|
Introduction: Birmans, or the Sacred Cats of Burma as they are otherwise known, are a beautiful and unique of Oriental-type semi-longhair cat. Their colouring is similar to that of the Siamees, but there the resemblance ends. They have long silky coats but the do not have the Persian type of face. They are very affectionate and make devoted pets, simply demanding devoted owners! If you are owned by a Birman you will inevitably be totally "under the paw". |
|
|
Although there
are exeptions, most females hunt only to teach their babies that wildlife
does exist, entire males are more interested in females than wildlife; and
most neuters would rather be on your lap than out chasing birds and
vermin! Birmans are extremely intelligent and become adept at opening
interesting objects such as fridges, other doors, cream pots, milk bottles
and some can even operate light switches. They will make certain you
understand their every need, even if it means tripping you up to attract
your attention, helping with everything (in a supervisory capacity only,
of course) and are incredibly pyschic - knowing that when you are feeling
depressed or miserable a Birman on your lap is the best possible tonic
|
|
| Standard: | |
| BODY: | Medium, slightly long, short, strong legs, roundish feet. The males being more massive than females. |
| HEAD: | Heavybone, full, round cheeks; forehead slightly rounded. Nose: without stop, rather short with slight indentation marked by the fur; |
| frim chin; the ears are rather small, rounded, set slightly oblique; broad top of head. | |
| EYES: | Deep blue, round or only slightly oval. |
| COAT: | Long to semi-long, according to the actual parts of the body. Very long coat on the back and the sides; not much undercoat; silky |
| texture. On the face the coat is short, gradually growing longer on the cheeks. Profuse ruff. | |
| COLOUR: | The Birman Cat shows the same characteristics as the Siamese: colour on the face, the ears, the legs and feet and the tail, for |
| instance: brownish black (seal), the rest of the body and the tummy are a very pale egg shell; the back is golden beige in all varieties. Only in the adult cat the colour of the points and the rest of the body is fully developed. | |
| GLOVES: | The special feature of the Birman Cat is: the white feet, called "gloves" on front feet and hind feet. These "gloves" are absolutely |
| pure white; they should stop at the transition of toes to metacarpals, or at the articulation, over which it should not extend. Creeping up of the white gloves on the sides or the reverse sides of the front legs is a severe fault. The white must end in a point on the soles of the feet and must not extend over the middle. | |
| Slightly longer white gloves on the hind feet can be tolerated. It is important that the gloves show a regular repartition and symmetry of white, either of the two front feet or, even better of the all four feet. | |
| TAIL: | Of medium length, a plume. |
