At a glance the quick version
CFA says males usually reach over 10 lb (about 4.5 kg) with females smaller; Wikipedia gives 3-6 kg; Hill's gives 8-12 lb (3.6-5.4 kg) for both sexes.
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, dense, silky tipped coat (a semi-longhair form also exists)
A medium, muscular cat with a pleasingly rounded look and more weight than it first appears to carry. The coat is pale near the skin with colour only at the tips, which gives it a glittering silver or golden sheen. Dark rims around the eyes, nose and lips look almost like make-up. Most are shorthaired, but a semi-longhaired version with a lighter single coat is also bred.213
Personality what they are like
Combines the friendly curiosity of the Burmese with the calm of the Persian. Burmillas are affectionate, people-focused and fairly quiet, keep a kittenish sense of fun for life, and usually mix well with children and other animals.213
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate. Short, lively play bursts followed by long naps; climbing trees and perches are appreciated.23
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Comb or brush weekly (Hill's suggests brushing more often to lift loose hair), plus regular nail trims, ear checks and tooth care. The occasional bath helps the coat shine.23
Home where they are happiest
Suits indoor life with cat trees and high perches to climb.3
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A good-quality complete cat food in measured portions; keep an eye on weight if the cat is not getting much exercise.3
Company who they like around
Loves attention and petting and forms close bonds with its family.23
The story where it all began
In 1981 a Chinchilla Persian male and a lilac Burmese female at Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg's home in England mated by chance, producing four black shaded silver kittens. Their looks were so striking that a planned breeding programme followed, with a standard written in 1984.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The breed exists because a cleaner left a door open, letting the Persian and the Burmese meet.1
- 2
The name joins the two parent breeds: Burmese and Chinchilla (Persian).1
- 3
The founding parents were a Chinchilla Persian called Jamari Sanquist and a lilac Burmese called Bambino Lilac Fabergé.1
- 4
CFA shows Burmillas with both short and semi-long coats under the same standard.2
Recognised by the official bits
- CFA
- Accepted for registration 2011; championship status 2014; shorthair and longhair both shown2
- FIFe
- Fully recognised, Category 3, code BML4
- GCCF
- Recognised, placed in the Asian group; championship status in the UK during the 1990s1
- ACF / CCA-AFC
- Recognised1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Burmilla. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Nail trimevery 3 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- Litter scoopevery day
- Litter changeevery week
- PlayDaily playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 11every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Wikipedia - Burmilla en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, history, recognition, weight, colours, fun facts
- CFA - Burmilla cfa.orgused for recognition, weight, coat, colours, temperament, grooming, activity
- Hill's - Burmilla hillspet.comused for weight, lifespan, care, activity, diet
- FIFe - Breeds fifeweb.orgused for recognition
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.