Dr.Joseph Thompson of San Francisco, California, acquired a walnut-brown female cat from Burma, which he then bred to Siamese cats. Over time, the Burmese became a separate breed. They have distinct and powerful eyes that often endear people to them for life. These cats have also been described as "bricks wrapped in silk," because they are surprisingly heavy for their size, but have a satin-like coat. This breed is very people oriented and loves to have the attention of their owner.