The cat associations
The two Premier cat associations The International Cat Association (TICA) and the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) have, in my view, similar breed standards in relation to this cat. As Gloria states the word “round” features a lot. I was unable to make a comparison between these breed standards and the European breed standard under the World Cat Federation because the website for the WCF was unattainable. If that position changes I will amend this page.
I wrote the text below about 12 years ago. I decided to keep it on this page as I believe it still has some usefulness.
I also have difficulty with the difference in the appearance of American and European Burmese cats. The greatest difference in breed standard description would seem to be that the American Burmese cat is “cobby” (rounded, stocky, short) and the European, “elegant” and more slender (“foreign” type). The European Burmese head is less rounded it seems to. The breed standard of the Australian cat fancy also calls for a foreign type cat.
What about the American Burmese cat colours and patterns? I would say that the Burmese cat at the top of this page has a seal sepia coat or chocolate sepia. The seal sepia Burmese is meant to have a “dark brown” body and points. The cat in the photo does not have a dark brown body. It is more milk chocolate coloured. Chocolate sepia seems to be referred to as “champagne”1, which is in the CFA Burmese breed standard “dilute” category. The problem is the different standards and descriptions across different cat associations and countries.
Note:
1. Encyclopedia of the Cat – Dr Bruce Fogle page 146.
