BREED STANDARD · BIRMAN (SACRED CAT OF BURMA) · BI
POINT SCORE
HEAD: 35 points
- Shape ........................................ 5
- Ears .......................................... 5
- Eyes ............................................. 5
- Chin ........................................... 5
- Muzzle ......................................... 5
- Nose .............................................. 5
- Profile ............................................. 5
BODY: 25 points
- Torso .......................................... 5
- Legs ........................................... 5
- Feet ................................................ 5
- Boning ......................................... 5
- Musculature ................................... 5
COAT / COLOR / PATTERN: 30 points
- Length ................................ 5
- Texture .......................................... 5
- Pattern ............................................ 10
- Color ................................................. 10
OTHER: 10 points
- Balance ........................................ 5
- Condition ........................................ 5
CLASSIFICATION
CATEGORY: Pointed
DIVISIONS:
- Solid Point/White
- Tortie Point/White
- Tabby Point/White
- Silver and/or Smoke Point/White
(Pattern with "gloves" only, gloved pattern)
COLORS: All
ALLOWABLE OUTCROSSES: None
HEAD
Shape
Strong, broad head, rounded when viewed from the front; slightly longer than it is wide in profile. Full cheeks.
Ears
- Almost as wide at the base as they are tall
- Open at the base
- Slightly rounded tips
- Medium size
- Set moderately apart
- With inner hair (furnishings)
Eyes
- Medium to large
- Moderately rounded
- Set well apart
- Blue in color, the deeper the better
Chin
Good depth, forming a perpendicular line with the upper lip.
Muzzle
Medium length, wide enough to avoid a pinched look.
Nose
Medium length, Roman shape, with low-set nostrils.
Profile
- Forehead sloping back
- Small transverse flat area in the center of the forehead, above the brow line
- Change of direction between the forehead and the Roman nose
BODY
Torso
- Full body
- Medium to long
- Sturdy build
- Level back
- Medium to large size
Strong, well-muscled neck, thicker in breeding males. Males are generally larger than females.
Legs
- Medium length
- Heavy boning
- Well muscled
- In proportion to the body
Feet
Large, rounded and firm.
Tail
Full and in proportion to the body.
Musculature
Firm and strong.
COAT
Length
Semi-long to long.
Texture
Silky, without undercoat.
Notes
- A heavy ruff is desirable, especially in males
- Belly hair may be slightly wavy
- Seasonal variations should be taken into account
PATTERN: GLOVES AND "LACES"
All Birmans must have white feet.
Front Paws · Gloves
- White
- Preferably ending in a straight line at the third joint (where the toes meet the paw)
Hind Paws · Laces
- Gloves covering the front of the paw
- Extending up the back of the leg
- Ending in a point at about halfway up the hock
Symmetrical gloves and laces are desirable, but variations are allowed.
Paw pads may be:
- Fully pink
- Or mottled in the point color
Gloves and laces carry equal weight in judging, but are secondary to conformation.
COLOR
- All Birmans are pointed, in all colors
- Body color and point color carry equal weight in judging
OTHER
Balance
Well-balanced cat, without exaggeration.
Condition
Excellent health, with a clean, well-groomed coat.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Birman is a semi-longhaired, pointed cat with white feet.
Features:
- Medium to large size
- Proportionately heavy boning
- Females noticeably smaller
- Healthy, muscular body
- Excellent balance
The coat tends not to tangle or mat.
Accepted in all pointed colors, with distinctive gloves and laces.
ALLOWANCES
- Darkening with age allowed
- Freckles on the lips and ears in Red Factor Points
- Mottled paw pads
- Lockets
PENALIZE
- White above the allowed level on the front leg
- Absence of one or both laces
- Spots free of color within the gloves or laces (except on the paw pads)
WITHHOLD AWARDS (WW)
- Total absence of white on any foot
- Free white areas on the mask, ears or tail
DISQUALIFICATION (DQ)
According to Article 16:
- Biting
- Fraud
- Cryptorchidism
- Partial or total absence of the tail
- Polydactyly outside the standard
- Visible/invisible tail defects
- Strabismus
- Blindness
- Incompatible size
- Chest anomalies
