Birman

STANDARD FOR THE BIRMAN

The Birman is a strong-boned semi-longhaired cat. It is slightly longer in all its component parts than a Persian or Exotic Cat. There must be a strong definition between colour of body and points, sharp definition between colour of points and white of paws and gauntlets. The Birman does not conform to Persian type.

HEAD: Strongly boned, slightly rounded in the muzzle. Head broader than high. Forehead slopes well back, slightly convex in profile, with flatter appearance in front of and between ears.
EYES: Almost round in shape with a sweet expression. Set well apart, with the outer corner tilted VERY slightly upward.
EARS: Medium in length. Almost as wide at the base as tall. Modified to a rounded tip. Set as much to the side as into the top of the head and slightly flared.
NOSE: The broad, medium length nose, which starts just below the eyes, is slightly roman in shape and because of this the nose pad is set a little low and a slight dip is essential, but a definite stop is not acceptable.
CHEEKS: Cheeks full with a somewhat rounded muzzle.
JAWS: Jaws strong and broad.
CHIN: Firm, full and strong forming a perpendicular line with the upper lip.
BODY: Long and muscular, yet stocky, with no appearance of fragility. Neck strong and medium length with a broad chest. Males much more robust than females.
LEGS & PAWS: Strong and heavily boned, medium length, large round and firm paws, stiff rear legged gait. Although the body is long the cat does not stand high on its legs.
TAIL: Tail to be wider at base. Length to just before shoulders, bushy and tapering to an oval tip.
COAT: Semi longhaired, silken in texture. The fur is short in appearance about the face, but to the extreme outer area of the cheek the fur is longer with a full ruff around the neck. Slightly curled on stomach. Fur of such texture that it will not mat.

BIRMAN COLOUR STANDARDS

COLOUR: The distinguishing colours of the Birman are those of the Himalayan pattern. Mask, ears, legs and tail dense and clearly defined (except in kittens). On reaching maturity the mask is complete, covering the face to over the eyes (including whisker pads) and is connected to the ears by tracings leaving an oval of body colour in front of the ears which is quite apparent. Chin shaded to match mask. Some allowance should be made in mature adults for darker body colour. However, the body colour must never be so dark that contrast is lost. The white feet are characteristic of the Birman. It is preferable that the white is even on all four paws.
LEGS: Leg point colour to go up just above the elbows on the front and to merge into flanks at rear. Leg colour lighter inside legs.
GLOVES & GAUNTLETS: Front paws pure white gloved in an even line across the paws at the third joint. The upper limit of white should be the metacarpal (dew) pad (the metacarpal pad is the highest up little paw pad located in the middle of the back of the front paw, above the third joint and just below the wrist bones). Back paws have pure white gloves covering the entire paw and tapering evenly up the back of the leg (hock) preferably to a spear head positioned just below the middle of the hock. Higher markings are acceptable but should not extend beyond the heel.

FAULTS: REFER TO GENERAL LIST FOR ALL BREEDS PLUS:

Strongly almond eyes
Lack of width in the head
Small rounded ears
Weak chin
Tabby barring a fault - ghost markings on kittens acceptable
White whisker pads
Fine boning
Hooding
No contrast between point and body colouring

WITHHOLD CHALLENGE:
Coloured toe(s)
Coloured spots on gloves or gauntlets
Lack of white on the hocks of one or both back legs
Runners (streaks of white) up the legs
Areas of pure white in point colour
Grossly uneven foot markings
Spots or patches of white (excluding gloves & gauntlets) appearing anywhere on the body, particularly chin, chest and stomach
Siamese type
Green eyes

NOTE: A cat may have slightly imperfect gloves and gauntlets, small areas of white around the genitals and still be eligible for awards

SCALE OF POINTS

Head 20

Body (Including shape, size,bone & length of tail) 20

Coat, length, texture and overall condition 15

Colour 15

Gloves and Gauntlets 20

Eyes (shape and colour) 10

TOTAL 100

SEAL POINT
BODY COLOUR: Even pale beige to cream, warm in tone with a golden hue shading gradually to lighter colour on stomach and chest. Shading if any to tone with point colour.
POINT COLOUR: Sound, rich seal to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Seal brown.
PAW PADS: Seal brown, pink or mottled.
EYE COLOUR: Deep blue

BLUE POINT
BODY COLOUR: Glacial white, cold in tone, any shading at all to tone with point colour to almost white on stomach and chest.
POINT COLOUR: Slate blue to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail
NOSE LEATHER: Slate blue.
PAW PADS: Slate blue, pink or mottled.
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.

