Birmans

The Birman Cat is often referred to as The Sacred Cat of Burma. In colour pattern it is much like the Siamese, with colour points of Seal, Blue, Chocolate or Lilac. One unique feature of its colouring is that the paws are white. The white on the front paws ends in an even line like a glove, while the white on the back paws runs up to a point like a gauntlet.

There is a story about how the Birman got its colouring, the temple of some Burmese priests were raided by enemies, one priest, Mun-Ha with his white cat Sinh beside him, knelt praying for deliverance to the golden statue of Tsun-Kyan-Kse, the goddess of transmigration of souls. Mun-Ha was struck down by the emenies, as he lay dying Sinh jumped onto his masters body to protect him, at the same time looking into the sapphire blue eyes of the goddess. As he did so, Sinh's eyes turned to blue, its legs , tail, mask and ears turned to brown( the colour of the earth on which the statue stood) its white coat turned to a golden yellow colour(a reflection of the statues colour), and his paws that touched his master's body remained white, Mun-Ha's soul has passed into the cats body, when the next morning dawned, the hundred white temple cats had all changed to the same colour and the enemy had retreated in defeat. Within seven days Sinh died and took his masters soul to paradise. From that time the priests regarded the cat as a sacred cat.

The present day Birman has long, silky fur and a heavy rough, is head is round with full cheeks and rounded china blue eyes, the long yet stocky body, is set on short sturdy legs, and its long tail is bushy. There is a touch of gold on its beige coat.

The Birman is a very attractive cat, affectionate playful, intelligent and with a pleasant voice.

Russians

The Russian Blue Cat was once called the "Archangel Cat", said to have been brought to Britain from the Port of Archangel in the reign of Queen Elizabeth the 1st.

Later it was known as both the Spanish Cat and the Maltese Cat.

During the 2nd World War the breed declined and there were many attempts to revive it using British Blue Cats and Siamese outcrosses, this almost lead to its virtual disappearance, the cat became a blue Siamese in type and almost lost its distinctive double coat, in the late 1960's saw a return to the original type after combined efforts by breeders on both sides of the Atlantic.

The distinguishing feature of the Russian Blue is its double coat, which has a feeling that is rivaled by any other cat.

The Russian Cats are graceful, attractive in appearance. Its foreign type, with a short wedge-shaped head, long legs, long slender body, long tapering tail,and oriental eyes. The eyes are vivid green in colour, wide apart and almond shaped. Its double coat of an even shade of blue is short, thick soft and silky. In some cats the coat is silver tipped giving it a silvery sheen. The Russian Cat is a shy and gentle,yet friendly, its soft voice and when walking appears to be walking on its toes. The Russian Blue Cat is obliging, rather shy, and quiet, in fact sometimes it is hard to tell whether the queen is calling.