POINTS BY WHICH CATS ARE JUDGED,
Reading edition
AS SPECIFIED BY MYSELF.
Revised and corrected to the present time.
... What you do, Still betters what is done.
Winter's Tale, Act IV.
THE TORTOISESHELL.
POINTS
Head15
Small, broad across and between the eyes, rounded above, below tapering towards the lips, nose rather long than short, ears of medium size, narrow and rounded at the apex, broad at the base.
Eyes10
Orange-yellow, clear, brilliant, large, full, round, and lustrous.
Fur 10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour25
A mixture of three colours—black, red, and yellow—each to be distinct and clear of the other, with sharp edges, not one colour running into the other, but in small irregular patches, of great brilliancy of tint, the red and yellow to preponderate over the black. If the colours are deep and rich, and the variegation harmonious, the effect is very fine. White is a disqualification.
Form15
Narrow, long, graceful in line, neck rather long and slender; shoulders receding, well-sloped and deep; legs medium length, not thick nor clumsy; feet round and small.
Tail10
Long, thick at the base, and narrowing towards the end, carried low, with graceful curve, and well-marked with alternate patches of black, red, and yellow.
Size and Condition15
Large, lithe, elegant in all its movements; hair smooth, clean, bright, full of lustre, and lying close to the body, all betokening full health and strength.
---
Total100
TORTOISESHELL AND WHITE.
POINTS
Head10
Small, broad across and between the eyes, rounded above, below tapering towards the lips, nose rather long than short, ears medium size, narrow and rounded at the apex, broad at the base.
Eyes10
Orange-yellow, clear, brilliant, large, full, round, and lustrous.
Fur10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour25
A mixture of three—black, red, and yellow—each to be distinct and clear of the other, with sharp edges, not one colour running into the other, but in small irregular patches of great brilliancy of tint, the red and yellow to preponderate over the black. If the colours are deep and rich, and the variegation harmonious, the effect is very fine.
White Marking15
The fore-legs, breast, throat, lips and a circle round them, with a blaze up the forehead, white; lower half of the hind-legs white, nose and cushions of the feet white.
Form10
Narrow, long, graceful in line, neck rather long and slender; shoulders receding, well-sloped and deep; legs medium length, not thick nor clumsy; feet round and small.
Tail10
Long, thick at the base and narrowing towards the end, carried low, with graceful curve, and well-marked with >alternate patches of black, red, and yellow.
Size and Condition10
Large, lithe, elegant in all its movements; hair smooth, clean, bright, full of lustre, and lying close to the body, all betokening full health and strength.
---
Total100
WHITE. SHORT-HAIR.
POINTS
Head15
Small, broad across and between the eyes, rounded above, below tapering towards the lips, nose rather long than short, ears of medium size, narrow and rounded at apex, broad at the base.
Eyes15
Blue—a soft, turquoise blue—but yellow is permissible as five points only, green a defect; large, round, and full.
Fur15
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour15
Yellow-white; gray-white, five points less.
Form15
Narrow, long, graceful in line, neck rather long and slender; shoulders receding, well-sloped and deep; legs medium length, not thick nor clumsy; feet round and small.
Tail10
Long, thick at the base and narrowing towards the end, carried low, with graceful curve.
Size and Condition15
Large, lithe, and elegant in all its movements; hair smooth, clean, bright, full of lustre, and lying close to the body, all betokening good health and strength.
---
Total100
SELF-COLOUR, BLACK, BLUE, GRAY, OR RED SHORT-HAIR.
POINTS
Head15
Small, broad across and between the eyes, rounded above, below tapering towards the lips, nose rather long than short, ears of medium size, narrow, rounded at apex, broad at the base.
Eyes15
Orange for black, orange-yellow for blue, deep yellow for gray, and gold tinged with green for red. Large, round, and full; very bright.
Fur10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Form15
Narrow, long, graceful in line; neck rather long and slender; shoulders receding, well-sloped and deep; legs medium length, not thick nor clumsy; feet round and small.
Colour25
Black, a jet, dense, brown-black, with purple gloss; blue, a bright, rich, even, dark colour, or lighter, but even in tint; gray, a bright, light, even colour; red, a brilliant sandy or yellowish-red colour.
