TIFFANIE: THE BEST OF THE PERSIAN AND BURMESE

Tiffanie cats combine the long hair of the Persian with the somewhat increased livliness of the Burmese.  Often confused with the Chantilly/Tiffany, which was actually named after them, this breed has no actual relationship to that breed and is instead a decendent of Chinchilla Persians and Burmese (Bruce Fogle, DVM, Catalog).  Tiffanies are more active than the inactive Persian, but more sedate than the Burmese, and while they have a long-haired coat similar to the Persian, the conformation is Burmese.  The cats have been referred to as Longhaired Asians, because they were produced in well-recorded breeding programs from Chinchilla Persians and Burmese.

APPEARANCE

Tiffanies come in self colors, shaded colors and tabby colors.  Their colors include black, chocolate, red, blue, lilac, cream, caramel, apricot, black tortie, chocolate tortie, blue tortie, lilac tortie and carmel tortie.  The Tiffanie head is a short wedge with a distinct nose-break in profile, with eyes that are neither round nor almond shaped, and slightly oblique in set.  Their bodies are of medium build, with straight backs and impressive musculature.  Their legs are medium length with rounded paws, and their tails are medium to long in length and elegantly plumed.  Tiffanies weigh from 8 to 14 pounds (3.5-6.5kg).  Their temperament is typically lively and affectionate.

BREED HISTORY

According to Fogle, the Tiffanie is actually a long-haired Burmese, and is the only long haired cat breed of the Asian breed group.  The origin of the breed can be traced back to a Chinchilla Persian who mated with a Lilac Burmese by accident, or at least not with the consent of his breeders.  He belonged to Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg, as did the Burmese, when they mated in 1981.  While the first generation of kittens were short-haired, shaded Burmillas, subsequent breeding inevitably produced the recessive longhair, as well as the sepia pointing genes.  Burmese breeders helped develop the Tiffanie breed, and supported its production; however, the breed today is quite distinct from the original.

There are two distinct threads among the Asian Tiffanie breeds; however, the FIFe cats come from many of the same lines as the GCCF group.  The more diverse lines are today used in Britain (Fogle, Catalog).

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Tiffanie requires moderate grooming, needing to be combed twice weekly.  It is active and gregarious, as well as very affectionate.