The standard for each breed is set forth by The Cat Fanciers' Association as a guideline for the breeders and judges. It is the picture of the "ideal" cat, and interpretation of the standard is in the eye of the beholder. Changes to a breed standard are recommended to the CFA Executive Board by the members of the Abyssinian Breed Council. It is interesting to see how the standard has developed in depth over the years.
Scale of Points to be applied to all Breeds and Colors
25 ...................... Color
25 ...................... Coat and Condition
20 ...................... Head (including size and shape of eyes)
20 ...................... Type (including shape, size, bone and length of tail)
10 ...................... Color of EyesThe Abyssinian cat should be similar in type to the Siamese. Face rather long and wedge-shaped. Tail short and thick. Ears large. Cat inclined to be small in size.
COLOR: Reddish fawn or grey, with each individual hair ticked. A perfect specimen should be entirely free from tabby markings.
COLOR and TYPE: Either ruddy brown or Silver ticked with black or dark brown, double or treble ticking - i.e., two or three bands of color on each hair preferably to single ticking; no bars or other markings except that a dark spine line will not militate against an otherwise good specimen. Inside of forelegs and belly should be of a tint to harmonize well with the main color, the preference being given to orange-brown; no white markings permissible.ABSENCE OF MARKINGS: -- i.e. bars on head, tail, face and chest - is a very important property in this breed. These places are just where , if a cat or other fine animal shows markings at all , they will hold their ground to the last with remarkable pertinacity. The less markings visible the better; at the same time the judge must not attach such undue importance to this property that he fails to give due importance to others. For instance, it does not follow that an absolutely unmarked cat, but of "cobby" build, failing in ticking and color, is, on account of absence of marking, better that a cat of slender build, well ticked and of nice color, but handicapped by a certain amount of "barring" on legs and tail.
HEAD AND EARS: Head long and pointed, ears sharp, comparatively large and broad at base.
EYES: Large, bright or expressive. Color: Green, yellow or hazel.
TAIL: Fairly long and tapering.
FEET: Small, pads black; this color also extending up the back of the hind legs.
COAT: Short, fine and close.
SIZE: Never large or coarse.
HEAD (25) Muzzle .......... 6 Skull ........... 6 Ears ............ 7 Eye Shape ....... 6 BODY (30) Torso .......... 15 Legs and Feet .. 10 Tail ........... 5 COAT (10) Texture ........ 10 COLOR (35) Color........... 15 Ticking ........ 15 Eye Color ...... 5GENERAL: the overall impression of the ideal Abyssinian would be a colorful cat with a distinctly ticked coat, medium in size and regal in appearance. The Abyssinian is lithe, hard and muscular, showing eager activity and a lively interest in all surroundings. Well balanced temperamentally and physically with all elements of the cat in proportion.HEAD: a modified, slightly rounded wedge without flat planes; the brow, cheek, and profile lines all showing a gentle contour. A slight rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead, which should be of good size, with width between the ears and flowing into the arched neck without a break.
MUZZLE: not sharply pointed or square. The chin should be neither receding nor protruding. Allowance should be made for jowls in adult males.
EARS: alert, large, and moderately pointed; broad, and cupped at base and set as though listening. Hair on ears very short and close lying, preferably tipped with black or dark brown on a ruddy Abyssinian, chocolate-brown on a red Abyssinian, slate blue on the blue Abyssinian, or light cocoa brown on a fawn Abyssinian.
EYES: almond shaped, large, brilliant, and expressive. Neither round nor oriental. Eyes accentuated by fine dark line, encircled by light colored area.
BODY: medium long, lithe and graceful, but showing well developed muscular strength without coarseness. Abyssinian conformation strikes a medium between the extremes of the cobby and the svelte lengthy type. Proportion and general balance more to be desired than mere size.
LEGS and FEET: proportionately slim, fine boned. The Abyssinian stands well off the ground giving the impression of being on tip toe. Paws small, oval, and compact. Toes: five in front and four behind.
TAIL: thick at base, fairly long and tapering.
COAT: soft, silky, fine in texture, but dense and resilient to the touch with a lustrous sheen. Medium in length but long enough to accommodate two or three dark bands of ticking.
PENALIZE: off-color pads. Long narrow head, short round head. Barring on legs, dark broken necklace markings, rings on tail. Coldness or grey tones in the coat.
DISQUALIFY: white locket, or white anywhere other than nostril, chin, and upper throat area. Kinked or abnormal tail. Dark unbroken necklace. Grey undercoat close to the skin extending throughout a major portion of the body. Any black hair on red Abyssinian. Incorrect number of toes. Any color other than the four accepted colors.
ABYSSINIAN COLORS
Coat color: warm and glowing. Ticking: distinct and even, with dark colored bands contrasting with lighter colored bands on the hair shafts. Undercoat color clear and bright to the skin. Deeper color shades desired, however intensity of ticking not to be sacrificed for depth of color. Darker shading along spine allowed if fully ticked. Preference given to cats UNMARKED on the undersides, chest, and legs; tail without rings. Facial Markings: dark lines extending from eyes and brows, cheekbone shading, dots and shading on whisker pads are all desirable enhancements. Eyes accentuated by fine dark line, encircled by light colored area. Eye color: gold or green, the more richness and depth of color the better.
RUDDY: coat ruddy brown (burnt-sienna), ticked with various shades of darker brown or black; the extreme outer tip to be the darkest, with orange-brown undercoat. Tail tipped with black. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color. Nose leather: tile red. Paw pads: black or brown, with black between toes, extending slightly beyond the paws.
RED: coat rich, warm glowing red, ticked with chocolate-brown, the extreme outer tip to be dark, with red undercoat. Tail tipped with chocolate-brown. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color. Nose leather: rosy pink. Paw pads: pink, with chocolate-brown between toes, extending slightly beyond the paws.
BLUE: coat warm beige, ticked with various shades of slate blue, the extreme outer tip to be the darkest, with blush beige undercoat. Tail tipped with slate blue. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: mauve, with slate blue between toes, extending slightly beyond the paws.
FAWN: coat warm rose-beige, ticked with light cocoa brown, the extreme outer tip to be the darkest, with blush beige undercoat. Tail tipped with light cocoa brown. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color. Nose leather: salmon. Paw pads: pink with light cocoa brown between the toes, extending slightly beyond the paws.