CHOCOLATE POINT
BODY COLOUR: Ivory, shading if any, to tone with point colour.
POINT COLOUR: Warm milk chocolate to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail
NOSE LEATHER: Chocolate.
PAW PADS: Chocolate, pink or mottled.
EYE COLOUR: Bright Blue
LILAC POINT
BODY COLOUR: Magnolia, almost white, shading if any, to tone with point colour
POINT COLOUR: Frosty grey of pinkish tone to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail
NOSE LEATHER: Lavender pink (pale pink in kittens).
PAW PADS: Lavender pink (pale pink in kittens).
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.
RED POINT
BODY COLOUR: Pale, clear cream almost white, with a golden hue.
POINT COLOUR: Reddish gold or apricot to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Pink
PAW PADS: Pink
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.
CREAM POINT
BODY COLOUR: Pale, clear cream almost white, with a golden hue.
POINT COLOUR: Rich cream to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail
NOSE LEATHER: Pink
PAW PADS: Pink.
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.
Note: 'Freckles' may occur on nose, lips, eyelids and ears on the Red and Cream Points. Slight freckling in a mature cat should not be penalised.
TORTOISESHELL POINT
Points need not be evenly broken but each point should preferably display more than one colour. Colours may be intermingled or patched; blazes, solid legs ears or tails are all permissible. Presence of absence of a blaze is immaterial. Points may display two or more shades of the basic colours. The expression of colour or patching in tortoiseshells is random and immaterial.

SEAL TORTOISESHELL POINT
BODY COLOUR: Pale, cream to beige. Shading if any to tone with point colour
POINT COLOUR: Three colours - shades of red, cream and seal to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Seal brown or mottled
PAW PADS: Seal brown or mottled.
EYE COLOUR: Deep blue.
BLUE TORTOISESHELL POINT (BLUE-CREAM POINT)
BODY COLOUR: Glacial white, shading if any to tone with point colour.
POINT COLOUR: Blue and cream to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Blue or mottled
PAW PADS: Blue or mottled
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue
CHOCOLATE TORTOISESHELL POINT
BODY COLOUR: Ivory, shading, if any to tone with point colour.
POINT COLOUR: Three colours, shades of milk chocolate, red and cream to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Chocolate or mottled.
PAW PADS: Chocolate or mottled.
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.

LILAC TORTOISESHELL POINT (LILAC-CREAM POINT)
BODY COLOUR: Magnolia, almost white, shading if any to tone with point colour.
POINT COLOUR: Frosty grey of pinkish tone and cream to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail
NOSE LEATHER: Pink or mottled.
PAW PADS: Pink or mottled.
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.
TABBY POINT
There should be a clearly defined 'M' marking on the forehead, light coloured 'spectacle' markings around the eyes with spotted whisker pads. Ears solid with no stripes. Clear 'thumb marks' which are less apparent in dilute colours (and mottled in the Tortie Tabby Point Birmans). The legs should have clearly defined, varied sized broken stripes and/or rings with solid markings on the back of the hind legs above the gauntlets. The tail should have many clearly defined rings, in varied sizes ending in a solid coloured tip.
Notes: 1. The nose leather should be a pinkish colour outlined in pigment or to tone with the points.
2. Markings in kittens are not as well defined.
3. A ringed tail is desirable but a solid top-tail, ringed on the underside, is not a fault.
4. Pale body coat is desirable, preferably free from body markings, however, body shading of light ghost striping toning with points is acceptable.
TABBY POINT BIRMANS (excluding Tortie Tabby) show distinct tabby markings, although they are more diffuse in the dilute colours. Markings in kittens are less defined.
SEAL TABBY POINT
BODY COLOUR: As for Seal Point
POINT COLOUR: Rich seal markings on a pale brown agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Seal brown or pink edged in seal brown.
PAW PADS: Seal brown or mottled.
EYE COLOUR: Deep blue
BLUE TABBY POINT
BODY COLOUR: As for Blue Point
POINT COLOUR: Slate blue markings on a light beige agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Slate blue or pink edged in slate blue.
PAW PADS: Slate blue or mottled.
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue
CHOCOLATE TABBY POINT
BODY COLOUR: As for Chocolate Point
POINT COLOUR: Warm Milk Chocolate markings on a light bronze agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Chocolate or pink edged in chocolate.
PAW PADS: Chocolate or mottled.
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.
LILAC TABBY POINT
BODY COLOUR: As for Lilac Point
POINT COLOUR: Frosty grey of pinkish tone on a pale beige agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Lavender pink. Pale pink in kittens
PAW PADS: Lavender pink. Pale pink in kittens
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.
RED TABBY POINT
BODY COLOUR: As for Red Point
POINT COLOUR: Reddish gold or apricot on a light apricot agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Pink
PAW PADS: Pink.
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.
CREAM TABBY POINT
BODY COLOUR: As for Cream Point
POINT COLOUR: Rich cream markings on a paler cream agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.
NOSE LEATHER: Pink
PAW PADS: Pink.
EYE COLOUR: Bright blue.
Note: 'Freckles' may occur on nose, lips, eyelids and ears of Red and Cream Tabby Points. Slight freckling in a mature cat should not be penalised.

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Head	20
Body (Including shape, size,bone & length of tail)	20
Coat, length, texture and overall condition	15
Colour	15
Gloves and Gauntlets	20
Eyes (shape and colour)	10
TOTAL	100