It's believed that the Birman cat originated in Burma, where it was considered a sacred companion of the priests. Within a temple, a priest and a white temple cat knelt and revered a golden goddess with sapphire blue eyes. One night, the temple was attacked and raided, and the priest was killed. As the priest died, the temple cat laid its feet on its master and turned to face the golden goddess. At that moment, the temple cat's body turned golden, its eyes dazzled with a new-found sapphire blue, its legs turned as brown as the earth, but the paws it rested on its master remained white as a symbol of purity. As the sun rose, the 100 white temple cats were suddenly golden, too. Seven days later the mystical cat died, and is said to have carried his master's soul to paradise. Ever since then, whenever a sacred cat died in the temple, it was said that the soul of a priest was to accompany it to the hereafter. Although there are various versions of the story, the extraordinary coloring of the Birman is the basis of this charming legend.

The Birman is also called the Sacred Cat of Burma. It is a peaceful cat, with a balanced temperament and yet a puppy-like playfulness. Being both loving and calm, they are wonderful companions for children, adults, and other animals. Their flexible nature welcomes being carried in any position you choose, even being held on their backs. The Birman will follow its owner everywhere. Yet, it knows how to not be intrusive when you are going about your daily routine, since it usually adjusts its schedule to be in sync with yours. Birmans are curious. They want to be aware of anything that is new or different, as well as the variety of things you are doing. They love to be surrounded by people and strongly bond to them. You can guess that, yes, they are highly intelligent. They are great for people that want an indoor cat that enjoys sitting laps, eating, and sleeping. They are more active than Persians and less active than Siamese. Birmans tend to be rather quiet; with soft voices they reserve as gentle reminders to catch your attention. You'll notice that they love to show off their porcelain-white paws as they lay down.

The Birman's white feet are misted with gold and ideally, symmetrical. Although difficult to breed, imagine two front gloves that go across in an even line that extends to the two back gloves and meets at a point up the back of its leg. The pattern is referred to as "laces." Another exotic feature is the Birman's almost round, deep sapphire-blue eyes. Their ears are medium-sized, are equal in width and height, with a head that is both broad, and rounded. A silhouette of their striking face is one of a Romanesque nose, low-set nostrils, heavy jaws, and a full chin. They are large and long with stocky bodies and legs, but strongly built. Their exotic looks are accented by a silky medium to long coat, light in color, and preferably tinged with a golden cast. In contrast to their face, legs and tails are darker in color. The Birman is an average-sized cat.

The history of the Birman is unclear and there are many varying opinions about its exact origins. Some believe that French breeders crossed one of the temple cats with either a Siamese or Persian and developed the Birman breed. It has also been said that two westerners aided priests in Burma and as a gesture of thanks, a pair of Birmans was sent to them in France in 1919. Only one Birman survived the trip-a pregnant female, which became the foundation for the breed. French cat registries recognized the Birman as a separate breed in 1925, Britain recognized it in 1966, and the United States recognized the breed in 1967.

Since their sparse undercoat is not prone to matting, grooming is easy. But, regular grooming is required and using a wide-toothed comb is recommended. To maintain your cat's health and extend its life expectancy, have it spayed or neutered, and keep it indoors.

Birmans are sensitive to anesthetics. Talk to the breeder to gain knowledge of any health risks your feline may be prone to, based on the "lines" it comes from.

Be aware that Birmans have both A and B blood lines. Since there are many considerations, the choice to breed must be taken seriously. Speak to the breeder you obtained your cat from and develop a relationship with him or her in an effort to thoroughly prepare yourself for the task. Talking to other breeders, visiting shows, and reading as much as possible is another key to success. It should be noted that only high quality Birmans be used for show-quality breeding and rule out cats with "faults" such as kinked tails, squints, or less than perfect markings.