Birman Cat Breed
Legend has it that a white temple cat Sinh came up the to head priest, Mun-Ha, as he lay dying. Whereas the cat's paws remained white where they had touched the priest, his yellow eyes were changed to blue. His head, tail, and legs took on an earthy brown hue, and the fur along his back became golden. The appearance of the other temple cats was then transformed to golden brown so that they resembled Sinh, the ancestor of the Birman breed.
The Birman cat, also referred to as the Sacred Cat of Burma, has the characteristic coat pattern seen in the siamese and Himalayans, but it differs from the other pedigree cats in having the attraction of white paws.
Although the Birman's coat is less susceptible to matting than that of Persian, daily grooming is essential, particularly during the shedding period. Regular grooming will prevent loose hair collecting in the cat's stomach and forming a furball, which can cause an obstruction.
The most distinctive feature, the white paws, appear as gloves on the front legs, ending in an even line along the paws. The body fur is not so luxurious as that of the majority of the long-haired cats, and for that reason the coat rarely mats.
The Birman matures quite early and may have her first season before she is even 7 months old, but she should not be allowed to mate at this time. A queen may be mated at the second or third call. The Birman owner will soon realize that this breed is not regular in coming into season as one finds with European cats.
Fur Colors and Patterns
All Birmans are born with a short, whitish coat.
The body fur is creamy-golden with the pointes (that is the mask, ears, legs, and tail being a darker color. The points may be Seal, a definite dark brown; Blue, a blue-gray; Chocolate, milk chocolate, and Lilac, a lilac-gray hue. The eyes are deep blue, but vary slightly in intensity according to the points. The kittens are born almost white with the contrasting points appearing in a few weeks.
Colors: CREAM POINT, RED POINT, LILAC POINT, BLUE POINT, SEAL POINT, CHOCOLATE POINT, SEAL TORTIE POINT, SEAL TORTIE LYNX POINT, BLUE LYNX POINT, SEAL LYNX POINT
Although the traditional form of the Birmans is the Seal Point, the Cream Point is one of the newer, more recently developed forms. Contrast is not as marked in this case as in varieties with darker points but the characteristic white areas on the paws must be apparent. The body of the Cream Point is off-white with traces of golden hue. The points are cream.
Another recent addition to the Birman group, the Red Point shows an identical pattern of markings. Cream body hue, often with a hint of gold, is offset against a warm shade of orange-red on the nose, ears and legs. With Lilac Point variety, the off-white magnolia body color contrasts with the soft, pink-gray color of the points.
Friendly, intelligent cats, Birmans show affection readily. Quiet in voice, they make ideal companions. The average litter is about 4 to 5 kittens. They make good mothers. As a rule, Birmans are serene, shy and tolerant. They like peace and quiet. They are not really suited to a boisterous environment. Some Birmans have a tendency to turn into a one-person cat, selecting one member of the family with whome they form a real bond. They usually get on well with other cats. A Birman can live with dogs provided it is not chased by them.
Birmans are not very vocal. Despite their placid nature, most of them will enjoy a game and a romp occasionally, but they will certainly not treat your home like a playground.
To all owners of a Birman, the words of Theophile Gautier, the famous French writer of the early 19th century, will find an instant response. "To gain the friendship of a cat is a difficult thing. The cat is a philosophical, methodical, quiet animal, tenacious of its own habits, fond of order and cleanliness and it does not lightly confer its friendship. If you are worthy of its affection, a cat will be your friend but never your slave. He keeps its free will, though he loves, and he will not do for you what he thinks unreasonable; but, if he once gives himself to you it is with absolute confidence and affection! He makes himself the companion of your hours of solitude, melancholy and toil. He remains for whole evenings on your knee, uttering his contented purr, happy to be with you, and forsaking the company of animals of his own species... and sometimes he will sit upon the carpet in front of you, looking at you with eyes so melting, so caressing, and so human, that they almost frighten you; for it is impossible to believe that a soul is not there.
Birman Cats For Sale