Burmilla

The CFA describes the Burmilla as friendly, playful and affectionate, with a somewhat mellow streak. It is an intelligent breed that needs toys, high places to climb and attention. According to the CFA, it tolerates being alone during the working day, gets along with dogs, other cats and children, and is not especially vocal or demanding.

The GCCF page on the Asian group paints a slightly different picture: Asian cats are lively, affectionate, sociable and talkative; they generally get along with other cats but can be headstrong about who ranks where. The two sources differ a little, with one saying "not vocal" and the other "talkative." One reason may be that the GCCF describes the Burmilla together with the Bombay, Asian Tabby, Asian Smoke and Tiffanie, so not every sentence is written for the Burmilla alone. The most reliable approach is to meet your kitten in person and look at the temperament of its mother and father.

It suits households that can play with a cat, offer climbing spaces, and want a mellow but curious companion. If you are not looking for a very high-energy cat and do not enjoy a noisy home, it can be a balanced choice.

The story begins in England in 1981. According to the GCCF, two cats belonging to Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg, a Chinchilla Persian male named Sanquist and a Lilac Burmese female named Faberge, mated unexpectedly. The four female kittens that were born looked clearly different from Burmese cats; the CFA describes them as black shaded silver shorthairs. The Baroness decided to develop this look into a new breed.

Recognition has gone like this:

• GCCF: Therese Clarke founded the Burmilla Cat Club in 1984. The GCCF gave the Burmilla preliminary championship status in 1990, and by 2003 all five varieties of the Asian group had full championship status.
• CFA: It accepted both the longhaired and shorthaired varieties for registration in 2011 and granted championship status in 2014. To widen the gene pool, the CFA allows breeding to certain Persians, Exotics and European Burmese until December 31, 2028.
• FIFe: It does not recognize the Burmilla as a separate breed. A note in FIFe's rules says the group that includes Asian Tabby, Burmilla and Bombay is recognized only by the GCCF.

According to the CFA, the Burmilla is medium-sized with a muscular, elegant build. The head looks sculpted, there is a slight dip in the nose profile, and the face is a balanced wedge. The eyes are large and green; dark "make-up" lines appear around the nose, lips and eyes.

• Coat: The coat is silky, pale at the root and tipped with a darker color, which gives it a shimmering look. The shorthaired coat is short, smooth and slightly lifted; the semi-longhaired coat is fine and medium in length, with no woolly undercoat.
• Base and pattern: The base color is silvery white. In the "chinchilla" pattern about one eighth of each hair is colored; in the "shaded" pattern about one third is. Recognized colors include black, seal sepia, blue, chocolate, lilac, cream and red, plus tortoiseshell combinations; golden versions also exist.
• Size: According to the CFA, mature males often weigh 10 lb (about 4.5 kg) or more and females are usually smaller. For the Asian group, the GCCF gives about 11–15 lb (5–7 kg) for males and about 8–12 lb (3.5–5.5 kg) for females.

Coat care is simple: the CFA suggests combing at least weekly with a stainless-steel comb or a small slicker brush, for either coat length. Baths are occasional, not routine. Nails, ears and teeth need regular care; do these the way your veterinarian shows you. Turning combing into a game while the cat is young makes it easier; for more, see cat grooming.

• Mind and movement: This is an intelligent breed; puzzle feeders, a climbing tree and daily hunting-style play help.
• Spay and neuter: The GCCF notes that Asian cats mature sexually early and suggests talking with your vet about early spaying or neutering.
• A new cat: If you plan to add a second cat, the step-by-step guide to introducing two cats will help.

We found no breed-specific diet advice for the Burmilla. A balanced, complete cat food suited to age and lifestyle is enough. Measure the food, subtract treats from the daily amount, set the daily amount with your veterinarian, and weigh your cat monthly. A 2024 UK study found that a non-ideal body weight was linked to a shorter lifespan, so tracking weight helps both health and longevity.

The following is for information only; ask your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

The GCCF points to hypokalaemia, meaning low blood potassium, as the main health concern in the Asian group. A reliable DNA test exists, and the GCCF has required it for Asian cats used for breeding since January 1, 2018. The GCCF also says polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which occur in ancestral breeds, have not been found in Asian cats so far.

The CFA says Burmillas are generally healthy but can inherit problems from their parent breeds. Because the gene pool is small, breeders add new, unrelated lines and cats from abroad. So ask the breeder:

• Whether the breeding cats were DNA tested, for example for hypokalaemia.
• How diverse the pedigree is, and whether there is close inbreeding.
• Whether the kitten has had a veterinary check.

As with any cat, regular veterinary checks of the heart, kidneys and teeth are a good starting point.

We found no breed-specific lifespan study for the Burmilla. The GCCF gives an average lifespan of 16–18 years for the Asian group; that is a registry's general range, not research data. The 2024 UK study (VetCompass, 12 breeds) did not include the Burmilla; in it, the Burmese had a life expectancy at birth of 14.42 years and crossbred cats 11.89 years. The Burmese is among the Burmilla's ancestors, but that does not let us draw a conclusion about the Burmilla's lifespan. Lifespan is most affected by an ideal weight, regular veterinary checks, spaying or neutering, and a safe home. Ask your veterinarian which checks they recommend as your cat ages.

• Think about shelters too: Silver-coated, green-eyed shorthaired cats also turn up in shelters; they may not look like a Burmilla, but a loving companion could be waiting there.
• If you buy from a breeder: Ask to see the mother and father; ask about DNA test results, the pedigree and vaccination records. Stay away from sellers who label every silver shorthaired cat a "Burmilla." The shaded, pencil-lined look depends on a detailed standard.
• Red flags: Sellers who will not show the mother, who always have kittens for sale, who offer no paperwork, or who rush you to "buy now."
• Legal registration: In Türkiye, microchipping and PETVET registration are mandatory for cats. Details are in our article on PETVET registration and microchips.
• The first days: International Cat Care recommends starting a new cat in a single room, leaving a place to hide, and waiting for the cat to come out on its own rather than forcing it. Our first week with a new cat article walks through it step by step.