Points by Which Cats Are Judged
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
Head
15
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.
Eyes
10
Orange-yellow, clear, brilliant, large, full, round, and
lustrous.
Fur
10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour
25
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.
Form
15
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.
Tail
10
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 Condition
15
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.
Total
100
Tortoiseshell and White
POINTS
Head
10
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.
Eyes
10
Orange-yellow, clear, brilliant, large, full, round, and
lustrous.
Fur
10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour
25
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 Marking
15
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.
Form
10
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.
Tail
10
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 Condition
10
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.
Total
100
White. Short-Hair
POINTS
Head
15
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.
Eyes
15
Blue—a soft, turquoise blue—but yellow is permissible as
five points only, green a defect; large, round, and full.
Fur
15
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour
15
Yellow-white; gray-white, five points less.
Form
15
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.
Tail
10
Long, thick at the base and narrowing towards the end,
carried low, with graceful curve.
Size and Condition
15
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.
Total
100
Self-Colour, Black, Blue, Gray, or Red Short-Hair
POINTS
Head
15
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.
Eyes
15
Orange for black, orange-yellow for blue, deep yellow for
gray, and gold tinged with green for red. Large, round, and
full; very bright.
Fur
10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Form
15
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.
Colour
25
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.
Tail
5
Long, thick at the base, and narrowing towards the end,
carried low, with graceful curve.
Size and Condition
15
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.
Total
100
Brown and Ordinary Tabby, Striped, Short-Hair
POINTS
Head
10
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.
Eyes
15
Orange-yellow, slightly tinted with green, large, full,
round, and very lustrous.
Fur
10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour
20
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.
Markings
20
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.
Form
10
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.
Tail
5
Long, thick at the base and narrowing towards the end,
carried low, with graceful curve, and marked with black
rings.
Size and Condition
10
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.
Total
100
Chocolate, Chestnut, Red, or Yellow Tabby, Striped, Short-Hair
POINTS
Head
10
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.
Eyes
15
Orange, gold, or yellow, in the order of the above names,
large, round, full, and very lustrous.
Fur
10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour
20
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.
Markings
20
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.
Form
10
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.
Tail
5
Long, thick at the base, and narrowing towards the end,
carried low, with graceful curve, and marked with dark rings.
Size and Condition
10
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.
Total
100
Blue, Silver, Light Gray, and White Tabby, Striped, Short-Hair
POINTS
Head
10
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.
Eyes
15
Orange-yellow for blue tabby; deep, bright yellow for silver
or gray; large, full, round, and very lustrous.
Fur
10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour
20
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.
Markings
20
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.
Form
10
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.
Tail
5
Long, thick at the base and narrowing towards the end,
carried low, with graceful curve, and marked with black
rings.
Size and Condition
10
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.
Total
100
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.
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
Head
10
Small, broad across the eyes, rather long than short, nose
medium length, all well-formed.
Eyes
15
Orange-yellow, slightly tinged with green, large, round,
full, and bright.
Nose and Feet
10
Nose dark red, edged with black; tips and cushions of feet
black, also the back of the hind-legs.
Fur
15
Soft, rather woolly hair, yet soft, silky, lustrous, and
glossy, short, smooth, even, and dense.
Ears
10
The usual size of the ordinary English cat, but a little more
rounded, with not much hair in the interior, black at the
apex.
Colour
20
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 Condition
10
Large; coat glossy and smooth, fitting close to the body;
eyes bright and clear.
Carriage and Appearance
10
Graceful, lithe, elegant, alert and quick in all its
movements, head carried up, tail trailing, in walk
undulating.
Total
100
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
Head
10
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.
Fur
10
Very short, and somewhat woolly, yet soft and silky to the
touch, and glossy, with much lustre on the face, legs, and
tail.
Colour
20
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.
Markings
20
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.
Eyes
15
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.
Tail
5
Short by comparison with the English cat, thin throughout, a
little thicker towards the base, without any break or kink.
Size and Form
10
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.
Condition
10
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.
Total
100
Manx, or Short-Tailed Cat
POINTS
Head
10
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.
Eyes
10
According to colour, as shown in other varieties.
Fur
10
Short, of even length, smooth, silky, and glossy.
Colour
15
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.
Form
15
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.
Tail
25
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 Condition
15
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.
Total
100
White, Long-Haired Cat
POINTS
Head
10
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.
Eyes
15
Large, full, round or almond-shape, lustrous, and of a
beautiful azure blue. Yellow admissible as five points only.
Green a defect.
Ruff or Frill
15
Large, very long, flowing, and lion-like, extending over the
shoulders, and covering the neck and chest thickly.
Fur
15
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 Fur
10
Fine, silky, and very soft in the Persian, with a slightly
woolly texture in the Angora, and still more so in the
Russian.
Tail
10
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 Condition
15
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.
Colour
10
White, with a tender, very slightly yellow tint; cushions of
feet and tip of nose pink.
Total
100
Black, Blue, Gray, Red, or Any Self Colour Long-Haired Cats
POINTS
Head
10
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.
Eyes
10
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 Frill
15
Large, very long, flowing, and lion-like, extending over the
shoulders, and covering the neck and chest thickly.
Fur
15
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 Fur
10
Fine, silky, and very soft in the Persian, with slightly
woolly texture in the Angora, and still more so in the
Russian.
Tail
10
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 Condition
10
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.
Colour
20
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.
Total
100
Brown, Blue, Silver, Light Gray, and White Tabby Long-Haired Cats
POINTS
Head
10
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.
Eyes
10
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 Frill
10
Large, very long, flowing, and lion-like, extending over the
shoulders, and covering the neck and chest thickly.
Fur
10
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 Fur
10
Fine, silky, and very soft in the Persian, with slightly
woolly texture in the Angora, and still more so in the
Russian.
Tail
10
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 Condition
10
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.
Colour
15
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.
Markings
15
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.
Total
100
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.”