Antipodean (New Zealand Shorthair) basic information

The Antipodean cat is a medium bodied, solidly built, muscular cat, neither foreign nor cobby in type. Well rounded ample chest, well developed shoulders, straight level back, equally broad from shoulder to hip.

Medium long to medium short legs, proportional to body, medium boned, heavy muscle. Legs straight, paws firm and forward facing. Medium tail, proportional to body, heavier at base, tapering to gently rounded tip. Muscular neck. Medium to large head, slightly truncated triangular wedge, gently rounded contours or angular contours complementing bone structure.

Full cheeks, well developed jawline, gently rounded forehead, obvious dip and straight or slightly downwards curving nose (marked nose break or absent nose break is a fault). Rounded muzzle, firm chin, broad jaw indicating powerful bite.

Open expression. Medium size ears, slightly rounded at tips, not unduly open at base. Flared, pointed, cupped or small ears are faults.

Large, lustrous wide-set eyes intermediate between round and almond shaped (slightly flattened top-line), at slight angle, but no oriental slant. Intense eye colour complements coat colour, all eye colours accepted including green, aqua, yellow, gold, copper; includes blue/odd eyed whites.

Antipodean Shorthair cats have short, lustrous, moderately thick coats; dense but not plush or double coated. Semi-longhairs have soft, silky coat with moderate "lift".