SHAHNOOR SPHYNX - Breed Standards

General Description The Sphynx appears to be a hairless cat, although it is not truly hairless. The skin should have the texture of chamois. It may be covered with very fine down which is almost imperceptible to both the eye and the touch. On the ears, muzzle, tail, feet and scrotum, short, soft, fine hair is allowed. Lack of coat makes the cat quite warm to the touch. Whiskers and eyebrows may be present, either whole or broken, or may be totally absent. A lion tail (puff of hair on the tip of the tail) is acceptable. The skin is very wrinkled in kittens. Adults should retain as many wrinkles as possible, especially on the head, although wrinkling should not be so pronounced that it affects the cat's normal functions. The head is slightly longer than it is wide with prominent cheekbones and a distinct whisker break. The profile has a slight to moderate stop at the bridge of the nose. The eyes are a large, rounded lemon in shape slanting to the outer corner of the ear. There is slightly more than the width of an eye between the eyes. The ears are very large, broad at the base and open, with no interior hair. They are upright, neither low set nor on top of the head. The neck is medium, well-muscled and rounded, arching from the shoulders to the base of the skull. The neck is powerful, especially in males. The chest is broad, and may tend toward being barrel-chested. The body is medium to medium long, well-rounded, thick through the abdomen, having the appearance of having eaten a large meal, but not fat. The Sphynx is very hard and muscular, having medium bone structure; it is not a delicate cat. The tail is whippy, tapering from the body to the tip (rat tailed). The tail length is to be in proportion to the body. The leg length is in proportion with the body, but not fine-boned; the legs are firm and muscular to the feel. Female's legs may be more slender than those of the males. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front. The forelegs are widely set. The paws are oval, with long, slender toes and the paw pads are thicker than in other breeds, giving the appearance of walking on air cushions. The cat should not be small or dainty. Males may be up to 25 percent larger so long as proper proportions are maintained.
Head	Size: Medium Shape: Modified wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than wide. Skull: Slightly rounded with a rather flat forehead. Profile: Slight to moderate stop at bridge of nose. Cheekbones: Prominent. Muzzle and Chin: Strong rounded muzzle with distinct whisker break and firm chin.
Neck	Length: Medium. Shape: Rounded, well-muscled. Miscellaneous: Arches from shoulders to base of skull. Powerful, especially in males.
Ears	Shape: Broad at base and open. Size: Very large. Set: Upright, neither low set nor on top of the head. Miscellaneous: Interior is totally hairless. Slight amount of hair allowed on lower outside edges and on the back of the ear.
Eyes	Shape: Rounded lemon. Size: Large. Placement: Slanting to outer corner of ear. Slightly more than an eye width between eyes. Colour: Any colour including green or hazel acceptable.
Body	Size: Medium. Length: Medium to medium long. Chest: Broad, may tend toward barrel chested. Abdomen: Well-rounded, having the appearance of having eaten a large meal, but not fat. Boning: Medium. Musculature: Hard and muscular, not delicate.
Tail	Shape: Whippy, tapering from body to tip (rat-tailed). Length: In proportion to body. Miscellaneous: Lion tail (puff of hair on tip) acceptable.
Legs	Length: In proportion with body. Hind legs slightly longer than front. Front legs widely set. Boning: Medium. Musculature: Firm and muscular.
Feet	Shape: Oval with long, slender toes. Size: Medium. Paw Pads: Thicker than in other breeds, giving the cat the appearance of walking on "air cushions". Toes: Very long, slender and prominent.
Coat & Skin	Length: Appears hairless. May be covered with short, fine down. May have puff of hair on tip of tail. Texture: Chamois-like. A feeling of resistance may be felt when stroking the skin of some cats. Whiskers: Sparse and short. Wrinkles: The skin is very wrinkled in kittens. Adults should retain as many wrinkles as possible, especially on the head, although wrinkling should not be so pronounced that it affects the cat's normal functions.
Colour	All colours and patterns, including varieties with white; any amount of white allowed.
Penalise	Overall small cat. Body that is too thin, frail appearing or delicate or fine-boned; too cobby or foreign. Lack of wrinkles on the head. Straight profile, narrow head. Non-amenable disposition. Significant amounts of hair above the ankle.
Withhold All Awards	Any indication of wavy hair or suggestion of the Devon Rex, or Cornish Rex in moult; any evidence of depilating, plucking, shaving or clipping or any other means of hair removal. Varieties are divided into Agouti (A), Agouti & White(Aw), Non-agouti (B) and Non-agouti & white (Bw).