Asian Cat Breed – All Information, Facts, Care and Price
Asia has produced some incredibly unique cat breeds over several centuries, from the beautiful Siamese breed to glamourous Persian cats. These felines come from all over the continent, from Japan and China to Myanmar and Singapore, and fun fact: some of these kitties were once considered royalty. Others have had long and fascinating histories spanning centuries.
The Asian is a medium-sized cat built on rather long, lean lines. Males are more solid and muscular, while females can be described as dainty. They have a moderate wedge-shaped head with medium sized ears and large eyes. Their coat is short and fine and lies close to the skin, and especially when in solid colours, looks almost as though the cat has been painted in watercolours, giving them an unusual and beautiful appearance. They can also come in tabby and patterned with white.
Burmillas, Asian Selfs, Bombays, Tiffanies, Smokes and Tabbies are all members of the Asian family.
Related to the Burmese cat breed, the Asian must have a good temperament to conform to their breed standard – and they certainly live up to this! Naomi Johnson of the Asian Group Cat Society says: “Asians are generally very friendly and affectionate cats, they get on well with most other cats and I’ve sold a lot of kittens to homes with dogs.
“They are quite lively, active and energetic cats, and I’d always recommend that if someone wants a kitten but will be out at work all day, that they should have two to keep each other company, ideally from the same litter. ”
Steve Crow, chairman of the Bombay and Asian Cats Breed Club, member of the Asian Group Breed Advisory Committee and chairman of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), says: “Asians are very inquisitive and enjoy nothing more than being with their human companions. They are into everything – whether it’s helping with the washing-up, investigating the contents of cupboards or sitting on a lap to watch the TV!
“They are sociable and do not like being left on their own, and they enjoy playing with cat or people friends. They are good with children and are a confident breed. Asians are a delight to own, breed and show!”
The Asian cat is also known as Malayan cat. This cat breed is very similar to the Burmese cat breed with the difference that it is born in a range of many different colors. There are also longhaired Asian cats that are known as Tiffanies. Even though the Asian cat is registered as a separate breed it is not uncommon that they can also be born of Burmese parents, being related to this cat breed. So, one kittening can produce both breeds – Burmese and Asian.
This cat breed was developed in Britain by Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg in 1981.
The Asian cat is a medium-sized cat. It has a very compact and muscular body, rounded and broad chest and slender legs. It also has a medium sized straight tail. What gives the Asian cat a full looking face is the rounded head with no flattened areas. The yellow eyes are wide set and round.
The Asian cat has a short haired and glossy fur. This cat breed is classified in 4 different varieties such as – Burmilla, Asian Smoke, Asian Tabby and Asian Self. Also, their faults may vary, and the eye colors should be green or blue. They should be solid colored and without spots, and the tail should never be kinky or crooked.
Asian cats are very affectionate and very lovable. They are very curious and like to explore. This cat has a very strong will and very loud voice. People who will never pay attention to this cat and interact with it should never own them. It is because these cats are very sociable, they like to be held frequently, like to sit in the lap, they are very energetic and playful.
Asian cats are very good apartment cats. They don’t like noises especially noises from cars, trucks or buses. This is not a city cat and preferably will enjoy living somewhere in the suburbs, away from the every-day noises from the street.
This cat breed doesn’t have many health issues and is normally long-lived. When it comes to hygiene and grooming it is enough to simply brush their fur at least once per week.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Breed Name | Asian |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Size | Medium |
| Weight | Males: 8-12 pounds; Females: 6-8 pounds |
| Coat | Short to medium length, sleek, and shiny with various patterns and colors |
| Coat Colors | Tabby, solid, or bicolor in various colors |
| Eye Color | Green or gold |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years |
| Temperament | Active, affectionate, and intelligent. They are social with their owners but can be reserved with strangers. They have a playful nature and enjoy interactive toys and puzzles. |
| Health Issues | No specific breed-related health issues, but regular veterinary check-ups are recommended. |
| Grooming | Minimal grooming required. A weekly brushing is sufficient to maintain their coat. |
| Activity Level | Moderately active. They enjoy playing and interacting with their owners, but are not overly demanding of exercise. |
| Training | They are intelligent and can be trained to do tricks and learn commands through positive reinforcement. |
| Price | Average cost is around $400-$800 USD. Prices may vary depending on the breeder, location, and lineage. |
The need-to-know
- Great for first-time cat owners
- Needs high-level of enrichment including simulated hunting games and interactive play
- Playful and curious cat
- Independent but friendly
- Slightly talkative cat
- Lean and elegant cat
- Requires grooming once a week
- A bit of both indoor and outdoor space
- Great family cat
- Can be left alone all day
- Great for a relaxed home
Personality
The Asian is a lively outgoing cat – lithe and energetic, they enjoy play, are very affectionate and want to be part of all aspects of their owner’s life. Intelligent and inquisitive, they can be very curious and determined with a love of investigating new things. Generally speaking they will live contentedly with other cats, but can be wilful and sometimes issues occur if they want to be top-cat in the pecking order. They co-exist most successfully with breeds of a similar disposition, i.e. confident, lively and outgoing. They are not particularly noisy, but are talkative and chatty and will readily answer their owner when spoken to. The Asian is a “people cat”, loving, charming and entertaining they make a good family pet and associate well with dogs and children providing they are properly introduced. At the same time their gentleness appeals to elderly people looking for a loyal and devoted companion.
