TEMPLECAT
Standard of Excellence

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Templecat is, in essence, a shorthaired Birman. It is to the Birman as an Exotic is to a Persian. It is a strong boned, shorthaired cat, the coat semi-plush and somewhat longer than that of other shorthaired breeds. The distinctive head has strong jaws, firm chin and medium length Roman nose. There should be good width between the ears, which are medium in size. The blue, almost round eyes are set well apart, giving a sweet expression to the face. There must be strong definition between colour of points and white of paws and gauntlets. No single attribute is to be emphasized over the impression of a well balanced aesthetically beautiful cat.

•   Note: The only suitable outcross for a Templecat is a Birman.

Head Strong boned, slightly rounded in the muzzle. Broader than high, forehead slopes well back, is slightly convex in profile with a flatter appearance in front of and between the ears.
Jaws Strong, cheeks full and well developed.
Nose Medium in length, in proportion to size of head. Roman in shape, but not to excess.
Chin Firm, full and strong, forming a perpendicular line with the upper lip.
Ears Medium in size, set moderately far apart and slightly flared.
Eyes Almost round in shape, widely spaced but not bold.
Body Of good length, yet muscular and solid and in excellent physical condition. Neck strong and of medium length. Broad chest. Males are generally larger in size than females.
Legs & Paws Strong boned. Medium in length. Large round paws. Stiff rear legged gait.
Tail Length to just before the shoulders. Dense with semi-plush feel, slightly oval at tip. At rest, it falls away, but it is generally carried high with a curl at the tip.
Coat Short and thick, although slightly longer than most other shorthair breeds, with no undercoat. The absence of the neck ruff is compensated by the muscular development seen mainly in males.
Condition The cat should be well grown, the frame (skeleton) should be strong, well covered and muscular. Eyes bright and temperament good.

Colour Description

The points – mask, ears, legs, paws and tail, must be equal in colour density as possible, definitely by the age of two years. There must be a good contrast between points and body colour. It is important that the cat shades gradually to paler tones on chest and stomach. There is a golden hue colouring across the back and sides. This hue is deeper in the seal, but should be noticeable in all colours.

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