The Asian cat is an affectionate, sociable breed closely related to the Burmese, prized for its devotion and chatty nature.
How the Asian cat coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.
The Asian is a medium-sized, affectionate shorthaired cat from the United Kingdom, closely linked to the Burmese and known for its bond with people and its chatty character.
The Asian is a medium-sized shorthaired cat that carries the build and temperament of the Burmese while turning up in a much wider spread of coat colours and patterns. Developed in the United Kingdom, the breed is sometimes handled as a set of related varieties rather than one single coat type. Whatever the coat, the cats in this group all share a compact, muscular frame and the same appetite for human company.
Adults usually weigh from 4 to 6.5 kilograms, with males on the heavier side. The coat stays short, fine, and close to the body, so grooming is straightforward. Eyes tend to be yellow to gold, and the precise shade shifts with coat colour.
This is very much a people's cat. It follows its owner about the home and keeps itself in the middle of household life. Intelligent, sociable, and vocal, it has a gentler voice than the Siamese but is quite happy to use it. A household after a quiet, independent pet may find the Asian a bit much when it comes to wanting attention.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Size | Medium (about 4 to 6.5 kg) |
| Lifespan | 12 to 18 years |
| Group/role | Companion cat, Burmese-related group |
| Good with | Families, attentive owners, other cats |
The Asian suits an owner or family that is home often and wants a companion to interact with. It gets on with children who handle cats gently and usually takes to other cats and cat-friendly dogs. It is not a good fit for people who are out for long hours daily, as it does not like being left on its own for lengthy stretches.
The Asian came out of the United Kingdom from the 1980s as a Burmese-related group, following an accidental cross between a Burmese and a chinchilla Persian-type cat.
The Asian group goes back to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. Its foundation was a cross between a lilac Burmese and a chinchilla-coated cat of Persian type. The kittens from that pairing held on to the Burmese conformation but showed new coat colours, and breeders saw the sense in fixing those traits.
The breeding work is linked to British breeder Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg, who set out during this time to establish the variety and its related coats. The shaded coats from the first cross became the Burmilla, and the broader project turned out a family of Burmese-type cats in further colours and patterns.
Across the years that followed, United Kingdom cat registries recognised the Asian as a group covering several coat varieties, including self (solid), tortie, smoke, and tabby forms, sitting alongside the shaded Burmilla. All carry Burmese conformation, and that keeps the group consistent in body type even with such a range of coats.
The Asian is still far more common in the United Kingdom than in other places. A fairly small group of dedicated breeders keeps it going, so getting hold of one outside its home country is limited.
The Asian is a medium, muscular shorthaired cat with Burmese conformation, a rounded head, expressive yellow to gold eyes, and a short, glossy coat in many colours and patterns.
The Asian carries the same body type as the Burmese: medium in size, surprisingly heavy for its length, and muscular under a sleek coat. The chest is rounded, the back straight, and the legs slender against the body. Its head forms a rounded wedge with a good width between the ears, full cheeks, and a firm chin.
The eyes are large and set well apart, which gives an alert, open expression. Their colour spans yellow through to gold, the exact shade tied to the coat. The tail runs to medium length and tapers to a rounded tip.
| Feature | Standard |
|---|---|
| Height | Around 25 to 30 cm at the shoulder |
| Weight | 4 to 6.5 kg (males larger) |
| Coat | Short, fine, close-lying, glossy |
| Colors | Self, tortie, smoke, and tabby in many shades |
| Eyes | Yellow to gold, large and well spaced |
The coat is short and lies flat to the body, and its sheen comes from the fine texture rather than any length. The Asian group takes in a broad palette. Self varieties show up in solid colours such as black, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, and caramel. Tortie, smoke, and tabby patterns turn up on those same base colours. The shaded coat that started the whole programme is recognised separately as the Burmilla. For all the variety, every coat shares the same close, low-maintenance texture.
The Asian is affectionate, intelligent, and very sociable, forming strong bonds with its household, mixing with other pets, and communicating in a distinct voice.
The Asian is an outgoing, people-focused cat. It looks for contact with its household and prefers to be where the action is, whether that means a lap, a shoulder, or a spot next to whoever is busy. It bonds closely with its family and shows plain attachment to the people it lives with.
With strangers the Asian is usually confident rather than timid, and it greets visitors instead of hiding away. It gets on with other cats and often accepts cat-friendly dogs, which makes it a good fit for multi-pet homes. With children it stays patient as long as the handling is gentle.
The breed is intelligent and keeps a keen interest in what is around it, learning routines fast and coming up with its own games. It is vocal and will run a commentary alongside its owner, though the voice is softer and less piercing than the Siamese. The Asian does not do well with long stretches of solitude, and it can turn unhappy if it is regularly left alone all day.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 5 |
| Energy | 4 |
| Trainability | 4 |
| Vocalness | 4 |
| Shedding | 2 |
The Asian needs little grooming given its short coat, but it does need steady daily interaction, play, and company to stay content.
The Asian is best suited to a home where someone is around for much of the day. It adapts well to indoor living once it has enough stimulation and vertical space. Because it is so sociable, a second cat can keep it company while the household is out, though that is no full substitute for human attention.
The Asian does well on a balanced, meat-based diet fed in measured portions over two meals a day, with care taken to avoid overfeeding.
