Birman
The Birman, often called the Sacred Cat of Burma, is a semi-longhaired colorpoint domestic cat with deep blue eyes and white feet. Its romantic origin stories point to Burma, now Myanmar, but the modern pedigree breed was developed and rebuilt in Europe, especially France. Birmans are medium to large, substantial but not as cobby as Persians, with a silky coat, Roman nose, and white gloves on the front paws. Show standards also value white laces up the back feet, a detail that makes breeding exhibition-marked kittens challenging.
As companions, Birmans are usually social cats that enjoy being near people without the constant volume of a Siamese-type breed. Their semi-long coat has less woolly undercoat than a Persian, so combing a few times a week is usually enough to prevent knots in the ruff, belly, and trousers. Kittens are born light, and their point color develops gradually as they mature. Pet buyers should know that uneven gloves do not make a cat less healthy or less suitable for home life. Breeders should be willing to discuss heart history, routine screening, and the difference between Birman and the unrelated shorthaired Burmese.
