Beautiful Birmans Trivia Quiz

Answer: Large-boned, semi-cobby and medium-longhair

The Birman has soft, silky semi-long fur that can be anywhere between milky white and golden ivory, with colored 'points' on the ears and face. Its paws will always be pure white. The build is semi-cobby, i.e. quite stocky, due to its large bones.

Answer: Sable

The Birman colorpoint colors are sealpoint, bluepoint, chocolatepoint, lilacpoint, redpoint, tortiepoint (in seal, blue and lilac), creampoint, and blue-creampoint. Whilst breeders are trying to introduce colors such as cinnamonpoint and fawnpoint, sablepoint Birmans are not recognized.

Answer: The cat rested her paws on the chest of her owner, whose soul passed through her

The Birman cat rested her paws on the chest of her deceased owner, a monk, and his soul passed through her, changing her fur from white to shimmering gold, leaving the pure white paws untouched. A more scientific theory says the paws originated from certain genes in the cat's ancestral DNA pool.

Answer: True

The breed's intense friendliness results in them approaching humans to greet them. Since not all humans have pure intentions when it comes to animals, Birmans should be kept inside unless you want them stolen from you.

Answer: It comes from the French name for Burma

Since the first country to import Birmans was France, it seemed they got naming rights and used the French spelling of Burma, "Birmanie", to derive Birman and name the cats, which stuck in all countries. The monks probably didn't get too much say in the naming of the breed.

Answer: Blue

The Birman's eyes should be large, with a sapphire color to them. Any other color is considered a genetic fault in the cat, or not a true Birman (they may be considered a crossbreed).

Answer: WWII

The War of the Roses was many years before the Birmans were even introduced to France. In World War II, the bombing from the Axis forces killed most Birman cats, which dwindled down to only two cats, who then had to be carefully crossed with other breeds such as Persian and Siamese cats to perpetuate the breed.

It took a few cat generations before the breed could be accepted as pure breeds.

Answer: One week

Birman kittens are born pure white. After one week, however, the white 'gloves' become distinguishable from the rest of the body, and the color of the cat's colorpoints should be coming through as long as the cat is a dark color, such as seal or chocolate. For the paler colors, such as lilac or blue, it would take around two weeks for the colors to come through.

The color change is complete after two years.

Answer: Laces

The laces have to be pure white, with no hint of color, reach just high enough on the leg but not too far, and end in a point to meet breed standards. Of course, if you just want a pet cat, these requirements aren't relevant.

Answer: Aggression

Birmans were bred to be companions to people. They are playful without being intrusive, relax when held, and aren't outdoors cats due to their trusting, loving natures. Any aggression shown in a Birman cat without provocation is a sign of previous abuse or may be due to non-existant socialisation, or a genetic fault.