Asians are grouped in section 5 (Burmese) by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF).

[3] The breed was accidentally developed in the United Kingdom, starting with a litter of 4 kittens resulting from a mismating of a chinchilla Persian stud, Jamari Sanquist, and a lilac European Burmese queen, Bambino Lilac Faberge, bred in 1981 by Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg.

These cats were given the name 'Burmoire' due to the moire-like effect of their coats — this look is now considered undesirable for the Asian Smoke.

[10] The solid black Bombay under the Asian Self-category has a slightly different origin, but is also developed in the UK.

In the early 1980's, the resulting kittens of three mismatings of European Burmese with black domestic short-haired cats were developed into the British-type Bombay.

American-type Bombays were developed by crossbreeding sable American Burmese and black American Shorthair cats,[12][13] to produce a cat of mostly Burmese type, but with a sleek, panther-like black coat and exclusively with bright copper-golden eyes.

[15][7] Ears should be medium to large in size, with rounded tips and a slight forward tilt.

[15][7] The short-haired coat of the Asian should lie close to the body and is fine, satiny and glossy, and can be multiple colours and patterns.