POINT
SCORE HEAD
(20) - Shape
& Size- 8
- Profile
- 6
- Muzzle
- 4
- Chin - 2
EARS
(30) - Degree
of Curl - 10
- Shape
& Size - 10
- Placement
- 9
- Furnishings
- 2
EYES
(10) - Shape
& Size - 6
- Placement
- 3
- Color -
1
BODY
(25) - Torso
& Neck - 9
- Size
& Boning - 6
- Legs
and Feet - 5
- Tail
Length - 5
COAT
& COLOR (20) - Silky
Texture - 6
- Minimal
Undercoat - 4
- Body
Coat Length - 2
- Tail
Coat Length - 2
- Color
- 1
GENERAL:
the distinctive feature of the American Curl is their attractive, uniquely curled
ears. The original American Curl, a longhaired female named Shulamith, was first
noted in Southern California in 1981. Selective breeding began in 1983. Curls
are well balanced, moderately muscled, slender rather than massive in build. Females
weigh 5 to 8 pounds, males weigh 7 to 10 pounds. Proper proportion and balance
are more important than size. Allowance is to be made for normal male characteristics.
They are alert, active, with gentle, even dispositions. HEAD:
Shape: modified wedge without flat planes, moderately
longer than wide, smooth transitions. Profile: nose
moderate in length and straight, slight rise from bottom of eyes to forehead,
gentle curve to top of head, flowing into neck, without a break. Size:
medium in proportion to body. Muzzle: rounded
with gentle transition, no pronounced whisker break. Chin: firm, in line with
nose and upper lip. EARS:
Degree: minimum 90 degree arc of curl, not to
exceed 180 degrees. Firm cartilage from ear base to at least 1/3 of height. Shape:
wide at base and open, curving back in smooth arc when viewed from front and rear.
Tips rounded and flexible. Size: moderately large.
Placement: erect, set equally on top and side of
head. Furnishings: desirable. Note:
when Curls are alert with ears swiveled toward front, lines following curve
of ear through tips should point to center of base of skull. (Lines following
curve of ear through tips beyond 90 and up to 180 degrees may intersect at a point
farther up on skull, but not beyond top of skull. EYES:
Shape: walnut, oval on top and round on bottom.
Placement: set on slight angle between base of ear and tip of nose one eye width
apart. Size: moderately large. Color:
clear, brilliant, no relation to coat color except blue eyes required in colorpoint
class. BODY:
Torso Shape: semi-foreign rectangle, length one and
one-half times height at shoulder, medium depth of chest and flank. Size:
intermediate, with allowances for larger males. Musculature:
moderate strength and tone, flexible. Tail:
flexible, wide at base, tapering; equal to body length. Legs:
length medium in proportion to body, set straight when viewed from front or rear.
Medium boning, neither fine nor heavy. Neck: medium.
Feet: medium and rounded. COAT
& COLOR: Longhair
Division: Texture: fine, silky,
laying flat. Undercoat: minimal. Coat
length: semi-long. Tail coat: full and plumed. Color: all colors accepted
as listed. Shorthair Division: Texture:
soft, silky, laying flat, resilient without a plush dense feel.
Undercoat: minimal. Coat length: short. Tail
coat: same length as body coat. Color: all
colors accepted as listed. PENALIZE:
Ears: low set; abrupt change of direction without
smooth curve; pinch, horizontal or vertical crimp; interior surface which appears
corrugated. Body: tubular or cobby. Excessive size.
