Often referred to as "The Sacred Cat of Burma"

The Birman is a naturally occurring breed and traces its ancestry back to Burma through France. French breeders developed the breed during the early part of the 1900's. World War II devastated many catteries in Europe and the Birmans were no exception. Breeders outcrossed to reestablish the breed and by the 1960's it was recognized as a distinct breed by registries in England and the US.

People not familiar with the breed often confuse its name or its appearance with other breeds. It should not be mistaken for:
* a Burmese (a short-haired cat, often dark brown)
* a Himalayan (division of the Persian breed, also in the same colors, but having the flat face of a Persian and solid colored feet)
* a Siamese (a shorthaired pointed cat)
* a Ragdoll (another longhaired cat having point-restricted coloring, but very different in coat, body and head structure)

Physical Properties
The Birman's coat is long and non-matting (unlike the Persian whose coat requires frequent combing)
Although it is a pointed cat, the points are not completely solid (like the Siamese). The tips of the toes evenly marked white (referred to as "gloves") with this white continuing up the backs of the legs (referred to as "laces"). These gloves and laces must be even and symmetrical; an ungloved toe, incorrect areas of white on the feet, or uneven laces are causes for disqualification or penalization in the show ring.

Like all cats with the point-restricted gene, Birmans are born white. Their color begins coming in to their cooler extremities when they are a (few) weeks old. As they age, their bodies begin to shade up as well, although never as deeply as the point colors.

The Birman is a moderately large, stocky cat. When viewed in profile, its nose is rounded in shape (referred to as a Roman nose).


Colors:
The traditional 4 solid colors are chocolate, seal, blue, and lilac. The solid point colors also include flame (red) and cream. Lynx points colors are these same colors, but in a tabby pattern (classic or mackerel. Finally there are the parti-color points being the traditional point colors mottled with red. (chocolate-tortie, seal-tortie, blue-tortie, and lilac-tortie). The body color for all colors is a warm white, which may shade in as the cat ages as many pointed cats do.

Naming Convention
All cats born within the calendar year are by tradition named with that year's letter and years proceeding in alphabetical order (this is also true for the other breed with French beginnings, the Chartreux). Breeders must often get very creative with names when some years (such as "U") come up.

The Birman is a moderately active cat and prefers the company of its people and of other animals. It is relatively quiet and very affectionate.


sources
http://cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/articles/birman.html