BREED STANDARD: BURMESE / BOMBAY (BU / BO)
POINT SCORE
HEAD: 38 points
- Shape ............................................. 7
- Eyes ................................................ 10
- Ears .............................................. 5
- Chin ................................................ 4
- Muzzle ............................................... 3
- Nose .................................................. 2
- Profile .................................................. 5
- Neck .............................................. 2
BODY: 35 points
- Torso ............................................... 10
- Musculature ........................................ 12
- Boning ............................................. 8
- Legs / Feet ........................................ 3
- Tail .................................................. 2
COAT / COLOR / PATTERN: 27 points
- Length ...................................... 9
- Texture ............................................... 8
- Color .................................................... 10
CLASSIFICATION
CATEGORY
- BU (Burmese): Sepia
- BO (Bombay): Traditional
DIVISIONS
- BU: Solid and Tortoiseshell
- BO: Solid
COLORS
- BU: All
- BO: Black ONLY
ALLOWABLE OUTCROSSES
None.
HEAD
Shape
Medium size. Rounded, with no flat planes. Full face.
Eyes
- Large, round, set well apart
- In line with the base of the ear
- Expression gives priority to shape, placement and size over color
- Lighter color allowed in older cats
Eye Color
- BU: Gold (the deeper, the better)
- BO: Copper to gold (copper preferred)
Ears
- Medium size
- Set well apart, without excessive flare
- Broad base, rounded tips
- Slightly tilted forward
- Contribute to the rounded look of the head
Chin
Firm, broad, rounded, deep, reflecting a perfect bite.
Muzzle
Rounded, short, broad and well developed.
Profile
- BU: Visible break
- BO: Visible stop
The profile should show good depth between the top of the skull and the lower jaw.
No flat planes above the nose.
Nose
- The bridge may have a slight bump
- Rounded tip
- In line with the muzzle
Neck
Short, thick and well developed.
BODY
Torso
- Medium size
- Compact
- Well balanced
- Broad chest
- BO: slightly longer
Musculature
Firm. Surprisingly heavy for its size.
Boning
Sturdy, broad rib cage.
Legs
Firm, in proportion.
Feet
Rounded, compact, in proportion.
Tail
- Medium length
- Balanced with the body
- Tapering to a rounded tip
COAT / COLOR / PATTERN
Length
Short.
Texture
- Fine
- Satin-like
- Very close-lying
- Little or no undercoat
- Intense, obvious gloss
Allowance for kittens and young cats up to 2 years.
Coat Color
BU (Burmese)
- Rich color down to the roots
- Slight lightening on the belly allowed
- Solid sepia preferred
- Extremities may be slightly darker (except sable)
BO (Bombay)
- Deep black down to the roots
- "Patent leather" sheen
- Allowance up to 2 years
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Burmese
Medium-sized cat with strong boning, excellent musculature and surprising weight.
Features:
- Rounded head
- Expressive eyes
- Sweet, open expression
- Perfect physical condition
- No obesity, weakness or apathy
An unmistakable breed.
Bombay
Originated from crossing the Burmese with the American Shorthair.
Features:
- "Mini-panther" look
- Solid body
- Glossy black coat
- Eyes the color of a "new copper penny"
- Well balanced
- Sociable, alert and friendly
A unique look.
Behavior
Both breeds are:
- Communicative
- Vocal
- Sociable
Judges should expect expressive, relaxed and non-aggressive cats.
ALLOWANCES
None.
PENALIZE
BU / BO
- Excessively slender body
- Fine boning
- Long, thin tail
- Flat forehead
- Flared ears
- Sharp tips
- Tufts
- Almond-shaped eyes
- Oriental slant
WITHHOLD AWARDS (WW)
BU
- Green eyes
- Extremely exotic profile
- Excessively protruding eyes or chin
- Coarse or open coat
- Lockets
BO
- Green eyes
- Extremely exotic profile
- Excessively protruding eyes or chin
- Coarse or open coat
- Lockets
- Nose leather or paw pads that are not black
DISQUALIFICATION (DQ)
- Incorrect bite
- Fraud
- Cryptorchidism
- Tail defects
- Irregular polydactyly
- Strabismus
- Blindness
- Incompatible size
- Sternal abnormalities
