Standard

The standard for the breed is a guideline for the breeders and judges. It is the picture of the "ideal" cat, and interpretation of the standard is in the eye of the beholder. It is interesting to see how the standard has developed in depth over the years.

1916 Abyssinian Breed Standard - CFA

Scale of Points to be applied to all Breeds and Colors:
25 ...................... Color
25 ...................... Coat and Condition
20 ...................... Head (including size and shape of eyes)
20 ...................... Type (including shape, size, bone and length of tail)
10 ...................... Color of Eyes

The Abyssinian cat should be similar in type to the Siamese. Face rather long and wedge-shaped. Tail short and thick. Ears large. Cat inclined to be small in size.
Color: Reddish fawn or grey, with each individual hair ticked. A perfect specimen should be entirely free from tabby markings.

1939 Abyssinian Breed Standard - CFA

COLOR and TYPE: Either ruddy brown or Silver ticked with black or dark brown, double or treble ticking - i.e., two or three bands of color on each hair preferably to single ticking; no bars or other markings except that a dark spine line will not militate against an otherwise good specimen. Inside of forelegs and belly should be of a tint to harmonize well with the main color, the preference being given to orange-brown; no white markings permissible.

ABSENCE OF MARKINGS: -- i.e. bars on head, tail, face and chest - is a very important property in this breed. These places are just where , if a cat or other fine animal shows markings at all , they will hold their ground to the last with remarkable pertinacity. The less markings visible the better; at the same time the judge must not attach such undue importance to this property that he fails to give due importance to others. For instance, it does not follow that an absolutely unmarked cat, but of "cobby" build, failing in ticking and color, is, on account of absence of marking, better that a cat of slender build, well ticked and of nice color, but handicapped by a certain amount of "barring" on legs and tail.

HEAD AND EARS: Head long and pointed, ears sharp, comparatively large and broad at base.
EYES: Large, bright or expressive. Color: Green, yellow or hazel.
TAIL: Fairly long and tapering.
FEET: Small, pads black; this color also extending up the back of the hind legs.
COAT: Short, fine and close.
SIZE: Never large or coarse.

2004 Abyssinian Breed Standard - TICA - Summary

Head: Modified wedge with rounded contours as viewed from the front.
Ears: Large, alert, and moderately pointed, broad and cupped at base and arched forward, set as though listening.
Eyes: Almond shaped, large, brillant and expressive. Eye color: gold, copper, green or hazel.
Muzzle: it shall follow gentle contours in conformity with the head.
Profile: without flat planes, showing a gently curved transition between brow, nose and muzzle.

Body: torso medium long, lithe and gracefull, showing well developed muscular. The rib cage is rounded with no evidence of flat sides. The back is slightly arched giving the appearance of a cat about to spring. Proportion and general balance to be desired more than mere size.
Legs: Proportionately slim, long and well-muscled.
Feet: oval and compact.
Tail: long and tapering.
Musculature: well-developed muscular strength without coarseness and solid to the feel.
Coat Length: resilient to the touch with a lustrous sheen, fine in texture. Medium length, long enough to accommodate four to six alterning light and dark colored bands.
Coat Patter: is genetically a form of agouti ticking with even, dark-colored ticking contrasted with lighter bands giving a translucent effect.
Traditional Cattegory, Tabby and Silver/Smoke division, Colors limite to eumelanistic colors and agouti pattern only.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
(TICA Standard)

The overall impression of the ideal Aby is a medium cat, regal in appearance. The Abyssinian is foreign in type. Males proportionately larger than females. The Aby shows firm muscular development and is lithe and panther-like in activity, showing a lively interest in all surroundings. The coat of the Abyssinian has an iridescent quality. Coat pattern is genetically a form of agouti ticking with even, dark-colored ticking contrasted with lighter bands giving a translucent effect. The Abyssinian is sound health and vigor, well-balanced physically and temperamentally gentle and amenable to handling.

2004 Abyssinian Breed Standard - TICA

HEAD....................................35 points
Shape...........................10
Ears...............................5
Eye Shape.......................5
Eye Color........................5
Muzzle............................5
Profile.............................5
BODY....................................35 points
Torso............................10
Legs and Feet.................10
Tail................................5
Boning............................5
Musculature.....................5
COAT/COLOR/PATTERN.............30 points
Texture.........................10
Pattern (Ticking)..............10
Color.............................10