Nose: deep nose break. Coat:
Longhair Division: heavy undercoat; heavy ruff; coarse or cottony texture. Shorthair
Division: heavy undercoat, coarse texture; dense or plush coats. DISQUALIFY:
extreme curl in adult where tip of ear touches back of ear or head. Ears that
are straight, severely mismatched, thick or having inflexible tips. Lack of firm
cartilage in base of ear. Tail faults. AMERICAN
CURL COLORS WHITE: pure glistening white. Nose leather and paw
pads: pink. BLACK:
dense coal black, sound from roots to tip of fur. Free from any tinge of rust
on tips or smoke undercoat. Nose leather: black. Paw pads: black or brown. BLUE:
blue, lighter shade preferred, one level tone from nose to tip of tail. Sound
to the roots. A sound darker shade is more acceptable than an unsound lighter
shade. Nose leather and paw pads: blue. RED:
deep, rich, clear, brilliant red; without shading, markings, or ticking. Lips
and chin the same color as coat. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red. CREAM:
one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Sound to the roots. Lighter
shades preferred. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. CHOCOLATE:
rich, warm chocolate-brown, sound from roots to tip of fur. Nose leather and
paw pads: brown. LILAC:
rich, warm lavender with a pinkish tone, sound and even throughout. Nose leather
and paw pads: pink. CHINCHILLA
SILVER: undercoat pure white. Coat on back, flanks, head, and tail sufficiently
tipped with black to give the characteristic sparkling silver appearance. Legs
may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, pure
white. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red.
Paw pads: black. SHADED
SILVER: undercoat white with a mantle of black tipping shading down from sides,
face, and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and
under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as the face. The general effect to be
much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black.
Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black. CHINCHILLA
GOLDEN: undercoat rich warm cream. Coat on back, flanks, head, and tail sufficiently
tipped with black to give golden appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with
tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, cream. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose
outlined with black. Nose leather: deep rose. Paw pads: black. SHADED
GOLDEN: undercoat rich warm cream with a mantle of black tipping shading down
from the sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to cream on the chin, chest,
stomach, and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as the face. The general
effect to be much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined
with black. Nose leather: deep rose. Paw pads: black. SHELL
CAMEO (Red Chinchilla): undercoat white, the coat on the back, flanks, head,
and tail to be sufficiently tipped with red to give the characteristic sparkling
appearance. Face and legs may be very slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear
tufts, stomach, and chest, white. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.
SHADED CAMEO
(Red Shaded): undercoat white with a mantle of red tipping shading down the
sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach,
and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as face. The general effect to be
much redder than the shell cameo. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.
SHELL TORTOISESHELL:
undercoat white. Coat on the back, flanks head, and tail to be delicately
tipped in black with well-defined patches of red and cream tipped hairs as in
the pattern of the tortoiseshell. Face and legs may be slightly shaded with tipping.
Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, white to very slightly tipped. Blaze of red
or cream tipping on face is desirable. SHADED
TORTOISESHELL: undercoat white. Mantle of black tipping and clearly defined
patches of red and cream tipped hairs as in the pattern of the tortoiseshell.
Shading down the sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to slightly tipped
or white on the chin, chest, stomach, legs, and under the tail. The general effect
is to be much darker than the shell tortoiseshell. Blaze of red or cream tipping
on the face is desirable. BLACK
SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with black. Cat in repose appears black.
In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask black with
narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when
fur is parted. Nose leather and paw pads: black. BLUE
SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with blue. Cat in repose appears blue.
In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask blue, with
narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when
fur is parted. Nose leather and paw pads: blue. CAMEO
SMOKE (Red Smoke): white undercoat, deeply tipped with red. Cat in repose
appears red. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask
red, with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen
only when fur is parted. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads: rose. CHOCOLATE
SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with chocolate. Cat in repose appears
chocolate. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask
chocolate with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be
seen only when fur is parted. Nose leather and paw pads: chocolate. LAVENDER
SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with lavender. Cat in repose appears
lavender. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask lavender,
with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only
when fur is parted. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender. CREAM
SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with cream. Cat in repose appears cream.
In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask cream, with
narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when
fur is parted. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads: pink. SMOKE
TORTOISESHELL: white undercoat, deeply tipped with black with clearly defined
unbrindled patches of red and cream tipped hairs as in the pattern of the tortoiseshell.
Cat in repose appears tortoiseshell. In motion the white undercoat is clearly
apparent. Face and ears tortoiseshell pattern with narrow band of white at the
base of the hairs next to the skin that may be seen only when fur is parted. Blaze
of red or cream tipping on face is desirable. CHOCOLATE
TORTOISESHELL SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with chocolate tortoiseshell.
