The Birman, known as the Sacred Cat of Burma, is a long-haired pointed breed first recognized in France in 1925. The breed's documented Western history begins with a pair imported to France before World War I. Post-World War II reconstruction using Persian and other outcrosses re-established the breed. FIFe recognized the Birman at its 1950 founding; GCCF in 1966; CFA in 1967; and TICA at its 1979 founding. The standard describes a medium-sized, golden-coated, blue-eyed pointed cat with distinctive white-gloved paws.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Myanmar (Burma) / France
- Origin period
- French recognition 1925; post-WWII breed reconstruction; CFA recognition 1967
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Seal Point, Blue Point, Chocolate Point, Lilac Point, Red Point, Cream Point, Tortoiseshell Point, Lynx Point variants
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 12-16 years
- Recognition
- CFA 1967 · TICA 1979 · GCCF 1966 · FIFe 1950
Origin
The Birman's documented Western history begins with Birman cats sent from Burma to France before or around World War I. The French studbook recognized the breed in 1925 under the name Sacre de Birmanie (Sacred Cat of Burma). The breed was nearly exterminated during World War II, and post-war reconstruction used Persian and other long-haired breeds to re-establish the population. The distinctive white-gloved paws — regarded as the defining breed characteristic — were preserved through selective breeding from surviving pre-war lines.
Recognition
The Fédération Internationale Féline recognized the Birman at its 1950 founding — a recognition that followed the French studbook registration of 1925. The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy recognized the breed in 1966 in the United Kingdom. The Cat Fanciers' Association recognized the Birman in 1967 in the United States. The International Cat Association recognized it at its 1979 founding. All four major international registries maintain current Birman standards.
Standard
The CFA standard describes a medium-sized, elongated cat with a broad round head, full cheeks, and a medium-length nose. The coat is long and silky, with a heavy ruff around the neck and full tail. The colouring is similar to the Himalayan or Siamese: pale body with darker points at the face, ears, legs, and tail. The defining characteristic is the symmetrical white 'gloves' on all four paws — the white must terminate in an even line across the paw on the front feet and extend up the back of the leg to the hock on the hind feet. Point colours recognized include the traditional four (seal, blue, chocolate, lilac) and extended colours.
Sources & further reading (3)
- registry-breed-profile — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- gccf-registry — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes the Birman from other pointed breeds?
The Birman's defining characteristic is the symmetrical white gloves on all four paws — the white must form an even line across the front paws and extend up the hocks of the hind legs. This feature distinguishes the Birman from the Himalayan, Ragdoll, and Siamese, which do not carry the white-glove gene. The Birman also has a silkier, less dense coat than the Persian or Himalayan.
When was the Birman first recognized?
The French studbook recognized the Birman in 1925 under the name Sacre de Birmanie. FIFe recognized the breed at its 1950 founding. GCCF recognized it in 1966. CFA recognized it in 1967. TICA recognized the breed at its 1979 founding.
What happened to the Birman during World War II?
The Birman breed was nearly destroyed during World War II in Europe; post-war records suggest only two Birmans survived in France. Post-war reconstruction required crosses with Persian and other long-haired breeds to restore the population. Breeders carefully re-selected for the white-glove characteristic, which had been maintained in some surviving lines.
