call the 'apartheid' principle -ONE drop of impure blood disqualifies you from being that breed FOREVER.
  
  * TICA specifically allows de-clawed and/or altered cats (i.e., spays or neuters) in the show ring. De-clawed cats are allowed in every class, spay/neuter adult pedigree cats have a class separate from whole championship cats.

Many thanks to Hugh Price and Judy Sugden for helping attain the information regarding this subject matter.