SACRED BIRMAN

ORIGIN

Unlike some of the breeds CFA recognizes for championship competition who can trace their origins back to a spontaneous mutation (such as American Wirehairs and Scottish Folds) or an intentional cross of other breeds to create a new breed or color (such as Bombays, Colorpoint Shorthairs and Ocicats), there is no clear record behind the origin of Birmans. There is, however, a delightful legend surrounding our breed, and I will begin by relating this legend. As might be expected with a legend, there are several versions; a somewhat shortened variation of the version in The Birman Cat by Vivienne Smith has been selected for inclusion here. There are several variations on the possible origin of Birmans. The oldest (and most widely held) is that Birmans did, indeed, originate in Burma, where they were considered sacred companions to the priests of the temple. Several years ago a geologist friend of ours saw pictures of one of our cats and told us that when he had been in Burma on a field trip, he had seen cats in temples who looked very much like those photos.
One version is that in 1919 a pair of Birmans was sent to two Englishmen living in France, Major Gordon Russell and Mr. August Pavie, as thanks for help in defending the temple in an invasion. Another version is that an American millionaire traveling in the far east, Mr. Vanderbilt, obtained two cats smuggled from the temple by an unfaithful servant of the priests. Mr. Vanderbilt sent those cats to Mme. Thadde Hadisch in France.
However our wonderful cats came into being, it is generally accepted that there was a pair of Birmans sent to France. En route the male, Madalpour, died. The pregnant female, Sita, survived the voyage and produced kittens. One kitten, a female named Poupee was bred to a cat of another breed, perhaps a Siamese, to preserve the breed.

There is yet another version that has our Birmans originating in France. Well, stories are stories, so you can pick your favorite. We do know for certain that Birmans were officially recognized in France in 1925. After World War II it is commonly held that there may have been only one breeding pair of Birmans remaining. To ensure that the breed did not become extinct, outcrosses were necessary. Other breeds of cats, almost certainly Persians and possibly other breeds as well, were recruited as outcrosses.

Birmans were exported around Europe, and many can trace their ancestry to England and France. They received championship status in England in 1966 and from CFA in 1967. Although several other organizations around the world recognize red and lynx factor Birmans, CFA currently recognizes only seal, chocolate, blue and lilac in the show ring.

STANDARD BY CFA

GENERAL: a cat of mystery and legend, the Birman is a color pointed cat with long silky hair and four pure white feet. It is strongly built, elongated and stocky, neither svelte nor cobby. The distinctive head has strong jaws, firm chin and medium length Roman nose. There should be good width between the ears, which are medium in size. The blue, almost round eyes are set well apart, giving a sweet expression to the face.

HEAD: skull strong, broad, and rounded. There is a slight flat spot just in front of the ears.

NOSE: medium in length and width, in proportion to size of head. Roman shape in profile. Nostrils set low on the nose leather.

PROFILE: the forehead slopes back and is slightly convex. The medium length nose starts just below the eyes and is Roman in shape (which is slightly convex). The chin is strong, with the lower jaw forming a perpendicular line with the upper lip.

CHEEKS: full with somewhat rounded muzzle. The fur is short in appearance about the face, but to the extreme outer area of the cheek the fur is longer.

JAWS: heavy.

CHIN: strong and well-developed.

EARS: medium in length. Almost as wide at the base as tall. Modified to a rounded point at the tip; set as much to the side as into the top of the head.

EYES: almost round with a sweet expression. Set well apart, with the outer corner tilted VERY slightly upward. Blue in color, the deeper and more vivid blue the better.

BODY: long and stocky. Females may be proportionately smaller than males.

LEGS: medium in length and heavy.

PAWS: large, round, and firm. Five toes in front, four behind.

TAIL: medium in length, in pleasing proportion to the body.

COAT: medium long to long, silken in texture, with heavy ruff around the neck, slightly curly on stomach. This fur is of such a texture that it does not mat.

COLOR EXCEPT GLOVES: Body: even, with subtle shading when allowed. Strong contrast between body color and points. Points except gloves: mask, ears, legs, and tail dense and clearly defined, all of the same shade. Mask covers entire face including whisker pads and is connected to ears by tracings. No ticking or white hair in points. Golden Mist: desirable in all points colors is the "golden mist", a faint golden beige cast on the back and sides. This is somewhat deeper in the seal points, and may be absent in kittens.

GLOVES: Front paws: front paws have white gloves ending in an even line across the paw at, or between, the second or third joints. (The third joint is where the paw bends when the cat is standing.) The upper limit of white should be the metacarpal (dew) pad. (The metacarpal pad is the highest up little paw pad, located in the middle of the back of the front paw, above the third joint and just below the wrist bones.) Symmetry of the front gloves is desirable. Back paws: white glove covers all the toes, and may extend up somewhat higher than front gloves. Symmetry of the rear gloves is desirable. Laces: the gloves on the back paws must extend up the back of the hock, and are called laces in this area. Ideally, the laces end in a point or inverted "V" and extend 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up the hock. Lower or higher laces are acceptable, but should not go beyond the hock. Symmetry of the two laces is desirable. Paw pads: pink preferred, but dark spot(s) on paw pad(s) acceptable because of the two colors in pattern. Note: ideally, the front gloves match, the back gloves match, and the two laces match. Faultlessly gloved cats are a rare exception, and the Birman is to be judged in all its parts, as well as the gloves.

PENALIZE: white that does not run across the front paws in an even line. Persian or Siamese type head. Delicate bone structure. White shading on stomach and chest. Lack of laces on one or both back gloves. White beyond the metacarpal (dew) pad. (The metacarpal pad is the highest up little paw pad, located in the middle of the back of the front paw, above the third joint and just below the wrist bones.)

DISQUALIFY: lack of white gloves on any paw. Kinked or abnormal tail. Crossed eyes. Incorrect number of toes. Areas of pure white in the points, if not connected to the gloves and part of or an extension of the gloves. Paw pads are part of the gloves. Areas of white connected to other areas of white by paw pads (of any color) are not cause for disqualification. Discrete areas of point color in the gloves, if not connected to point color of legs (exception, paw pads). White on back legs beyond the hock.

BIRMAN COLORS

SEAL POINT: body even pale fawn to cream, warm in tone, shading gradually to lighter color on the stomach and chest. Points, except for gloves, deep seal brown. Nose leather: same color as points.

BLUE POINT: body bluish white to pale ivory, shading gradually to almost white on stomach and chest. Points, except for gloves, deep blue. Nose leather: slate-color.

CHOCOLATE POINT: body ivory with no shading. Points, except for gloves, milk-chocolate color, warm in tone. Nose leather: cinnamon-pink.

LILAC POINT: almost white. Points, except for gloves, frosty grey with pinkish tone. Nose leather: lavender-pink