Burmese cat

Breed of domestic shorthaired cat of ancient origin. The modern breed is descended for a cat introduced into the USA in 1930 from Burma and crossed with a Siamese. The original Burmese has a sable brown coat with lighter shading on the underside; the medium-length body is muscular and more rounded than a Siamese.

It was first recognized as a true breed in the USA in 1936 and in the UK in 1952. The standards vary for the Burmese in the USA and Britain; for instance, the British eye shape is specified as oval, while the American standard demands a rounder look. There are many varieties.