Breed Standard
POINT SCORE
HEAD (35) 5 .. Size/Shape 10 .. Ears 5 .. Muzzle/Chin 5 .. Profile 5 ..
Cheekbones 5 .. Eyes BODY (35) 5 .. Neck 10 .. Chest 10 .. Abdomen and Rump 5 ..
Legs and Feet 5 .. Tail COAT/SKIN .. 30GENERAL: the most distinctive feature of
this cat is its appearance of hairlessness. The Sphynx is of medium size and
body conformation with surprising weight for its size. Females are generally
smaller than males. The head shape is a modified wedge, with prominent
cheekbones and whisker pads giving a squared appearance to the muzzle. The body
feels warm and soft to the touch, with a skin texture akin to either a soft
peach or a smooth nectarine. The Sphynx is sweet-tempered, lively, and amenable
to handling.
HEAD: the head is slightly longer than it is wide, with prominent cheekbones and
a distinctive whisker break. The skull is slightly rounded with a flat plane in
front of the ears. The nose is straight and there is a slight to moderate
palpable stop at the bridge of the nose.
CHEEKS AND CHEEKBONES: prominent, rounded cheekbones which define the eye and
form a curve above the whisker break.
MUZZLE AND CHIN: whisker break with prominent whisker pads. Strong, well
developed chin forming perpendicular line with upper lip.
EARS: large to very large. Broad at the base, open and upright. When viewed from
the front, the outer base of the ear should begin at the level of the eye,
neither low set nor on top of the head. The interior of the ears is naturally
without furnishing.
EYES: large, lemon-shaped, with wide-open center while coming to a definite
point on each side. Placement should be at a slight upward angle, aligning with
the outer base of the ear. Eyes to be wide set apart with the distance between
the eyes being a minimum of one eye width. Eye color immaterial.
BODY: the body is medium length, hard and muscular with broad rounded chest and
full round abdomen. The rump is well rounded and muscular. Back line rises just
behind the shoulder blades to accommodate longer back legs when standing. Boning
is medium.
NECK: the neck is medium in length, rounded, well muscled, with a slight arch.
Allowance to be made for heavy musculature in adult males.
LEGS AND FEET: legs are medium in proportion to the body. They are sturdy and
well muscled with rear legs being slightly longer than the front. Paws are oval
with well-knuckled toes; five in front and four behind. The paw pads are thick,
giving the appearance of walking on cushions.
TAIL: slender, flexible, and long while maintaining proportion to body length.
Whip-like, tapering to a fine point.
COAT/SKIN: the appearance of this cat is one of hairlessness. Short, fine hair
may be present on the feet, outer edges of the ears, the tail, and the scrotum.
The bridge of the nose should be normally coated. The remainder of the body can
range from completely hairless to a covering of soft peach-like fuzz whose
length does not interfere with the appearance of hairlessness. This coat/skin
texture creates a feeling of resistance when stroking the cat. Wrinkled skin is
desirable, particularly around the muzzle, between the ears, and around the
shoulders. There are usually no whiskers but if whiskers are present they are
short and sparse.
COLOR: color and pattern are difficult to distinguish and should not affect the
judging of the cat. White lockets, buttons, or belly spots are allowed.
PENALIZE: hair other than described. Delicate or frail appearance. Thin abdomen,
thin rump, or narrow chest. Bowed front legs. Should not resemble the Devon Rex,
Cornish Rex or Oriental body type.
DISQUALIFY: kinked or abnormal tail. Structural abnormalities. Aggressive
behavior endangering the judge.
SPHYNX COLORS
GENERAL: all colors and patterns, in any combination, found in felines is
acceptable.
WHITE: white to pink. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.
BLACK: black. One level tone from nose to tip of tail. Nose leather: black. Paw
pads: black or brown.
BLUE: blue. One level tone from nose to tip of tail. Nose leather and paw pads:
blue.
RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red, without markings. Lips and chin the same
color as the skin. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.
CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Nose leather and paw
pads: pink.
CHOCOLATE: rich chestnut brown, even throughout. Nose leather: brown. Paw pads:
brown or cinnamon.
LAVENDER: frosty-grey with a pinkish tone, even throughout. Nose leather and paw
pads: lavender-pink.
CINNAMON: cinnamon, even throughout. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon.
FAWN: pale, pinkish fawn, even throughout. Nose leather and paw pads: pale fawn.
CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings clearly defined on legs and tail. Pattern tends
to fade on hairless body. 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. Markings seen on the skin. Frown lines on head
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 clearly defined on legs and tail. Pattern tends
to fade on hairless body. 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.
SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted. The spots can be
round, oblong, or rosette-shaped. Any of these are of equal merit but the spots,
however shaped or placed, shall be distinct. Spots should not run together in a
broken Mackerel pattern. A dorsal stripe runs the length of the body to the tip
of the tail. The stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings on the face
and forehead shall be typically tabby markings. Underside of the body to have
"vest buttons." Legs and tail are barred. Markings clearly defined on legs and
tail. Pattern tends to fade on hairless body.
PATCHED TABBY PATTERN: a patched tabby (torbie) is an established silver, brown,
blue, lavender, fawn, cinnamon or chocolate tabby with patches of red or cream
clearly defined on both the body and extremities; a blaze on the face is
desirable.
SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, pale clear silver.
Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.
BROWN TABBY: skin 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.
BLUE TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory.
Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with skin ground color. Nose
leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose.
RED TABBY: skin ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips and chin red.
Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.
CREAM TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, very pale cream.
Markings 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.
CHOCOLATE (Chestnut) TABBY: skin ground color is warm fawn, markings are rich
chestnut brown. Nose leather: chestnut, or pink rimmed with chestnut. Paw pads:
cinnamon.
CHOCOLATE-SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, is silver.
Markings rich chestnut. Nose leather: chestnut or pink rimmed with chestnut. Paw
pads: cinnamon.
CINNAMON TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, a pale, warm honey,
markings a dense cinnamon, affording a good contrast with skin ground color.
Nose leather: cinnamon or coral rimmed with cinnamon. Paw pads: cinnamon.
CINNAMON-SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, a pale
glistening silver. Markings dense cinnamon. Nose leather: cinnamon. Paw pads:
coral.
LAVENDER TABBY: skin ground color is pale lavender. Markings are a rich
lavender, affording a good contrast with skin ground color. Nose leather:
lavender, or pink rimmed with lavender. Paw pads: lavender-pink.
LAVENDER-SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, a cold clear
silver. Markings lavender. Nose leather: lavender or pink rimmed with lavender.
Paw pads: lavender-pink.
FAWN TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, pale ivory, markings
dense fawn, affording good contrast with skin ground color. Nose leather and paw
pads: pale fawn.
TORTOISESHELL: black mottled or patched with red and/or cream. Blaze on face
desirable.
BLUE-CREAM: blue mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on face desirable.
CHOCOLATE (Chestnut) TORTOISESHELL: rich chestnut brown mottled or patched with
red and/or cream. Blaze on face desirable.
CINNAMON TORTOISESHELL: cinnamon mottled or patched with red and/or cream. Blaze
on face desirable.
LAVENDER-CREAM: lavender mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on face desirable.
FAWN-CREAM: fawn mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on face desirable.
CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red. White predominant on
underparts.
VAN CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red confined to the
extremities; head, tail, legs. One or two small patches of color on body
allowable.
DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream. White
predominant on underparts.
DILUTE VAN CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream confined to
the extremities; head, tail, legs. One or two small patches of color on body
allowable.
BI-COLOR: solid color and white, tabby and white, tortoiseshell and white,
pointed and white, any color and white, etc.
VAN BI-COLOR: solid color and white, tabby and white, tortoiseshell and white,
etc., with color confined to the extremities; head, tail, and legs. One or two
small patches on body allowable.
FAWN CALICO, LAVENDER CALICO, CINNAMON CALICO, CHOCOLATE CALICO: as for calico
above, with appropriate marking color.
FAWN VAN CALICO, LAVENDER VAN CALICO, CINNAMON VAN CALICO, CHOCOLATE VAN CALICO:
as for van calico labove, with appropriate marking color.
POINTED PATTERN: point restricted colors show little or no color contrast
between body and points in the mature Sphynx. Although born very light in color,
the pointed Sphynx will darken and appear solid in color as an adult. Eye color:
vivid blue. Nose leather and paw pads: appropriate to coat color. The pointed
pattern may be combined with ANY other pattern (except mink) and ANY colors,
e.g. lilac-silver lynx point and seal-tortie point with white (shown in the
Bi-Color Class).
MINK PATTERN: point restricted colors show little or no color differentiation
between body and points in the mature Sphynx. Although born very light in color,
the mink Sphynx will darken and appear solid in color as an adult. Eye color:
aqua. Nose leather and paw pads: appropriate to coat color. The mink pattern may
be combined with ANY other pattern (except pointed) and ANY colors, e.g. natural
mink, blue mink, champagne mink, platinum mink, natural tabby mink, blue-cream,
tortie mink and white (shown in Bi-Color Class).
SABLE: the mature specimen is a rich, warm, sable brown without shadings,
barring, or markings of any kind. (Kittens are often lighter in color.) Nose
leather and paw pads: brown.
CHAMPAGNE: the mature specimen should be a warm honey beige without shadings,
barring, or markings of any kind. Nose leather: light, warm brown. Paw pads:
warm, pinkish tan.
PLATINUM: the mature specimen should be a pale, silvery gray without shadings,
barring or markings of any kind. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender-pink.
OSC (Other Sphynx Colors): any other color or pattern. Cats with no more than a
locket and/or button do not qualify for this class, such cats shall be judged in
the color class of their basic color with no penalty for such locket and/or
button. Examples: any color with one, two, three, or four white feet. All point
restricted colors such as seal point, chocolate point, natural mink, blue mink,
sable, champagne, platinum, etc.
The following information is for reference purposes only and not an official
part of the CFA Show Standard.
Sphynx Color Class NumbersAll Championship Colors 5100 5101(All accepted colors
as defined in the Show Standards.)Sphynx Allowable Outcross Breeds: American
Shorthair, Domestic Shorthair/ Domestic Sphynx Outcross. Sphynx born on or after
December 31, 2010 may have only Sphynx parents.
