Birman

Supposedly, this breed originated in the Asian country of Burma, so why is it Birman instead of Burman? To distinguish this breed from the Burmese, obviously. (The two breeds are not related at all.) The Birman, like the Himalayan, gives the appearance of being a longhaired Siamese, but the Birman occurs naturally, while the Himalayan is the result of deliberate crossbreeding.

The Birman has an offwhite coat and the Siamese-like “points” of black or dark brown on the face, ears, legs and tail, plus attractive blue eyes. Though not as rambunctious as Siamese, Birmans are not as laidback as Persians are.