Information

Imperial Grand Champion Honpuss Elanay Tukana - The first Imperial Grand Champion Burmilla in the UK

The Asian Breed was first established in the early 1980‘s. In 1981 an accidental mating took place between a lilac Burmese and a Chinchilla stud. The breeder, the late Miranda von Kirchberg, had hoped that her Burmese Bambino Lilac Faberge would be mated to a Champion Burmese, and she was shut in Miranda's study until she could be taken to stud. Her friend and companion Sanquist shut away from his best friend, made such a fuss that Miranda's housekeeper let him into the room with Faberge where the inevitable happened……..

9 weeks later Faberge produced 4 black Shaded Silver shorthaired kittens looking more like their Burmese mother than their Chinchilla father. The kittens had sparkiling silver coats tipped with black, with dark eyeliner and tabby markings on their heads, legs and tails and were nicknamed Burmillas. The combined quality of their type, their spectacular look and their superb temperament prompted Miranda with the help of Therese Clark to try and establish a new breed. Another mating between Sanquist and another of Miranda's Burmese queens was arranged. On 27th March 1982, in a single male kitten, was born who also displayed the qualities of the first litter and the breeding programme for the Burmilla was born.

The offspring of cross-mating Burmese and Chinchilla parents will always produce shorthair, silver progeny carrying two recessive genes - the 'self' gene inherited from the Burmese and the 'longhair' gene inherited from the Chinchilla but has time has moved on and Asian to Burmese or Asian to Asian matings have taken place we now have the diverse number of colours, patterns and coat lengths that make up the Asian breed group in the GCCF in the UK. In FIFE only silver Burmillas or tipped cats are recognised and TICA only recognise the Bombay.

The temperament of the Asian cat is quite exceptional. It is a combination of the demanding and mischievous character of the Burmese mixed with the easy-going, relaxed nature of the Chinchilla. The Asian is an intelligent and extremely affectionate cat and like his Burmese cousin is not fazed by door handles and cupboard doors. Their playful nature can be seen when they play retrieve or dribble a pingpong ball. When they are tired your lap is best bed in the world and with a huge grin they will settle down for a nap. A totally enchanting breed whether they be jet black or silver shaded lilac.