Tail5
Long, thick at the base, and narrowing towards the end, carried low, with graceful curve.
Size and Condition15
Large, lithe, elegant in all its movements; hair smooth, clean, bright, full of lustre, lying close to the body, all betokening good health and strength.
---
Total100
BROWN AND ORDINARY TABBY, STRIPED, SHORT-HAIR.
POINTS
Head10
Small, broad across and between the eyes, rounded above, below tapering towards the lips, nose rather long than short, ears of medium size, narrow and rounded at apex, broad at the base.
Eyes15
Orange-yellow, slightly tinted with green, large, full, round, and very lustrous.
Fur10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour20
Deep, very rich reddish-brown, more rufous inside the legs and belly; ears and nose a still deeper red-brown, the latter at the tip edged with black. Ordinary tabby, dark gray, and ticked.
Markings20
Jet-black lines, not too broad, scarcely so wide as the ground colour shown between, so as to give a light and brilliant effect. When the black lines are broader than the colour space, it is a defect, being then black marked with colour, instead of colour marked with black. The lines must be clear, sharp, and well-defined, in every way distinct, having no mixture of the ground colour. Head and legs marked regularly, the rings on the throat and chest being in no way blurred or broken, but clear, graceful, and continuous; lips, cushions of feet, and backs of hind-legs, and the ear-points, black.
Form10
Narrow, long, graceful in line, neck rather long and slender; shoulders receding, well-sloped and deep; legs medium length, not thick nor clumsy; feet round and small.
Tail5
Long, thick at the base and narrowing towards the end, carried low, with graceful curve, and marked with black rings.
Size and Condition10
Large, lithe, elegant in all its movements; hair smooth, clean, bright, full of lustre, and lying close to the body, all betokening full health and strength.
---
Total100
CHOCOLATE, CHESTNUT, RED, OR YELLOW TABBY, STRIPED, SHORT-HAIR.
POINTS
Head10
Small, broad across and between the eyes, rounded above, below tapering towards the lips, nose rather long than short, ears of medium size, narrow and rounded at apex, broad at the base.
Eyes15
Orange, gold, or yellow, in the order of the above names, large, round, full, and very lustrous.
Fur10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour20
Deep, rich, reddish-brown, bright red, or yellow, in the order as above, brighter inside the legs and belly; ears and nose deeper colour, the latter at the tip red, edged with chocolate.
Markings20
Dark, rich brown or chocolate, lines not too broad, scarcely so wide as the ground colour shown between, so as to give a light and brilliant effect; when the lines are broader than the colour space it is a defect, being then light colour markings on dark brown or chocolate, red or dark yellow, instead of colour marked with deeper colour. Head and legs marked regularly, the rings on the throat and chest being in no way blurred or broken, but clear, graceful, and continuous; lips, cushions of feet, and the back of hind-legs, and the ear-points, dark. Yellow tabby, the cushions of feet red, or light red.
Form10
Narrow, long, graceful in line, neck rather long and slender, shoulders receding, well-sloped, and deep, legs medium length, not thick nor clumsy, feet round and small.
Tail5
Long, thick at the base, and narrowing towards the end, carried low, with graceful curve, and marked with dark rings.
Size and Condition10
Large, lithe, elegant in all its movements; hair smooth, clean, bright, full of lustre, and lying close to the body, all betokening full health and strength.
---
Total100
BLUE, SILVER, LIGHT GRAY, AND WHITE TABBY, STRIPED, SHORT-HAIR.
POINTS
Head10
Small, broad across and between the eyes, rounded above, below tapering towards the lips; nose rather long than short; ears of medium size, narrow and rounded at the apex, broad at the base.
Eyes15
Orange-yellow for blue tabby; deep, bright yellow for silver or gray; large, full, round, and very lustrous.
Fur10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour20
If blue, a rich, deep, yet bright colour; silver, a lighter, yet bright tint; gray, very light; if a white tabby, ground to be colourless; ears and nose a deep gray, the tip red, edged with black.
