Head - All head contours should be gently rounded especially from the brow to top of head. Wide between the ears, forming a moderate wedge, which tapers from the outer edge of the ear base to a slightly rounded muzzle. A slight indentation forms the muzzle. Allowance should be made for fuller cheeks in adult males. A slight nose break is essential; a bump on the nose is undesirable. The line from the nose tip to the very firm chin should be straight. An elegant neck should arch in an unbroken line from top of head to shoulders.
Ears - Set wide apart, large, well cupped, pricked and furry on their inner edges. Ear tufts are desirable. From the front view the line of the ears should follow the head wedge.


Eyes - Set well apart, large, expressive and a rounded almond shape in an oriental setting. Colour to be a clear deep shade of amber, green or hazel.
Body - Lithe, muscular body of medium build and size. Back straight from shoulder to rump and rub cage rounded.
Legs and Feet - Legs slender and elegant, in proportion to body; small oval feet.
Tail - Thick at base, tapering and long enough to reach the cat's shoulders.
Coat - Short, fine but not soft, dense in texture and lying close. Distinctly ticked, resulting in at least four bands of colour. The roots must be the colour of the base hair and the final band must be the ticking colour.
Markings - Pigmentation lines of the ticking colour must extend from the inner edge of the eye to the top of the head; and also from the outer edge of the eye to the edge of the ear. The hair around the eyes is pale and the eyelid edge darker. The back of the ears should be darker at the tips, preferably with clear brighter colour at the base. Chin lips and nostrils should be the colour of the base hair or cream; white here is undesirable. White markings, such as a locket, anywhere else are not permitted. A line of the ticking colour should extend from the back of the head along the spine and tail, ending in a solid tail tip of that colour, the same colour to extend well up the hock. There should be no heavy necklet or bars or any other marks, although a faint well broken necklet or slight leg barring is acceptable.

Withhold all Awards for:

1. White markings, such as a locket (see Withhold Certificates (1) below)
2. Cobby, coarse, small or Oriental type  
3. Aggressive temperament 

Withhold Certificates or First prizes in Kitten open Classes for:

1. White extending down the neck
2. Unbroken necklets
3. Absence of required pigmentation marks on head and around eyes in adults
4. Absence of darker tail tip
5. Rings on tail
6. Lack of overall silver effect owing to excessive yellow pigmentation in silver exhibits
7. Ill-defined or incorrect ticking
8. Fewer than four bands of colour in adults
9. Absence of firm chin
10. Lack of slight nose break
11. Whip tail
12. Two or more faults as listed in the Faults section below
13. Any defect as listed in the preface to the SOP booklet

Photos and text are the property of Gail and Mike Davis

of Melissaidan cats and the members of the Abyssinian cat club

http://www.abyssiniancatclub.com/Colours.htm

Faults:

1. Pinched muzzle or lack of muzzle indentation
2. Pale or muddy eye colour
3. Eyes not in oriental setting
4. Heavy, broken necklets
5. Absence of spinal shading in adults
6. Absence of darker markings on hind legs
7. Substantial barring on legs
8. Dark roots on a major part of the body
9. Fluffy, soft, over-long or rough coat
10. Yellow pigmentation anywhere on a silver cat

SCALE OF POINTS
Type
Head .......................................... 15
Ears ........................................... 10
Eyes ........................................... 5
Body .......................................... 15
Legs and Feet ........................... 10
Tail ............................................. 5
 
Coat
Colour ......................................... 20
Markings, ticking and texture...... 20
Total ...........................................100