AMERICAN SHORTHAIR / AMERICAN WIREHAIR BREED GROUP (AS/AW)

COAT

The American Shorthair (AS) and the American Wirehair (AW) are natural American breeds, medium to large in size, with females being smaller.
Head and body type are the same in both breeds; the distinguishing feature is the unique harsh, crimped coat of the Wirehair.

The hard, resilient coat of the American Shorthair corresponds to the dense, harsh, crimped coat of the American Wirehair.

POINT SCORE

HEAD: 40 points

Shape: 5
Ears: 5
Eyes: 6
Chin: 5
Muzzle: 5
Nose: 5
Profile: 5
Neck: 4

BODY: 35 points

Torso: 8
Legs: 4
Feet: 4
Tail: 4
Boning: 5
Musculature: 10

COAT / COLOR / PATTERN: 15 points

Length: 4
Texture: 5
Color and Pattern: 6

OTHER: 10 points

Balance: 5
Condition: 5

HEAD STANDARD

Shape

Broad, medium-sized, rounded, with a rounded skull and well-developed jowls in whole males.

Ears

Medium size, not too broad at the base, set well apart, with rounded tips.

Eyes

Shape and color are equally valued.
Rounded, medium to large, set well apart, slightly slanted, with a rounded aperture.
Color should conform to the coat.
Clarity of color is desirable.

Chin

Full and strong, completing the square effect of the muzzle.

Muzzle

Medium-short length, square in appearance.

Nose

Medium-short.

Profile

With a modified stop.

Neck

In proportion to the body, medium-short, neither too short and thick nor long and thin.

BODY STANDARD

Torso

Medium length, rectangular, not slender, well rounded and in proportion.
Broad chest, especially in males.
The smaller size of females should be taken into account.

Legs

Medium length, in proportion to the body.

Feet

Medium, rounded.

Tail

Medium length, thicker at the base, tapering gently to a rounded tip.
Slightly tapered, neither blunt nor pointed.
Carried almost level with the back.

Boning

Medium.

Musculature

Well structured, firm, hard to the touch, not flabby.

COAT, COLOR AND PATTERN

Length

Short and even.

Texture (AS) · American Shorthair

Hard, with a natural protective appearance, lustrous, close-lying.

Texture (AW) · American Wirehair

Very dense, resilient, harsh, with crimped hairs.
The overall springy appearance is more important than the crimping of individual hairs.
Scoring favors the correct texture.

Color and Pattern

In patterned varieties, color and markings carry equal weight.
Clarity of markings is desirable, according to the color descriptions.

OTHER CRITERIA

Balance

Although it is a medium to large breed, balance and proportion are more important.
No part should look out of proportion.
Take into account the smaller size of females.

Condition

Weight, coat quality and overall appearance should indicate good condition.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The American Shorthair and the American Wirehair are medium to large breeds.
Strong, compact, well-muscled body, with a developed chest and hindquarters, especially in males.
Females proportionally smaller.

Broad head, with well-developed jowls in males.
Medium-short nose and face.
Eyes and ears set well apart.
Square muzzle, without excessive shortening.

PENALTIES

Incorrect eye color (not fully green in silvers or not gold in browns)
Long, pointed or closely set ears
Neck too short and thick or long and thin
Thin, whip-like tail, too short, thick or carried over the back
Body too compact or excessively elongated
Fine, sparse, long or fluffy coat
Weak hindquarters
Overall lack of body balance

WITHHOLD AWARDS (WW)

White spots or lockets in the Solid Division
Incorrect coat in the American Wirehair

TEMPERAMENT AND DISQUALIFICATIONS

Temperament must be gentle.
Any clear sign of aggression results in disqualification.

The cat may show fear or try to escape, but must not threaten.

Mandatory disqualifications include:

Biting
Attempted fraud
Males without two descended testicles
Partial or total absence of the tail (unless authorized)
Unauthorized polydactyly
Tail defects
Strabismus
Total blindness
Incompatible size
Sternal or chest deformity

American Shorthair