Asians
(photo by Alan Robinson) Breeder Naomi Johnson
GC Vervain Goldberry (f) Black Asian Ticked Tabby
(This article was written by Naomi Johnson, Nottinghamshire, UK)
The Asian breed was developed in the UK and came about via a series of accidental matings of Burmese, on the one hand with a Chinchilla longhair and on the other with black and tabby non-pedigree cats. The Chinchilla mating took place in 1981 and led to the birth of 4 black silver shaded female kittens of reasonable European Burmese type. The owner of the accidental litter, Miranda von Kirchberg, initially regarded them as very pretty pets never to be repeated - but after a few weeks began to wonder about the possibility of a new breed in the making. The kittens were very healthy and strong and had the sweetest natures imaginable - why should there not be a "Silver Burmese" when there were already Silver Orientals, Persians and British Shorthairs? Miranda sought help and advice from many people including GCCF officers, geneticists and cat club representatives and eventually formulated a breeding programme to develop "Silver Shaded Shorthairs of Burmese type" which she named Burmillas. Over the course of the next few years, more breeders joined the programme and it became clear that the new breed had huge potential, because in addition to the Shaded Silvers, other patterns and colours were appearing - Smokes, Tabbies in all patterns, Selfs and semi-longhairs to be known as Tiffanies. In due course the name "Asian" was selected to cover all these varieties, all of them being cats of European Burmese type and wonderful temperament.
(photo by Alan Robinson) Breeder Naomi Johnson
GC Vervain Tarazed (m) Brown Shaded Silver Burmilla
During the same time period, independently of Miranda's efforts, another group in the west of England was working to develop a Black Shorthair of Burmese type, modelled on the already-existing Bombay breed in the US. This programme arose from mismatings of Burmese with tabby and black non-pedigree cats. In the late 1980s the two breeding programmes were combined as part of the "Asian Group, although the breeders of Bombays and other Selfs still follow a slightly different route.
(photo by Alan Robinson) Breeder Naomi Johnson
CH Vervain Calamondin (m) Brown Asian Ticked Tabby
In 1990 GCCF gave Preliminary recognition to the cats of the Asian Group meaning that they could be shown in Assessment classes. In 1994, the Asian Smokes, Burmillas and Asian Tabbies progressed to the next stage of Provisional Recognition and these 3 varieties gained Championship status in 1997.
The Asian Selfs were added in 2000 and Tiffanies were added in 2003, into Championship status. Since gaining Championship status the Burmillas, Smokes, Tabbies, Selfs and Tiffanies have been successful way beyond all expectation, winning many Best in Show awards even at the most prestigious GCCF Shows - which, considering that they have to compete against the other Foreign breeds (Rex, Abyssinian, Russian, Korat) is quite outstanding.
(Photo by John Daniels) Breeder Deborah Laugher
Lohr Choccyhorror (m) Burmese Colour Restriction
Chocolate Smoke Asian
(Photo by Alan Robinson) Breeder is O. Holt and I. Higgins
Nemorez Dragonfly (f) Chocolate Ticked Tabby
I plan on breeding the Asian Silver Ticked Tabbys and Burmillas.
My first litter of 1st Generation Asians were born March 6, 1999. There were 2 Chocolate Ticked Silver Tabby boys and 1 Chocolate Ticked Tabby girl and 1 Black Ticked Tabby girl. The mating was a Chocolate European Burmese and a Black Silver Aby.
I will be updating this page shortly with more information on types of Asians. So come back at a later time.
My 1st Generation Kitten's photos
These are some photos of my 1st Generation Asian Kittens that were born on 6-March-1999. There is 1 Chocolate Ticked Tabby girl (Gabrielle), 2 Chocolate Ticked Silver Tabby boys and 1 Black Ticked Tabby girl (Xena).
Here is Bes Gabrielle as an adult (kitten photo above). She has produced many nice kittens for me.
This is a 1st Generation Asian and her
name is Cheetahara, she is a Black Tortie Silver Ticked Tabby. She has a little Red Spot on the top of her head.
Here is my 2nd Generation Asian. His name is Bes Snow Dragon and he is a Cinnamon Shaded Silver Burmilla.
Here is Bes Calypso, a Lilac Tortie Self (just like a Lilac Tortie European Burmese) with all 3 of her boys.
Here is Bes Athena, Calypso's sister, who is a Red Silver Ticked Tabby. Both she and her sister, Calypso, have a new home and they are very happy.
This next photo is Bes Jar-Jar Binks, he is a 2nd Generation, Sex-Linked Red Shaded Silver Burmilla and he now lives with Cheryl and Jim Gill in New York.
This little girl is Bes Sweet Rosa. Her date of birth is 3-August-2003. Rosa is a 3rd Generation, Black Tortie Smoke. Rosa will be going to her new home along with Princess (below).
This one is a 3rd Generation, Red Shaded Silver Burmilla and her name is Bes Snow Princess. She was born on 14-April-2003. She will be going to her new home as a Breeder.
This next one is Bes Smokie or Smokie for short. She is a Apricot Silver Ticked Tabby. Her date of birth is 14-April-2003. She is the sister to Snow Princess, above.
This is Hindmarsh Silva Aidan of Bes. He is a Black Tipped Silver Burmilla and he was from Australia. His date of birth is 16-February-2003.
He got caught munching on one of the kittens who came back from being neutered and I got a photo of him taking off (as a older kitten).
Here is a Black Tipped Silver Burmilla and her name is Bes Krystal Isis. Her dad is Aidan, above. Her date of birth is 19-March-2004.
This is Bes Obi-wan Kenobi and he is a Black Smoke boy. His date of birth is 13-February-2005. His mom is Isis, above. He was my bottle fed boy when he was born.
This is Bes Black Sheba and her date of birth is 27-September-2006. Her dad is Obi above.
Here is a 2nd Generation Black Smoke boy of Isabella x Koala and his date of birth is 08-July-2004. His name is Bes Midnight.
This is a 3rd Generation, Full Expression Chocolate Smoke boy. His name is Bes Koala. His birthday is 03-August-2003. He is the father of Midnight Star (above).
Here is Bes Spot and she is a Black Tortie Smoke. Her date of birth is 15-August-2004.
Tiffanies
These next photos are Tiffanies, the semi-longhaired Burmese:
Here is Black Silver Burmilla Tiffanie boy, his name currently is Bes Teddy Bear. His date of birth is 15-August-2004 (that is the same birthday as Gandalf and Gandalf is his dad).
(Photo by Alan Robinson)
Adwelch Mellow Candytuft (f) Brown Smoke
Owner: Jennifer Ray
To see the Acceptable Outcrosses for the Asians the Breed Standards that are being used for the Asians and the European Burmese/GCCF's Burmese Standards.
Click here: Acceptable Outcrosses
Click here: Asian Breed Standards
Click here: GCCF's Burmese Standards (European Burmese)
Click here: CFA New Breeds Recognition for Registration Requirements
And: Rules Governing Acceptance and Advancement of New Breeds and Colors
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