BREED STANDARD
Characteristics: They�re very agile, playful, friendly and possess a kind nature. Many Don Sphynx enjoy playing with and being in water. Many maintain colony instincts. As a pet they are highly intelligent, adaptable, soft-voiced and their skin is hypoallergenic.
Head:
Wedge-shaped skull with pronounced cheekbones and eyebrows. Eyeballs marked. Forehead is flat with numerous vertical wrinkles. Wrinkles become horizontal above the eyes. Wrinkles can also be seen on the cheeks, jowls and under the chin. Nose is medium-sized, straight, with a slight break. Face is no larger than 1/3 of over all head. Profile shows a definite curve to the straight nose of medium length.
Muzzle Chin and jaw:
Slightly rounded, not long, with a short muzzle break (slight pinch). Profile has a definite curve to the straight nose of medium length. Slightly rounded mound starts from the flat forehead just above the eyes and slopes downward to begin the short muzzle break. Chin and jaw are strong and well developed. Numerous wrinkles are seen under the chin. Bite is determined by the position of canines, no gap. Canines are long, may be seen protruding from behind the upper lip.
Whiskers:
Curly, thick, may break off almost to the base, to the degree that no whiskers may remain at all. Curly whiskers are obligatory with the newborn Donskoy.
Ears:
Large, set up broad and high, slightly tilted forward, wide open, with rounded tips. Outer edges of the ears continue the lines of the head. The ears are separated by several deep wrinkles. The inner edges of the ears descend and almost intersect with the inner edge of the eye.
Eyes:
Medium-to large sized, almond-shaped, set up slantwise. The inner corner of the eye intersects with the inside outer edge of the ear and the outer corner edge of the eye intersects with the outer edge of the outsize ear at the base of the ear. The eyes as with the ears are separated by wrinkles. There are wrinkles on the outer sides and below the eyes. Donskoy�s have a tendency to lower their eyelids in a sleepy contended way when being handled. Eyes open wide at the sound of a whistle or bird call. Eyes open at birth to 3 days. Color immaterial.
Neck:
Medium in length, rounded and well muscled. The neck arches from the base of skull to the shoulders and is powerful, especially in males.
Body: Torso: Sturdy, muscular, of medium length, level back, compact, with broad rump, hot to touch. Extra skin gives appearance of a tummy flip and deep scrotum line with a deep groin area. Robust boning. Full round belly {Piglet belly} Forearms long, medium strong, good moving. Hind legs longer than forelegs. Slight down hair is tolerated. Totally bare cats are preferred.
Feet: Front paws are oval with long toes and opposable thumbs. Webs separate long fingers and opposable thumbs on front paws. (Monkey fingers) Back paws are long and slim with long webbed toes. Pads on paws back and front are thick and firm.
Tail:
Long, straight, strong, well tapered and flexible. Mouse like and soft. Minimum of 3 wrinkles held at the base of the tail. When standing the tail should start at the rump and following only a slight curve leaning back in towards the body with the tip pointing towards the head. When sitting the tail should wrap around the body forming a curl at the end. Tail tapers appropriately in a smooth fashion from rump to tip. Young cats can have hair on their tails disappearing by the age of two. Older cats may have some residual fluff-hairs on the tail (point), which is allowable although bald is preferred.
Skin:
Thick, elastic, redundant, wrinkled on skull, face, neck, in armpits, belly, legs, and scrotum. The more wrinkles, the better the cat. With young animals muzzle may be covered with short thin hair, longer on cheeks and at the base of ears ("ear muff").
Coat: Totally bare cats are preferred. Bald, allowance to be made for residual fur on the� points", muzzle, ears, legs and tail. The remaining coat, if present, must completely disappear by the age of 2 years old. Newborns may have Rex-wavy coat and bald spot on head. Slight furnishing of the whole body in winter is possible so allowance will be made for it.
Coat Types:
Born Bald {BB} - Born bald, total hairlessness -Show coat
Flocks {BF}- Feels soft to the touch, full hairlessness by 2- Show coat
Velour {BV}- Velour = crush velvet hair coat, residue remaining on face, legs and tail. Some may go full hairlessness. - Show coat
Brush {bb}- "Brush" variety retains hair on the whole body, which is wavy, often harsh, except for several bald spots on head, upper side of neck or back. Admissible as a stud animal and for judging at cat shows, but can't compete for the Championship Certificates.
Colors
Immaterial. The judging procedure is separate for each color; all tabbies are judged as one group with no respect to this or that kind of pattern. All colors are accepted; the descriptions of colors are listed in the General Color Guide.
Distinctive attributes: Donskoy�s open their eyes early. The Donskoy can be born with its eyes open; other Donskoy�s will open their eyes within the first three days of its life. Sleepy eyed contented Donskoy look.
Penalize
Short, round or narrow shaped head. Small, short, closed or low set ears. Round or narrow eyes. Short, light or frail body. Heavy, large or big cat. Short, crooked or abnormally tapering tail. Coat covering the whole body. Undershot up to 2 mm. Round paws. Thin skin and/or not enough wrinkles. Standing, tail that curls a total circle over the back {Ring Tail}. Sitting, Tail that does not hold closes onto body or is straight.
Head (30)
Muzzle 8
Skull 8
Ears 7
Eye shape 7
30
Body (40)
Coat (20)
Hairlessness, bald being 15 15
Color 5
20
General Condition (10) 10