The Burmese cat is a distinct breed, known for its captivating personality and unique physical characteristics. This article delves into the official breed standard, providing a comprehensive overview for enthusiasts and potential owners. The Burmese cat is recognized for its substantial build, surprising weight, rounded head, expressive eyes, and sweet disposition, setting it apart from other feline breeds.
General Appearance
A well-conditioned Burmese cat should exhibit excellent muscle tone, with no signs of obesity or weakness. Males may naturally be larger than females. The overall impression is one of a compact, well-built cat that is surprisingly heavy for its size.
Head, Ears, and Eyes
The head is a defining feature, pleasingly rounded with no flat planes, whether viewed from the front or the side. The face is full, with significant breadth between the eyes, gradually blending into a short, broad muzzle that maintains the head’s rounded contours. A subtle nose break is present in profile, and the chin is firm and rounded, indicating a proper bite. The ears are medium-sized, set wide apart, broad at the base, and rounded at the tips, tilting slightly forward to enhance an alert appearance. The eyes are large, set wide apart, and have a rounded aperture.
Body, Legs, Paws, and Tail
The body is medium-sized, with robust muscular development, presenting a compact form. The chest is ample and rounded, and the back is level from the shoulders to the tail. The legs are well-proportioned to the body. Paws are round, with five toes in the front and four in the back. The tail is straight and of medium length.
Coat
The Burmese coat is characterized by its fineness, glossiness, and satin-like texture. It is short and lies very close to the body.
Penalties and Disqualifications
Certain features may incur penalties or lead to disqualification in breed shows. Distinct barring on the legs is penalized, though faint barring is permissible in kittens and young adults. An elongated muzzle with severe narrowing, resulting in a wedge-shaped head that detracts from the rounded contours, is also a fault. Green eyes, abnormal tails, kinked tails, lockets, spots, blue eyes, crossed eyes, incorrect nose leather or paw pad color, and jaw malocclusions that visibly prohibit the described profile or result in protruding teeth, wry face, or jaw are grounds for disqualification. Distinct barring on the torso and any color other than the four accepted colors (sable, champagne, blue, and platinum) will also result in disqualification.
Burmese Colors
The Burmese breed is recognized in four distinct colors:
Sable
Mature specimens are a rich, warm sable brown, shading imperceptibly to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts, with no other shadings, barring, or markings. Kittens are often lighter. Nose leather and paw pads are brown. Eye color ranges from yellow to gold, with greater depth and brilliance being preferred.
Champagne
Mature cats are a warm honey beige, shading to a pale gold tan on the underside. Slight darkening on the ears and face is permissible, though lesser shading is preferred. Older specimens may show slight darkening, but evenness of color is emphasized. Nose leather is light warm brown, and paw pads are warm pinkish tan. Eye color ranges from yellow to gold, with depth and brilliance being desirable.
Blue
The mature specimen is a medium blue with warm fawn undertones, shading imperceptibly to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts. No other shadings, barring, or markings are permitted. Nose leather and paw pads are slate gray, with paw pads ranging from slate gray to warm pinkish blue. Eye color ranges from yellow to gold, with depth and brilliance being preferred.
Platinum
Mature cats are a pale, silvery gray with pale fawn undertones, shading imperceptibly to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts. No other shadings, barring, or markings are allowed. Nose leather and paw pads are lavender-pink. Eye color ranges from yellow to gold, with depth and brilliance being preferred.
Color Class Numbers
The following color class numbers are for reference only and not an official part of the CFA Show Standard: Sable (0400, 0401), Champagne (0402, 0403), Blue (0404, 0405), and Platinum (0406, 0407).
Allowable Outcross Breeds
The Burmese may be outcrossed with Tonkinese (until December 31, 2031), imported Southeast Asian Cats, and sable Bombay (until December 31, 2031). These outcrosses are permitted under specific conditions to maintain genetic diversity and breed health.
