Asian Cat: the British breed with a Burmese body and a coat that comes in a hundred patterns

In the late 1980s in the United Kingdom, a group of breeders set out to build a new cat by crossing the Burmese with the Chinchilla Persian. The goal was specific: a cat with the compact, muscular body of the Burmese, but carrying the wide range of patterns and colors that the Chinchilla Persian contributes. The result became the Asian Group, a family of related shorthaired cats recognized in Britain with several distinct varieties.

This is a cat most American owners have never met. The Asian remains overwhelmingly a British project, rare on this side of the Atlantic and uncommon even in continental Europe. Where it does turn up in the United States, it is almost always imported, and registries here treat it as a niche, lesser-known group rather than a household name like the Maine Coon or the Ragdoll.

What the Asian Group actually includes

The Asian is not a single breed so much as an umbrella for several closely related coat types built on the same body. The main varieties are:

• Asian Tabby: a tabby coat in several patterns (classic, spotted, ticked, mackerel).
• Asian Self (Solid): a uniform, single-color coat.
• Asian Smoke: a coat with silver undercoat and shaded tipping that "smokes" when the cat moves.
• Burmilla: the silver-tipped relative, usually described as its own breed but sharing the same foundational genetics.

All of them descend from that original Burmese, Chinchilla Persian foundation, which is why a Burmese owner will recognize the build, the energy, and the people-focused temperament at a glance.

What the Asian's temperament is actually like

The Asian inherits the best of both founding breeds. From the Burmese it takes strong sociability and an intense bond with its people. From the Chinchilla Persian it borrows a calmer, steadier baseline. The blend tends to be balanced rather than extreme:

• High sociability without the relentless demand some Burmese cats are known for.
• Medium-high energy, with real bursts of activity that settle into long rest periods.
• Moderate vocalization: this is a cat that will talk to you, but it does not have the carrying yowl of a Siamese.

It is, in short, an easy companion for a family that is home often. The Asian wants to be involved in what you are doing. It follows you between rooms, supervises chores, and prefers parallel company to being left alone for long stretches.

What hereditary health issues it has

Because the Asian is built on a Burmese foundation, it carries the same genetic concerns the Burmese is known for. A responsible breeder addresses these directly.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The most common feline cardiomyopathy and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in affected cats. The heart muscle thickens, the ventricular cavity shrinks, and circulation suffers. Screening of breeding stock by echocardiogram, and genetic testing where a validated test exists for the line, reduces the risk of passing it on.

Diabetes mellitus. The Burmese has a well-documented breed predisposition to diabetes, and the Asian inherits that tendency. This is the single most important reason to keep an Asian lean and to feed a diet low in simple carbohydrates. Watch for the classic signs: increased thirst, increased urination, and weight loss despite a normal or larger appetite.

Common feline conditions. Beyond these two, the Asian is broadly healthy, with no unusual additional load compared to other shorthaired breeds.

Average life expectancy is 13 to 18 years with appropriate care, on the longer end among domestic cats, which fits the picture of a generally robust breed.

Does the Asian need a lot of grooming?

No. The coat is short, fine, and close-lying, and it does not mat. A practical routine:

• Weekly brushing with a soft rubber brush or grooming mitt to lift loose hair and keep the coat glossy.
• A quick extra pass during seasonal sheds in spring and fall.
• Routine monthly ear checks and nail trims, the same baseline any cat needs.

This is one of the lowest-maintenance coats you will find on a pedigreed cat.

Does it adapt well to apartment life?

Yes, with one condition: company. The Asian is happy in an apartment provided it gets daily interaction and play. It is not a cat that copes well with empty homes for ten hours at a stretch. What it needs indoors:

• Vertical space: a cat tree, shelves, or perches to climb and survey from.
• Daily interactive play to channel that medium-high energy, especially wand toys and puzzle feeders.
• A steady human presence, ideally a household where someone is around for part of the day, or a second cat for company.

Because it descends from two sociable lines, the Asian generally does well with other cats and with respectful children. Introductions to other pets go more smoothly when done gradually and while the cat is still young.

How much should an Asian eat?

A healthy 9 lb (4 kg) adult needs roughly 1.5 to 2.3 oz (45 to 65 g) of premium dry food per day, adjusted for activity and split into two meals, or an equivalent ration of wet food. Given the breed's diabetes predisposition, prioritize a diet high in animal protein and low in simple carbohydrates, and keep the cat at a lean body condition. Spayed and neutered adults gain weight easily; weigh the cat every couple of months and adjust the ration before extra pounds creep on.

How much does an Asian cat cost in the United States?

Expect to pay roughly $1,000 to $2,000 for a registered kitten in 2026, and often more, because almost every Asian in the United States is imported from the United Kingdom. That import path adds shipping, paperwork, and scarcity to the price. Buy from a breeder who can show health screening on the parents, especially cardiac screening for HCM, and who raises kittens in a socialized home environment. A bargain kitten with no documentation is a gamble on exactly the two inherited problems this breed is known for.

Asian cat data sheet

Identification

• Size: medium
• Weight: 8-12 lb (3.5-5.5 kg) males; 7-10 lb (3-4.5 kg) females
• Length: 18-22 in (45-55 cm) including tail
• Life expectancy: 13-18 years
• Origin: United Kingdom (1980s)

Physical

• Coat: short, fine, silky, close-lying
• Varieties: Tabby, Self (Solid), Smoke, Burmilla
• Body: muscular, compact, Burmese-type
• Eyes: gold or green depending on the variety

Temperament

• Sociability: high
• Independence: medium
• Vocalization: moderate, chatty but not piercing
• Trainability: high; responds well to clicker and reward training

Care

• Brushing: weekly, with extra passes during seasonal sheds
• Exercise: daily interactive play and vertical space
• Diet: high-protein, low-carbohydrate ration, kept lean for diabetes risk

Is this breed for you?

Yes, if you want a sociable, people-focused cat with a low-maintenance coat, you are home often or can offer feline company, and you are willing to feed and manage carefully around the breed's diabetes risk. Yes, too, if you appreciate a Burmese-style temperament with a calmer, more balanced edge.

No, if you are away from home all day, if you specifically want a very independent, hands-off cat, or if a budget that almost always involves importing the kitten is out of reach.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Asian the same as the Burmilla? The Burmilla is the silver-tipped member of the Asian Group, built on the same Burmese, Chinchilla Persian foundation. It is usually described as its own breed, but it shares the base genetics with the rest of the group.

Is it a vocal cat? Moderately. It will talk to you and comment on its day, but it does not have the loud, carrying voice of a Siamese.

How long does it live? Typically 13 to 18 years with good care, which is on the longer side for domestic cats.

What is the most important health concern? Two stand out: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and a breed predisposition to diabetes mellitus inherited from the Burmese. Both are reasons to buy from a breeder who screens, and to keep the cat lean on a low-carbohydrate diet.

Is it good with children and other cats? Yes. Its sociable temperament makes it a good fit for families and multi-cat homes, especially when introductions are gradual and the cat is socialized young.

Bibliography

• The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), breed recognition and registry overview. https://cfa.org
• The International Cat Association (TICA), breed group standards and genealogical registry. https://tica.org
• American Veterinary Medical Association, clinical resources on feline cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus. https://avma.org
• Royal Veterinary College, VetCompass studies on hereditary disease prevalence in cat breeds.
• O'Neill, D.G. et al. (2016). Longevity and mortality of cats attending primary care veterinary practices in England. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 17(2).