Warning The descriptions below are not the exact wording or layout of the GCCF standard - for that, you should always contact the GCCF and purchase a complete and current GCCF Standard of Points.
STANDARD OF POINTS (GCCF) ABYSSINIAN
POINT SCORE| HEAD (30) | |
| 15 .. Head | |
| 5 .. Eyes | |
| 10 .. Ears | |
| BODY (30) | |
| 15 .. Body | |
| 10 .. Legs and Feet | |
| 5 .. Tail | |
| COAT (40) | |
| 20 .. Colour | |
| 20 .. Markings, Ticking, Texture | |
GENERAL TYPE
A balanced medium sized animal of foreign type. The lithe, muscular body should be of medium build and have a well ticked close lying coat, which conforms to the standard for that colour. A cat should not be placed high just because it has one outstanding quality.
HEAD
All head contours should be gently rounded, especially from the brow to the top of the head. Wide between the ears, forming a moderate wedge, which tapers from the outer edge of the ear base to a slightly rounded muzzle. A slight indentation forms the muzzle. Allowance should be made for fuller cheeks in adult males. A slight nose break is essential: a bump on the nose is undesirable. The line from the nose tip to the very firm chin should be straight. An elegant neck should arch in an unbroken line from the top of the head to shoulders.
EARS
Set wide apart, large, well cupped, pricked and furry on their inner edges. Ear tufts are desirable. From the front view, the line of the ears should follow the head wedge.
EYES
Set well apart, large expressive and rounded almond shape in an oriental setting. Colour to be a deep shade of amber, hazel, or green.
BODY
Lithe, muscular body of medium build and size. Back straight from shoulder to rump and ribcage rounded.
LEGS and FEET
Slender and elegant, in proportion to the body with small oval feet.
TAIL
Thick at base, tapering and long enough to reach the cats shoulders.
COAT
Short fine but not soft, dense in texture and lying close. Distinctly ticked, resulting from at least four bands of colour. The roots must be the colour of the base hair, and the final band must be of the ticking colour.
MARKINGS
Pigmentation lines of the ticking colour must extend from the inner edge of the eye to the top of the head: and also from the outer edge of the eye to the edge of the ear. The hair around the eyes is pale and the eyelid darker. The back of the ears should be darker at the tips, preferably with clear, brighter colour at the base. Chin, lips, and nostrils should be the colour of the base hair, or cream: white hair is undesirable. White markings, such as a locket, anywhere are not permitted. A line of ticking colour should extend from the back of the head along the spine and tail, ending in a solid tip of that colour, the same colour to extend well up the hock. There should be no heavy necklet or bars or any other marks, although, a faint broken necklet, or slight leg barring is acceptable.
FAULTS
WITHHOLD CERTIFICATES or 1st PRIZES in Open and Kitten Classes for:
WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS for:
ABYSSINIAN COLORS
28 Colours recognized, of differing show statuses - Full (Championship), Provisional (can be shown, but to gain Merit certificates only), and Preliminary (may be exhibited, but not judged in competition). The list of colours below is incomplete - it will be completed when the Webmaster can find his missing Standard of Points!
23 USUAL:
| Overall Appearance | Rich golden brown ticked with black |
| Base Hair | Ruddy orange or apricot |
| Ticking Colour | Black |
| Nose Leather | Brick red |
| Pads | Black |
23a SORREL:
| Overall Appearance | Lustrous copper ticked with chocolate |
| Base Hair/ | Bright apricot |
| Ticking Colour/ | Chocolate |
| Nose Leather | Pink |
| Pads | Pink |
23b CHOCOLATE:
| Overall Appearance | Rich copper brown ticked with dark chocolate |
| Base Hair | Rich apricot |
| Ticking Colour | Dark chocolate |
| Nose Leather | Pinky-chocolate |
| Pads | Chocolate |
23c BLUE:
| Overall Appearance | Soft warm blue ticked with deeper blue-grey |
| Base Hair | Pinkish mushroom |
| Ticking Colour | Blue-grey |
| Nose Leather | Dark pink |
| Pads | Mauvish-blue |
23d LILAC:
| Overall Appearance | Warm (pinkish) dove grey ticked with deeper dove grey |
| Base Hair | Pinkish-cream |
| Ticking Colour | Pinkish-dove grey |
| Nose Leather | Mauvish-pink |
| Pads | Mauvish-pink |
23e FAWN:
| Overall Appearance | Warm fawn ticked with deeper fawn |
| Base Hair | Fawny cream |
| Ticking Colour | Fawn |
| Nose Leather | Pink |
| Pads | Pink |
Warning The descriptions below are not the exact wording or layout of the CFA standard - for that, you should always contact the CFA and purchase a complete and current CFA Standard of Points.
STANDARD OF POINTS (CFA) ABYSSINIAN
POINT SCORE| HEAD (25) | |
| 6 .. Muzzle | |
| 6 .. Skull | |
| 7 .. Ears | |
| 6 .. Eye Shape | |
| BODY (30) | |
| 15 .. Torso | |
| 10 .. Legs and Feet | |
| 5 .. Tail | |
| COAT (10) | |
| 10 .. Texture | |
| COLOR (35) | |
| 15 .. Color | |
| 15 .. Ticking | |
| 5 .. Eye Color | |
GENERAL
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. Eye color: gold or green, the more richness and depth of color the better.
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 & MARKINGS
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.
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.
PENALIZE
DISQUALIFY
ABYSSINIAN COLORS
4 Colours recognized, of equal show status.
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.