Breed Colours

Birmans are now available in 20 colours, identified by a GCCF breed number, as follows:

• 13c1     Seal Point
• 13c2     Blue Point
• 13c3     Chocolate Point
• 13c4     Lilac Point
• 13c5     Red Point
• 13c6     Seal Tortie Point
• 13c7     Cream Point
• 13c8     Blue Tortie Point
• 13c9     Chocolate Tortie Point
• 13c10   Lilac Tortie Point
• 13c11   Seal Tabby Point
• 13c12   Blue Tabby Point
• 13c13   Chocolate Tabby Point
• 13c14   Lilac Tabby Point
• 13c15   Red Tabby Point
• 13c16   Seal Tortie Tabby Point
• 13c17   Cream Tabby Point
• 13c18   Blue Tortie Tabby Point
• 13c19   Chocolate Tortie Tabby Point
• 13c20   Lilac Tortie Tabby Point

Birman Kitten Breed Standard

BODY:  Long & massive, legs of medium length & thick set with short, strong paws.

HEAD:  Skull should be strong, broad & rounded with medium sized ears spaced well apart.  Nose to be medium length with a slight dip in profile (no 'stop').  The cheeks should be full and round & the chin full & well developed, slightly tapered but not receding.

EYES: Almost round but not bold, blue in colour, the deeper the blue the better.

NOSE LEATHER: Varying according to the points colour but solid point colours should have solid colour nose leather, tabbies should have brick colouring & torties can have either solid or brick & sometimes some mottling.

FUR:  Long, silken in texture with a full ruff around the neck, slightly curled on abdomen.

TAIL:  Should be bushy, medium length & in proportion to the body.

FEET:  Birmans are characterised by their white feet, which should be symmetrical on all four paws, with gauntlets on the rear paws which should extend to approx two thirds of the way up the hock.

COLOUR:  The distinguishing colours of the Birman are apparent on the mask (face) ears, legs & tail, with paler body colour that varies according to colour and should have the typical 'Birman glow' i.e. slight shading to the tips across shoulders and flanks.

CONDITION:  The cat should be well grown & the frame should be strong, well covered & muscular.  Eyes should be bright & temperament should be good.

These guidelines are those used by judges when assessing cats at GCCF shows and in a perfect world, this is the standard which breeders seek to achieve.  However, most Birmans sold as pets will not quite achieve this standard, maybe due to uneven white markings or a white spot in the coloured areas, a small tail fault or paler blue eye colour, things that are of no importance unless you wish to breed (not as easy as you might think) or enter your cat in shows.  If you are interested in trying your luck at showing your cat you should mention this to breeders when sourcing your kitten as the breeder will be the one best placed to give an opinion as to the suitability of a kitten for showing.  Naturally, show quality kittens are scarce as breeders frequently keep them to show themselves and if you can get one the price will be considerably higher.