The highest achievement in the CFA show ring is accomplished when a cat successfully earns the title of National Winner (NW). CFA established the title of Grand Champion in 1930 and the title of National Winner first appeared in 1971. In CFA, each year the top 25 cats in Championship, 25 Kittens and 25 cats in Premiership are awarded the NW title.
The Birman was first accepted by CFA in 1967. However, it wasn't until the 1988-89 show season before the Birmans had their first National Winner - a seal point female named GC, NW Pleasantview Lalique of Windflower.
To date, no Birman has earned a "Best" in any of the categories - the highest placing Birman was in the 2003-04 show season, when GP, NW Mysinhs Zenyatta Modatta, a blue point neuter, was CFA's 7th Best Alter.
In the 2001-02 show season, several new colors were accepted, including the lynx points - that year also saw the first lynx point National Winner, a seal lynx point female named GC, BW, NW Whitesox You Wild Little Indian.
Naming of Birmans is unique to only a few breeds - the Birman breeders follow the French tradition of naming all kittens born in a given year with names that start with the same letter of the alphabet. No letters are skipped, so it's a 26-year cycle before the same letter is used again... 2003 saw the start of a new cycle of names, with it being an "A" year.
Below is a table with the national winning Birmans including their name, color, sex, year of their win, and the award they earned.
If the cat's name is in blue text, you can click on it to see a photo of the cat. Championship cats names are on an orange background, kittens are on pink and alters are on a blue background.
Birman National Winners in CFA
| Year | Position | Cat's Name | Color | Sex |
| 1970-71 through 1987-88 |
No Birman National Winners | |||
| 1988-89 | 9th Best Kitten | GC, NW Pleasantview Lalique of Windflower, DM | Seal Point | F |
| 1989-90 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 1990-91 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 1991-92 | 17th Best Cat | GC, NW Shadowsnlace Nitro of Junsui | Seal Point | M |
| 1992-93 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 1993-94 | 8th Best Kitten | GC, NW Pleasantview Qati, DM | Seal Point | M |
| 1994-95 | 12th Best Kitten | GC, NW Pleasantview's Risky Business | Blue Point | M |
| 1995-96 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 1996-97 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 1997-98 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 1998-99 | 11th Best Kitten | GC, NW Bojacat Vabulous | Blue Point | F |
| 8th Best Alter | GP, NW Pleasantview Unsung Hero | Seal Point | N | |
| 1999-00 | 11th Best Cat | GC, NW Bitaheaven Vandal | Blue Point | M |
| 2000-01 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 2001-02 | 12th Best Cat | GC, BW, NW Whitesox You Wild Little Indian | Seal Lynx Point | F |
| 2002-03 | 16th Best Alter | GC, GP, NW Mysinhs Xavier | Seal Point | N |
| 2003-04 | 9th Best Cat | GC, BW, NW Forevermore's Zuzim of Buttonball | Seal Point | M |
| 7th Best Alter | GP, NW Mysinhs Zenyatta Modatta | Blue Point | N | |
| 2004-05 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 2005-06 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 2006-07 | 20th Best Cat | GC, BW, NW Mysinhs Chain-Of-Fools | Seal Point | M |
| 2007-08 | 13th Best Alter | GC, GP, NW Saskattery Toulouse Latreker | Seal Point | N |
| 2008-09 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 2009-10 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 2010-11 | 5th Best Alter | GP, NW Pixydust's Ghirardelli of Whitesox | Chocolate Point | N |
| 2011-12 | 13th Best Kitten | GC, BW, NW Whitesox Illini | Blue Lynx Point | F |
| 2012-13 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 2013-14 | BEST ALTER | GP, NW Sandesox Just Sweetness of Whitesox | Blue Point | N |
| 2014-15 | 3rd Best Alter | GP, NW Sandesox Just Sweetness of Whitesox | Blue Point | N |
| 2015-16 | 5th Best Alter, Regions 1-9 | GPD, NW Sandesox Just Sweetness of Whitesox | Blue Point | N |
| 2016-17 | 21st Best Cat, Regions 1-9 | GC, BWR, NW Quailridge McJagger of Kyatwo | Seal Point | M |
| 2017-18 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 2018-19 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 2019-20 | 19th Best Alter, Regions 1-9 | GP, NW Birkist's Princeton Pawprints | Seal Tabby Point | N |
| 2020-21 | No National Winners Awarded by CFA this season | |||
| 2021-22 | No Birman National Winners | |||
| 2022-23 | 24th Best Cat, Regions 1-9 |
GC, BWR, NW Sun-Silk Starbuck | Blue Tabby Point | M |
| 5th Best Alter, International | GP, NW Golden Uta Sherlock | Chocolate Point | N | |