Chapter
6: American Wirehair
CFA Standard
POINT SCORE
HEAD (including size and shape of eyes,
ear shape and set) .................................. 25
TYPE (including shape, size, bone and length of tail).... 20
COAT ............ 45
COLOR and EYE ... 10
GENERAL: the American Wirehair is a spontaneous mutation. The coat, which is not only springy, dense,
and resilient, but also coarse and hard to the touch, distinguishes the American Wirehair from all other
breeds. Characteristic is activity, agility, and keen interest in its surroundings.
HEAD: in proportion to the body. Underlying bone structure is round with prominent cheekbones and
well-developed muzzle and chin. There is a slight whisker break.
NOSE: in profile the nose shows a gentle concave curve.
MUZZLE: well-developed. Allowance for jowls in adult males.
CHIN: firm and well-developed with no malocclusion.
EARS: medium, slightly rounded at tips, set wide and not unduly open at the base.
EYES: large, round, bright, and clear. Set well apart. Aperture has slight upward tilt.
BODY: medium to large. Back level, shoulders and hips same width, torso well-rounded and in
proportion. Males larger than females.
LEGS: medium in length and bone, well-muscled and proportionate to body.
PAWS: firm, full and rounded, with heavy pads. Toes, five in front and four behind.
TAIL: in proportion to body, tapering from the well-rounded rump to a rounded tip, neither blunt nor
pointed.
COAT: springy, tight, medium in length. Individual hairs are crimped, hooked, or bent, including hair within
the ears. The overall appearance of wiring and the coarseness and resilience of the coat is more important
than the crimping of each hair. The density of the wired coat leads to ringlet formation rather than waves.
That coat, which is very dense, resilient, crimped, and coarse, is most desirable, as are curly whiskers.
PENALIZE: deep nose break.
DISQUALIFY: incorrect coat. Kinked or abnormal tail. Long or fluffy fur. Incorrect number of toes.
Evidence of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern, or these
combinations with white.
AMERICAN WIREHAIR COLORS
WHITE: pure glistening white. Nose leather and Paw pads: pink. Eye color: deep blue or brilliant gold.
Odd-eyed whites shall have one blue and one gold eye with equal color depth.
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. Eye color: brilliant gold.
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. Eye
color: brilliant gold.
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. Eye color: brilliant gold.
CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Sound to the roots. Lighter shades preferred.
Nose leather and Paw pads: pink. Eye color: brilliant gold.
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 and ear tufts, stomach and chest, pure white. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose
leather: brick red. Paw Pads: black. Eye color: green or blue-green.
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. Eye color: green or blue-green.
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. Eye color: brilliant gold.
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. Eye color: brilliant gold.
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 the fur is parted. Nose leather and Paw pads: black. Eye color:
brilliant gold.
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. Eye color: brilliant
gold.
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. Eye color: brilliant gold.
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.
SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color, including lips and chin, pale, clear silver. Markings
dense black. Nose Leather: brick red. Paw Pads: black. Eye color: green or hazel.
RED TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips and chin red. Nose
leather and Paw pads: brick red. Eye color: brilliant gold.
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. Eye color: brilliant gold.
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. Eye color: brilliant gold.
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. Eye color: brilliant gold.
CAMEO TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color off-white. Markings red. Nose leather and Paw
pads: rose. Eye color: brilliant gold.
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. Eye color: brilliant
gold.
CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red. White predominant on underparts. Eye color:
brilliant gold.
DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream. White predominant on underparts.
Eye color: brilliant gold.
BLUE-CREAM: blue with patches of solid cream. Patches clearly defined and well-broken on both body
and extremities. Eye color: brilliant gold.
BI-COLOR: white with unbrindled patches of black, white with unbrindled patches of blue. White with
unbrindled patches of red, or white with unbrindled patches of cream. Eye color: gold, the more brilliant
the better.
OWC (Other Wirehair Colors): any other color or pattern with the exception of those showing evidence
of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern, or these combinations
with white. Eye color: appropriate to the color of the cat.
AMERICAN WIREHAIR COLOR CLASS NUMBERS
All Championship Colors ...... 9900 9901
(All accepted colors as defined
in the Show Standards and Other
Wirehair Colors and patterns with
the exception of those showing evidence
of hybridization resulting in the
colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern or these combinations
with white, etc.)
AOV .......................... 9998 9999
* American Wirehair allowable outcross breeds: American Shorthair. |
TICA Standard
HEAD AND EARS |
|
25 points |
|
Long, flat profile |
6 |
|
|
Wedge, fine muzzle, size |
7 |
|
|
Ears, size and set |
7 |
|
|
Chin |
3 |
|
|
Width between eyes |
2 |
|
EYES |
|
10 points |
|
Shape and size |
5 |
|
|
Placement |
5 |
|
BODY |
|
25 points |
|
Muscle tone |
5 |
|
|
Structure and size,
including neck
|
5 |
|
|
Legs and feet
(length, boning and shape of feet)
|
5 |
|
|
Tail |
4 |
|
|
Condition |
6 |
|
COAT |
|
25 points |
|
Length |
10 |
|
|
Texture |
10 |
|
|
Tail plume |
5 |
|
COLOR |
|
10 points |
|
Coat |
7 |
|
|
Eyes |
3 |
|
BALANCE |
|
5 points |
|
Overall appearance |
5 |
|
RECOGNIZED CATEGORY, DIVISION, COLORS: Pointed Category, all
Divisions, all colors.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The ideal Balinese is a svelte, graceful,
refined cat of medium size with long tapering lines. it is in excellent physical
condition, very strong, lithe and muscular.
