Home |
News |
About me |
Blog |
Birman |
My cats |
Kittens |
Shows |
Gallery |
Links |
In Memory |
Catstuff
|
Guestbook
|
Contact




The Legend
Modern history
Standard - FIFe
FIFe EMS-codes
Genetic colour chart

Permission
to reprint Val Kotas
Many centuries ago by a
sparkling lake, in a valley surrounded by majestic
mountains, the temple of Lao-Tsun was guarded by 100
yellow-eyed white cats with long silken hair.
The temple housed a beautiful golden goddess with
sapphire blue eyes who watched over the transmutation of
souls. The head monk, Mun-ha, whose beard had been
braided with gold by the enlighten one, often knelt in
meditation before the golden goddess, Tsun-Kyan-Kse. At
his side was his faithful and beloved companion, a
beautiful temple cat named Sinh. Sinh would always shared
in his master´s meditation. As the monk meditaded, Sinh
would gaze steadily at the golden goddess beautiful
sapphire blue eyes.
One night as the moon rose, Mun-ha was in communion with
the sacred goddess, Tsun-Kyan-Kse. He was deep in a
transcendental state. So deep was his devotion, that he
suffered no pain when the temple was attacked by
marauders and Mun-ha was killed. At the moment of his
masters death, Sinh placed his paws upon the monks
flowing robes and faced the golden goddess. Instantly an
amazing transformation took place. The hairs of Sinh' s
white fur were as though misted with a golden glow which
radiated from the beautiful golden goddess. Her deep
sapphire blue eyes became Sinh very own. His face, ears,
legs and tail became the velvety brown colour of rich
earth, but his four paws resting gently on his master,
remained perfect white, a symbol of purity. The next
morning the temple radiated with the transformation of
the remaining ninety-nine white cats which with Sinh
reflect the golden hue of a hundred brilliant sunrises.
Sinh did not move from his place. He stayed on the spot
of his masters death, and gazed fervently into the
sapphire eyes of the goddess. Exactly seven days later
Sinh died carrying with him into Nirvana the soul of his
beloved master, the monk Mun-ha.
The legend fails to
explain the actual scientific origins of the Birman cat
and needless to say, the veil of mystery surrounding its
initial background will probably never be removed. Only
the Birman holds the key to this mystery, and if you
question them the only reply you will receive will be a
discerning look from their inscrutable sapphire blue
eyes, and the secret will be eternally theirs. This is
where the legends ends and the actual history begins, but
remember - legends usually carry certain elements of
truth.

Permission
to reprint Val Kotas
|
The modern history of the
Birman is almost as shrouded in mystery as its legendary
origin. What is known for certain is that, probably
around 1919, a pair of Birman cats were clandestinely
shipped from Burma to France. The male cat did not
survive the arduous conditions of the long voyage, but
the female, Sita, did survive, and happily, was pregnant.
From this small foundation the Birman was established in
the western world. The French cat registry recognized the
Birman as a separate breed in 1925. By the end of WW II,
only two Birmans were left alive in Europe, and a program
of outcrossing was necessary to reestablish the breed.
Most cat registries require at least five generations of
pure breeding after outcrossings to fully accredit a
breed for championship competition. Birmans were
recognized by England in 1966 and by The Cat Fanciers'
Association in 1967.
|
COAT
Structure
Long to semi-long, according to the actual parts of the
body; short on the face, gradually growing longer on the
cheeks to a full frill, long on the back and the flanks.
Silky texture. Little undercoat.
Colour
Shows all characteristics known from the colourpointed
cats, but all four (4) feets are white (gloves). The
points include the face, ears, legs, tail and genitals.
The points shall be even and in good contrast to the body
colour.
The body colour and colour of the tummy is a very pale
egg shell; the back is golden beige in all varieties.
Only in adult cats the colour of the points and the body
colour are fully developed.
REMARKS
The birman shows a special morphology which is unique for
the breed.
FAULTS
Coat
Pure white or coloured patches on the chest or the
stomach.
FAULTS (Procluding the certifikat)
Nose
Incompletely pigmented nose leather.
Legs
Creeping up of the white on the sides or the reverse
sides of the gloves of front and/ or hind feet (known as
"runners"). Absence of "gauntlets" on
the hind feet.
Coat
White patching in the coloured areas or the reverse. A
white patch on the genitals.
STANDARD
General
Size: Medium in size.
Head
Shape: Strong bone.
Forehead: Slightly rounded.
Cheeks: Full, somewhat rounded.
Nose: Of medium length without stop, but with a slight
indentation.
Chin: Firm.
Ears
Shape: Rather small with rounded tips.
Placement: Set slightly tipped, not too upright on the
skull with good width between.
Eyes
Shape: Not quite round, slightly oval.
Colour: Deep blue.
Body
Structure: Slightly long body. Males must be more massive
than females.
Legs Paws: Rounded.
Gloves: The special feature of the Birman is the white
feet, called "gloves" on both the front and
hind feet. These gloves must be absolutely pure white.
They should stop at the articulation or at the transition
of toes to metacarpals, over witch they should not
extend. Slightly longer white gloves on the hind feet can
be tolerated.
On the back of the hind feet the white gloves end in
points. The ideal "gauntlets" end in inverte
"V"s and extend 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up the
hock. Lower or higher gauntlets are acceptable but should
not go beyond the hock. It is important that the gloves
are equally long and show symmetry of white, on either
the two front or two hind feet, or even better, on all
four feet.
Tail
Of medium length, forming a plume.
SCALE OF POINTS
Total - 100 points -

