Description: Burmilla
The Burmilla is an elegant and charming breed of domestic cat, originating from the accidental mating of a Burmese and a Chinchilla Persian in the early 1980s in the United Kingdom. Instantly recognized by its beautiful silver coat and stunning green eyes, the Burmilla is medium-sized, muscular, and graceful. This breed has a delightful personality—affectionate, playful, and gentle, making it a wonderful companion for families and singles alike. The Burmilla generally gets along well with children and other pets, and is known for its balanced temperament, combining the curiosity and playfulness of the Burmese with the calm and easy-going nature of the Chinchilla Persian. Their short to semi-long coats are relatively easy to care for, requiring only occasional brushing. Burmillas are intelligent, sociable cats that thrive on human interaction, and they make loving additions to any cat-loving household.
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Properties
The Burmilla is a moderately rare and charming breed of domestic cat that originated in the United Kingdom in 1981. The breed came into existence when a male Chinchilla Persian accidentally mated with a female Burmese, leading to kittens with exceptionally appealing silver coats and expressive green eyes. Since then, the Burmilla has been carefully developed to maintain desirable traits from both parental breeds.
Physically, the Burmilla stands out with its short, plush coat that typically has a shimmering silver base and beautiful color tipping. The most common variants feature either black or lilac shading, but other colors such as chocolate, blue, and caramel can also be found. The eyes are large, expressive, and range from green to chartreuse, giving the cat a distinctive look. The head is gently rounded, with a broad muzzle and well-developed whisker pads, while the body is medium-sized, muscular, and graceful.
In terms of personality, the Burmilla is known for its affectionate and playful nature. It tends to inherit the playful, inquisitive temperament of the Burmese and the more laid-back, gentle disposition of the Chinchilla Persian. As a result, Burmillas generally get along well with children and other pets, making them suitable for family environments. They are affectionate without being overly demanding, and they often form strong bonds with their human companions. While they enjoy interactive play and a stimulating environment, they can also entertain themselves.
Burmillas typically require moderate grooming; their short coat is relatively easy to care for and only needs weekly brushing to remove loose hair and maintain its sheen. Regular attention to dental hygiene, claw trimming, and ear cleaning is advised, much like with many other cat breeds. Health-wise, Burmillas are generally robust, though they may inherit some predispositions from their ancestral lines, such as kidney or respiratory issues, so regular veterinary check-ups are recommended.
The breed is recognized by various cat registries, including the GCCF (Governing Council of the Cat Fancy) and FIFe (Fédération Internationale Féline). Overall, the Burmilla makes an ideal companion for households seeking a sociable, elegant, and loving feline friend.
Appearance
The Burmilla is a striking cat breed, renowned for its unique and captivating appearance. This breed originated from a chance mating between a Burmese and a Chinchilla Persian, resulting in a beautiful blend of both parent breeds’ physical characteristics. One of the most defining features of the Burmilla is its luxurious, short to medium-length coat, which feels incredibly silky and soft to the touch. The hair lies close to the body, shimmering in the light, primarily due to the distinctive silver undercoat. Most Burmillas display a delicately shaded or tipped coat pattern, where the ends of the hair are gently colored, giving the cat its iconic ‘misty veil’ effect.
The coloring of the Burmilla is another standout trait. While the most common and popular variety is silver, with either black, blue, chocolate, or lilac shading or tipping, there are a range of recognized colors and patterns, including golden varieties. Their markings can be either shaded, where color covers about half of the hair length, or tipped, where only the very tips of the hairs are colored. Regardless of the pattern, the underlying coat is always bright and luminous, perfectly contrasting with the darker tips or shading.
The Burmilla’s body structure is elegant and medium-sized, with a well-muscled but graceful build. The chest is broad and the body tapers gently from the shoulders to the hind quarters, giving an overall impression of refinement. Their legs are slender yet strong, ending in neat oval paws, and the tail is of medium length, rounded at the tip, often displaying subtle barring or shading.
Another highlight of the Burmilla’s appearance is its expressive facial features. The head is gently rounded with well-developed cheekbones and a soft contour, enhanced by a slightly broad muzzle. Their eyes are particularly captivating—large, almond-shaped, and set at a slight slant. The eye color can range from a vivid green to a yellowish-green, often outlined by a delicate darker rim which enhances their expressive look. Their ears are medium to large, widely spaced, and slightly tilted forward, giving the cat an alert and intelligent demeanor.
Overall, the Burmilla combines a graceful yet robust body with a wonderfully plush, shimmering coat and captivating eyes, resulting in a breed that is both sophisticated and charming in appearance.
History
The Burmilla is a relatively modern breed of domestic cat that originated in the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. Its creation was largely the result of a happy accident, demonstrating how chance sometimes plays an essential role in forming new breeds. The breed’s history began in 1981 when Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg owned a charming lilac Burmese female named 'Fabergé' and a striking silver-chinned Persian male called 'Jemari Sanquist'. One night, due to an open door, the two cats mated unintentionally. The kittens produced from this union possessed an enchanting blend of traits: the Burmese’s affectionate, playful temperament and the Persian’s distinctive shaded silver coat.
The kittens caught the attention of breeders and cat enthusiasts immediately. Their short, plush coats with dramatic silver shading and mascara-like facial markings made them particularly attractive. Moreover, the kittens had a charming personality—friendly, outgoing, and playful—making them popular as family pets. Recognizing their unique features, breeders decided to develop the Burmilla as a new breed, and further matings were arranged between Burmese and Persian chinchilla cats to consolidate the breed’s characteristics.
By the late 1980s, the Burmilla had become established enough to receive preliminary recognition from various cat associations. It was officially recognized in the United Kingdom by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in 1994, and gradually, other cat registries followed suit. Since then, breeders have worked meticulously to maintain the beauty, temperament, and health of the Burmilla, developing detailed breed standards and focusing on responsible breeding practices. The Burmilla remains relatively rare, especially in North America, but enjoys greater popularity in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
The history of the Burmilla not only underscores the power of chance in genetic development but also illustrates the dedication of breeders to preserve and enhance the unique qualities of an accidental cross. Today, the Burmilla is celebrated for its gentle nature, distinctive looks, and the interesting story behind its origin, making it a beloved companion for cat fanciers around the world.