Cat in repose appears chocolate tortoiseshell. In motion the white undercoat is
clearly apparent. Points and mask chocolate tortoiseshell with narrow band of
white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
Nose leather and paw pads: mottled with pink on nose and paws. BLUE-CREAM
SMOKE: white undercoat deeply tipped with blue, with clearly defined patches
of cream as in the pattern of the blue-cream. Cat in repose appears blue-cream.
In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Face and ears blue-cream pattern
with narrow band of white at the base of the hair next to the skin that may be
seen only when fur is parted. Blaze of cream tipping on face is desirable. CLASSIC
TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and broad. Legs evenly barred
with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several
unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Frown marks on
forehead form an intricate letter "M." Unbroken line runs back from
outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend
to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and
lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings
consist of a vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical
stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes
of the ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or
more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical
rows of buttons on chest and stomach. MACKEREL
TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and all narrow pencillings.
Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings.
Tail barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct, like so many chains. Head barred
with an "M" on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes.
Lines running down the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to
form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body. PATCHED
TABBY: a patched tabby (torbie) is an established silver, brown, or blue tabby
with patches of red and/or cream. SPOTTED
TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted. May vary in size and shape
with preference given to round, evenly distributed spots. Spots should not run
together in a broken mackerel pattern. A dorsal stripe runs the length of the
body to the tip of the tail. The stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings
on the face and forehead shall be typically tabby markings. Underside of the body
to have "vest buttons." Legs and tail are barred. TICKED
TABBY PATTERN: body hairs to be ticked with various shades of marking color
and ground color. Body when viewed from top to be free from noticeable spots,
stripes, or blotches, except for darker dorsal shading. Lighter underside may
show tabby markings. Face, legs, and tail must show distinct tabby striping. Cat
must have at least one distinct necklace. BROWN
PATCHED TABBY: ground color brilliant coppery brown with classic or mackerel
tabby markings of dense black with patches of red and/or cream clearly defined
on both body and extremities; a blaze of red and/or cream on the face is desirable.
Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. BLUE
PATCHED TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory with
classic or mackerel tabby markings of very deep blue affording a good contrast
with ground color. Patches of cream clearly defined on both body and extremities;
a blaze of cream on the face is desirable. Warm fawn overtones or patina over
the whole. SILVER
PATCHED TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale silver with classic
or mackerel tabby markings of dense black with patches of red and/or cream clearly
defined on both body and extremities. A blaze of red and/or cream on the face
is desirable. SILVER
TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color, including lips and chin, pale, clear
silver. Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black. RED
TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips
and chin red. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red. BROWN
TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings
dense black. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Back of
leg black from paw to heel. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black or brown.
BLUE TABBY
(classic, mackerel): ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory.
Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Warm fawn
overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose. CREAM
TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color, including lips and chin, very pale
cream. Markings of buff or cream sufficiently darker than the ground color to
afford good contrast, but remaining within the dilute color range. Nose leather
and paw pads: pink. BLUE
SILVER and CREAM SILVER TABBIES: tabby pattern with colors and leathers same
as for corresponding shaded colors. CHOCOLATE
SILVER TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, is silver. Markings rich
chestnut. Nose leather: chestnut or pink rimmed with chestnut. Paw pads: cinnamon.
LAVENDER SILVER
TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, a cold clear silver. Markings
sound lavender. Nose leather: lavender or pink rimmed with lavender. Paw pads:
lavender-pink. CAMEO
TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color off-white. Markings red. Nose leather
and paw pads: rose. TORTOISESHELL:
black with unbrindled patches of red and cream. Patches clearly defined and
well broken on both body and extremities. Blaze of red or cream on face is desirable.
CALICO: white
with unbrindled patches of black and red. As a preferred minimum, the cat should
have white feet, legs, undersides, chest, and muzzle. Less white than this minimum
should be penalized proportionately. Inverted "V" blaze on face desirable.
