Standard of Points

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE CAT FANCY

 

Standard of Points

General Type Standard

The most distinctive feature of the cat is its lack of fur.  The Sphynx is of medium size, boning, and body conformation with surprising weight for its size.  The head shape is a modified wedge with prominent cheekbones and whisker pads.  The body is warm and soft to the touch with a chamois leather like texture to the skin.  Males are generally larger than females.  The Sphynx is sweet tempered, lively, intelligent, and amenable to handling.

 

Head –                    The head is a modified wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than it is wide, with prominent cheekbones and distinctive whisker break, with prominent whisker pads and strong rounded muzzle.

The skull is slightly rounded with a flat plane in front of the ears.  The nose is straight and there is a slight to moderate break at the bridge of the nose.  Rounded chin of reasonable depth and a level bite.

 

Ears –                      Large, wide open at the base tapering to a rounded tip.  They are set at a slight angle to the head with the outer base of the ears level with the outer corner of the eye but are not flaring.  The interior of the ears is naturally without furnishings.

 

Eyes –                     Large and lemon shaped, slanted slightly upwards towards the outer edges of the ears and set wide apart.  Any colour acceptable.

 

Body –                    The body is medium in size  long, firm and well muscled throughout, with a broad, rounded chest and abdomen.  The rump is well rounded and muscular.  The neck is medium to long and well muscled.  Allowance to be made for heavy musculature in adult males.

 

Legs and feet –      Legs are of medium length, muscular and in proportion to the body.   The hind legs are slightly longer than the front. Paws are oval.  The toes are long and slender and the paw pads are thick giving the appearance of walking on cushions.

 

Tail –                      Long and slender, in proportion to the body length, heavier at the base and tapering to the tip.

Down & Skin –     There is fine down on the skin almost imperceptible to the eye, giving the overall feel of soft warm chamois leather. Thicker down is permissible on the nose, back of the ears, on the feet, scrotum and to a lesser extent, the tail.  This coat texture creates the feeling of resistance when stroking the cat.  Wrinkled skin may appear particularly around the muzzle, between the ears and around the shoulders.  Any whiskers and eyebrows should be short and sparse.

Colour –                 Colour is irrelevant a cat should not be penalised if apparently wrongly registered as there are no points for colour.

                        Scale of Points

                             Head     …        5

                                                            Shape and size      …          5

                                                Muzzle and chin  …          5

                                               Profile    …            …         5

                                              Cheekbones          …        5

                                             Eyes       …             …       5

                                           Ears        …            …     10

                                               Body      …            ….       15

                                                                                    Legs and feet        …       10

                                                         Tail ….           ……            5

                                                Neck       …            …         5

                                                Skin and down     …          30

                                                TOTAL 100

                                                                                                                                                                  Withhold all awards for:

  1. The complete absence of down.
  2. Excessive fur giving the impression of a coat – Excessive fur anywhere, the nose excepted. Ears must not possess ear muffs, however down on the ears is acceptable.

 

Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes:

  1. Disproportional small ears
  2. Round eyes
  3. Lack of prominent cheekbones
  4. Lack of whisker break with prominent whisker pads
  5. Rounded feet or thin paw pads
  6. Delicate appearance
  7. Too svelte or cobby in appearance
  8. Any other defect as listed in the preface to this S.O.P. booklet.

 

FEDERATION  INTERNATIONAL  FELINE ( FIFE)

Head

Medium,  Shape modified wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than wide.

Skull slightly rounded with a flat plane on the forehead. Profile slight to moderate stop at bridge of a straight nose. Cheeks prominent cheekbones. Muzzles strong rounded muzzle and firm chin. Whiskas Whole or broken, course. Ears large, broad at base and open, slightly rounded tips interior is totally hairless sight amount of hair allowed on lower outside edges and on the back of the ear. Placement upright, set at a slight angle on the head, not flaring. Eyes shape-lemon shaped, large, slanting to outer edge of tear slightly more than an eye width between eyes.

