Birman cat

The Birman is a colourpoint cat with a silky, semi-long coat, deep blue eyes and four pure white feet. It is also known as the Sacred Cat of Burma.

Origin

Legend places the breed's ancestors in the temples of Burma, where they were said to be companions of the priests. What is documented is that the breed was established in France, where it was recognised in 1925. It came close to extinction during the Second World War and was rebuilt from very few cats with the help of outcrosses. Birmans reached Britain in the 1960s and were recognised there in 1966.

Appearance

Birmans are medium to large and solidly built, with a broad, rounded head, a Roman nose and round blue eyes. The coat is long on the body and tail, with a ruff around the neck, and is pale with darker points on the face, ears, legs and tail. The defining feature is the white feet: short "gloves" on the front paws and longer "gauntlets" on the back, tapering to a point up the back of the leg. Even, symmetrical markings are hard to breed. Kittens are born almost white and develop their colour over the first months.

Temperament

The Birman is gentle, quiet-voiced and sociable, less insistent than the Siamese and more playful than the Persian. It likes company, human or animal, and adapts well to family life and to living indoors.

Care and health

The coat has little undercoat and does not mat as readily as a Persian's; combing two or three times a week keeps it in order. The breed is generally healthy. Heart muscle disease and kidney disease occur, and breeders screen for them.

Recognition

The Birman is recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy and all the international registries, and is consistently among the ten most registered pedigree breeds in Britain.