The Australian Cat Federation (ACF)

Scale of Points	Points
Total	100
Body, Tail and Legs	20
Head and Ears	15
Eyes	10
Body Colour	25
Ticking	15
Texture of Coat	10
Condition	5

General	The Abyssinian is a well-balanced cat, with all elements in proportion. It is eager and active, and shows a lively interest in its surroundings.
Body	Medium build, firm, lithe, hard and muscular; body of medium length. Tail fairly long and tapering, broad at base. Legs fine and long, in proportion to the body; feet small and oval. Gives the impression of standing on tiptoe.
Head	Wedge-shaped, of medium proportions, wide at the top; the contours are soft and graceful. In profile the head shows a soft curve, with neither a stop nor a straight nose. Nose medium long. Chin firm and well developed; muzzle not sharply pointed. A shallow indentation forming the muzzle is desirable but a pinch is a fault. The ears are relatively large, set well apart and pricked, broad and cupped at the base. Set as though listening. They are slightly rounded at the tips with a thumb mark; tufts at the tips are desirable. Neck slender.
Eyes	Set wide apart, large, brilliant and expressive; almond in shape and outlined with dark colour. Colour amber, green or yellow; pure, intense colour.
Coat Texture	Fine, but resilient to the touch, with a lustrous sheen. Medium short; long enough to accommodate two or three bands of ticking.
Ticking	2 or 3 bands of colour on each hair with dark tips.
Remark	A bump on the nose is undesirable.

ABYSSINIAN COLOUR STANDARDS

TAWNY (RUDDY) ABYSSINIAN

Coat	Warm brown ticked with black. Base colour deep orange. Stomach and inside of legs deep orange to deep apricot to harmonise with the base colour. Any shading along the spine should be of a matching shade. Tip of tail and soles of hind feet are black.
Nose Leather	Brick red, outlined with black.
Paw Pads	Black.
Eyes	See general description.
Remarks	Withhold Challenge for white locket, white extending onto the neck or above the nostrils, unbroken necklace, grey or light undercoat, lack of ticking, bars on the fore legs, marks on the stomach, Siamese type, round head, whip tail. Faults: ghost marking on legs, stomach and chest; too much marking on face; absence of outline around eyes; small or pointed ears; round eyes; unclear eye colour; cobby appearance; too deep a nose break.

CINNAMON (SORREL) ABYSSINIAN

Coat	Copper red with chocolate red-brown ticking. Base colour deep apricot. Stomach and inside of legs deep apricot to harmonise with the base colour. Any shading along the spine should be of a matching shade. Tip of tail and soles of hind feet are red-brown.
Nose Leather	Pink, outlined with brick red.
Paw Pads	Pink.
Eyes	See general description.
Remarks	As for Tawny Abyssinian.

BLUE ABYSSINIAN

Coat	Descriptionas for Tawny Abyssinian but body colour is a warm blue-grey ticked with dark steel blue-grey. Base colour pale cream or beige.
Nose Leather	Blue-grey or brick red outlined with blue-grey.
Paw Pads	Blue-grey.
Eyes	See general description.
Remarks	As for Tawny Abyssinian.

FAWN (BEIGE-FAWN) ABYSSINIAN

Coat	Description as for Tawny Abyssinian but body colour is dull beige ticked with deep warm cream. Base colour pale cream.
Nose Leather	Pink, or pink outlined with old rose.
Paw Pads	Pink.
Eyes	See general description.
Remarks	As for Tawny Abyssinian.

BLACK SILVER ABYSSINIAN

Coat	Base colour pure silver-white, ticked with black. Any darker shading along the spine to be of a shade matching the ticking. Tip of tail and soles of hind feet are black.
Nose Leather	Brick red outlined with black.
Paw Pads	Black.
Eyes	See general description.
Remarks	Withhold Challenge for unbroken necklace, bars on forelegs, marks on stomach, Siamese type, round head, whip tail, lack of ticking. Faults: ghost marking on stomach, chest and legs; small or pointed ears; absence of outline around eyes; round eyes; unclear eye colour; cobby appearance; too deep a nose break; cream or brown tinge in undercoat. Distinct rufous patches of brown or cream.

CINNAMON SILVER (SORREL SILVER) ABYSSINIAN

Coat	Base colour pure silver-white, ticked with red-brown. Any darker shading along the spine to be of a shade matching the ticking. Tip of tail and soles of hind feet are red-brown.
Nose Leather	Brick red outlined with brown.
Paw Pads	Cinnamon to chocolate brown.
Eyes	See general description.
Remarks	As for Black Silver Abyssinian.

BLUE SILVER ABYSSINIAN

Coat	Base colour pure silver-white, ticked with dark steel blue-grey. Any darker shading along the spine to be of a shade matching the ticking. Tip of tail and soles of hind feet are dark steel blue-grey.
Nose Leather	Brick red outlined with steel blue-grey.
Paw Pads	Blue-grey.
Eyes	See general description.
Remarks	As for Black Silver Abyssinian.

FAWN SILVER (BEIGE-FAWN SILVER) ABYSSINIAN

Coat	Base colour pure silver-white, ticked with deep warm cream. Any darker shading along the spine to be of a shade matching the ticking. Tip of tail and soles of hind feet are deep cream.
Nose Leather	Brick red outlined with old rose (deep pink).
Paw Pads	Pink.
Eyes	See general description.
Remarks	As for Black Silver Abyssinian.

Association info

1972 The inaugural meeting (sponsored by Uncle Ben's) was held in Melbourne on October 21st, 1972. Chair: Mrs J E White; present were: Co-ordinator, Dr M Tait (GCCFV), delegates from Qld Mrs M Dougan (Cat Fanciers Assn & Independent clubs), Mr R Shead (Feline Council of Qld), Mrs M Haas (Gov Council of Qld); from Vic: Mr D J C Chandler (GCCFV), Mr V Bumak (DCCV); Miss M Horne (GCCFSA), Mr K Dobbie (CCCT), Mrs D Oaten (CANT), Mrs B T Sparkes (Murray Valley Cat Authority) and Mr H Klopper (FCCWA). Among observers present were Mrs Mary Hinchcliffe (FCCV), Mrs M Oliver and representatives of Uncle Ben's Aust P/L (Whiskas). The question of eligibility for affiliation was raised, and it was determined not to exclude the few organisations not represented that day, but that there was sufficient national representation present to go ahead with the formation of a steering committee. The councils not present were to be kept abreast of developments, and should they wish in the future to become involved, they could be co-opted onto this committee. The steering committee was to produce a draft constitution for presentation to the next meeting, and it was suggested that the first National should be held in SA, because of its central location. Miss Horne accepted the proposition. The constitution of the Australian National Cat Federation (ANCF) was accepted in March, 1973. 1973 That inaugural ANCF show was staged in Adelaide, on August 5th, 1973, and guest international judges were the FIFe secretary, Brita Kastengren-Remborg, and Mrs. E. Chan from New Zealand. This very first "Whiskas International" show had almost 700 exhibits from all states and New Zealand, and a public of 3500 attended. At the 1973 AGM, Harold Klopper (WA) was elected President, and it was resolved that ANCF "make application for reciprocal affiliation with FIFe providing restrictive clauses are not placed on such affiliation.". It was also decided at this meeting to produce a bi-monthly "National Cat" magazine. In one form or another, this publication was produced until 1977.

Link: http://www.acf.asn.au/