Asian cat

The Asian is a medium-sized shorthaired cat with the build and character of the Burmese, presented in a much wider spread of coat colours and patterns. It was developed in the United Kingdom and is commonly treated as a group of related varieties rather than one fixed coat type. Across the group, every cat has the same compact, muscular frame and the same need for human company.

Weight typically sits between 4 and 6.5 kilograms, with males heavier than females. The coat is short, fine, and close-lying, so grooming stays undemanding. Eye colour generally falls between yellow and gold, and the precise shade goes with the coat.

The Asian is a cat that keeps close to its household. It follows its owner from room to room and stays part of whatever is going on. It is intelligent and sociable, and it likes to talk, though its voice is softer than the Siamese even while it gets regular use. A household after a quiet, self-sufficient pet may find the Asian wants more attention than they had in mind.

Who it suits

The Asian is a good fit for an owner or family who are home for much of the day and want a cat that gets involved. It does well with children who handle cats gently, and it usually accepts other cats and cat-friendly dogs. It is a poor choice for anyone away from the house for long hours every day, since it dislikes being left on its own for extended stretches.

The Asian group traces back to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. It grew out of a cross between a lilac Burmese and a chinchilla coated cat of Persian type. The kittens retained Burmese conformation but carried new coat colours, and breeders saw the value in fixing those traits.

The breeding programme is associated with the British breeder Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg, who worked to establish the variety and its related coats over this period. The shaded coats from that first cross were developed into the Burmilla, while the broader effort produced a family of Burmese-type cats in additional colours and patterns.

Over the years that followed, UK cat registries recognised the Asian as a group covering several coat varieties, including self (solid), tortie, smoke, and tabby forms, alongside the shaded Burmilla. Burmese conformation is common to all of them, which holds the group consistent in body type despite the range of coats.

The Asian remains far more common in the United Kingdom than elsewhere. A relatively small group of dedicated breeders works with it, so finding one outside its home country is difficult.

The Asian has the Burmese body type: medium in size, heavier than its length suggests, and muscular under a sleek coat. The chest is rounded, the back straight, and the legs slender in proportion to the body. The head is a rounded wedge with good width between the ears, full cheeks, and a firm chin.

The eyes are large and set well apart, which gives the face an alert, open expression. Their colour ranges from yellow through to gold, the exact shade tied to the coat. The tail is medium in length and tapers to a rounded tip.

Coat and colours

The coat is short and lies flat against the body, its shine owed to the fine texture rather than to length. The group covers a broad palette. Self varieties come in solid colours such as black, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, and caramel. Tortie, smoke, and tabby patterns occur across those same base colours. The shaded coat that started the programme is recognised separately as the Burmilla. Despite the variety, every coat shares the same close, low-maintenance texture.

The Asian is an outgoing, people-focused cat. It seeks out its household and moves to wherever the activity is, settling on a lap, over a shoulder, or beside whoever is working. It bonds closely with its family and shows a clear attachment to the people it lives with.

With strangers the Asian is usually confident rather than shy, and it tends to greet visitors instead of hiding away. It is sociable with other cats and often accepts cat-friendly dogs, which makes it well suited to a multi-pet home. With children it is patient as long as the handling is gentle.

The breed is intelligent and stays interested in its surroundings, learning routines quickly and coming up with games of its own. It is talkative and will hold a running commentary with its owner, though the voice is softer and less piercing than the Siamese. The Asian does not manage long stretches of solitude well and can become unhappy if it is regularly left alone all day.

Grooming

• Brush the short coat once a week to lift loose hair and keep its shine
• Check the ears weekly and clean them gently if needed
• Trim the claws every few weeks
• Introduce regular tooth brushing to support dental health

Exercise

• Provide two or more active play sessions a day with wand or chase toys
• Offer puzzle feeders and rotate the toys to keep the mind busy
• Add vertical space such as a cat tree or shelves for climbing
• Use interactive play to burn off the breed's natural energy

Environment

The Asian is best suited to a home where someone is around for much of the day. It adapts well to indoor living when given enough stimulation and height to climb. Because it is so sociable, a second cat can provide company while the household is out, though it is no full substitute for human attention.

As an obligate carnivore, the Asian needs a diet built around animal protein. A complete commercial cat food that meets recognised nutritional standards covers its needs at each life stage. Wet and dry foods are both suitable, and many owners feed a mix so the cat gets moisture from the wet food along with the convenience of dry. Fresh water should always be available.

Portion size depends on age, weight, and activity. The amounts below are general starting points; adjust them to body condition and a vet's guidance.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of daily calories to prevent weight gain. A cat on a complete, balanced food usually needs no supplements. Discuss any addition, such as joint support for an older cat, with a vet before starting it.

The Asian is a robust breed, and most cats live long, healthy lives. Typical lifespan is 12 to 18 years with good care. Because 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.

Preventive care

• Annual vet checkups, more often for senior cats
• Keep core vaccinations and parasite control up to date
• Brush the teeth regularly and schedule dental cleanings as advised
• Weigh the cat periodically and adjust food to keep a healthy condition
• Ask the breeder about health screening of the parents

The Asian's intelligence and focus on people make it one of the more trainable cat breeds. It learns its name and household routines quickly and, with patience, can pick up tricks, recall, and even harness walking. Training also channels the breed's energy and curiosity into useful outlets, which cuts down on mischief. Keep sessions short, since cats lose interest faster than dogs.

Basics

1. Start litter training by placing the kitten in a clean tray after meals and naps
2. Provide a scratching post and reward its use to protect the furniture
3. Teach the cat to come to its name using a treat the moment it responds
4. Build simple tricks such as sit or high-five in short daily sessions
5. Introduce a harness gradually indoors before any outdoor walking

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 a first litter. Mating follows the queen's heat cycle. Gestation runs about 63 to 67 days.

Litters usually number four to six kittens, with some variation. Newborns are blind and fully dependent on their mother for warmth and feeding. Their eyes open at around one to two weeks, weaning begins near four weeks, and it finishes around seven to eight weeks. Because the Asian is so social, kittens benefit from 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, after their first vaccinations. Breeders should screen the parents for the inherited conditions seen in the Burmese line before mating.

Registering an Asian cat in South Africa

A gate left open for the gardener is all it takes for a homebody Asian cat to go missing. Her free United Pet Club profile keeps your details one scan away, wherever she turns up. Register your cat once, free, and the record outlasts every house move.

A scanner reads your Asian cat's chip in seconds; the registry decides whether the reading goes anywhere. Capture the 15-digit number in your free United Pet Club account and it goes straight to your phone. Free for life, every brand accepted, every update free. Microchip registration closes the loop.