The Birman cat is a very old breed, that has been known for many centuries. Originally the Birman cat was known only in Burma, and it was only when, in 1920, an American millionaire, who was travelling in Indochina, was charmed by local cats living at temples. He decided to buy a few cats from the monarchs, and then brought them to the US.  In 1925 the Birman cat became widely popular in the US, and from there the breed found its way abroad. Only a few cats, who were living in Europe, survived WW2, and it was a severe blow to thepopulation. Soon breeders managed not only to reconstruct the breed, but also significantly improve it.