DILUTE CALICO:
white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream. As a preferred minimum the
cat should have white feet, legs, undersides, chest, and muzzle. Less white than
this minimum should be penalized proportionately. Inverted "V" blaze
on face desirable. BLUE-CREAM:
blue with patches of solid cream. Patches clearly defined and well broken on both
body and extremities. BI-COLOR:
black and white, blue and white, red and white, or cream and white. As a preferred
minimum, the cat should have white feet, legs, undersides, chest, and muzzle.
Less white than this minimum should be penalized proportionately. Inverted "V"
blaze on face desirable. Cats with no more than a locket and/or button do not
qualify for this color class. Such cats shall be judged in the color class of
their basic body color with no penalty for such locket or button. VAN
BI-COLOR: Black and white, red and white, blue and white, or cream and white.
White cat with color confined to the extremities; head, tail, and legs. One or
two small colored patches on body allowable. VAN
CALICO: white cat with unbrindled patches of black and red confined to the
extremities; head, tail, and legs. One or two small colored patches on body allowable.
VAN DILUTE
CALICO: white cat with unbrindled patches of blue and cream confined to the
extremities; head, tail, and legs. One or two small colored patches on body allowable.
(NOTE: cats having
more than two small body spots should be shown in the regular bi-color class.)
TABBY AND
WHITE: white with colored portions, the colored portions of the cat to conform
to the currently established classic, mackerel, patched, ticked and spotted tabby
color standards. As a preferred minimum, the cat should have white feet, legs,
undersides, chest, and muzzle. Less white than this minimum should be penalized
proportionately. Inverted "V" blaze on face desirable. SEAL
POINT: body even pale fawn to cream, warm in tone, shading gradually into
lighter color on the stomach and chest. Points deep seal brown. Nose leather and
paw pads: same color as points. Eye color: blue. CHOCOLATE
POINT: body ivory with no shading. Points milk-chocolate color, warm in tone.
Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon pink. Eye color: blue. BLUE
POINT: body bluish white, cold in tone, shading gradually to white on stomach
and chest. Points blue. Nose leather and paw pads: slate blue. Eye color: blue.
LILAC POINT:
body glacial white with no shading. Points frosty grey with pinkish tone. Nose
leather and paw pads: lavender pink. Eye color: blue. LILAC-LYNX
POINT: body glacial white. Body shading may take form of ghost striping. Points:
frosty grey with pinkish tone bars, distinct and separated by lighter background
color; ears frosty grey with pinkish tone, paler thumbprint in center. Nose leather:
lavender-pink permitted, pink edged in lavender-pink preferred. Paw pads: lavender-pink.
Eye color: blue. LILAC-CREAM
POINT: body glacial white; mottling, if any, in the shade of the points. Points:
frosty grey with pinkish tone, uniformly mottled with pale cream; a blaze is desirable.
Nose leather and paw pads: lavender-pink; flesh or coral pink mottling desirable.
Eye color: blue. LILAC-CREAM
LYNX POINT: body glacial white. Body shading may take form of ghost striping
and/or cream mottling. Points: frosty grey with pinkish tone bars, distinct and
separated by lighter background color; ears frosty grey with pinkish tone, paler
thumbprint in center. Uniform mottling of cream overlays the markings of the points.
Nose leather: lavender-pink permitted, pink edged in lavender-pink preferred,
flesh or coral pink mottling may be present. Paw pads: lavender-pink, or lavender-pink
mottled with flesh or coral pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue. NOTE: these cats
resemble lynx points more than tortie points. FLAME
(RED) POINT: body creamy white. Points deep orange flame to deep red. Nose
leather and paw pads: flesh or coral pink. Eye color: blue. CREAM
POINT: body creamy white with no shading. Points buff cream with no apricot.
Nose leather and paw pads: flesh pink or salmon coral. Eye color: blue. CREAM
LYNX POINT: body clear white. Body shading may take form of ghost striping.
