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Sphynx
standardsCFA / the Cat Fanciers' Association / standard
Updated: April 22 2007
POINT SCORE
HEAD (35) 5 .. Size/Shape 10 .. Ears 5 .. Muzzle/Chin 5 .. Profile 5 .. Cheekbones 5 .. Eyes BODY (35) 5 .. Neck 10 .. Chest 10 .. Abdomen and Rump 5 .. Legs and Feet 5 .. Tail COAT/SKIN .. 30
GENERAL: the most distinctive
feature of this cat is its appearance of hairlessness.
The Sphynx is of medium size and body conformation with surprising weight for its size.
Females are generally smaller than males.
The body feels warm and soft to the touch,
with a skin texture akin to either a soft peach or a smooth nectarine.
The Sphynx is sweet-tempered, lively, and amenable to handling.
HEAD: the head is a modified wedge,
slightly longer than it is wide, with prominent cheekbones,
a distinctive whisker break and whisker pads giving a squared appearance to the 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 palpable stop at the bridge of the nose.
CHEEKS AND CHEEKBONES: prominent, rounded cheekbones which define the eye and form a curve above the whisker break.
MUZZLE AND CHIN: whisker break with prominent whisker pads. Strong, well developed chin forming perpendicular line with upper lip.
EARS: large to very large. Broad at the base, open and upright. When viewed from the front, the outer base of the ear should begin at the level of the eye, neither low set nor on top of the head. The interior of the ears is naturally without furnishing.
EYES: large, lemon-shaped, with wide-open center while coming to a definite point on each side. Placement should be at a slight upward angle, aligning with the outer base of the ear. Eyes to be wide set apart with the distance between the eyes being a minimum of one eye width. Eye color immaterial.
BODY: the body is medium length, hard and muscular with broad rounded chest and full round abdomen. The rump is well rounded and muscular. Back line rises just behind the shoulder blades to accommodate longer back legs when standing. Boning is medium.
NECK: the neck is medium in length, rounded, well muscled, with a slight arch. Allowance to be made for heavy musculature in adult males.
LEGS AND FEET: legs are medium in proportion to the body. They are sturdy and well muscled with rear legs being slightly longer than the front. Paws are oval with well-knuckled toes; five in front and four behind. The paw pads are thick, giving the appearance of walking on cushions.
TAIL: slender, flexible, and long while maintaining proportion to body length. Whip-like, tapering to a fine point.
COAT/SKIN: the appearance of this cat is one of hairlessness. However, short, fine hair may be present on the feet, outer edges of the ears, the tail, and the scrotum. The bridge of the nose should be normally coated. The remainder of the body can range from completely hairless to a covering of soft peach-like fuzz, no longer than 1/8th of an inch (two millimeters) in length. This coat/skin texture creates a feeling of resistance when stroking the cat. Wrinkled skin is desirable, particularly around the muzzle, between the ears, and around the shoulders. There are usually no whiskers but if whiskers are present they are short and sparse.
COLOR: color and pattern are difficult to distinguish and should not affect the judging of the cat. White lockets, buttons, or belly spots are allowed.
PENALIZE: hair other than described. Delicate or frail appearance. Thin abdomen, thin rump, or narrow chest. Bowed front legs. Should not resemble the Devon Rex, Cornish Rex or Oriental body type.
DISQUALIFY: kinked or abnormal tail. Structural abnormalities. Aggressive behavior endangering the judge.
Sphynx
Allowable Outcross Breeds:
American Shorthair, Domestic Shorthair/ Domestic Sphynx Outcross. Sphynx born on
or after December 31, 2010 may have only Sphynx parents.
WCF / World Cat Federation / standard
SCALE OF POINT
HEAD: Medium-sized angular skull, hardly longer than wide, in the shape of a slightly rounded modified wedge. Strong rounded muzzle with muzzle break, well developed whisker pads and prominent cheekbones. Profile curved. Neck medium long and muscular.
EARS: Striking large size, set wide apart; broad at base, interior is totally hairless. Slight amount of down on the base of the backside of the ear is allowed.
EYES: Large, lemon-shaped, slightly slanted . The distance between the eyes to be slightly more than an eye width. Eye color harmonizing with skin color.
COAT: The skin is just covered with light down. It feels like human baby skin and has the same function. Wrinkles on the forehead, legs and throat. Slight hair cover on the muzzle allowed. Whiskers are desired.
COLOR VARIETIES: Any color is accepted, the descriptions of colors are listed in the General Color Guide.
FAULTS: Strong resemblance to either Devon or Cornish Rex is considered a severe fault.
Outcrossing to other bare cats is prohibited.