THE BIRMAN

The Birman is a strong-boned semi-long haired cat.  It is slightly longer in all its component parts than a Persian or Exotic Cat. There must be a strong definition between colour of body and points, sharp definition between colour of points and white of paws and gauntlets.  The Birman does not conform to Persian type.

COAT  DESCRIPTION

COAT LENGTH AND TEXTURE

Semi-longhaired, silken in texture. The fur is short in appearance about the face, but to the extreme outer area of the cheek it is longer, with a full ruff around the neck. Slightly curled on stomach. It is of such texture that it will not mat.

COAT  COLOUR AND PATTERN

The distinguishing colours of the Birman are those of the himalayan pattern, , but with white gloves and gauntlets added . Mask, ears, legs and tail are dense and clearly-defined, except in kittens. On reaching maturity, the mask is complete, covering the face to over the eyes (including whisker pads) and is connected to the ears by tracings, leaving an oval of body colour in front of the ears which is quite apparent. Chin is shaded to match the mask. Some allowance should be made in mature adults for darker body colour, especially in Seal Points. However, the body colour must never be so dark that contrast with point colour is lost.

LEGS

Leg point colour to go up just above the elbows on the front legs and to merge into the flanks at the rear. Leg colour is lighter on the inside of the legs.

PAWS

The white feet are characteristic of the Birman. It is preferable that the white is even on all four paws.

GLOVES AND GAUNTLETS

Front paws are pure white, gloved in an even line across the paws at the third joint. The upper limit of white should be the metacarpal (dew) pad, which 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).

Back paws have pure white gloves covering the entire paw and tapering evenly up the back of the leg (hock), preferably to a spear head positioned just below the middle of the hock. Higher markings are acceptable, but should not extend beyond the heel.

PAW PADS

Paw pads are either coloured (to harmonise with the colour of the points), pink or mottled. Individual paw pad colour is not listed, so reference should be made to this general description and to individual nose leather colour description.

COLOURS AND PHOTOS

SEAL POINT

Example of colour change with age.
" Cat is Claudmar Sprinkles of Magic." Owned by Vantana Birmans. Bred by Claudmar Birmans.

BLUE POINT

Example of colour change with age.
" Cat is Cinders Sacred Sash." Owned by Vantana Birmans. Bred by Cinders Birmans. First photo Courtesy Cindy of Cinders birmans

CHOCOLATE POINT

Example of colour change with age.
" Cat is "Shakandah Shaylee". Bred & Owned by Anne Davis of Shakandah Birmans.   Photos Courtesy Anne of Shakandah birmans

LILAC POINT

Example of colour change with age.
" 1st photo is "Shakandah Lilac Rose", " 2nd photo is "Shakandah Abbey Rose" Owned & Bred by Anne of Shakandah Birmans  Photos Courtesy Anne of Shakahdah birmans

RED POINT

CREAM POINT

TABBY POINT GROUP

  The ears have solid colour, without stripes. There is a clear but paler thumb print on the back of the ear, which is less apparent in dilute colours. Tortoiseshell Tabby Points have mottled ears, but may not show a thumb print. There should be a clearly-defined “M” on the forehead,  light-coloured spectacle markings around the eyes, with distinct stripes on the cheeks and darkly-spotted whisker pads. The mask has clearly-defined stripes, especially around the eyes and nose. Eye rims are a pinkish tone or darker, to harmonise with the point colour. Nose leather is also either of a pinkish tone, coloured to harmonise with the point colour or pinkish and outlined in colour which harmonises with the point colour.

Coat colour on the body is pale, free from markings of any kind. Colouring is to conform to the recognized pointed colour standard.

Legs have varied-sized broken stripes, with solid colour on the back of the hind legs up the hocks. Points should all be the same colour, but in some colours paws may be lighter in colour.  The tail preferably shows varied-sized clearly-defined rings, ending in a solid colour tip at the extreme end. However, a tail which is solid in colour on top and ringed on the underside is not a fault. Kittens should not be penalised for not showing their full markings.

Although not preferred, the colour of the hair tips is commonly a little darker and/or a little colder than in the non-tabby equivalents. Markings will be less obvious in dilute colours, where there is less potential for colour variation. Chocolate and dilute varieties may not

gain full leg markings until up to eighteen months of age.

Recognized colours are Seal, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Red and Cream.

TABBY POINT FAULTS: Lack of tabby pattern on points. Lack of ground colour. Lack of contrast between markings and ground colour. Tabby markings on the body of adults. Light ghost striping on kittens is acceptable.

SEAL TABBY POINT

BLUE TABBY POINT

Example of colour change with age.
" 1st photo is "Shakandah Natasha", " 2nd photo is "Shakandah Sweet Holly" Bred & Owned by Anne of Shakandah Birmans" Photos Courtesy Anne of Shakandah birmans Photos taken by me.

CHOCOLATE TABBY POINT

LILAC TABBY POINT

RED TABBY POINT

CREAM TABBY POINT

TORTOISESHELL  POINTED PATTERN (TORTIE)

Colour is restricted to the points, as in all pointed patterned breeds. Distribution of colour on the points and of mottling on the nose and paw pads is random and immaterial, though ears are mottled and a blaze up the nose is desirable. Solid colour on any of ears, leg/legs or tail are all permissible. Dense colours show the named colour, plus varying shades of red and/or cream. Dilute colours have only the named colour plus shades of cream, with paler shades preferred. Each point should preferably display more than one colour. White hairs, ticking or barring not permitted.

  Recognized Tortoiseshell Point colours are Seal, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac.

SEAL TORTOISESHELL POINT, SEAL (TORTIE)

BLUE TORTOISESHELL POINT, BLUE (TORTIE) OR (BLUE-CREAM POINT)

Example of colour change with age.
" Cat is Shekenah Harliquin Gem" Owned by Anne of Shakandah Birmans. Photos Courtesy Anne of Shakandah birmans Second photo taken by me.

CHOCOLATE TORTOISESHELL POINT, CHOCOLATE (TORTIE)

CHOCOLATE TORTOISESHELL POINT, CHOCOLATE (TORTIE)

LILAC TORTOISESHELL POINT, LILAC (TORTIE)

TORTOISESHELL TABBY POINT GROUP (TORBIE)

The tortoiseshell pattern is superimposed over the tabby pattern, in all recognised colours. Definition of colour is less likely to be seen on Tortoiseshell Tabby Points and generally much less than in solid colour cats, though it should still be aimed for. Ears are mottled.

SEAL TORTOISESHELL TABBY POINT

BLUE TORTOISESHELL TABBY POINT

CHOCOLATE TORTOISESHELL TABBY POINT

Example of colour

" Cat is Apelia's Nordic Angel (Norwegian IMP)" Owned by Anne of Shakandah Birmans. Photos Courtesy Anne of Shakandah birmans Photo taken by me.

LILAC TORTOISESHELL TABBY POINT

A Note of Respect & Thanks!

Some of the pictures on this page have been given to me for use on my page from the breeders who's links are included to their photos. I am extremely grateful to all the breeders who have allowed me to use their beautiful cats on this page. Please note that all images are copyright and you are not permitted to copy them off my page. Please respect the Breeders who have worked hard on their photos and if you wish to see more of their cats, please click on the photos & you'll be directed to their site.

Here I have attempted to illustrate in as much detail as possible of the Birman colour variety and changes that they go thru in their lives.

MANY THANKS TO ANNE DAVIS of SHAKANDAH BIRMANS & JEN WINTERBINE of PELOUX BIRMANS for the photos and time spent in getting them for me, because of you both I am able to show the Birman Colours that are available.