Seal point
Sacre De Birmanie
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Seal point
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Sacre De Birmanie
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| Very impressive, with dark blue eyes and white gloves Having appeared recently in Europe, this cat's origins are still mysterious. British travelers are thought to have brought back a pair of cats from the so- called Lao-tsun Temple in Burma. A certain Ms. Leotardi in southern France owned Poupee de Madalpour, a seal point Birman shown in Paris in 1926. This cat's parents, from Burma, were given to Leotardi by a certain Ms. Thadde-Haddish. Actually, the first specimens resulted from a cross between a Siamese with white markings on the paws and a longhaired cat (Angora or Persian) made in the 1920s in the Nice region of France. By around 1930, a male seal point named Dieu d'Arakan was the star of the shows. The breed nearly disappeared during World War II. After the war, colorpoint Persian blood was added to limit inbreeding. In 1950, the breed was named Chat sacre de Birmanie (Birman in English) in order to avoid any confusion with "Burmese," the adjective form of the word Burma. Introduced to the United States in 1959-1960 and to Great Britain in 1965, where it was officially recognized, this highly prized breed has become very popular. |
| Sweet-natured and intelligent. Basically quiet and able to play by itself. When away from owners, may seem nostalgic. Appears conscious of its sacred origin. Has a quiet, clucking voice. Charming. |
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Head
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Large, broad, fairly round. Slightly longer than it is wide. Fairly rounded skull. Slightly domed forehead. Full cheeks, high, prominent cheekbones. Roman nose of medium length with a defined or absent stop. Well-developed muzzle. Strong, firm chin. |
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Eyes
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Almost round with a sweet expression. Set well apart, with the outer corner tilted VERY slightly upward. Blue in color, the deeper blue the better. |
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Ears
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Medium in length. Almost as wide at the base as tall. Modified to a rounded point at the tip; set as much to the side as into the top of the head. |
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Nose
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Medium in length and width, in proportion to size of head. Roman shape in profile. Nostrils set low on the nose leather. |
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Neck
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Medium-sized, muscular. |
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Body
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Fairly long, fairly heavy (semi-cobby). Strong boned; powerful, firm muscles. |
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Paw
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Moderately long, strong. Heavy-boned, muscular. Round, firm paws. Tufts of fur between the toes. |
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Tail
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Medium in length, in pleasing proportion to the body. |
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Coat
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Silky hair, semilong to long on the ruff, body, flanks, and tail. Short on the face and limbs. Sparse undercoat. Coat pigmented only on the extremities or points (mask, ears, paws, and tail), as in the Siamese. A good contrast between the color of the points and the rest of the body is required. White markings, or gloves, on the paws. These absolutely pure white gloves must stop at the joint or transition between the toes and the metacarpus, which they should not go past. On the plantar surface of the hind paws, the gloves end in a point (gauntlets) at 1/2 to 2/3 the distance between the large paw pad and the hock. The darker markings can be seal point (dark brown), chocolate point (light brown), blue point (gray-blue), lilac point (pinkish steel gray), red point (reddish-brown), or cream point. The rest of the coat varies from white to cream. The paw pads are pink or pink with spots of color. Kittens are born almost entirely white. The points and gloves do not appear until around 1-2 months. The color of the body and markings is not final until adulthood. In addition, the coat darkens with age. |
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Fault
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White or colored markings on the chest or belly. Disqualify: a non-gloved toe. White on the points. |
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Character
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Halfway between the Persian and the Siamese, the Birman is calm, well-balanced, and neither passive nor exuberant. He is friendly toward other cats and toward dogs. Playful Birmans are good companions for children, but they also like peace and quiet. Gentle, affectionate (especially males), and often somewhat possessive, Birmans do not tolerate indifference and are even less fond of solitude. They have a soft voice. Outside, they are hardy and athletic, making excellent hunters. They require daily brushing during the shedding season. Otherwise, weekly brushing and combing are enough. |
| Certain lines have genetic defects, such as weak hind legs or nasal obstruction and poor occlusion, which can cause breathing through the mouth. |
Blue Point