A distinctive feature of the breed is its colour, which changes with age. Kittens are born completely white. The first signs of colour and of the breed markings on the paws appear at about a month old. After that the colour deepens in intensity, while on the gloves and socks only the sharpness of the edges changes. The colour is not fully formed before a year and a half, and in some colours only by two and a half years.
The colour of Sacred Birman cats, called colour-point, is also known as “Siamese” or “Himalayan”. Colour means the shade, and point means a spot. The points are the darkened areas on the face, ears, paws and tail.
This type of colour depends directly on body temperature. A special gene in the cats’ DNA affects the distribution of pigment, intensifying it in the cooler areas: the face, ears, paws and tail.
The first officially recognised colour in the breed was seal point, dark brown markings. Later came its lightened version, blue point, the blue markings: it was obtained by crossing with blue Persian cats. Today seal point and blue point are considered the classic, traditional colours of the Sacred Birman.
In the 1960s breeders expanded the breed’s palette, adding chocolate point, lilac point, red point and cream point colours, as well as their variations: tabby and tortie points.
In the Sacred Birman colour, white spots on the points are strictly forbidden. Cats with such markings do not meet the breed standard, are not allowed into breeding and can only be kept as pets.
Our cats and the cats of friendly catteries show almost the whole palette of the breed: both the classic colours and those that appeared in it later.
What the colours look like
