An Example Standard of Points

A standard is a list of criteria used by judges to determine the fitness of a cat to earn it's award. A standard usually carries a grade of points which help to illustrate the relative importance of different physical characteristics to the overall assessment of the cat.

For the non-initiated, the standard gives the judge a guideline to the overall picture of what the Manx or Cymric ought to look like. Points add up to a grade out of 100, the cat gaining the highest points when measured against the standard for its breed is awarded the best of breed. Best of Breed (BOB) awards are given to the best Male, Female, Neuter, Spey and Kitten for each breed.

Always a cat should be objectively judged against its breed standard, and NEVER subjectively against another cat. This is intended to reduce the chance of a Judge choosing according to what he/she personally likes better. When two cats appear to be equal in points, the Judge must go to more discerning levels to determine which meets the standard most closely.

In the case of Manx and Cymric, when two cats are equal in points, the Judge may then take into consideration the quality of eye and coat colours to differentiate between the two (Australia, UK). When this happens, the guide for coat and eye colour used is that which applies to British Shorthair. In New Zealand and the USA, eye and coat colour form part of the basic standard.

I must stress that the standards listed below are NOT registered standards. They are actually compilations, borrowing heavily from the GCCF Standard (Britain), the CFA Standard (USA), and the CCA Standard (Canada) to form a syntheses of what I believe are the best aspects of each. The emphases here are on overall type and health, with the intention of giving a clear picture of the show quality Manx/Cymric cat.

A Sample Manx Standard

Overall Appearance: The Manx is a tailless, shorthaired cat of medium size. The sturdy, compact body gives the impression of strength. The Manx has a fair-sized, rounded head, short, stocky body, is deep flanked, heavily boned and is broad across the hindquarters. Emphasis must be on the well-balanced cat. Males are usually larger, with proportionally longer bodies and heavier bone. Manx walk normally. The double coat gives a thick, ‘well-padded’ impression. Manx are slow in maturing and allowance should be made in young cats when judging coat quality, jowliness, ear set and depth of flank.

Coat: The double coat gives a thick, ‘well-padded’ impression. Coat should not be too soft but rather be slightly coarse to the touch. Lower leg and head coat are slightly shorter and denser than body coat.

Head: Fairly round and large with prominent jowls, especially in the mature male. Nose broad and of medium length. Strong, broad, well defined muzzle without any hint of snipeyness. Firm chin and even bite.

Body: Solid, compact, with good breadth of chest and slightly shorter back ending with a pleasingly rounded rump. Allowance should be made for a proportionally longer back in males. Emphasis is on overall, balanced look and a disproportionate, excessively short back should be regarded as a fault.

Taillessness: (Rumpies and Risers) The rump should be rounded and there should be nothing physically stopping the hand being stroked along the back and over the rump. A small rise of bone or cartilage is allowed provided that it does not ‘stop’ the hand from passing smoothly over the rump or spoil the rounded look. Prodding the ‘tail’ region is discouraged as it is unnecessary and upsets the cat. A cat can be encouraged to stand and 'lift' a rise by scratching the lower back.

(Stumpies) Stumpies may have up to 10cm of tail.

Scale Of Points: (Rumpies and Stumpies use the same scale of points)

Eye colour and coat colour count only when all points are equal.

Transfer: to stumpy class any rumpy-riser cat with a rise that stops the hand

Disqualify: Any anatomical abnormality (other than taillessness) e.g., polydactyly, uneven bite, prolapsed rectum (haemorrhoids), spinal curvature.

Faults: Excessively short spine, 'Pigeon toed' walk, squint.

A Sample Cymric Standard

The standard for Cymrics should be the same as for Manx as stated above, but with amendments for Overall Appearance and Coat Type:

Overall Appearance: The Cymric is a tailless, moderately longhaired cat of medium size. The sturdy, compact body gives the impression of strength. The Cymric has a fair-sized, rounded head, short, stocky body, is deep flanked, heavily boned and is broad across the hindquarters. Emphasis must be on the well-balanced cat. Males are usually larger, with proportionally longer bodies and heavier bone. Cymrics walk normally. The double coat is a silky, soft and open one. Cymrics are slow in maturing and allowance should be made in young cats when judging coat length, jowliness, ear set and depth of flank.

Coat: The double coat should be medium in length, open and silky and free of the tendency to matt. The coat appears full, and sports ‘breeches’ and a collar-like ruff extending to the chest area of the cat. Lower leg and head coat are noticably shorter and denser than body coat. Toe and ear tufts are a ‘plus’ when all points are equal.

Head: Fairly round and large with prominent jowls, especially in the mature male. Nose broad and of medium length. Strong, broad, well defined muzzle without any hint of snipeyness. Firm chin and even bite.

Body: Solid, compact, with good breadth of chest and slightly shorter back ending with a pleasingly rounded rump. Allowance should be made for a proportionally longer back in males. Emphasis is on overall, balanced look and a disproportionate, excessively short back should be regarded as a fault.

Taillessness: (Rumpies and Risers) The rump should be rounded and there should be nothing physically stopping the hand being stroked along the back and over the rump. A small rise of bone or cartilage is allowed provided that it does not ‘stop’ the hand from passing smoothly over the rump or spoil the rounded look. Prodding the ‘tail’ region is discouraged as it is unnecessary and upsets the cat. A cat can be encouraged to stand and 'lift' a rise by scratching the lower back

(Stumpies) Stumpies may have up to 10cm of tail.

Scale Of Points: (Rumpies and Stumpies use the same scale of points)

Eye colour, coat colour and ear-tufts count only when all points are equal.

Transfer: to stumpy class any rumpy-riser cat with a rise that stops the hand

Disqualify: Any anatomical abnormality (other than taillessness) e.g., polydactyly, uneven bite, prolapsed rectum (haemorrhoids), spinal curvature.

Faults: Excessively short spine, 'Pigeon toed' walk, squint, very long 'Persian'-type coat, woolly coat.

Author: L Kelly. Last Update (AU): 30/09/2007