Markings20
Jet-black lines, not too broad, scarcely so wide as the ground colour shown between, so as to give a light and brilliant effect. When the black lines are broader than the colour space, it is a defect, being then black marked with colour, instead of colour with black. The lines must be clear, sharp, and well-defined, in every way distinct, having no mixture of the ground colour. Head and legs marked regularly, the rings on the throat and chest being in no way blurred or broken, but clear, graceful, and continuous; lips, cushions of feet, and the backs of hind-legs, and the ear-points, black.
Form10
Narrow, long, graceful in line, neck rather long and slender; shoulders receding, well-sloped, and deep; legs medium length, not thick nor clumsy; feet round and small.
Tail5
Long, thick at the base and narrowing towards the end, carried low, with graceful curve, and marked with black rings.
Size and Condition10
Large, lithe, elegant in all its movements; hair smooth, clean, bright, full of lustre, and lying close to the body, all betokening full health and strength.
---
Total100
MR. BABB'S SPOTTED SILVER TABBY.
SHORT-HAIRED, SPOTTED TABBIES OF ANY COLOUR.
These to be the same in all points of head, eyes, fur, form, colours, tail, size and condition as those laid down for the judging of short-haired tabby cats in general, with the exception, in whatever colour the markings are, or on whatever ground, they, instead of being in lines or bands, are to be broken up into clear, well-defined and well-formed spots, each spot to be separate, and distinct, and good, firm and dark in colour; these then count as many points as a finely-striped cat in its class.
PROPERLY MARKED BLACK AND WHITE.
BLACK AND WHITE, GRAY-WHITE, RED AND WHITE, AND OTHER COLOURS AND WHITE.
The self colour to count the same number of points as the ground colour in tabby, namely, twenty points, and the white markings the same as the tabby markings, that is, twenty points. The other points also the same.
The markings to be: lips, mouth and part of the cheek, including the whiskers, with a blaze up the nose, coming to a point between the eyes, white; throat and chest white, and pear-shaped in outline of colour; all four feet white.
WHITE AND BLACK, WHITE AND GRAY, WHITE AND RED, WHITE AND ANY OTHER COLOUR.
The colours and markings to count the same as the above. The ground colour being white, and markings the dark colour instead of white. In the markings they should be even or well-balanced, such as two black ears, the rest white; or two black ears, with black tail, and the rest white; or all white, with dark tail only. These are not very uncommon markings, but if so marked, they may also have a spot or two on the back or sides provided they balance in size of colour. But the simplicity of the former is the best.
All other fancy colours and markings must be judged according to taste, and entered in the any other variety of colours for short-haired cats, such as strawberry colour, smokies, chinchillas, ticked, black tabbies and such fancy colours.
ABYSSINIAN.
POINTS
Head10
Small, broad across the eyes, rather long than short, nose medium length, all well-formed.
Eyes15
Orange-yellow, slightly tinged with green, large, round, full, and bright.
Nose and Feet10
Nose dark red, edged with black; tips and cushions of feet black, also the back of the hind-legs.
Fur15
Soft, rather woolly hair, yet soft, silky, lustrous, and glossy, short, smooth, even, and dense.
Ears10
The usual size of the ordinary English cat, but a little more rounded, with not much hair in the interior, black at the apex.
Colour20
A rich, dun brown, ticked with black and orange, or darker on lighter colours, having a dark or black line along the back extending to the end of the tail, and slightly annulated with black or dark colour. As few other marks as possible. Inside of fore-legs and belly to be orange-brown. No white.
Size and Condition10
Large; coat glossy and smooth, fitting close to the body; eyes bright and clear.
Carriage and Appearance10
Graceful, lithe, elegant, alert and quick in all its movements, head carried up, tail trailing, in walk undulating.
---
Total100
N.B.—The Abyssinian Silver Gray, or Chinchilla, is the same in all points, with the exception of the ground colour being silver instead of brown. This is a new and beautiful variety.
ROYAL CAT OF SIAM.
POINTS
Head10
Small, broad across and between the eyes, tapering upwards and somewhat narrow between the ears: forehead flat and receding, nose long, and somewhat broad, cheeks narrowing towards the mouth, lips full and rounded, ears rather large and wide at base, with very little hair inside.