Appearance and Colours
Exactly similar to the Burmese in type, all cats in this group have a short, fine and glossy coat, except for the Tiffanie, which has a fine silky semi-longhaired coat. The Asian is a slender, athletic cat of medium size, heavy for their size they are muscular and lithe with a broad rounded chest, slender elegant legs and neat oval paws. Tail is of medium thickness and tapers evenly to the tip. The head forms a short wide blunt wedge with a slightly rounded top, medium to medium large ears are spaced well apart. The eyes are large and lustrous, colour may range from pale green through shades of green and yellow chartreuse to golden yellow and amber. Asians come in a wide range of colours: Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Cinnamon, Fawn, Caramel, the tortie versions of all these colours, and Red, Cream and Apricot, in both full expression and Burmese Colour Restriction. Silver and non-silver versions are recognised in all colours and patterns.
Care
The Asian is an extremely sociable cat and owners should note that these cats need an owner who will pay attention and who will interact with him or her. The Tiffanie with the silky medium length coat, will require a little more attention than its shorter haired ‘breed group’ mates! Weekly grooming with a brush is recommended for the short-haired breeds. Males usually weigh around 5 – 7 kg (11 – 15 lbs), females weigh less with a breed average weight of 3.5 – 5.5 kg (8 – 12 lbs). Life expectancy average is about 16-18 years.
Temperament and Intelligence
The Asian cat is the first breed that includes a good temperament as part of the Standard Points. It is an extrovert feline that loves to interact with humans and other animals. It would gladly answer when spoken to because they are also expressive.
Further, this feline is affectionate and people-oriented. It enjoys being picked up and cuddled by their owners. It adapts well as an indoor pet. It may not appreciate being left alone, so leaving it with another cat or a cat-friendly dog to play with would be beneficial.
The Asian cat is intelligent and inquisitive by nature. As such, it would enjoy the challenge provided by puzzles and interactive toys.
Health
In 1981, the Asian cat developed in Great Britain by Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg, which began from a Burmilla cat. This cat, in turn, was created from the mating of a Burmese cat and a Chinchilla cat.
The Burmilla gave birth to a litter of four kittens, consisting of strongly built kits with defined bone and muscles; black tipped and short silverfish coat, light tabby markings on the face, tail and legs, and with black ‘eyeliner’ in the eyes.
Being advised by the fellow breeders to develop a cat of Burmese type, the Baroness initiated a breeding program aiming to develop an independent pedigree breed with a total variation of colors and patterns so that the new felines are capable of getting recognition by the GCCF.
Eventually, they realized that they are capable of creating an entirely new group of felines since they had the necessary gene pool. So they coined a new name for the breed – the ‘Asian Cat’.
Nutrition and Feeding
The Asian cat should be given a proper diet that fulfils its nutritional needs. It should be consistently given the same food following the same feeding schedule. If there are changes to its diet, those must be done gradually to prevent digestive problems.
The serving portions should depend on the cat’s weight, age, and activity level. Its diet must include at least 25% protein and just 5% carbohydrates.
History
The Asian breed originated in the UK from a mis-mating between a Lilac Burmese queen and a Chinchilla Persian boy, the resulting litter of four kittens was born in 1981. These very attractive kittens led to a decision to begin work to develop a new breed, and to work towards eventual GCCF recognition. Early breeders decided that the desired phenotype should be exactly the same as that of the Burmese progenitor, but with a range of new colours, patterns and with two hair-lengths: shorthair and semi-longhair. The breed was named “Asian” and by 2003 all five varieties had reached GCCF Championship Status.
