General Profile Information
There is a lot of mystery around this breed source; it has really become a legend. What is certain known is that in 1919 the breed was clandestinely introduced to France. Only a female cat survived the hard shipping conditions and fortunately she was pregnant. France officially recognized Birman as a new breed in 1925 and then it was set up in the western.
The ideal standard Birman is long, large and strongly built. It is a very rare and elegant animal and his long silky hair gives a luxurious impression. He has color pointed hair with a golden shade on the coat. The acceptable pointed colors are blue, chocolate, lilac and seal. His eyes are deep blue (the deeper the better), and they are the attention centre of an impressive face. According to the breed standard, his four legs should be white; this gives the impression that he is wearing gloves. His voice is very soft and many Birman owners describe it as a mild jingle. He is an average sized cat with a sweet expression on his face.
Birman cats are very affectionate and faithful cats. Their temperament is balanced as well as their appearance. They have a great socialize capacity as they are gentle and playful, but the difference with other household breeds is that they will not interfere in your activities if you are busy. They would love playing with the owner. However, they are also quiet cats and are very people orientated. They are remarkably docile so they are recommendable for houses where there are children.
Birman are called a slow development breed because they conserve their kittenish appearance until they are 18 months old and finally reach their matured growth at the age of 3 years old. So if you love little cute kittens, a Birman cat is a proper choice for you.
