ABYSSINIAN BREED GROUP (AB/SO)
HEAD: 35 points
- Shape: 10
- Ears: 5
- Eyes: 10
- Muzzle: 5
- Profile: 5
BODY: 35 points
- Torso: 10
- Legs and Feet: 10
- Tail: 5
- Boning: 5
- Musculature: 5
COAT / COLOR / PATTERN: 30 points
- Texture: 10
- Pattern (Ticking): 10
- Color: 10
CATEGORY
- Category: Traditional
- Divisions: Tabby and Silver/Smoke
- Colors: Limited to the eumelanistic colors and the agouti pattern
- Allowable Outcrosses: None
HEAD STANDARD
Shape
Modified wedge with rounded contours when viewed from the front. Gentle rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead, with no abrupt break. Head in proportion to the body, with a gentle curve from the skull to the arched neck.
Ears
Large, alert, moderately pointed, broad at the base, cupped and tilted forward. Short, close-lying hair. Preferably with tips in the color of the pattern. A "thumbprint" mark on the back of the ear is desirable.
Eyes
Almond-shaped, large, brilliant and expressive. The skull aperture follows the shape of the eyes. Accentuated by darker lid skin, encircled by a light-colored area.
Above each eye, a short dark vertical pencil stroke. On the sides, a dark curved line.
Color: gold, copper, green or hazel. The richer and deeper, the better.
There is no relationship between coat color and eye color. Points are divided equally between shape and color.
Muzzle
Follows the contours of the head gently. Full, rounded chin, neither protruding nor receding.
Adult males may show jowls.
Should not be pointed, sharp, "foxy" in appearance or show whisker pinch.
Profile
No flat planes, with a smooth transition between forehead, nose and muzzle.
BODY STANDARD
Torso
Medium length, lithe and graceful, with well-developed musculature without coarseness. Solid to the touch.
Rounded rib cage. Slightly arched back. Level flanks.
Proportion and balance are more important than size.
Legs
Finely proportioned, long and muscular. Standing well off the ground.
Feet
Oval and compact, giving the impression of standing on tiptoe.
Tail
Long and tapering.
Musculature
Well developed and firm, without a coarse appearance.
COAT, COLOR AND PATTERN
Length (AB: Abyssinian)
Medium-length coat, resilient to the touch, lustrous and fine.
Long enough to accommodate four to six alternating light and dark bands.
Close-lying, with an adequate undercoat.
A woolly appearance is undesirable.
Longest along the spine, shortening on the flanks, legs and head.
Length (SO: Somali)
Very soft, extremely fine texture, double coat.
Semi-long, except over the shoulders.
The denser, the better.
A ruff and breeches are preferred.
Pattern
Genetic agouti ticking, with even dark bands contrasting with lighter bands, producing a translucent effect.
TABBY DIVISION
Colors should reflect warmth and vitality.
The greater the rufousing and depth, the better.
Darker shades are preferred.
Dorsal shading is allowed.
White limited to the upper throat, lips and nostrils.
Even ticking is preferred.
SILVER / SMOKE DIVISION
Ice-white undercoat.
Ticking according to the variety.
Overall sparkling silver effect.
Orange, sorrel or cream bands are replaced by white.
Yellow or brown pigmentation on the chest, abdomen, tail and legs is undesirable.
Slight rufousing may be tolerated if the overall impression is silver.
GENERAL IMPRESSION
Medium-sized cat with a regal appearance.
Foreign type.
Males larger than females.
Females more delicate and active.
Firm musculature, feline movements.
Iridescent coat.
Health, physical balance and a gentle temperament are essential.
PENALTIES
Color Faults
- Cold, grayish or sandy tone
- Incorrect undercoat
- Broken necklaces
- Leg bars
- Mottling in areas without ticking
- Tabby stripes
- Flat or overly fluffy coat
- Incorrect paw pad color
Ticking Faults
- Uneven ticking
- Lack of markings on the head and tail
Condition
- Flabbiness
- Lack of luster
- Illness
- Emaciation
- Poor muscle tone
WITHHOLD AWARDS (WW)
- Complete necklace
- Reverse ticking
- White spotting outside the allowed areas
TEMPERAMENT AND DISQUALIFICATIONS
Temperament must be gentle.
Aggression results in disqualification.
Mandatory disqualifications include:
- Biting
- Fraud
- Males without two testicles
- Absence of tail
- Unauthorized polydactyly
- Tail defects
- Strabismus
- Blindness
- Incompatible size
- Chest deformity
