Cymric (Cat)

The overall impression of a Cymric is that of roundness; round head with firm, round muzzle and prominent cheeks; broad chest; substantial short legs; short back which arches from shoulders to a round rump; great depth of flank; and rounded, muscular thighs.

General: The overall impression of a Cymric is that of roundness; round head with firm, round muzzle and prominent cheeks; broad chest; substantial short legs; short back which arches from shoulders to a round rump; great depth of flank; and rounded, muscular thighs. The heavy glossy double coat is of medium length and accentuates the round appearance, feeling firm and muscular, neither too fat nor too lean. The Cymric should be alert and clear of eye with a glistening, clean, well-groomed coat. The Cymric is the long-haired variety of the Manx cat.

Head and Ears: The head should be slightly longer than it is broad, with prominent cheeks (also stud jowls in the male) which make it appear rather round. There should be a break at the whiskers. The nose is slightly longer and broader than in the American Shorthair, but no suggestion of snipishness. Ears medium in size, rather wide at the base and tapering gradually to a rounded tip, with heavy furnishing inside. The Cymric may have ear tufts at the tip which make the ears appear pointed; this is permissible. Ears are rather widely spaced and are set slightly outward so that when viewed from behind they resemble the rocker of a cradle. The head shape, ear set and eye set give the Cymric the unique "Cymric look".

Eye Shape and Set: Eyes should be round and full, set at a slight angle (outer corner a little above inner corner). The ideal eye color conforms with the requirements for color of coat, but in the Cymric should only be considered if all other points are equal. Penalize: Eye set straight across in head as in other longhairs.

Body, Legs and Feet: The body should be medium to large in size; compact, with short back that arches up from shoulders to haunches. Sturdy bone structure. Forelegs shorter than hind legs. Feet round and firm with 5 toes in front, 4 in back. Penalize: Rangy body; level back.

Taillessness: The Cymric cat should appear tailless. There is no penalty for a rise of bone or cartilage which does not stop the Judge's hand when the palm is stroked down the back and over the rump. No probing of the dimple or rise by the Judge is allowed. The rump of the Cymric cat will be felt with the palm of the hand.

Height of Hindquarters: The hind legs should be longer than the forelegs, making the rump higher than the shoulders. The hind legs should have substantial bone and should be straight when viewed from behind. Penalize: Short hind legs; fine bone; bowed or cow hocked (knock-kneed) hind legs.

Roundness of Rump: The ideal would be as round as an grapefruit.

Depth of Flank: The flank should have greater depth than in any other breed, adding much to the short, cobby appearance. The depth of flank, height of hindquarters, shortness of forelegs, shortness of back and roundness of rump, which produces the typical gait of the Cymric and shorthaired brother, the Manx.

Coat Length: The double coat (as in the Manx) should be medium length (1 1/2" - 2 1/2") over the main body. The frontal ruff begins behind the ears moving downward along the jowling and backward into the body. Ruff length should be in keeping with overall coat length, but may be slightly longer and heavier in the adult male. Coat length below the elbow on the front legs and the hocks on the back should be shorter than on the body but full in appearance and the same texture. Breeches are full and thick to the hocks giving the appearance from the rear (in the mature cat) of pantaloons. Toe tufts may be present. Coat length on the face, ahead of the ears and jaw-line, should be in keeping with the shorter coat of the lower leg areas. Penalize: Any type of short overall coat.

Coat Texture: The double coat of the Cymric is dense and full. Texture is silky and hard, lending a non-matting quality to the coat. The coat should fall smoothly around the body yet being a "double coat" it will be thick and plush and appear padded. Seasonal and age variations in the coat should be recognized. All colors are recognized as in the Manx with corresponding eye color. Allowances may be made for some patterns given the additional coat length. Faded color is undesirable.

Condition and Balance: The overall appearance should be that of a medium to large size, compact, muscular cat. The head, neck, body and legs should blend smoothly to form a well-balanced Cymric.

Note: Cymric, like the Manx, are slow in maturing and allowance should be made for young cats in judging depth of flank, etc.

NFA: Extra Toes, Any congenital deformity.

Accepted Colors:
Blue Eyed White
Blue Mackerel Tabby
Chinchilla Silver
Orange Eyed White
Cream Mackerel Tabby
Shaded Silver
Odd Eyed White
Red Mackerel Tabby
Blue
Brown Mackerel Tabby
Blue Smoke
Black
Silver Mackerel Tabby
Black Smoke
Cream
Cameo Mackerel Tabby
Red
Blue Bicolor
Blue Patched Tabby
Black Bicolor
Blue Tabby
Brown Patched Tabby
Cream Bicolor
Cream Tabby
Silver Patched Tabby
Red Bicolor
Red Tabby
Brown Tabby
Bluecream
Bluecream and White
Silver Tabby
Tortoiseshell
Tortoiseshell and White
Cameo Tabby
Particolor

Source: AACE >>>