The Birman cat is said to have originated in Myanmar. Legend has it that the Birman's color comes from the following: the guardian deity of the LaoTsum temple is a white, long-haired cat with golden eyes, while the temple's revered goddess, Tsun-Kyan-Kse, has deep blue eyes. The temple's abbot, who lived with a cat named Sinh, died in an attack. At the moment of his death, Sinh stepped on his body, facing the goddess. A miracle occurred: the white cat's fur turned golden, its eyes turned blue, and its face, paws, and tail turned earth-colored, but its four paws on its master remained white. Sinh died seven days later, taking the abbot's soul to paradise. 
According to modern history, a pair of Birman cats were first transported from Burma to France in 1919. During the journey, the male cat died, leaving only the female and her unborn kittens. From then on, the Birman breed continued to develop in Europe, finally being officially recognized in France in 1925. However, during World War II, only two Birman cats remained in all of Europe. To save this endangered breed, breeders had to use crossbreeding to re-establish it. Since then, registration of a Birman cat generally requires at least five generations of purebred pedigree.
The Birman cat was recognized in the UK in 1966, and the CFA recognized the breed in 1967.
An ideal Birman cat should be medium to large size, strong, with long, fine fur, but not as thick as a Persian cat. The coat color should be light, like a layer of golden yellow. Points should be on the face, paws, and tail, and the white mitten markings on the paws are a distinctive feature of the Birman. The eyes should be round, large, and blue.
Birman cats are gentle, friendly, and have a melodious voice. They are docile and affectionate, craving their owner's attention and enjoying playing with them. They are also very friendly towards other cats. Once they feel safe in a new environment, they reveal their sweet and kind nature. They enjoy being on the ground but are not keen on jumping or climbing. They love to play but never make demands on their owners. They are clean and happy living in a comfortable home, and enjoy walks in the yard or garden on sunny days.
