Known as the “sacred cat of Burma,” there are many legends surrounding the origins of this beautiful breed, including that they are descendants of one hundred yellow-eyed cats with long silken fur that guarded the Buddhist temple of Lao-Tsun. Two other tales include a Frenchman named Auguste Pavie, who supposedly received the first Birman as a gift of gratitude for saving Kittah priests during a religious uprising. One other tale purports that American. Millionaire, Cornelius Vanderbilt, purchased the first Birmans from an unfaithful temple servant while cruising his yacht in the Far East and gave them to one of his … Continue reading →