Head
General shape, cheeks, nose, jaws and teeth, forhead,
chin placement and shape of the ears, shape and colour of
the eyes - 20 points.
Body
Shape, size, bone structure, legs and shape of paws - 20
points.
Tail
Length and shape - 10 points.
Coat
Body colour and points - 15 points.
Quality and texture, length - 10 points.
Gloves
On the front feet - 5 points.
On the hind feet - 5 points.
Gauntlets - 5 points.
Uniformity and symmetry of gauntlets and gloves - 5
points.
Condition - 5 points.
|

Seal |
SBI n - Seal |
SBI n
21 - Sealtabby |
SBI f - Sealtortie
|
SBI f
21 - Sealtortietabby |
SBI ns - Sealsmoke |
SBI ns21 - Sealsilvertabby |
SBI fs - Sealtortiesmoke |
SBI fs21 - Sealtortiesilvertabby |
Blue |
SBI a - Blue |
SBI a
21 - Bluetabby |
SBI g - Bluetortie |
SBI g
21 - Bluetortietabby |
SBI as - Bluesmoke |
SBI as21 - Bluesilvertabby |
SBI gs - Bluetortiesmoke |
SBI gs21 - Bluetortiesilvertabby |
SBI am - Caramel (Indigo) |
|
Chocolate |
SBI b - Chocolate |
SBI b21 - Chocolatetabby |
SBI h - Choclatetortie |
SBI h21 - Choclatetortietabby |
SBI bs - Choclatesmoke |
SBI bs21 - Choclatesilvertabby |
SBI hs - Choclatetortiesmoke |
SBI hs21 -
Choclatetortiesilvertabby |
Lilac |
SBI c - Lilac |
SBI c21 - Lilactabby |
SBI j - Lilactortie |
SBI j21 - Lilactortietabby |
SBI cs - Lilacsmoke |
SBI cs21 - Lilacsilvertabby |
SBI js - Lilatortiesmoke |
SBI js21 - Lilactortiesilvertabby |
SBI cm - Caramel (Taupe) |
|
Red |
SBI d - Red |
SBI d21 - Redtabby |
SBI ds - Redsmoke |
SBI ds21 - Redsilvertabby |
Creme |
SBI e - Creme |
SBI e21 - Cremetabby |
SBI es - Cremesmoke (silver) |
SBI es21 - Cremesilvertabby |
SBI em - Apricot |
|
Cinnamon |
SBI o - Cinnamon |
SBI o21 - Cinnamontabby |
SBI os - Cinnamonsmoke |
SBI os21 - Cinnamonsilvertabby |
Fawn |
SBI p - Fawn |
SBI p21 - Fawntabby |
SBI ps - Fawnsmoke |
SBI ps21 - Fawnsilvertabby
|
SBI pm - Caramel |
|

