Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Background
The Bambino is a relatively young and rare breed of cat that originated in the United States in the early 21st century. Its creation is linked to experimental crosses between Sphynxes and Munchkins, resulting in two distinctive traits: hairlessness and short legs. The first kittens combining these features appeared in the early 2000s and immediately attracted attention for their unusual appearance. The name “Bambino,” meaning “child” in Italian, reflects the breed’s small size and charming look. Despite its rarity, the Bambino quickly gained admirers thanks to its unique combination of genetics and friendly temperament. Within the ICCF system, the breed is classified as experimental but has clearly defined exterior and behavioral standards emphasizing its originality and value.
General Appearance
The Bambino is a small cat with a strong, well-balanced build. The breed’s main features are its short limbs and hairless skin, which highlight its distinctive appearance. The body is elongated, with a broad chest and straight back. Legs are short yet muscular, providing agility. The tail is long, flexible, and sometimes ends with a small tuft. The head is medium-sized and wedge-shaped, with pronounced cheekbones and a firm chin. Eyes are large and almond-shaped, and ears are big and open. The skin is elastic with characteristic folds, especially around the neck and chest. Despite its unusual look, the Bambino maintains proportion and harmony.
Important Proportions
The proportions of the Bambino should emphasize its uniqueness while maintaining balance. The head is wedge-shaped and proportionate to the body. Ears are large and set wide apart; eyes are expressive and large. The body is elongated and strong, with a deep chest. Limbs are short but powerful, ending in oval paws. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front ones. The tail is long and flexible, harmonizing with the body. The elastic skin forms moderate folds without excess. Any imbalance between the head, body, and limbs is undesirable. The cat should always appear harmonious and agile despite its short legs.
Behavior and Temperament
Bambinos are friendly, sociable, and even-tempered. They actively seek human interaction, are loyal to their owners, and enjoy companionship. Energetic, curious, and playful, they are surprisingly agile despite their short legs. They get along well with children and other pets. Their character is gentle and affectionate, without aggression. They adapt easily to new environments and form close bonds with their families, making excellent companions who thrive on attention and care. Their personality combines activity, sociability, and tenderness.
Head
The head is wedge-shaped, medium in size, and proportionate to the body. The forehead is slightly rounded with a smooth transition to the nose. Cheekbones are noticeable but not exaggerated. The cheeks are moderately full, more pronounced in males. The chin is firm and aligned with the profile, with a correct bite. The overall expression is open and friendly. The head should appear proportional without coarseness or excessive refinement.
Muzzle
The muzzle gives a soft, expressive impression. It is medium in length and broad at the base, tapering gently. The nose is straight and of medium length and width. The chin is strong and level, forming a confident expression. The cheeks are smooth, not overly full. The face should express friendliness and harmony without extremes of delicacy or heaviness.
Eyes
Eyes are large, almond-shaped, and set wide apart, giving a lively, gentle expression. Any eye color is acceptable but should always be rich, bright, and clear. The eyes convey intelligence and warmth. Undesirable traits include small, dull, round, or protruding eyes that spoil the breed’s balance and typical look.
Ears
The ears are large, set high and wide, with broad bases and softly rounded tips. They are open and expressive, enhancing the alert look. The inner surface has little to no hair, with slight fuzz acceptable. Ears must harmonize with the wedge-shaped head. Small, narrow, low-set, or deformed ears are faults.
Neck
The neck is of medium length, muscular, and proportional. In males, it appears thicker; in females, more refined but still strong. The skin may form soft folds—a breed trait. The neck transitions smoothly into the shoulders and chest. It should not be too short, thick, or overly thin.
Body
The body is elongated, medium in size, muscular, and solid. The chest is broad and deep; the back is level; the loins are strong. The sides are slightly rounded, with a firm, tucked-up abdomen. The skin is elastic and forms gentle folds, especially on the chest and sides. The body should neither be too massive nor too delicate. Harmony and strength are key.
Tail
The tail is long, slender, and flexible, proportionate or slightly longer than the body. It tapers gracefully to a rounded tip, sometimes with a fine tuft of hair, which is acceptable. The tail should move freely and assist balance. Kinks, stiffness, or abnormal shortening are disqualifying.
Forelimbs
The forelegs are short, strong, and well-boned. Paws are oval with firm pads. The stance is straight and steady. Despite their shortness, the limbs must allow full mobility. Weak joints, deformities, or bowed legs are faults.
Hind Limbs
The hind legs are slightly longer than the front but still short overall. They are strong and muscular, providing good propulsion. The thighs are broad, joints flexible. Paws are oval and firm. Legs should be parallel and stable.
Movement
The gait is light, springy, and confident. Movements are smooth and balanced despite the shortened limbs. The cat moves freely without stiffness. Jumps are lower than in long-legged breeds but strong and steady. Restricted or clumsy movement is a fault.
Coat
The Bambino is a hairless breed. The skin is smooth, elastic, and soft to the touch. A light fuzz may appear on the nose, tail, ears, and feet. Skin folds—especially on the neck, chest, and limbs—are a breed hallmark. The skin should be clean and supple. A dense or long coat or lack of folds is undesirable.
Acceptable Colors
All skin colors and patterns are accepted within the ICCF system. The most common are solid black, white, gray, and red, as well as spotted, marbled, and bicolor variations. The color should be even, rich, and natural, without artificial tones. Since the breed is experimental, all colors are permitted, provided they maintain aesthetic harmony.
Size
Bambinos are small cats. Males weigh 3.5–5 kg, with a more muscular build; females weigh 2.5–4 kg and are more delicate. Sexual dimorphism is moderate but evident. Both sexes must retain strong bone structure and balanced proportions.
Faults
Faults include any deviations from the ICCF standard that do not warrant disqualification but lower the score: disproportionate head, weak chin, poor profile, small or low-set ears, dull or round eyes, unbalanced body, weak musculature, legs too long or too short, deformities, immobile or thick tails, overly smooth or rough skin, or excessive hair growth. Fearful or unstable behavior is also penalized.
Disqualifications
Disqualifying traits include severe structural or behavioral defects incompatible with the breed type: dense or long fur over the body, lack of skin folds, immobile or kinked tail, jaw deformities (undershot or overshot bite), deformed ears, congenital eye defects, severe limb deformities, or excessive hair growth. Aggression, panic, or refusal to be handled disqualify the cat. Animals with serious hereditary diseases are excluded from ICCF breeding and shows.
Important Notes
In the ICCF system, the Bambino is recognized as an experimental breed requiring careful breeding management. Only cats with ICCF documentation confirming lineage and conformity to the standard are eligible for breeding. Use of animals with disqualifying traits or hereditary disorders is prohibited. Breeding efforts focus on maintaining hairlessness, short limbs, and elastic folded skin while preserving health, balance, and temperament. ICCF judges assess not only exterior features but also temperament—Bambinos must be friendly, confident, and sociable.
Conclusion
The Bambino is a unique and rare breed combining hairlessness and short legs, officially recognized by ICCF as an original experimental standard. These cats are noted for their unusual appearance, affectionate personality, and strong attachment to their owners. They adapt well to domestic life and interact easily with children and other pets. Key features include a wedge-shaped head, large ears, expressive eyes, hairless elastic skin with folds, and short yet strong limbs. In ICCF, participation in shows and breeding programs is allowed only for cats with official ICCF documents. The goal of breeding is to preserve health, breed traits, and stable temperament. The Bambino remains an outstanding example of harmony and uniqueness within the ICCF system.
