Tiffanie

It is the semi-longhaired version of the Asian group, and it comes from the same Chinchilla Persian and Burmese cross that gave rise to the Burmilla in 1981. It has the slender, muscular body of the European Burmese, a rounded face with large eyes and a silky coat that forms a ruff, britches and a plumed tail. The British GCCF granted it championship status in 2003, and the French LOOF and South Africa's SACC also recognise it; the WCF has it at preliminary status and TICA only registers it. In character it is the calmest of the family: affectionate, curious without being frantic and easy to live with. Mind the name: it has no connection with the North American Chantilly-Tiffany.

Despite the coat, it tangles little because it has hardly any undercoat: brush it once or twice a week with a long-toothed comb and go over the areas behind the ears, under the legs and the britches, which is where knots form. A bit more during the spring moult. Calm daily play, a stable scratching post and a reasonable amount of company; it copes better than other Orientals with a household where people work away from home, although it would rather not spend the whole day alone.

It shares risks with the rest of the Asian group: polycystic kidney disease (PKD) from its Persian side and hypokalaemia from its Burmese side, both with DNA tests. As it is a very minority breed, choose breeders who show those tests and avoid high inbreeding. Otherwise, the usual cat problems: tartar, excess weight and kidney disease in old age.