ALL Birman kittens are white at birth, gradually developing clarity of point colouring and taking time to reveal clear definition of gloves and gauntlets.  With dilutes such as lilacs and chocolates it can be some time before show markings are revealed and a great deal of patience is required.  The photo to the left is Angel at 4 months has been included to show the changes in point colour and body colour contrast in a young seal kitten. Note the development of the mask. This will deepen as the cat gets older as will the shading of the body coat and tail.  Point colour is affected by heat and can change with seasonal weather changes.

 

 

SOLID POINTED GROUP

Recognized colours are Seal, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Red and Cream.

 

SEAL POINT

BODY COLOUR:

cream, with a golden hue, shading, if any, to pale, warm fawn on the back. Kittens are paler.


Db.Gd. Ch. Sharada Shes An Angel- A young mature female in the rich, seal point colour and body coat contrast of a mature adult.

POINT COLOUR:

dense seal brown, with a warm rather than cold tone.

NOSE LEATHER:

Seal brown, to harmonise with shade of point colour.

EYE COLOUR:

Deep blue.

 

BLUE POINT

BODY COLOUR:

glacial white. Shading, if any, to tone with the points but of a lighter shade.


Ch. Kaleerba Serendipity - This lovely 3 yr old female depicts the slate point colour and cool glacial contrast of body coat.

POINT COLOUR:

cold-toned blue, with paler shades preferred.

NOSE LEATHER:

blue, to harmonise with shade of point colour.

EYE COLOUR:

bright blue.

 

CHOCOLATE POINT

BODY COLOUR:

ivory. Shading, if any, to tone with the points but of a lighter shade.


Dejavu Love and Chocolate -  this very sweet chocolate point male depicts very clear chocolate ear rims, nose pad and milk chocolate point colouring.

POINT COLOUR:

Warm milk chocolate, with paler shades preferred.

NOSE LEATHER:

pinkish chocolate, to harmonise with shade of point colour.

EYE COLOUR:

Bright blue.

 

LILAC POINT

BODY COLOUR:

off-white (magnolia shade). Shading, if any, to tone with the points but of a lighter shade.


Ch. Shinoto Dream Maker (Imp NZ).  A lovely lilac female depicting dilute lavender pink points which contrast with her magnolia body coat.

POINT COLOUR:

soft pinkish grey, with paler shades preferred.

NOSE LEATHER:

lavender pink, to harmonise with shade of point colour. Pink in kittens.

EYE COLOUR:

bright blue.

 

RED POINT

BODY COLOUR:

milky white. Shading, if any, to tone with the points but of a lighter shade.


Six months old cream pointed kitten, bred by Tony Cottell, Wyngold Birmans

Sharada Rafferty rules - seven months old RED point kitten

POINT COLOUR:

rich apricot, with brighter shades preferred. While it is not desirable, allowance should be made for slight barring on the mask, legs and tail.

NOSE LEATHER:

rose red, to harmonise with shade of point colour.

EYE COLOUR:

deep blue.

 

CREAM POINT

BODY COLOUR:

warm white. Shading, if any, to tone with the points but of a lighter shade.

POINT COLOUR:

rich cream, with paler shades preferred. While it is not desirable, allowance should be made for slight barring on the mask, legs and tail.

NOSE LEATHER:

dusty rose, to harmonise with shade of point colour.

EYE COLOUR:

bright blue.

Note: Slight freckling on a mature cat should not be penalised, where it may occur on nose, lips, eyelids or ears.

 

FAULTS FOR SOLID COLOUR POINTED PATTERN

Contrasting hairs in the points.

 

TORTOISESHELL POINTed pattern

Colour is restricted to the points, as in all pointed patterned breeds. Distribution of colour on the points and of mottling on the nose and paw pads is random and immaterial, though ears are mottled and a blaze up the nose is desirable. Solid colour on any of ears, leg/legs or tail are all permissible. Dense colours show the named colour, plus varying shades of red and/or cream. Dilute colours have only the named colour plus shades of cream, with paler shades preferred. Each point should preferably display more than one colour. White hairs, ticking or barring not permitted.

Recognized Tortoiseshell Point colours are Seal, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac.

 

SEAL TORTOISESHELL POINT

BODY COLOUR:

cream, with a golden hue, shading to pale, warm fawn on the back. Kittens are paler

POINT COLOUR:

bright, warm shades of dense seal brown, red and/or cream.

NOSE LEATHER:

seal brown, rose red or dusty rose, plain or blotched, to harmonise with shade of point colour.

EYE COLOUR:

deep blue.

 

BLUE TORTOISESHELL POINT (BLUE-CREAM POINT)

BODY COLOUR:

glacial white. Shading, if any, to tone with the points but of a lighter shade.

 

 

 

 

 

Ch. Zaeshinwa Kokopeli Cream - Blue Tortoiseshell Point and her daughter Ch. Sharada Chasin' Rainbows Seal Tortoiseshell Point
    

POINT COLOUR:

cold-toned blue and cream. Coat may be intermingled or patched. Paler shades are preferred.

