The Northwest Fancy Mouse Association (NWFMA) is affiliated with the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (AFRMA), and so has adopted their official standards. For complete details of the Standards including points, faults, eliminations, and disqualifications, please refer to the AFRMA Show Regulations & Standards book.
Read more on Type, Mouse Keeping The Ideal Type, Ear Set on Mice, and Type Question: Head Shape On Mouse & Tail Set (including coat).
POINTS
Points allotted to the ideal mouse are as follows:
| COLOR (as stipulated for the Variety) | 50 points |
| TYPE | 15 points |
| CONDITION | 10 points |
| HEAD | 5 points |
| EARS (Size, Shape, and Position) | 5 points |
| EYES | 5 points |
| TAIL | 5 points |
| SIZE | 5 points |
| TOTAL | 100 points |
TYPE
The general appearance should be one of sleekness and alert attention and be pleasing to the eye. The body should be long and slim, racy in appearance, yet show strong bone. The loin is to be well arched.
CONDITION
Animals should be maintained in good weight, to emphasize their natural good qualities. The coat should be smooth and glossy (except Frizzies), and feel fine to the hand. It should show a natural high shine and densely cover the body, including the belly, groin, area around the front legs, and behind the ears.
HEAD
The head must be long and clean in its lines, not too fine or pointed at the muzzle. The skull should show breadth as well as length, and have good width between the eyes as well as the ears, and good distance from the ears to the eyes. The muzzle should show a curved roman nose outline when viewed from the side. The whiskers at the muzzle should be well developed, being long and straight (except Frizzies).
EARS
The ears should be large and thin, almost transparent, carried high on the head and facing forward, giving the expression of alert inquisitiveness. They should stand erect and be free from folds, creases, or nicks. There should be plenty of width between the ears, but not so much as to lose the proper expression.
EYES
The eyes are to be large, bold, and prominent, showing great animation and interest.
TAIL
The tail should come out of the back and be thick at the root, tapering gradually to a fine point, and is to be free from kinks. The junction with the backbone should form the apex of a well-defined triangle, based on the hips. In length, the tail should equal that of the body or be slightly longer.
SIZE
Size is not to disqualify any mouse, but all other things being equal, the larger animal shall have the advantage. The average size should be eight to nine inches in length, measured from nose to tail tip.
GENERAL
All mice should be tractable and easy to handle. Any evidence of physical defects or poor temperament shall be severely penalized by the judge, and will subject the individual exhibit to elimination or disqualification. All faults listed are to be considered of equal seriousness when placements are made, with no one fault to be regarded as more damaging than any other.
FAULTS and DISQUALIFICATIONS
The following faults, eliminations, and disqualifications are to apply to all exhibits, regardless of Variety or color:
GENERAL FAULTS – Nicked ears; over or under weight; stained or dirty coat.
GENERAL ELIMINATIONS – Abscess; pregnant or nursing females; any respiratory disease; scabs, internal or external parasites, scaly skin, chewed/barbered coat; eye problems; whiskers very short or missing (except Hairless); condition too poor for competition; injuries made prior to judging; improperly entered in class; animals shown under seven weeks of age; biting.
GENERAL DISQUALIFICATIONS – Tumors; blindness in one or both eyes; missing one or both eyes; ears torn or with a portion missing, either of which noticeably detracts from the general appearance; crooked or missing feet, legs, or toes; tail broken, kinked, permanently out of line, or with any portion missing; waltzers; males neutered; males not showing both testicles in normal condition; any dyeing, plucking, or trimming designed to alter natural condition.
NA – If, in the judge’s opinion, an animal does not meet minimum show requirements in appearance or health, it shall be judged NA (not applicable) and will not be placed.
For complete details of the Standards including points, faults, eliminations, and disqualifications, please refer to the AFRMA Show Regulations & Standards book. The AFRMA Official Color Standards Mouse book is an excellent resource to have on hand.