Asian at a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 3.5–5.5 kg
- Life expectancy
- 16–18 years
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one cat. Not assessed yet: Time alone.
Is the Asian right for you?
Like every breed, the Asian is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You have children and can supervise them with the cat.
- This would be your first cat and you are ready to learn.
- You have a calm, cat-friendly dog and can introduce them slowly.
- You would enjoy an active, playful cat and have time to play every day.
Consider another breed if…
- You cannot offer any safe outdoor space.
- You would find a loud, talkative cat hard to live with.
How would the Asian fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Asian
The Asian is a medium-sized, slender and athletic cat with the head and body type of the Burmese, but in a far wider choice of coat colours and patterns. It is a lively, outgoing and affectionate cat that usually wants to be part of every aspect of its owner's life.
Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual cat.
- Size
Medium
A mid-sized cat.
- Coat length
Short
A short coat.
- Activity level
Lively
Lively and playful; needs daily play.
- Grooming
Weekly
The coat usually needs brushing about once a week.
- Shedding
Low
Tends to shed little, though every cat sheds some hair.
- Vocal
Very talkative
Often very talkative, with a voice that carries.
- Good with children
Often good
Often good with children, with supervision.
- Good with other cats
Varies
Varies with the individual cat.
- Good with dogs
Often fine
Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog.
- Suits first-time owners
Often
Often suits first-time cat owners.
- Time alone
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Indoors and outdoors
Some outdoor space
Benefits from some safe outdoor space, such as a cat-proofed garden.
The Asian is a group of related varieties rather than a single look. The GCCF recognises five: the Asian Self, which includes the black Bombay; the Asian Smoke; the shaded Burmilla; the Asian Tabby; and the Tiffanie, which is the semi-longhaired version.
The breed began in the UK in the early 1980s with an unplanned mating between a Chinchilla Persian male and a lilac Burmese female. Their attractive kittens became the foundation of the Burmilla, a Burmese-type cat with a silver-tipped coat, and breeders went on to add other colours, patterns and a semi-longhaired coat. By 2003 all five varieties had GCCF Championship status. The GCCF lists the Asian as a minority, or rare, breed.
Asian temperament
Asians are typically playful, intelligent and inquisitive, and can be determined when something new catches their interest. They are very much people cats: loving, charming and entertaining. They are talkative and will often answer when spoken to, although they are not usually loud. Their gentleness can also suit older people looking for a devoted companion.
Asians pick up on stress easily. In a calm home they are usually easy-going, but in a stressful one, especially with several cats, fighting, marking and toileting in the wrong place can develop.
Size and appearance
The Asian is a medium-sized cat that feels heavy for its size, muscular and lithe with slender legs and neat oval paws. Males are usually more solid, while females are often dainty. Adults typically weigh around 3.5–5.5 kg, with some males reaching 5–7 kg.
Most Asians have a short, fine, glossy coat that lies close to the body. The Tiffanie has a fine, silky semi-longhaired coat with no woolly undercoat, frills along the lower body and a plume-like tail. There are well over 400 colour combinations across the group, including self and tortie colours, smoke, shaded and four tabby patterns. Eyes are large and lustrous, from pale green through yellow to golden yellow and amber.
How active is the Asian?
Asians are energetic cats that need plenty of enrichment. Toys on strings, balls they can fetch and climbing cat trees usually go down well, and food-dispensing toys let them act out hunting. Set aside time to play every day.
Asian grooming
The shorthaired Asians are easy to look after: a brush once a week is usually enough, and the coat is not prone to matting or tangling. Shedding is typically low. The Tiffanie's longer coat needs a little more attention. A greasy coat can be a sign that a cat has stopped grooming itself, which may point to poor health.
Indoors and outdoors
Asians usually enjoy some outdoor space, but their fine coat does not protect them well from wet, cold or windy weather. A secure, sheltered cat run with free access to the house suits them well. They are not cats to let roam unsupervised: they are curious and bold enough to get into trouble, and are a high theft risk.
They are extremely sociable and need owners who will pay them attention. They tend to do best where someone is at home for most of the day, in a calm home without too much hustle and bustle.
Living with a Asian
The Asian can make an excellent family pet and usually gets on well with children if introductions are handled properly. It suits best a home where children are old enough to respect a cat's space and handle it gently. Whatever the breed, young children should be supervised around cats and shown how to stroke them gently and let them walk away.
Children
Often good with children, with supervision.
Other cats
Varies with the individual cat.
Dogs
Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog.
Indoors and outdoors
Benefits from some safe outdoor space.
First-time owners
Often suits first-time cat owners.
Other cats and pets
Asians often live contentedly with other cats, especially confident, lively and outgoing breeds of similar temperament, and usually get along with household pets they are raised with. They can be wilful, though, and problems sometimes arise if one wants to be top cat. They usually associate well with dogs when properly introduced.
Asian health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own cat’s health.
The Asian is described as a generally healthy breed, but some inherited conditions are recognised in it, and DNA tests are available. Asians also mature sexually at a young age, so talk to your vet about neutering a new kitten early.
Hypokalaemia
A condition in which potassium levels in the blood are low, leading to weakness. It is the inherited disease so far seen in the Asian. A reliable DNA test exists, and since 1 January 2018 testing has been mandatory for Asians registered for breeding.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
An inherited condition in which cysts form in the kidneys, affecting how they work and possibly leading to kidney failure. The risk in the Asian is lower than in some other breeds, and a DNA test is available.
Burmese head defect
A condition in which the face and skull do not form correctly. A DNA test is available.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
PRA has been identified in the breeds the Asian descends from, although the GCCF reports no evidence of it in the Asian so far.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Asian home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Kittens should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a kitten was raised.
How much does a Asian cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Asian home, and looking after one well. Kitten prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, litter, scratching posts and toys, and a cattery or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the cat’s life, typically 16–18 years, not just the first year.
Buying a Asian
If you have decided the Asian suits your life, take the same care choosing where your cat comes from. Meet the kitten in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Asian
Asians do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the cat. An adult cat arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the cat’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a cat once, well.
Asians looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
Find Asian adverts for sale and for adoption on Mypetzilla now.
Similar breeds you may want to consider
Burmilla
Sociable, playful, affectionate, independent, intelligent, inquisitive, lively and relaxed.
View breed guideBombay
Curious, active, affectionate, outgoing, intelligent, friendly, mischievous and playful.
View breed guideJapanese Bobtail
Playful, curious, bold, affectionate, active, intelligent, loyal and outgoing.
View breed guide
Asian FAQs
Is the Asian good with children?
Often good with children, with supervision. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
Can the Asian be an indoor cat?
Benefits from some safe outdoor space. Indoor cats need daily play, places to climb and scratch, and a window to watch from.
How active is the Asian?
Lively and playful. Short play sessions every day help any cat stay fit and settled.
Does the Asian shed?
Tends to shed little.
How much grooming does the Asian need?
Typically: about once a week.
Is the Asian a talkative cat?
Often very talkative. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
Does the Asian get on with other cats?
Varies with the individual cat. Introduce cats slowly, with separate food, water, litter trays and resting places.
Is the Asian good with dogs?
Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
How long does the Asian live?
Typically 16–18 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.
How big does the Asian get?
Adults typically weigh 3.5–5.5 kg.