Birman breed guide

Patient, even-tempered and tolerant, the Birman suits families with children and other pets. It does not do well alone for long stretches. CFA suggests a pair if you work outside the home and have no other pets.

Quite intelligent, the Birman enjoys learning and responds well to training. It stays moderately active and tries to assist with household work.

Most Birmans are soft-spoken with chirp-like voices, though constant replies to its meows can turn one into a talker.

Birmans shed less than most long-haired cats. With no undercoat to tangle, a weekly combing keeps the coat in order and most need no regular bathing.

World War II left only one breeding pair in Europe. Outcrossing with Persians and Siamese let French breeders rebuild the breed by the early 1950s and testing for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other conditions now helps keep the gene pool healthy and diverse.

A breeding pair went from Burma to France around 1919 and the pregnant female founded the breed there. The name comes from Birmanie, the French form of Burma.

The Birman reached the United States in 1959. CFA accepted it for registration in 1967. Many breeders follow a French custom of giving every kitten born in one year a name starting with the same letter of the alphabet.