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Burmese
All Burmese are known to be descended from a single brown female, Wong Mau, brought back to the USA in 1930 by a naval doctor with an interest in genetics. By mating her to a Siamese stud, it was found that 3 different types of kitten were produced; the Siamese (colourpointed) pattern, a solid brown variety and an intermediate colour. By further test matings Dr. Thompson and his colleagues proved that the solid brown type did in fact breed true and thus the Burmese breed was born. The intermediate variety was later named Tonkinese (Burmese - Siamese hybrids), and it was realised that Wong Mau herself had been of this type.
The first Burmese were imported into the UK in 1949 and the breed very quickly became popular because of the unique temperament and unusual colour. Kittens attracted much attention at shows because of their lively affectionate nature and insistence on being noticed by anyone that happened to be passing! In 1950 a further development occurred with the birth of the first blue kitten (Sealcoat Blue Surprise). The dilution gene had obviously been lurking in the lines derived from the original imports, although initially the US breeders refused to admit that this could be the case - they argued that Burmese could not be any colour other than brown.
Later other colours also appeared; first the chocolate and lilac, again derived from the Siamese used in the early stages of the breeding programme - and then, deliberately introduced in the UK, the red series of colours. Much controversy surrounded the introduction of the red gene (via a redpoint Siamese and non-pedigree cats), but the UK breeders were not deterred and a great deal of work was done to establish the red, cream and tortie colours, while proving that the essential type and temperament of the Burmese was not altered in any way. Nowadays these colours are extremely popular and achieve equal honours in the show world with the "traditional" colours. In the USA, however, the newer colours are not recognised by the major registering body CFA, although the "European Burmese" is now recognised as a separate entity and includes all colours.
Asian
This is one of the more interesting tales of new breed creation and is now a part of modern-day Cat Fancy history. In the summer of 1981 an accidental mating between a Chinchilla Longhair male and a lilac Burmese female took place. The resulting kittens - 4 black shaded silver shorthair females - were initially dismissed as a happy accident by their owner, Miranda von Kirchberg (already a well-known breeder of Russian Blues). But as they grew, so did the idea of a new breed in the making. After extensive discussion with genetics experts and the GCCF, Miranda decided to undertake a breeding programme to develop(in the first instance)Shaded Silver Shorthairs of Burmese type, to be known as Burmillas. In the first stages of the experimental breeding, kittens of other patterns than the Shaded Silver also appeared and these too became part of the programme. The Shadeds, Smokes, Tabbies, Selfs and Semi-Longhairs went on to form what we now know as the Asian Group. The Semi-Longhairs were given the name Tiffanies but spelt differently (with "ie") than the US Tiffany. At more or less the same time, another breeding programme was beginning, to develop Self Black Shorthairs of Burmese type (from Burmese matings to non-pedigree cats), to be known as Bombays. These too were brought under the umbrella of the Asian Group. The UK Bombay is significantly different than the US variety, the latter being derived from brown(sable)Burmese crossed with black American Shorthair cats.
By the time of Miranda's untimely death in 1997, three of the Asian varieties (the Burmilla, Smoke and Tabby) were on the verge of GCCF Championship status. The Tiffanies were the last of the group to gain Championship status, in 2002. In the years since 1997, Asians have taken multiple Best of Variety awards at the GCCF Supreme Show, the UK Cat Fancy's show for top winners. This is undoubtedly due not only to their stunning looks but also to their delightful temperament, inherited from their ancestors the Burmese.
Ocicat
Like the Asian, the Ocicat could be considered a "designer" breed. Unlike the Asian however, it didn't happen purely by accident! In 1964, a breeder in Michigan, USA, named Virginia Daly wondered if it would be possible to produce an "Abyssinian-Pointed" Siamese (i.e. a ticked tabby pointed Siamese). She therefore mated a Siamese queen (Dalai Tomboy Patter) to an Abyssinian male (CH Dalai Deta Tim of Selene). The kittens looked basically like Abyssinians but of course they carried the Siamese (pointing) gene also. One of these hybrids (Dalai She) was bred to another Siamese, CH Whitehead Elegante Sun - and it was this litter that produced the surprises! There was the desired Aby-pointed Siamese but the real gem was a spotted kitten, who was named Tonga. Mrs Daly's daughter thought that Tonga looked like a wild Ocelot - hence they nicknamed him an "Ocicat". Tonga was sold as a pet, but later, Dalai She was bred back to the same Siamese again - another spotted male kitten was born, named Dalai Dotson. When Ocicats first came to be recognised with CFA in the US, an error was made stating that they had originated from Abyssinian and American Shorthair - therefore, American Shorthairs were later permitted to be used as an outcross to further develop the breed. This was fortunate as the ASH contributed qualities such as size and musculature to the Ocicat, and also the Silver colour as well as the Classic Tabby pattern. (Although Ocicats are spotted, their spots are arranged in a "classic" pattern layout).
Ocicats first came to the UK in the mid-1980s. To begin with only 2 breeders were working with the breed, and even today there are less than 50 breeders throughout the UK. However, the Ocicat has now progressed through all the stages of recognition with GCCF, and from June 2005, it has had Championship status. In FIFe, Ocicats already have Championship status, but very few are shown in the UK. Ocicats are bred in 12 colours - black (known as tawny), blue, chocolate, cinnamon, lilac, fawn - and the silver equivalents of all of these.
LaPerm
I designed a page for an assignment on my most recent web design course - it details the history of the LaPerm breed. Please take a look! LaPerms can be bred in absolutely any colour or pattern, just as with the other Rex breeds.
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