The Birman is the cat breed named after the sacred cats of Burma and known for white-gloved paws.
The breed is also called the Sacred Birman. Its traditional appearance combines a colorpoint pattern with blue eyes, a medium-to-long silky coat, and contrasting white markings on the feet. The front paws are often described as gloves, while the rear legs may have white laces that extend higher up the limbs.
Birman origin stories place the cats in Burmese temples, but those legends are not firmly documented history. The breed was developed in France during the early twentieth century. A pair reportedly reached France around 1919, and the surviving female, Sita, became important to the European breeding program after the male died during transport.
The Birman is easy to confuse with the Ragdoll because both have blue eyes, colorpoint coats, and substantial bodies. However, the Birman’s distinctive white feet are a central breed feature. Birman kittens are born pale and develop darker points as they mature.