NFO BREED STANDARD

adopted by the FIFé GA 29th.May, 1999, valid from 1st.January, 2000

General

Size

large

Head

Shape

triangular, where all sides are equally long; with good height when seen in profile; forehead slightly rounded; long, straight profile without break in line (no stop)

Chin

firm

Ears

Shape

large, with good width at the base; pointed tips; with lynx-like tufts and long hair out of the ears

 

Placement

high and open, so that the outer lines of the ears follow the line of the head down to the chin

Eyes

Shape

large and oval, well opened, set slightly oblique

 

Expression

alert expression

 

Colour

all colours permitted, regardless of coat colour

Body

Structure

long, strongly built; solid bone structure

Legs

strong, high on legs, hind legs higher than the front legs

 

Paws

large, round, in proportion to the legs

Tail

long and bushy, should reach at least to the shoulder blades, but preferably to the neck

Coat

Structure

semi long. The woolly undercoat is covered by a water repellent upper coat which consists of long, coarse and glossy hair covering the back and the sides. A fully coated cat has a shirtfront, a full frill and knickerbockers

 

Colour

all colours are permitted, including all colours with white; except pointed patterns and chocolate and lilac, cinnamon and fawn. Any amount of white is allowed, i.e. a white blaze, white locket, white chest, white on the belly, white on the paws, etc

Faults

General

too small and finely built cats

 

Head

round or square head; profile with a break (stop)

 

Ears

small ears

 

set too widely apart

 

set too close together

 

Legs

short legs

 

thin legs

 

Tail

short tail

 

Coat

dry coat; knotted with lumps

    too silky

 Scale of points

Head

general shape, nose, profile, jaw and teeth, chin

20

Ears

shape size and placement

10

Eyes

shape, expression

5

Body

shape, size, bone structure, legs, shape of paws

25

Tail

length and shape

10

Coat

quality and texture, length

25

Condition

 

5

Total

 

100 points

Remarks

Coat is evaluated only on texture and quality

Very slow maturing of this breed should be taken into account

Mature males may have broader heads than females

Length of coat and density of undercoat vary with the seasons

Kittens can take up to six months of age to develop guardhairs