Fur10
Very short, and somewhat woolly, yet soft and silky to the touch, and glossy, with much lustre on the face, legs, and tail.
Colour20
The ground or body colour to be of an even tint, slightly darker on the back, but not in any way clouded or patched with any darker colour; light rich dun is the preferable colour, but a light fawn, light silver-gray, or light orange is allowable; deeper and richer browns, almost chocolate, are admissible if even and not clouded, but the first is the true type, the last merely a variety of much beauty and excellence; but the dun and light tints take precedence.
Markings20
Ears black, the colour not extending beyond them, but ending in a clear and well-defined outline; around the eyes, and all the lower part of the head, black; legs and tail black, the colour not extending into or staining the body, but having a clear line of demarkation.
Eyes15
Rather of almond shape, slanting towards the nose, full and of a very beautiful blue opalesque colour, luminous and of a reddish tint in the dusk of evening or by artificial light.
Tail5
Short by comparison with the English cat, thin throughout, a little thicker towards the base, without any break or kink.
Size and Form10
Rather small, lithe, elegant in outline, and graceful, narrow and somewhat long; legs thin and a little short than otherwise; feet long, not so round as the ordinary cat; neck long and small.
Condition10
In full health, not too fat, hair smooth, clear, bright, full of lustre, lying close to the body, which should be hard and firm in the muscles.
---
Total100
MANX, OR SHORT-TAILED CAT.
POINTS
Head10
Small, round, but tapering towards the lips, rather broad across the eyes, nose medium length, ears rather small, broad at base and sloping upwards to a point.
Eyes10
According to colour, as shown in other varieties.
Fur10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour15
To range the same as other short-haired cats, if self same as self, if marked same as the marked varieties, with less points, allowing for the tail points in this variety.
Form15
Narrow, long, neck long and thin, all to be graceful in line; shoulders narrow, well-sloped; fore-legs medium length and thin; hind-legs long in proportion and stouter built; feet round and small.
Tail25
To have no tail whatever, not even a stump, but some true bred have a very short, thin, twisted tail, that cannot be straightened, this allowable, and is true bred; but thick stumps, knobs, or short, thick tails disqualify.
Size and Condition15
Large, elegant in all its movements, hair smooth, clean, bright, full of lustre, and lying close to the body, all betokening good health and strength.
---
Total100
MR. CLARKE'S "MISS WHITEY."
WHITE, LONG-HAIRED CAT.
POINTS
Head10
Round and broad across and between the eyes, of medium size; nose rather short, pink at the tip; ears ordinary size, but looking small, being surrounded with long hair, which should also be long on the forehead and lips.
Eyes15
Large, full, round or almond-shape, lustrous, and of a beautiful azure blue. Yellow admissible as five points only. Green a defect.
Ruff or Frill15
Large, very long, flowing, and lion-like, extending over the shoulders, and covering the neck and chest thickly.
Fur15
Very long everywhere, mostly along the back, sides, legs, and feet, making tufts between the toes, and points at the apex of the ears.
Quality of Fur10
Fine, silky, and very soft in the Persian, with a slightly woolly texture in the Angora, and still more so in the Russian.
Tail10
In the Persian the hair long and silky throughout, but somewhat longer at the base. Angora more like the brush of a fox, but much longer in the hair. Russian equally long in hair, but full tail, shorter and more blunt, like a tassel.
Size, Shape, and Condition15
Large, small in bone, looking larger than it really is on account of the length of hair. Body long, legs short, tail carried low—not over the back, which is a fault. Fur clean, bright and glossy, even and smooth, and flakey, which gives an appearance of quality.
Colour10
White, with a tender, very slightly yellow tint; cushions of feet and tip of nose pink.
---
Total100
BLACK, BLUE, GRAY, RED, OR ANY SELF COLOUR LONG-HAIRED CATS.
POINTS
Head10
Round, and broad across and between the eyes, of medium size; nose rather short and dark at tip, excepting in the red, when it should be pink; ears ordinary size, but looking small, being surrounded with long hair, which should also be long on the forehead and lips.
