Cat Breed - Burmilla

By David Braybrooke

A variety of domestic cat of the Asian feline species, the Burmilla (sometimes referred to as a 'Tiffany') is the result of a chance intermixture of two other breeds, namely, the Burmese and the Chinchilla Persian; its beginnings were in the U.K. and it was first produced back in 1981 but it had to wait another 10 or more years until it was officially granted championship status.

These cats are of average size, with strong physiques, small muzzles, a circular shaped face and large, vivid eyes in shades of brilliant green, blue, and even yellow or amber in the kitten stage; the black variety of Burmillas' have dark eyeliner. Their ears are large and rounded and they have reddish-pink noses, (some varieties have a black nose).

The length of the Burmillas' fur comes in three classes: the most usual type has a soft, silky short-hair coat; the Long-hair Burmilla, produced from a recessive gene, has a smooth, glossy coat that lays close to the skin, and a long, opulent looking tail; the third variety is known as a 'Plush', similar to the Short-hair except it has a thicker, woolier coat.

Burmilla fur colors are many and varied, and include: blue, black, brown, deep-brown and grayish-pink; red, yellowish-white and tortoiseshell varieties have also been produced. A silvery or golden colored undercoat is the norm for this breed; pattern-wise, their fur can be either, shaded (coat is a quarter colored), tipped (a fine dusting of color over the undercoat), or smoked (solid colored fur with a soft, whitish basis to each individual hair).

The Burmilla's personality is inquisitive, self-reliant and warm, without being overly-friendly; they are kittenish and active even into adulthood; getting along well with other pets and young children, they may live up to an age of 15 years or more. Health-wise, they are very fit and hardy and have few problems being suitable as pets for families or elderly owners as they require little attention and grooming (once weekly).

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