Burmilla

The Burmilla is a medium-sized domestic cat breed created in the United Kingdom in 1981 through an unplanned cross between two pedigree cats.

The parents were a lilac Burmese female and a Chinchilla Persian male owned by Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg. The resulting litter of four kittens displayed a shaded silver coat with dark tipping and Burmese conformation, prompting the development of a planned breeding program. Breed standards appeared in 1984, followed by the formation of the Burmilla Cat Club. The Fédération Internationale Féline accepted the breed on January 1, 1995. The Cat Fanciers' Association granted the Burmilla championship status in 2014, and The International Cat Association recognized the breed group for championship status in 2015.

Burmillas are medium-sized cats with muscular yet elegant bodies weighing 3-6 kg (7-13 lb). Slender legs end in neat oval paws, and the hind legs stand slightly longer than the forelegs. The head has a gently rounded top, a medium blunt muzzle, a firm chin, and a visible nose stop at eye level. Large, expressive eyes show luminous green color and sit in dark outlines resembling eyeliner. The standard coat is short, dense, and soft, with a pure silver-white ground color finished with dark tipping or shading in black, blue, brown, chocolate, or lilac.

Gentle, sociable, sweet-natured, and inquisitive, the Burmilla keeps a kitten-like playfulness into adulthood. Shorthaired Burmillas require brushing once a week with a soft comb or brush to remove loose hair. Documented health issues in the breed include polycystic kidney disease, hypokalemia, food allergies, contact dermatitis, and periodontal disease.