The Asian group of cats are Burmese in type, but not in color, coat pattern or (in the case of the Tiffanie) length of fur. It is a similar relationship to the one between the Siamese and the similar type, but differently colored and patterned, Oriental Shorthairs, Balinese and Angora.
The Asian Group embraces the Asian Self, including the Bombay, the Burmilla and the tabby varieties. The semi longhaired version of the Asian is the Tiffanie, described in the semi longhair sections. As with the Burmese, the female Asians are markedly smaller and daintier than the males, but the body type is generally medium sized, straight backed and rounded of chest. Legs are medium length with oval paws, and the hind legs are a little longer than the forelegs. The Asian cats carry their medium to long tails high and prous, and the glossiness of their short, close lying coats is an accurate reflection of their good health.
The Asian Group Breed information
Coat – short, dense, soft and glossy, slightly longer than Burmese
Eyes – yellow to green, green preferred to Silvers, gold allowed in Selfs
Other features – outlined eyes, nose and lips
Grooming – little extra grooming needed
Temperament – stable, dignified inquisitive, sociable
Burmilla Cat
The Burmilla is the longest established and most popular of the Asian Group of cats, and often the starting point for breeding other varieties. It was the originator of the Asian Group of cats in the United Kingdom, derived from a Lilac Burmese queen and a Chinchilla silver persian in 1981. The result was a shorthaired Burmese lookalike with the stunning tipping and outlined featured of the Chinchilla.
A brown shaded silber Burmilla expresses the typical inquisitive nature of its type.
The Burmilla is the shaded or tipped representative of the Asian Group. The shaded varieties are more heavily tipped and obviously colored than the tipped varieties. The undercoat on both variations is the palest possible silver or golden, but tipped at the very ends with one of the standard or Burmese colors. Nose leather and paw pads are brick red (terracotta), and dark pigmentation around the eyes, nose and lips should be obvious.
On the forehead of the Burmilla there should be an M-shaped mark – as on this brown shaded. Other painted face features may be streaks from the outer edges of the eyes and on the cheeks.
One of the cat’s particularly appealing features is the outlining of nose and eyes in the same color as the darker tip. The Burmilla consolidates many of the best points of its parents. It is open and sociable like the Burmese but less demanding and noisy, it is stable and dignified like its Persian forebears, but is rather more advanturous and inquisitive.
A black shaded silver Burmilla is closest in color to its Chinchilla silver heritage and has chinchilla like kohl ringed eyes.
The Lilac Tortie Burmilla has a white base coat shaded with a mingling of frosted pink grey, and dark and light cream. Nose leather and paw pads are complementary lavender or pink, eyes are either amber or green.
Asian Smoke
The Asian Smoke is, as its name suggests, the smoke variety of the Asian Group. Each hair is silver, while the tip is colored. Mere suggestions of tabby markings may appear like watered silk on the body, while the head has what are sometimes known as clown marks – frown lines on the forehead and spectacled eyes.
Subtle gradations of tone are a delightful features of the Asian Smoke. This is a brown, with darker points on tail and face, due to a burmese gene.
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