NOSE LEATHER:

blue and/or dusty rose, plain or blotched, to harmonise with shade of point colour.

EYE COLOUR:

bright blue.

 

CHOCOLATE TORTOISESHELL POINT

BODY COLOUR:

ivory. Shading, if any, to tone with the points but of a lighter shade.

POINT COLOUR:

pale shades of warm, milk chocolate, red and/or cream.

NOSE LEATHER:

pinkish chocolate, rose red or dusty rose, plain or blotched, to harmonise with shade of point colour.

EYE COLOUR:

bright blue.

 

LILAC TORTOISESHELL POINT (LILAC-CREAM POINT)

BODY COLOUR:

off-white (magnolia shade). Shading, if any, to tone with the points but of a lighter shade.

POINT COLOUR:

soft pinkish grey and cream. Paler shades are preferred.

NOSE LEATHER:

lavender pink or dusty rose, plain or blotched, to harmonise with shade of point colour.

EYE COLOUR:

bright blue.

 

TABBY POINT group

The ears have solid colour, without stripes. There is a clear but paler thumb print on the back of the ear, which is less apparent in dilute colours. Tortoiseshell Tabby Points have mottled ears, but may not show a thumb print. There should be a clearly-defined 'M' on the forehead, light-coloured spectacle markings around the eyes, with distinct stripes on the cheeks and darkly-spotted whisker pads. The mask has clearly-defined stripes, especially around the eyes and nose. Eye rims are a pinkish tone or darker, to harmonise with the point colour. Nose leather is also either of a pinkish tone, coloured to harmonise with the point colour or pinkish and outlined in colour which harmonises with the point colour.

Coat colour on the body is pale, free from markings of any kind. Colouring is to conform to the recognized pointed colour standard.

Legs have varied-sized broken stripes, with solid colour on the back of the hind legs up the hocks. Points should all be the same colour, but in some colours paws may be lighter in colour. The tail preferably shows varied-sized clearly-defined rings, ending in a solid colour tip at the extreme end. However, a tail which is solid in colour on top and ringed on the underside is not a fault. Kittens should not be penalised for not showing their full markings.

Although not preferred, the colour of the hair tips is commonly a little darker and/or a little colder than in the non-tabby equivalents. Markings will be less obvious in dilute colours, where there is less potential for colour variation. Chocolate and dilute varieties may not gain full leg markings until up to eighteen months of age.

Recognized colours are Seal, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Red and Cream.

 

SEAL TABBY POINT

BODY COLOUR:

As for seal point.


Sharada Tabby Two shoes - This lovely male seal tabby point shows the distinctive tabby point facial markings - barring is also visible on legs and tail plume

POINT COLOUR:

Rich seal markings on a pale brown agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.

NOSE LEATHER:

Seal brown or pink edged in seal brown.

PAW PADS:

Seal brown or mottled.

EYE COLOUR:

Deep blue.

 

BLUE TABBY POINT

BODY COLOUR:

As for blue point.


Sharada Tee For Tiger  - This delightful male blue tabby point adult shows off his tabby-point markings.

POINT COLOUR:

Slate blue markings on a light beige agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears. legs and tail.

NOSE LEATHER:

Slate blue or pink edged in slate blue.

PAW PADS:

Slate blue or mottled.

EYE COLOUR:

Bright blue.

 

CHOCOLATE TABBY POINT

BODY COLOUR:

As for chocolate point.

POINT COLOUR:

Warm Milk chocolate markings on a light bronze agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.

NOSE LEATHER:

Chocolate of pink edged in chocolate.

PAW PADS:

Chocolate or mottled.

EYE COLOUR:

Bright blue.

 

LILAC TABBY POINT

BODY COLOUR:

As for Lilac point.

POINT COLOUR:

Frosty grey of pinkish tone on a pale beige agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, legs and tail.

NOSE LEATHER:

Lavender pink.  Pale pink in kittens.

PAW PADS:

Lavender pink.  Pale pink in kittens.

EYE COLOUR:

Bright blue.

 

RED TABBY POINT

BODY COLOUR:

As for Red Point.

POINT COLOUR:

Reddish gold or apricot on a light apricot agouti background to be displayed on mask, ears, legs and tail.

NOSE LEATHER:

Pink.

PAW PADS:

Pink.

EYE COLOUR:

Bright blue.

 

CREAM TABBY POINT

BODY COLOUR:

As for Cream Point.

POINT COLOUR:

Rich cream markings on a paler cream agouti background to be displayed on the mask, ears, leg and tail.

NOSE LEATHER:

Pink.

PAW PADS:

Pink.

EYE COLOUR:

Bright blue.

I am deeply appreciative of the breeders/owners who have given me permission to use the photographs used to illustrate this section. I hope this gives a little bit of insight to the reader keen to learn more about our lovely breed.  If you have enquiries about the interpretation of the standard don't hesitate to talk to any breeder/exhibitor - most are happy to take time to explain and point out what to look for in kittens or cats intended for breeding or exhibition.