Birmans ( or the Sacred cat of Burma) are a particularly beautiful breed of Semi longhair cat. A colour pointed breed with a long silky coat, distinguished by having white feet and hypnotic blue eyes. They are a particularly affectionate breed, making devoted pets for adults and children alike, and fitting in easily with other animals.
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The ‘birman legend’ told below is a lovely story about the origins of the breed, however evidence gathered in France shows the true origins of the breed are probably due to the more mundane (but very dedicated) work of several breeders working with persian and siamese type crosses, during the first third of the twentieth century.
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The Legend
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Centuries ago the Khumar people of Asia built beautiful temples of worship. The temple at Lao-Tsun was dedicated to he golden goddess with saphire eyes named Tsun-Kyan-Kse. The head priest Mun-Ha often knelt at the foot of his Goddess with his white temple cat Sinh at his side.
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One night as Mun-Ha knelt in contemplation at the foot of the goddess’ statue with Sinh at his side, raiders attacked the temple killing many of the priests including Mun-Ha. At the moment of his death Sinh placed his feet upon the body of his fallen master and gazed up into the eyes of the Goddess. Immediately, the white fur became golden, the cats extremities became a deep velvety brown. However where his paws touched his master’s body, the white of purity remained.
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The next morning all the 100 white temple cats had also been similarly transformed. Sinh carried his master’s soul to Heaven 7 days later, after remaining in constant contemplation of the Goddess, refusing all food and water. Since then the temple cats have been considered sacred, and few were permitted to own one.
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How the breed can to Europe is also shrouded in mystery, but the first recorded birmans came to France in the 1920’s. Birmans were introduced to Britain from France in 1965, and is now among the most popular breeds of pedigree cat in the UK. Although the original colours were seal and blue, newer varieties such as chocolate, lilac, red, cream and tortie are now accepted by the UK GCCF along with tabby variations of all these colours. Elsewhere in the world, silver tabby, smoke and cinnamon/fawn birmans have been produced.
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The birman legend is a very attractive story, but so far remains just that, no native cats matching the descriptions given have ever been found in the area described. It seems probable that the birman was produced from crossing various breeds, from long haired siamese to colour point persians. However after you have seen a birman in a statuesque pose, you will see that the legend seems a vary plausible explanation for such a regal animal.
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