BREED STANDARD: ABYSSINIAN / SOMALI (AB/SO)

POINT SCORE

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

CLASSIFICATION

DIVISIONS

Tabby and Silver/Smoke.

COLORS

Limited to eumelanistic colors with the agouti pattern.

ALLOWABLE OUTCROSSES

None.

HEAD

Shape

Modified wedge with rounded contours, viewed from the front.
Gentle rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead, with no abrupt break.
Length in proportion to the body, with a smooth transition from the forehead to the skull, flowing into the arched neck.

Ears

Large
Alert
Moderately pointed
Broad and cupped at the base
Tilted forward, as if listening
Short, close-lying hair
Preferably with tips matching the color
A “thumbprint” mark on the back is desirable

Eyes

Large
Almond-shaped
Brilliant and expressive
Skull aperture matching the shape of the eyes
Neither round nor oriental

Features:

Accentuated by a dark outline
Surrounded by a light area
Dark vertical stroke above each eye
Dark curved line on the side, like eyeliner

Eye color: gold, copper, green or hazel, with deep shades preferred.
There is no relationship between eye color and coat color.
Points divided equally between shape and color.

Muzzle

Follows the gentle contours of the head.
Full, rounded chin, neither protruding nor receding.
Jowls are allowed in adult males.
Should not be pointed, sharp, “foxy” or show whisker pinch.

Profile

No flat planes, with a gently curved transition between forehead, nose and muzzle.

BODY

Torso

Medium-long length
Lithe and graceful
Well-developed musculature without coarseness
Rounded rib cage
Slightly arched back
Level flanks
Proportion more important than size

Legs

Slender
Long
Well muscled
Keep the body well off the ground

Feet

Oval and compact.
The stance gives the impression of standing “on tiptoe”.

Tail

Long and tapering.

Musculature

Strong, well developed, firm to the touch.

COAT / COLOR / PATTERN

Length (AB: Abyssinian)

Resilient texture
Lustrous sheen
Medium length
4 to 6 alternating light and dark bands
Coat close to the body
Sufficient undercoat
“Flat” look undesirable
Should not be woolly
Longest along the spine, gradually shortening

Length (SO: Somali)

Very soft
Extremely fine texture
Double coat
Semi-long
Shoulders may be slightly shorter
Greater density is preferable
Ruff and britches desirable

Pattern (Ticking)

Genetic agouti form, with:

Even dark ticking
Alternating light bands
Translucent effect

COLOR DIVISIONS

TABBY

Warm colors
Vibrant appearance
Greater intensity desirable
Rufousing valued
Dorsal shading allowed
White restricted to the upper throat, lips and nostrils
Even ticking preferred

SILVER / SMOKE

Ice-white undercoat
Ticking according to the color
Sparkling silver effect
Light bands replace the warm tones
Yellow/brown pigmentation undesirable
Slight rufousing tolerated
Less rufousing is preferable

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The ideal Abyssinian/Somali is a medium-sized cat of regal appearance and foreign type.