The head is a long tapering wedge, of medium size, in good proportion to the
body. The wedge is created by straight lines extending from the nose to the tips
of the ears, following a triangle, with no break at the whiskers. When whiskers
are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is apparent. There is no less
than the width of an eye between the eyes. Allowance must be made for jowls in
the stud cat. the desirable profile may be seen as a long flat, straight line
extending from the top of the head to the tip of the nose or, as two flat planes
with a very slight change in angle midway over the eyes. There should be no dip
at the nose. A straight line is seen from the tip of the nose to the tip of the
chin. The ears are strikingly large, but in proportion to the head. The ears are
set so as to be in a continuing line with the wedge, neither too high nor too
flared. The eyes are almond-shaped, of medium size, set in an Oriental slant
toward the nose so that a projection of the line from the inner eye corner
through outer eye corner would extend to the center of the base of the ear. The
body is long, tubular, hard and muscular giving the sensation of solid weight
without excessive bulk. The overall body structure is finely boned and
well-muscled. Males in general, are proportionately larger than females. The
coat is to be fine and silky but lying close to the body. It will normally be
shorter around the head and shoulders. The tail plume should be long and
feathery. The tail should give the effect of slenderness and length in balance
with the length of the body. Because of the longer coat, the Balinese will
appear to have softer lines and less extreme type than the Oriental Shorthair or
Siamese. However, when the coat is smoothed down the underlying bone structure
can be discerned. The neck should be long and graceful, not telescope between
the shoulders. The legs are long, slim and fine-boned in proportion to carry the
body length and weight gracefully. The hind legs are higher than the front legs.
The feet are small and dainty, oval in shape. While the breed is considered
"medium" in size, balance and proportion are to be considered of
greater consequence. The cat should "fit together". If it is extreme
in one part, all parts should be extreme to retain balance.
COLOR: Even color on the body with any shading to be in the color of
the points. Allowance for darker body shading in older cats; however, definite
contrast between body and points must exist. Lack of leg and tail barring
desirable, except in Lynx Points. Lack of body barring desirable in all
patterns. There is a range of color within each color class. Emphasis is to be
on clarity of point color; points (i.e., mask, ears, feet, and tail) clearly
defined and matching; and good point/body contrast. (Example: There should be NO
preference given to a deep slate blue point over a pastel blue point on the
basis of point color along.) Allowance for slow and/or incomplete development of
point color in kittens.
ALLOW FOR: Incomplete mask in kittens and young adults to 18 months.
Dip above the eyes (headache band) in kittens and young adults to 18 months.
Ghost barring of the tail and flanks in kittens and young adults to 18 months.
PENALIZE: Round or broad head, short or broad muzzle; dip in nose;
small, round, or unslanted eyes. Short or cobby body. Short legs or heavy leg
bones. Short coat; lack of tail plume.
WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS: Evidence of illness, poor health, emaciation.
Visible tail fault. White toes and feet, or patches of white in the points,
except in particolor points. See Show Rules, ARTICLE SIXTEEN for rules
governing penalties/disqualifications applying to all cats.
HEAD
Shape: Wedge.
Profile: Long; straight line or slight change of angle midway over eyes.
Muzzle: Fine. Wedge-shaped.
Muzzle Break: None.
Skull: Flat.
Chin/Jaw: Tip of nose in line with tip of chin.
Miscellaneous: Allow for jowls in stud cats. No less than the width of an eye
between the eyes.
EARS
Shape: Wide at base.
Size: Strikingly large.
Placement: Continuation of wedge.
EYES
Shape: Almond.
Size: Strikingly large.
Set: Oriental slant toward the nose such that a line from inner corner
through outer corner is in line with center of base of ear.
Color: Blue.
NECK
Length: Long.
Size: Slender.
Miscellaneous: Graceful, not telescoped between the shoulders.
BODY
Shape: Tubular; equal width at shoulders and hips.
Size: Medium.
Boning: Fine.
Length: Long.
Musculature: Very firm, lithe.
TAIL
Shape: Plume. Long and feathery; giving the effect of slenderness..
Length: In balance with the length of the body.
LEGS
Length: Long; hind legs higher than front legs.
Boning: Fine. Proportioned to carry the body length and weight.
Musculature: Firm.
FEET
Shape: Oval.
Size: Small.
COAT
Length: Semi-longhair.
Texture: Fine. Silky.
Density: Slight undercoat. Close-lying. A shorter coat is permitted over the
shoulders.
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