Asian cat

The breed was accidentally developed in the United Kingdom, starting with a litter of 4 kittens resulting from a mismating of a chinchilla Persian stud, Jamari Sanquist, and a lilac European Burmese queen, Bambino Lilac Faberge, bred in 1981 by Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg.[3]

The solid black Bombay under the Asian Self-category has a slightly different origin, but is also developed in the UK. In the early 1980's, the resulting kittens of three mismatings of European Burmese with black domestic short-haired cats were developed into the British-type Bombay.[4]

Additionally, there exist another variant of the Bombay cat, the American-type Bombay developed in the United States. American-type Bombays were developed by crossbreeding sable American Burmese and black American Shorthair cats,[5][6] to produce a cat of mostly Burmese type, but with a sleek, panther-like black coat and exclusively with bright copper-golden eyes.[6] For the British-type Bombay golden eyes are preferred, but yellow through to green is acceptable, with the preference given to greater depth of colour.[7][8]

After the first litter of kittens were born in 1981, breeders believed the kittens showed potential to become their own breed. Early breeders decided the phenotype of the kittens was to be exactly the same as the Burmese, but in more colours and varieties. All varieties gained championship status with the GCCF in 2003, with the Tiffanie being the last variety to gain it.[9]

Chocolate silver shaded Tiffanie / Asian Semi-longhair

It has a broad, rounded chest and slender legs with a tail of medium length. The pleasantly rounded head has no flattened areas, and there is a visible stop in its profile. This gives the Asian a full-looking face. The round and wide-set eyes come in anywhere from green to yellow.[8] Females are not quite as big as the males.[10] They can weigh anywhere from 3–6 kg (6.6–13.2 lb).[11]

The short-haired coat of the Asian is fine, satiny and glossy, and can be multiple colours and patterns.[10] Asian Shorthairs are classified in four different varieties: the Asian Self/Tortie (including the Bombay, which is a black Asian Self), the Asian Tabby, the Asian Smoke, and the Burmilla (which is a shaded Asian).[8]

Asians are very affectionate and good with children. They share similar traits with the Burmese. They love to play, explore and even enjoy traveling by way of a cat carrier. They are quite a talkative and rather loud cat with an apparent strong will.[11] They enjoy interacting with people, even with strangers.