Colour ideally to conform to skin colour. Neck medium length, shape is rounded and well muscled arches form shoulders to base of skull powerful, especially in males. Body  medium long, hard and muscular, not delicate full rounded abdomen, but not fat broad rounded chest. Legs length in proportion with body, medium long hind legs slightly longer than front  legs widely set, medium boning, form and muscular. Paws oval with long slender, prominent toes pads thicker than in other breeds, giving a the cat the appearance of walking on “air cushions”. Tail slender, broader at the base and tapering to the tip length in proportion to body, lion tail ( puff of hair on tip) acceptable.

Coat & Skin

Appears hairless may be covered with short, fine down, chamois like, a feeling of resistance may be felt when stroking the skin of some cats.

Wrinkled skin desirable especially around the muzzle, between the ears and around the shoulders, although wrinkling should not be so pronounced that it affects the cat’s normal functions.

Short, soft fine hair is allowed on the feet, across the bridge of the nose and cheekbones, at the back off the ears and the scrotum and tip of the tail.

Colour all colour varieties and patterns are permitted, including those with white. Any amount of white is permitted.

Remarks

The cat should not be small or dainty. Males may be significantly larger so long as proper proportions are maintained. The Sphynx is sweet-tempered, lively, intelligent and amenable to handling. Faults Straight profile, narrow head, lack of wrinkles on the head. Overall small cat. Body that is too thin. Frail appearing or delicate or fine boned. Too cobby or oriental. Significant amounts of hair anywhere else as described above. Any indication of wavy hair or suggestion of the Devon Rex or Sphynx in moult. Any means of hair removal.

Head  Shape=5  Profile = 5  Muzzle & Chin=5 Cheekbones=5 Shape of eyes =5

Ears  Shape, size & placement = 10 Body  Chest =10  Abdomen = 10 Neck =5

Legs & paws =5 Tail =5

Coat   quality, texture & wrinkles =25

Condition  =5

Sphynx standard scale of points =100

The International Cat Association Inc. ( TICA)

Head

Medium sized, modified wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than wide. Skull is slightly rounded with a rather flat forehead and prominent cheekbones and a distinct whisker break.

Eyes

Large, rounded lemon shape, Slanting to outer corner of ear. Slightly more than an eye width between  eyes.

Ears

Very large, board  at base and open. Set upright, neither love set nor on top of the head, The interior is totally hairless. Light amount of hair allowed on lower outside edges and on the back of the  ear.

Muzzle & Chin

Strong rounded muzzle with distinct whisker break and firm chin.

Neck

Medium in length, rounded and well -muscled .The neck arches from the shoulders  to the base of the skull and is powerful, especially in males.

Body

Torso Medium in size, medium to medium long in length. The chest is broad, may tend toward barrel chested. The abdomen is well-rounded, having the appearance of having eaten a large meal, but not fat.

Legs

Length in proportion with body, with medium boning and firm musculature. Hind legs slightly longer than front. Front legs widely set. Females may have slightly finer boning.

Feet

Medium in size, oval shape with long , slender toes. The paw pads are thicker than in other breeds, giving the cat the appearance of walking on ” air cushions”. The toes are very long, slender and prominent.

Tail

Whippy, tapering form body to tip ( rat-tailed). Length is in proportion to body, A lion tail  ( puff of hair on tip)  acceptable.

Musculature

Hard and muscular, not delicate Boning  Medium.

Coat/Colour/Pattern

Length Appears hairless, May be covered with short, fine down. May have puff of hair on tip of tail. Whiskers are sparse and short. Texture Chamois like,  a feeling of resistance may be felt when stroking  the skin  of some cats. The skin is very wrinkled in kittens, Adults should retain as many wrinkles as possible,  especially on the head, although wrinkling should not be so pronounced that it affects the cat’s normal functions.

General Description

The Sphynx appears to be hairless cat, although it is not truly hairless. The skin should have the texture of chamois. IT may be covered with very fine down which is almost imperceptible to both the eye and the touch. On the ears, muzzle, tail, feet and scrotum. Short, soft,  fine hair is allowed. Lack of coat makes the cat quite warm to the touch. Whiskers and eyebrows may be present, either whole or broken, or may be total

Return to Home Page