Eyes10
For black, orange; orange-yellow for blue; deep yellow for gray; and gold, tinged with green, for red; large, round, or almond-shaped, full and very bright.
Ruff or Frill15
Large, very long, flowing, and lion-like, extending over the shoulders, and covering the neck and chest thickly.
Fur15
Very long everywhere; mostly so along the back, sides, legs, and feet, making tufts between the toes, and points at the apex of the ears.
Quality of Fur10
Fine, silky, and very soft in the Persian, with slightly woolly texture in the Angora, and still more so in the Russian.
Tail10
In the Persian the hair long and silky throughout, but somewhat longer at the base; Angora like the brush of a fox, but longer in the hair; Russian equally long in hair but more full at the end, tail shorter, rather blunt, like a tassel.
Size, Shape, and Condition10
Large, small in bone, looking larger than it really is on account of the length of the hair; body long, legs short; tail carried low, not over the back, which is a fault; fur clean and glossy, even, smooth, and flakey, which gives an appearance of quality.
Colour20
Black, dense, bright brown-black, with purple gloss; blue, a bright, rich, even dark colour, or lighter, but even in tint; gray, a bright, light, even colour; red, a brilliant, sandy, or yellowish-red colour.
---
Total100
BROWN, BLUE, SILVER, LIGHT GRAY, AND WHITE TABBY LONG-HAIRED CATS.
POINTS
Head10
Round and broad across and between the eyes, of medium size; nose rather short; ears ordinary size, but looking small, being surrounded with long hair, which should also be long on the forehead and lips.
Eyes10
Orange-yellow for brown and blue tabby, very slightly tinted with green; deep, bright yellow for silver; gray, and golden yellow for white tabby; large, full, round, or almond-shaped, and very lustrous.
Ruff or Frill10
Large, very long, flowing, and lion-like, extending over the shoulders, and covering the neck and chest thickly.
Fur10
Very long everywhere, mostly so along the back, sides, legs, and feet, making tufts between the toes, and points at the apex of the ears.
Quality of Fur10
Fine, silky, and very soft in the Persian, with slightly woolly texture in the Angora, and still more so in the Russian.
Tail10
In the Persian the hair long and silky throughout, but somewhat longer at the base; Angora like the brush of a fox, but longer in the hair; Russian equally long in the hair, but more full at the end; tail shorter, rather blunt, like a tassel.
Size, Shape, and Condition10
Large, small in bone, looking larger than it really is on account of the length of the hair; body long; legs short; tail carried low, not over the back, which is a fault; fur clean and glossy, even, smooth, and flakey, which gives an appearance of quality.
Colour15
Ground colour, deep, rich reddish-brown, more rufous on the nose, ears, mane, and inside the legs and belly; tip of nose red, edged with black; blue, bright, deep, rich, even, dark colour; silver, lighter and equally even tint; and so light gray; and white ground, pure white.
Markings15
Jet-black lines, not too broad, scarcely so wide as the ground colour seen between, so as to give a light and brilliant effect. When the black lines are broader than the colour space, it is a defect, being then black marked with colour, instead of colour marked with black. The lines must be clear, sharp, and well-defined, in every way distinct, having no mixture of the ground colour. Head, legs, and tail regularly marked, the latter with rings, the lines on the throat and chest being in no way blurred or broken, but clear, graceful, and continuous; lips, cushions of feet, the backs of the hind-legs and the ear-points black.
---
Total100
In chocolate, mahogany, red, or yellow long-haired tabbies, the markings and colours to be the same as in the short-haired cats; but in points to count the same as the last in all qualities.
Spotted tabbies to count the same in all points, the only difference being that instead of stripes, the cats are marked with clear, well-defined spots.
All fancy colours to be shown in the "any other variety of colour" class, and judged according to quality of coat, beauty, and rarity of colouring or marking. The small, thin, broken-banded tabby should go in this class, as also those with thin, light, wavy lines.
All foreign, wild, or other cats of peculiar form to go into the class for "any other variety or species."
"SYLVIE."
