Birmans are a breed of cats with a medium-sized, rectangular body and a broad face. They have ears that are ideally as wide at the base as they are tall, set on top of the head as much as on the side. Their eyes are rounded and should be a deep sapphire blue. The Birman's fur is medium-long, with a silky texture and no undercoat. Their coat color is always pointed, except for the distinctive pure white "gloves" on each paw that are a trademark of the breed. The white on the paws should include all the toes and stop at the articulation or transition of toes to metacarpals. These gloves extend noticeably up the back of the leg, ending with an inverted V that extends half to three-fourths up the hock.
The base body color of a Birman is white to cream, with a faint wash of color that matches the points but is much lighter. Recognized point colors include seal, chocolate, red, and their corresponding dilute varieties: blue, lilac, and cream. Tabby and tortoiseshell variations in seal, chocolate, blue, or lilac are also permissible for this breed.
