Burmilla kittens for sale in Balsall Common, Coventry

The Burmilla, often referred to as Asian Shaded, originated in the UK in 1981 as the result of an "accidental" mating between a Persian Chinchilla and a Burmese. Although it is a distinct breed in that it breeds "true" (i.e. Burmilla x Burmilla will only produce Burmilla offspring), it is also the founding breed of the overall group of cats referred to by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) as the Asian Group, used for cats with Burmese shape and coat texture, but with non-Burmese coat colour, pattern, or length. This closely related group of cats descended from Burmese crossed with other pedigreed cats also includes the Asian Self, Asian Smoke, Asian Tabby, Bombay (a black Asian Self), and the Tiffanie (a long-haired Asian variety). The offspring of crossing Burmese and Chinchilla parents invariably produce these short-haired, silvery offspring that carry two recessive genes - the "self" gene inherited from the Burmese and the "longhaired" gene inherited from the Chinchillas. Interestingly, the Asian Group was the first pedigree cat breed in the UK to include a good temperament as part of their Standard of Points.

Read our Burmilla Buying Advice page for information on this cat breed.