Medium & muscular
Medium size and length; well-muscled without heaviness; medium weight. Slender bone structure with powerful muscles.
Proposed WCF Standard · 2026 presentation
The Transylvanian Breed Standard.
A judge-friendly public summary of the proposed standard: natural balance, muscular but not heavy, distinctive head type and the Carpati mutation in Black or Blue.
General appearance
Natural, athletic, unmistakable.
A medium-sized, medium-length cat with powerful muscles and slender bone. The coat can make the cat appear more robust than the underlying frame. The overall impression should remain balanced and elegant.
The defining colour feature is the Carpati mutation: a pale salt-and-pepper roan effect over the body with stronger pale contrast on the extremities. The genetic cause remains under scientific investigation.
Conformation
Built for balance, not exaggeration.
Relatively high
Legs are relatively high with slender boning; the overall impression remains strong and athletic.
Oval
Compact oval paws support the fine-but-strong leg structure.
Medium length
Thick at the base, tapering to a rounded tip.
Modified wedge
Slightly rounded upper contours, longer than broad. Slightly concave profile with no bump or stop; firm chin and pronounced muzzle with whisker break.
Broad at base
Medium in size, erect, following the head contours; slightly rounded tips. Light grey furnishings desirable.
Oval & oblique
Medium in size, oval and slightly oblique. Preferred colours range from yellow to hazel.
Short with lift
Very soft, dense undercoat with coarser guard hairs; a slight lift gives the coat its distinctive texture.
Coat & mutation
Contrast develops slowly.
Very pale grey to grey contrast appears on the legs, paws, ears, mask and tail, while the body carries the salt-and-pepper roan effect. A white locket is allowed on the chest or belly only. Pale ear furnishings and whiskers are desirable.
Kittens are very pale; development begins around two months and can continue until adulthood.
Accepted colours
Two expressions of the same mutation.
Black Carpati
Black with very pale grey roan hair; pale grey on nose, ear rims, paws and tail. Solid black nose leather and black paw pads.
Blue Carpati
Blue with very pale roan hair; pale grey on nose, ear rims, paws and tail. Solid blue-grey nose leather and blue-grey paw pads.
Faults
Faults
- Lack of very light grey hairs on ears, paws and tail in adults
- Boning too fine
Disqualification
Disqualifications
- Any colours other than solid black or blue
- Long-hair coat
Outcross
Permitted outcross
- Short-haired black or blue Domestic cat only
Scale of points
100 points, weighted toward type.
Body and head together account for half the available points; coat texture, length, colour and mutation account for another thirty.