The skull is a modified wedge showing a slight curve from muzzle to cheek, with a visible, but gentle, rise from the bridge of the nose to the brow. The muzzle is broad and well defined with a suggestion of squareness and in profile shows good length. The chin is strong and the jaw firm with a level bite. The moderate whisker break is not too severe. An allowance for jowls is made in mature males.

The nose is broad and wider than an eye width. In profile, the nose is straight, apart from a slight bump called a bee-sting at the very end. This is expected in kittens and is likely in adults, especially in young adults.

The cheeks show a slight curve from muzzle to brow. The moderate whisker break is not too severe.

The jaws are firm, broad and well defined with a suggestion of squarness and in profile shows good length.

The chin is strong, firm, with a level bite. In profile, of good depth and in a vertical line with the tip of the nose.

The neck is strong and arched.

alert, moderately large, set so as to corner the upper, outside dimensions of the head. If an imaginary horizontal line is drawn across the brow, the ears should be set at a 45 degree angle, i.e., neither too high nor too low. Ear tufts are desirable.

eyes are large, almond shaped and angling slightly upwards toward the ears, with more than the width of an eye between them.

is solid, hard, rather long, with depth and fullness but never coarse. Medium to large with substantial bone and muscle development, yet with an athletic appearance and should have surprising weight for its size. There should be some depth of chest with ribs slightly sprung, the back is level to slightly higher in the rear, and the flank reasonably level. Preference is given to the athletic, powerful and lithe, and objection taken to the bulky or coarse. The overall structure and quality of this cat should be of greater consideration than mere size alone.

The legs should be of good substance and well-muscled, medium-long, powerful and in good proportion to the body.

The paws are oval and compact, in proportion to the legs.

5

is fairly long, medium-slim with only a slight taper and a gently rounded dark tip at the very end.

All eye colours except blue are allowed. There is no correspondence between eye colour and coat colour. Depth of colour is preferred.

All colours should be clear and pleasing. The lightest colour is usually found on the face around the eyes and on the chin and lower jaw. The darkest colour is found on the tip of the tail. Contrast is scored separately.

The determining factor in answering any questions as to the correct colour of an Ocicat will be the colour of the tail tip without any comparison to the colour of other body markings.

Distinctive markings should be clearly seen from any orientation. Those on the face, legs and tail may be darker than those on the body. Ground colour may be darker on the saddle and lighter on the underside, chin and lower jaw. Penalties should be given if spotting is faint or blurred, though it must be remembered that pale colours will show less contrast than darker ones.

The Ocicat is recognised in only the spotted coat pattern for show purposes. Marbled or classic tabby patterns are to be registered as AOV (any other variation) Ocicat, for breeding only and are not to be shown.

There is an intricate tabby "M" on the forehead, with markings extending up over the head between the ears and breaking into small spots on the lower neck and shoulders.

Mascara markings are found around the eyes and on cheeks.

Rows of round spots run along the spine from shoulder blade to tail.

The tail has horizontal brush strokes down the top, ideally alternating with spots and a dark tip.

Spots are scattered across the shoulders and hindquarters, extending as far as possible down the legs.

There are broken bracelets on the lower legs and broken necklaces at the throat, the more broken the better.

Large well-scattered thumbprint-shaped spots appear on the sides of the body, with a subtle suggestion of part of the classic tabby pattern - a spot circled by spots in place of a bull's eye.

The belly is also well spotted.

The eyes are rimmed with the darker coat colour and surrounded by the lightest colour.

Penalties should be given for elongated spots following a mackerel pattern.

The spot pattern is important, the layout mimicking the Classic tabby pattern with classic bull's eye on sides. The bull's eye appears just in front of the back hip on the side of the cat and shows as one spot surrounded by a series of other spots. Spots down the legs are preferred. Tabby M and other facial markings are almost always present. The size of the spot is not as important as the thumb print shape, but very small and very large spots are undesirable. Size varies according to the place the spot is found - the largest are on the sides.

short, smooth and satiny with a lustrous sheen. Short, close-lying and sleek, yet long enough to accommodate the necessary bands of colour. There should be no suggestion of woolliness.

Total possible points for eye colour, coat colour, contrast, pattern, coat texture, coat length -

Perfect, muscular physical condition is required, with an alert appearance.

Total possible points for condition -

POSSIBLE TOTAL POINTS FOR A SHOW CAT -