As an obligate carnivore, the Asian needs a diet built on animal protein. A complete commercial cat food that meets recognised nutritional standards will cover its needs at each life stage. Both wet and dry foods work, and many owners feed a mix so the cat gets moisture from the wet food alongside the convenience of dry. Fresh water should always be on hand.
Portion size comes down to age, weight, and activity. The amounts below are broad starting points; adjust them from body condition and a veterinarian's guidance.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| Kitten (2 to 12 months) | Per pack guide, free-fed or 3 to 4 meals | 3 to 4 |
| Adult (1 to 7 years) | About 45 to 65 g dry, or equivalent wet | 2 |
| Senior (7+ years) | Adjusted to weight and activity | 2 |
Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of daily calories to head off weight gain. A cat on a complete, balanced food usually needs no supplements. Run any addition, such as joint support for an older cat, past a veterinarian before you start it.
The Asian is generally healthy with a lifespan of 12 to 18 years, though it shares some conditions found in the Burmese line and benefits from routine veterinary care.
The Asian is a sturdy breed, and most individuals live long, healthy lives. Typical lifespan runs 12 to 18 years with good care. Since the breed shares ancestry with the Burmese, it can carry some of the same inherited tendencies, so buying from a breeder who screens their cats matters. Routine checkups, dental care, and weight control all support a long life.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dental disease | Bad breath, drooling, trouble eating | Common in cats; regular brushing helps |
| Diabetes mellitus | Increased thirst, weight loss, more urination | Linked to the Burmese line; manage weight |
| Hypokalaemia | Muscle weakness, neck weakness | Inherited low blood potassium seen in some lines |
| Obesity | Weight gain, low activity | Prevent with measured portions and play |
The Asian is intelligent and quick to learn, responding well to short reward-based sessions for tricks, recall, and sound litter and scratching habits.
The Asian's intelligence and its focus on people make it one of the more trainable cat breeds. It learns its name and the household routines fast and, with patience, can pick up tricks, recall, and even harness walking. Training also puts the breed's energy and curiosity to good use, which cuts down on mischief. Keep the sessions short, since cats lose interest quicker than dogs.
Asian queens mature at around five to nine months, carry litters for roughly 63 to 67 days, and usually have four to six kittens that depend on the mother in their early weeks.
Female Asians can reach sexual maturity from around five to nine months, though responsible breeders wait until the queen is physically mature, usually beyond a year, before her first litter. Mating tracks the queen's heat cycle. Gestation runs about 63 to 67 days.
Litters usually come to four to six kittens, with some variation. The newborns are blind and fully dependent on the mother for warmth and feeding. Their eyes open at around one to two weeks, weaning starts near four weeks and wraps up around seven to eight weeks. Because the Asian is so social, kittens do better for gentle handling and early exposure to household life, which builds the confident temperament the breed is known for. Kittens normally leave for new homes from about twelve to thirteen weeks, once their initial vaccinations are done. Breeders should screen the parents for the inherited conditions seen in the Burmese line before mating.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sexual maturity | About 5 to 9 months |
| Recommended first breeding | After 12 months |
| Gestation | 63 to 67 days |
| Average litter size | 4 to 6 kittens |
| Weaning age | 7 to 8 weeks |
| Ready for new home | 12 to 13 weeks |
With cat licensing phased in from 2024, a free United Pet Club record keeps your Asian cat's chip pointing at your current mobile.
A flat-dwelling Asian cat still bolts through an open door now and then, and that is exactly the moment a record matters. Hers is free: name, photo, chip number, your mobile, held by United Pet Club for her whole life. Register your cat before the door swings open.
The chip under your Asian cat's skin is a number; the registry is what makes it a phone call. United Pet Club keeps that registry entry free for life, accepts every brand, and never charges when your details change. Microchip registration first, then the free account wraps up the profile.
Create a free United Pet Club account, add her name, colouring, and a photo, and save the profile. The lifetime plan holds it at no cost for her whole life, flat cat or wanderer.
Enter the 15-digit number from the clinic's paperwork into your free account with your current contact details. The lifetime plan never charges for the record or for updates, whatever the chip brand.
Yes, AVS is phasing in licensing and microchipping for pet cats from 2024. The licence answers the rules; the United Pet Club record answers the scanner, and it stays free for your Asian cat's whole life.
Not a cent. Profile, microchip registration, and all future updates are covered by the free lifetime plan, with nothing to renew.
Common questions about the Asian cat cover its size, temperament, care needs, lifespan, suitability, and availability.
It is a medium breed, usually weighing between 4 and 6.5 kilograms, with males larger than females. The body is muscular and heavier than it looks for its size.
It is affectionate, intelligent, sociable, and vocal. It bonds closely with its people, greets visitors confidently, and usually gets along with other cats and cat-friendly dogs.
No. The short coat needs only weekly brushing, and the main requirement is company and daily play. Its demands are about attention rather than grooming.
Most live 12 to 18 years with good nutrition, routine veterinary care, and a healthy weight.
Yes, for families that are home often. It does well with gentle children and other pets but dislikes being left alone for long periods.
They are most common in the United Kingdom and bred by a small number of breeders, so availability elsewhere is limited. Expect a wait list with reputable breeders.
