CATEGORY: All
DIVISIONS: All
COLORS: All
PERMISSIBLE OUTCROSSES: Domestic longhair/ shorthair, not a member of a recognized breed, Ocicat.
HEAD:
Shape: Modified wedge. Slightly longer than it is wide.
Ears: Medium large, wide at the base with a deep cup. Set as much on the side of the head as the top. Tilted forward giving an alert expression.
Eyes: Large, almond shaped and wide-set. No less than the width of one eye between. All colors permitted, no relation to coat color.
Profile: Slightly rounded forehead with change of direction above the eyes and straight line to end of the nose.
Muzzle: Square, with softly rounded contours. Medium in length and width.
Chin: Strong, straight line from nose to chin.
BODY:
Tail: The tail is a distinctive feature of this breed, but should not be taken to extreme. Flexible and wider at the base than the tip, the tail should lay up and over the back of the cat, in either direction, and the tip should form a neat circle with the base, but not a tight spiral. Judges should take into consideration that the mood of the cat in the show hall might affect the position and carriage of the tail.
Torso: Medium-long, rectangular.
Boning: Medium
Musculature: Well muscled and firm. Substance rather than bulk. Preference is given to the athletic, powerful, and lithe, and objection taken to the coarse or cobby.
Legs: Hind legs slightly higher than front.
Feet: Oval shaped

COAT/COLOR PATTERN:
Length (RT):  Short, medium undercoat 
Length (RL):  Semi-long, medium undercoat. Tail full and plumed, lying attractively across back and side.
Texture (RT): Soft  with resilient, lustrous feel.
Texture (RL): Soft, silky, laying flat.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The American Ringtail is a medium to large, athletic cat of semi-foreign type. Muscular and lithe with depth of body and chest, they are a cat of balanced substance rather than bulk. The American Ringtail is characterized by its unique tail, which it carries over its back and off to either side in a flexible curl. Overall condition should show vitality, graceful athleticism and alertness.
LOCKETS: Allow
ALLOWANCES: Stud jowls on adult males. Allow for proportionally smaller size in females.
PENALIZE:
Body: Ranginess or cobbiness.
Head: Definite nose break or excessive dishing of the face. Roman nose. Small or close set eyes.
Tail: First third of tail held straight, falling out of the circle.
DISQUALIFY (DQ): Visible or palpable kinks, bumps, or twists in the vertebrae of the tail. Tail curled so tightly as to be not easily flexible.

Temperament must be unchallenging; any sign of definite challenge shall disqualify. The cat may exhibit fear, seek to flee, or generally complain aloud but may not threaten to harm. In accordance with Show Rules, ARTICLE SIXTEEN, the following shall be considered mandatory disqualifications: a cat that bites (216.9), a cat showing evidence of intent to deceive (216.10), adult whole male cats not having two descended testicles (216.11), cats with all or part of the tail missing , except as authorized by a board approved standard (216.12.1), cats with more than five toes on each front foot and four toes on each back foot, unless proved the result of an injury or as authorized by a Board approved standard (216.12.2), visible or invisible tail faults if Board approved standard requires disqualification (216.12.4), crossed eyes if Board approved standard requires disqualification (216.12.5), total blindness (216.12.6), markedly smaller size, not in keeping with the breed (216.12.9), depression of the sternum or unusually small diameter of the rib cage itself (216.12.11.1). See Show Rules, ARTICLE SIXTEEN for more comprehensive rules governing penalties and disqualifications.