Brun |
SBI n - Brun |
SBI n
21 - Bruntabby |
SBI f - Brunsköldpadd |
SBI f
21 - Brunsköldpaddtabby |
SBI ns - Brunsmoke |
SBI ns21 - Brunsilvertabby |
SBI fs - Brunsköldpaddssmoke |
SBI fs21 -
Brunsköldpaddssilvertabby |
Blå |
SBI a - Blå |
SBI a
21 - Blåtabby |
SBI g - Blåsköldpadd |
SBI g
21 - Blåsköldpaddtabby |
SBI as - Blåsmoke |
SBI as21 - Blåsilvertabby |
SBI gs - Blåsköldpaddssmoke |
SBI gs21 -
Blåsköldpaddssilvertabby |
SBI am - Caramel (Indigo) |
|
Choklad |
SBI b - Choklad |
SBI b21 - Chokladtabby |
SBI h - Chokladsköldpadd |
SBI h21 - Chokladsköldpaddtabby |
SBI bs - Chokladsmoke |
SBI bs21 - Chokladsilvertabby |
SBI hs - Chokladsköldpaddssmoke |
SBI hs21 -
Chokladsköldpaddssilvertabby |
Lila |
SBI c - Lila |
SBI c21 - Lilatabby |
SBI j - Lilasköldpadd |
SBI j21 - Lilasköldpaddtabby |
SBI cs - Lilasmoke |
SBI cs21 - Lilasilvertabby |
SBI js - Lilasköldpaddssmoke |
SBI js21 -
Lilasköldpaddssilvertabby |
SBI cm - Caramel (Taupe) |
|
Röd |
SBI d - Röd |
SBI d21 - Rödtabby |
SBI ds - Rödsmoke |
SBI ds21 - Rödsilvertabby |
Creme |
SBI e - Creme |
SBI e21 - Cremetabby |
SBI es - Cremesmoke (silver) |
SBI es21 - Cremesilvertabby |
SBI em - Apricot |
|
Cinnamon |
SBI o - Cinnamon |
SBI o21 - Cinnamontabby |
SBI os - Cinnamonsmoke |
SBI os21 - Cinnamonsilvertabby |
Fawn |
SBI p - Fawn |
SBI p21 - Fawntabby |
SBI ps - Fawnsmoke |
SBI ps21 - Fawnsilvertabby
|
SBI pm - Caramel |
|
*Colors in italic are results of one
(or both) of the parents being carriers of the dilute
colors |
MALE |
FEMALE |
MALE
KITTENS |
FEMALE
KITTENS |
SEAL |
SEAL |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
BLUE |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
RED |
red,
*cream |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
CREAM |
red,
*cream |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
LILAC |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
tortie, *blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
BLUE-CREAM |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
tortie, *blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE-TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
tortie, *blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
LILACTORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
tortie, *blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie
|
MALE |
FEMALE |
MALE
KITTENS |
FEMALE
KITTENS |
BLUE |
SEAL |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
BLUE |
blue,
*lilac |
blue,
*lilac |
RED |
red,
*cream |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
CREAM |
cream |
blue-cream,
*lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
LILAC |
blue,
*lilac |
blue,
*lilac |
TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
tortie, *blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
BLUE-CREAM |
seal,
cream, *lilac |
blue,
blue-cream, *lilac, lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE-TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
tortie, *blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
LILACTORTIE |
blue,
cream, *lilac |
blue,
blue-cream, *lilac, lilac-tortie |
MALE |
FEMALE |
MALE
KITTENS |
FEMALE
KITTENS |
CHOCOLATE |
SEAL |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
BLUE |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
RED |
red,
*cream |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
CREAM |
red,
*cream |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE |
chocolate,
*lilac |
chocolate,
*lilac |
LILAC |
chocolate,
*lilac |
chocolate,
*lilac |
TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
tortie, *blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
BLUE-CREAM |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
tortie, *blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE-TORTIE |
red,
chocolate, *cream, lilac |
chocolate,
chocolate-tortie, *lilac, lilac-tortie |
LILACTORTIE |
red,
chocolate, *cream, lilac |
chocolate,
chocolate-tortie, *lilac, lilac-tortie |
MALE |
FEMALE |
MALE
KITTENS |
FEMALE
KITTENS |
LILAC |
SEAL |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
BLUE |
blue,
*lilac |
blue,
*lilac |
RED |
red,
*cream |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
CREAM |
cream |
blue-cream,
*lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE |
chocolate,
*lilac |
chocolate,
*lilac |
LILAC |
lilac |
lilac |
TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
seal,
tortie, *blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
BLUE-CREAM |
blue,
cream, *lilac |
blue,
blue-cream, *lilac, lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE-TORTIE |
red,
chocolate, *cream, lilac |
chocolate,
chocolate-tortie, *lilac, lilac-tortie |
LILACTORTIE |
cream,
lilac |
lilac,
lilac-tortie |
MALE |
FEMALE |
MALE
KITTENS |
FEMALE
KITTENS |
RED |
SEAL |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
BLUE |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
RED |
red,
*cream |
red,
*cream |
CREAM |
red,
*cream |
red,
*cream |
CHOCOLATE |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
LILAC |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
red,
tortie, *cream, blue-cream, chocolate-tortie,
lilac-tortie |
BLUE-CREAM |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
red,
tortie, *cream, blue-cream, chocolate-tortie,
lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE-TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
red,
tortie, *cream, blue-cream, chocolate-tortie,
lilac-tortie |
LILACTORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
red,
tortie, *cream, blue-cream, chocolate-tortie,
lilac-tortie |
MALE |
FEMALE |
MALE
KITTENS |
FEMALE
KITTENS |
CREAM |
SEAL |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
BLUE |
blue,
*lilac |
blue-cream,
*lilac-tortie |
RED |
red,
*cream |
red,
*cream |
CREAM |
cream |
cream |
CHOCOLATE |
seal,
*blue, chocolate, lilac |
tortie,
*blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-tortie |
LILAC |
blue,
*lilac |
blue-cream,
*lilac-tortie |
TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
red,
tortie, *cream, blue-cream, chocolate-tortie,
lilac-tortie |
BLUE-CREAM |
blue,
cream, *lilac |
cream,
blue-cream, *lilac-tortie |
CHOCOLATE-TORTIE |
seal,
red, *blue, cream, chocolate, lilac |
red,
tortie, *cream, blue-cream, chocolate-tortie,
lilac-tortie |
LILACTORTIE |
blue,
cream, *lilac |
cream,
blue-cream, lilac-tortie |
|