Points: bars of pale buff cream to light pinkish cream, distinct and separated
by lighter background color; ears pale buff cream to light pinkish cream, paler
thumbprint in center. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh to coral pink. Eye color:
blue. TORTIE
POINT: body creamy white or pale fawn. Points seal with unbrindled patches
of red and/or cream. Blaze of red or cream on face is desirable. Nose leather
and paw pads: seal brown with flesh and/or coral pink mottling to conform with
colors of points. Eye color: blue. CHOCOLATE-TORTIE
POINT: body ivory, may be mottled in older cats. Points: warm milk-chocolate
uniformly mottled with red and/or cream; a blaze is desirable. Nose leather and
paw pads: cinnamon; flesh or coral pink mottling desirable. Eye color: blue. CHOCOLATE-TORTIE
LYNX POINT: body ivory. Body shading may take form of ghost striping and/or
cream mottling. Points: warm milk-chocolate bars, distinct and separated by lighter
background color; ears warm milk- chocolate with paler thumbprint in center. Uniform
mottling of red and/or cream overlays the markings of the points. Nose leather:
cinnamon permitted, pink edged in cinnamon preferred, flesh or coral pink mottling
may be present. Paw pads: cinnamon, or cinnamon mottled with flesh or coral pink.
Eye color: blue. NOTE: these cats resemble lynx points more than tortie points.
BLUE-CREAM
POINT: body bluish white or creamy white, shading gradually to white on the
stomach and chest. Points blue with patches of cream. Nose leather and paw pads:
slate blue, pink, or a combination of slate blue and pink. Eye color: blue. CHOCOLATE
LYNX POINT: body ivory. Body shading may take form of ghost striping. Points:
warm milk-chocolate bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color;
ears warm milk-chocolate with paler thumbprint in center. Nose leather: cinnamon
permitted, pink edged in cinnamon preferred. Paw pads: cinnamon. Eye color: blue.
SEAL LYNX
POINT: points beige-brown ticked with darker brown tabby markings. Body color
pale cream to fawn, warm in tone. Mask must be clearly lined with dark stripes
vertical on forehead with classic "M" on forehead, horizontal on cheeks
and dark spots on whisker pads clearly outlined in dark color edges. Inner ear
light with thumbprint on outer ear. Markings dense, clearly defined and broad.
Legs evenly barred with bracelets. Tail barred. No striping or mottling on body,
but consideration to be given to shading in older cats. Nose leather: seal or
brick red. Paw pads: seal. Eye color: blue. BLUE
LYNX POINT: points light, silvery blue, ticked with darker blue tabby markings.
Body color bluish white, cold in tone. Mask must be clearly lined with dark stripes
vertical on forehead with classic "M" on forehead, horizontal on cheeks
and dark spots on whisker pads clearly outlined in dark color edges. Inner ear
light with thumbprint on outer ear. Markings dense, clearly defined and broad.
Legs evenly barred with bracelets. Tail barred. No striping or mottling on body,
but consideration to be given to shading in older cats. Nose leather: blue or
brick red. Paw pads: blue. Eye color: blue. TORTIE-LYNX
POINT: points beige-brown with dark brown tabby markings and patches of red.
Body color creamy white or pale fawn. Mask must be clearly lined with dark stripes
vertical on forehead with classic "M" on forehead, horizontal on cheeks
and dark spots on whisker pads clearly outlined in dark color edges. Inner ear
light with thumbprint on outer ear. Markings dense, clearly defined and broad.
Legs evenly barred with bracelets. Tail barred. Nose leather and paw pads: seal
brown and/or flesh or coral pink. Eye color: blue. BLUE-CREAM
LYNX POINT: points blue with darker blue tabby markings and patches of cream.
Body color bluish white, cold in tone. Mask must be clearly lined with dark stripes
vertical on forehead with classic "M" on forehead, horizontal on cheeks
and dark spots on whisker pads clearly outlined in dark color edges. Inner ear
light with thumbprint on outer ear. Markings dense, clearly defined and broad.
Legs evenly barred with bracelets. Tail barred. Nose leather and paw pads: slate
blue and/or pink. Eye color: blue. OACC
(Other American Curl Colors): all accepted pointed colors with white. Any
other color or pattern. |