Asian Cat

The Asian Cat, also known as the Malayan, originated in Britain in 1981. Its development started off as an ‘accident’ under an Asian Breeding Program for the Burmese breed by Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg. The unintentional cross with the Burmese has resulted in a litter of pretty kittens that found favor in the eyes of Kirchberg who then decided to further develop this breed with Burmese of other coat colors and patterns.

Throughout the process of the breeding program, the Asian Cat has been bred back to the pure Burmese in order to retain the good qualities of the Burmese’s shape, coat texture and temperament. Thus, the Asian Cat is usually known to be a type of breed similar to the Burmese, but comes in a range of different coat colors and patterns.

The Asian Burmilla was the first known cat of the Asian Cat breed from the cross between a Burmese and a Chinchilla cat. In cat shows, the Asian Cat is grouped under the foreign section and there are five known cats in the Asian breed group, namely, Asian Smoke, Asian Tabbies, Asian Self, Burmilla and Tiffanie (longhair Asian Cat).

Physical appearance and attributes
The Asian Cat is a medium sized breed that weighs an average of 10 pounds, which is 2 pounds lighter than the weight of the average cat breeds. It has a compact body with good musculature and a broad and rounded chest. Strength is also displayed in its long, slender legs that taper into vaguely oval paws. It balances with a medium tail that tapers into a rounded tip or a gorgeous plum for the Tiffanies.

Head of the Asian Cat is rounded with no flat planes. Viewed in profile, a gentle slope can be traced from the brow line to the tip of the nose. The cheek bones are visibly high and lead into a slightly narrow muzzle of a moderate length. The mouth appears dainty and the chin is firm. The pair of ears is well-spaced, broad at the base and tapers to a rounded tip. Ear tufts may furnish the inner side of the ears. Eyes of Asian Cat are large and rounded or almond in shape. The outer corners show a slight slant towards the ears, giving the cat an ever alert look. Colors can come in the golden-yellow or green-yellow range.

The coat of the Asian Cat can come in a variety of colors and patterns. Asian Self wears a solid color coat, which includes, but not limited to black, blue or chocolate. Asian tabby comes in silver or brown and comes in a variety of tabby patterns such as ticked, mackerel, spotted or classic. Asian smoke wears a silver undercoat and is complemented with topcoats of black, brown, chocolate or lilac. The Asian Burmilla also wears a silver undercoat, but has a topcoat that is tipped with a darker shade, such as lilac. Tiffany is a longhair variety of the Asian Cat breed. Besides having the graceful plume tail, the coat of Tiffanies can come in any of the aforementioned colors and patterns.

Personality and temperament
The Asian Cat is quite similar to the Burmese breed. It has been described as a gentle and affectionate cat. It's a highly vocal trait that serves its sociable nature, making it a people and family-oriented cat. This nature is also enhanced by its outgoing personality, which allows it to get along well with children and other friendly pets. It's love for cuddles and for being a lap cat also makes it an ideal companion for the seniors. Its tendency to explore and investigate anything that captivates its attention is promoted by its acute sense of curiosity and astuteness. The Asian Cat does not hesitate to show its affection and it does not shy away from demanding for it. With its sweet and playful personality, it is not difficult to give it the love and attention it deserves.

Care and health issues
The average lifespan of the Asian Cat is 14 years. It is a generally hearty breed with no known genetic health issues. It is advisable to still obtain a written health guarantee from a qualified breeder when purchasing the cat to ensure that it is free from other common feline diseases.

This breed requires minimal grooming. A weekly brushing to remove dead hair and to distribute skin oil will suffice to maintain the coats luster and health. The Tiffanie breed would, however require more frequent brushing in order to remove and prevent mats and tangles. It is also important to brush the teeth frequently with vet-approved toothpaste to prevent periodontal diseases. Other basic grooming practices should include regular nail trimming as well as ear checks for redness or odors that might indicate an infection.

The ideal home
Asian Cat is suited for indoor living. In does not enjoy loud noises from the external environment. A garden where it can play, run and explore safely will be ideal. The garden must however be escape-proof. Being a sociable and easy-going cat breed, the Asian cat makes an ideal companion to most types of household, whether single, couples or family with seniors, children or other friendly pets. It does not tolerate solitude for long and would require an adequate amount of time for interaction and play with its favorite people. Its active, chatty and playful nature makes it an endlessly entertaining and delightful pet to have around the home.

Image Credit
Photo by Scotia - CC BY-SA 3.0