The Burmese Cat is judged by a point score system, focusing on key physical attributes. Here’s a breakdown of the points allocated to different features:
| Point Score | Feature |
|---|---|
| 30 | HEAD, EARS and EYES |
| Roundness of head | |
| Breadth between eyes & Full face | |
| Proper profile (includes Chin) | |
| Ear set, placement, and size | |
| Eye placement and shape | |
| 30 | BODY, LEGS, and TAIL |
| Torso | |
| Muscle tone | |
| Legs and Feet | |
| Tail | |
| 10 | COAT |
| Shortness | |
| Texture | |
| Close lying | |
| 30 | COLOR |
| Body color | |
| Eye color |
General Standard
The ideal Burmese cat presents an overall impression of a medium-sized cat that is surprisingly heavy, possessing a substantial bone structure and well-developed musculature. This, combined with a rounded head, expressive eyes, and a sweet disposition, distinguishes the Burmese from any other breed. Excellent physical condition and muscle tone are paramount. Signs of obesity, weakness, or lethargy are undesirable.
Head, Ears, and Eyes
The Burmese head is pleasingly rounded without flat planes when viewed from any angle. The face is full, displaying considerable breadth between the eyes, and smoothly transitions into a broad, well-developed, short muzzle that maintains the rounded contours of the head. A visible nose break is evident in profile. The chin is firmly rounded, indicating a correct bite. The head is supported by a well-developed neck. The ears are medium in size, set wide apart, broad at the base, and rounded at the tips. Positioned tilting slightly forward, the ears contribute to an alert appearance. The eyes are large, set far apart, and feature a rounded shape.
Body, Legs, Paws, and Tail
The body of a Burmese cat is medium in size, muscular, and compact in appearance. Allowance is made for males to be larger. The cat should exhibit a broad, rounded chest and a level back from shoulders to tail. Legs are well-proportioned to the body. Paws are round, with five toes on the front feet and four on the hind feet. The tail is straight and of medium length, complementing the body.
Coat
The Burmese coat is a defining feature: fine, glossy, and possessing a luxurious satin-like texture. It is characteristically short and very close-lying to the body.
Penalties and Disqualifications
Judges will penalize distinct barring on the outer legs (front or rear), although faint barring is permissible in kittens and young adults. An elongated muzzle with significant narrowing, resulting in a wedge-shaped head that detracts from the rounded head contours, is also penalized. Green eyes or any tail abnormality are considered faults.
Disqualifications include a kinked tail, the presence of lockets or spots, blue eyes, or crossed eyes. Incorrect nose leather or paw pad color, a malocclusion of the jaw leading to a severe underbite or overbite that distorts the profile, protruding teeth, or a wry face or jaw are also grounds for disqualification. Distinct barring on the torso and any coat color outside the accepted sable, champagne, blue, and platinum are disqualifying traits.
Burmese Color Varieties
The Burmese breed is recognized in four stunning colors:
Sable Burmese: The mature Sable Burmese exhibits a rich, warm, sable brown coat, shading almost imperceptibly to a slightly lighter tone on the underparts. The color is uniform, devoid of shadings, barring, or markings. (Kittens may present a lighter color). Nose leather and paw pads are brown. Eye color ranges from yellow to gold, with deeper and more brilliant shades being preferred.
Champagne Burmese: The mature Champagne Burmese displays a warm honey beige coat, shading to a pale gold tan on the underside. Slight darkening on the ears and face is permissible, but less shading is favored. A slight darkening may occur in older cats, but evenness of color is emphasized. Nose leather is light warm brown, and paw pads are warm pinkish tan. Eye color, again, ranges from yellow to gold, with depth and brilliance highly valued.
Blue Burmese: The mature Blue Burmese is characterized by a medium blue coat with warm fawn undertones, shading subtly to a lighter hue on the underparts. The color is solid, without shadings, barring, or markings. Nose leather and paw pads are slate gray, with paw pads potentially ranging to warm pinkish blue. Eye color is yellow to gold, with preference for deeper, more brilliant tones.
Platinum Burmese: The Platinum Burmese mature coat is a pale, silvery gray with pale fawn undertones, shading almost imperceptibly to a lighter shade on the underparts. The color is even, lacking shadings, barring, or markings. Nose leather and paw pads are lavender-pink. Eye color follows the standard, ranging from yellow to gold, with deeper and more brilliant shades being most desirable.
Burmese Color Class Numbers
The following color class numbers are for reference and are not part of the official CFA Show Standard.
| Color | Kitten Class | Cat Class |
|---|---|---|
| Sable | 0400 | 0401 |
| Champagne | 0402 | 0403 |
| Blue | 0404 | 0405 |
| Platinum | 0406 | 0407 |
| AOV – All Divisions | None | None |
Permitted Outcross Breeds:
For Burmese breeding, Tonkinese are allowable outcrosses until December 31, 2031, along with imported Southeast Asian Cats and sable Bombay cats (also until December 31, 2031).
