The Asian Shorthair belongs to the Asian Grouping of breeds, all of which conform to a Burmese type standard. Asians may summarily be described as Burmese of OTHER colours and patterns.

The development of the Asian shorthair in New Zealand has its origins in several differing programmes.  In Britain, the Asian group of breeds includes the Bombay, the Asian Selfs, Asian Tabbies, Asian Smokes, the Burmilla, and the Tiffanie. This group development came out of the emerging Burmilla programme which then spawned the Asian and Tiffanie programmes.  In New Zealand, the equivalent of the Bombay and Asian Selfs is the Mandalay, which covers all “full colour” expression cats (non-Burmese coloured cats) of Burmese type. ie. Solid Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Red, Cream, and the corresponding torties.  Also in New Zealand, the Silver Burmese was developed separately from a line of Domestic SH Silvers, not from the Chinchilla as in the case of the Burmilla. These Silver Burmese, were therefore bred to conform to Burmese eye colour.

A major milestone for the Asian group in Britain came about in 1990 with the affiliation to the GCCF of the Burmilla Asian Association, since renamed the Asian Group Cat Society. At that time preliminary recognition was given to the Burmilla, Asian Smoke, Asian Tabby, Bombay and Tiffanie. By late 1996, the GCCF had granted Championship Status to the Burmilla, Asian Smoke and Asian Tabby.

Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the NZCF had extended the Burmese breed to include the Silvers and had adopted the Mandalay as a separate breed, originally only in Solid Colours and Torties, but eventually extending this to include Tabbies.

CATZ Inc, looked at the development from a global point of view. There had to be some rationalization of the Breed group to allow for the continued recognition of the New Zealand developed Mandalay (full colour expression cats), while preserving the uniqueness of the Burmese breed as a whole. This approach had to also include the challenge of allowing for the breeding programmes of “Silver Burmese” (with Yellow eye colour and close lying coats) as well as that of the “Burmilla” (with its inherent Green eyes and silky coat with a slight lift), to be preserved severally and separately one from the other. Adding to the dilemma was the fact that the Tiffanie was recognized in some registries as a Asian Longhair cat of ANY colour (including Burmese colouration) while only allowed in Silver or Smoke in others.

Therefore the Asian group of breeds was adopted, with a uniquely New Zealand flavour. Breeds included were:

The Mandalay (but only allowing the “full colour expression” varieties, including torties) but NOT including the tabbies. This meant that the New Zealand Mandalay, now was now synonymous with the Asian Selfs (including Bombay).

The Asian. Limited to the Asian Tabbies and Asian Smokes, but adding the Asian Silvers, thereby removing the Silver Burmese from the traditional Burmese breed and securing their future within the Asian group, where they truly belong. These stunningly beautiful cats conform to Burmese Type and eye colour and they do not emulate the Burmilla, which was developed from a hybridization with the Chinchilla.

The Burmilla. A unique green eyed beauty, developed from the Burmese and the Chinchilla. In line with our partner registries in Australia, this breed is limited to ONLY Silver Tipped and Silver Shaded and excludes the introduction of cats expressing the orange or “o” gene.

The Tiffany. Similar to the GCCF, all colours are allowable, both in the full colour expression range and the Burmese colour range.

So the “ASIAN” in CATZ Inc, comes in Tabby, Smoke and Silver varieties, all conforming to Burmese type and eye colour. 

The Asian TABBY comes in four patterns, Ticked, Mackerel, Spotted and Classic. By far the most common of these is Ticked, being the most dominant gene and it is present in most Burmese. The more elusive patterns are sometimes brought forth by breeding to Selfs, (Mandalays) which may carry these patterns. Breeding programmes must be carefully considered in order to maintain type as well as a dense well defined pattern as all the Tabbies are required to have a pattern that is dense and as near to the roots of the coat as possible. Mackerel, Spotted and Classic patterns should be as free from ticking as possible.

The Asian SMOKE was once referred to as the “Burmoire”, because of the watered silk effect produced by the ghost tabby markings, but these are now regarded as a fault. The ideal Smoke should look like a self in repose at a distance, but when it moves, should reveal the striking white undercoat due to the presence of silver. The smoke often appears as a dramatic cat, especially in the darker “full expression” colours where there is wonderful contrast between the white undercoat and the densely coloured top coat.

 The development of the Asian Silver (originally Silver Burmese), is unique to New Zealand. This program was originally the brain-child of Dr Terry Lomax of Cineole cattery and more recently has been further developed by Mrs Jill Dugan of Shamonita cattery. The Asian Silvers are tipped or shaded and have a sparkling appeal. When first confronted with a Silver, it is not unusual to observe cat fanciers literally taken aback by their luminous beauty, highlighted by the delicate tipping of colour.

Asian cats emulate all the remarkable traits of their Burmese progenitors. They are highly intelligent, alert and inquisitive, people orientated, affectionate and fun-loving and are therefore ideally suited as family pets.