GCCF's Burmese Standards

(European Burmese)

GCCF's Standard of Points


General

The Burmese is an elegant cat of a foreign type, which is positive and quite individual to the breed. In character they are alert, active, intelligent, extremely friendly and affectionate.

Head Shape

The head, carried on a medium neck, should be in proportion to the body. Viewed from the front it should form a short wedge, wide at the cheek bones and tapering to a blunt finish at the muzzle.  The top of the head should be slightly rounded between the ears.  Allowance should be made for a teething pinch in kittens.  In profile the head should show good depth between the top of the skull and the lower jaw.  The brow should be slightly rounded.

Nose

There should be a distinct nose break followed by a straight ending with the tip of the nose in the same vertical plane as the chin.

Chin

The lower jaw should show a good depth of chin

Ears Shape

Medium in size, broad at the base, rounded at the tip and in profile showing a slight forward tilt.  Allowance should be made for correctly shaped but overlarge ears in a kitten where the head size and shape is still developing.

Placement

Set well apart so that the outer line of the ears continues the shape of the upper part of the face.  However, in mature males, who have developed full cheeks and a sturdy neck, this will not be so apparent.

Eyes Shape

Must be set well apart.  They should be large and lustrous, the top line of the eye showing a slant towards the nose, the lower line being rounded.

Colour

Any shade of yellow from chartreuse to amber, with golden yellow preferred. Burmese eye colour is very sensitive to variations in light intensity and colour. Wherever possible it should be assessed in north daylight.   It is important that, when being judged, the eye colour of all the cats in the class should be assessed under identical light conditions.  Allowance should be made for eye colour in a kitten where it still may developing and for colour dilution in an older cat.

Body Size

Of medium length and size.

Structure

Feeling hard and muscular and heavier than its appearance indicates.  The chest should be strong and rounded in profile, the back straight from shoulder to rump.

Legs

Legs should be slender and in proportion to the body, hind legs slightly longer than the front.

Paws

Neat and oval in shape.

Tail

Straight, medium thickness at the base and tapering to a rounded tip.  When the tail is brought gently round the side of the body the tip should reach the shoulder.

Coat Structure

Short, fine, satin-like in texture lying close to the body.  The glossy coat is a distinctive feature of Burmese and is indicative of good health.

Colour

In all colours the underparts will be lighter than the back but the shading should be gradual.  Ears and face may be slightly darker in colour.  A coat free from barring or spotting should be aimed for in all colours.  The presence of a few white hairs may be overlooked in an otherwise excellent cat.  In all colours the coat should shade gradually to the roots with no evidence of smoke effect or ticking.  Red and creams may show some freckling or brown pigmentation on ears, nose leather, eye rims, lips, paw pads.  The individual colour descriptions are for mature adults.  Allowance should be made in kittens and adolescents for a lighter coat colour than the adult standard specifies.  Paw pads may be a lighter colour in kittens than adults.

Note:  In the case of the four tortie colours.  The colours may be mingled or blotched; blazes, solid legs or tails are all permissible.  Variations in the overall effect of the tortie coat pattern are to be expected.

Faults Withold Certificates

Oriental type e.g. straight profile with no nose break, overlarge, flared ears, whip tail.  British type e.g. square cobby body, round head, small ears.  Small, fine boned or dainty adults.  Eyes with more blue than yellow pigmentation.  A noticeable number or patch of white hairs.  Lack of weight or condition.  Extreme aggressive behavior.    Any defect as listed in the preface to this SOP booklet.

Muzzle pinch in adults.
Flat or dished brows.
Nose showing bumps.
Nose leather falling away markedly.
Round or oriental eyes.
Excessively small or close set eyes.
Green, copper or orange eyes.
Ticking or smoke undercoat.
Extremes of coat colour.
Slight bony excrescence at end of tail.


Scale of points


Type

Head and neck
20

Ears
10

Eye shape and set
5

Body
20

Legs and paws
5

Tail
5

Coat, colour and condition

Eyes
5

Body
10

Texture
5

Condition
10

Temperament
5


The cat as a whole should be taken in consideration before making a final assessment.



Recognized Colours


Brown
The coat should be a rich warm seal brown.  Nose leather rich brown.  Paw pads
brown.

Blue
The coat should be a soft blue-grey.  There should be a distinct silver sheen on
rounded areas such as ears, face and feet.  Nose leather dark grey.  Paw pads
pinkish grey.

Chocolate
The coat should be a warm milk chocolate.  Evenness of colour overall is very
desirable.  Nose leather warm chocolate brown.  Paw pads brick pink shading to
chocolate.

Lilac
The coat should be a pale, delicate dove-grey with a light pinkish cast.  Nose leather and paw pads lavender pink.

Red
The coat should be tangerine.  (Slightly tabby markings may be found on the face
and small indeterminate markings elsewhere, except on sides and belly, are
permissible in an otherwise excellent cat.)  Nose leather and paw pads pink.

Cream
The coat should be cream showing a distinct bloom on ears, the top of the head and the back resulting in a powdered effect.  (Slightly tabby markings may be found on the face and small indeterminate markings elsewhere, except on sides and belly, are permissible in an otherwise excellent cat.)  Nose leather and paw pads pink.

Brown Tortie
The coat should be brown with shades of red.  Nose leather and paw pads plain or blotched, brown and pink.

Blue Tortie
The coat should be blue with shades of cream.  Nose leather and paw pads plain or blotched, blue and pink.

Chocolate Tortie
The coat should be chocolate with shades of red.  Nose leather and paw pads plain or blotched, chocolate and pink.

Lilac Tortie
The coat should be lilac with shades of cream.  Nose leather and paw pads plain or blotched, lilac and pink.


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