Breeders, owners, enthusiasts and curious locals are spending Saturday and Sunday at the shed for the 34th annual Birman Club of Canberra show, with the eponymous breed joining Abyssinians, exotics, Persians and Siberians.

There was even a literal catwalk for the stars to strut along, helping the judges determine the best in show.

Breeders come from across the country for the show, which in the past has attracted judges from the United States, Russia, Argentina and New Zealand.

As well as showing an appreciation for the fluffy indoor-based breed, the show is an opportunity for casual observers to learn about rare breeds, as well as how to care for, clean and entertain the pets.

Birman Club of Canberra president Carol Cootes said Birmans were becoming increasingly popular as pets, especially for families living in dense urban areas.

"We encourage the people to keep their cats inside because it keeps them safe, they're not annoying your neighbours, they're not being attacked by dogs, having catfights or killing the wildlife," she said.

Next year will be a major milestone for Canberra's birman-owning community: as well as marking 35 years of annual shows, 2017 will also be half a century since moves were made to introduce the breed to Australia.

Judy Lewis, who was instrumental to the initial two Birmans' importation from Britain, was one of the judges at the Canberra show.

She said times had changed since "Boysie" and "Girlsie", the names bestowed affectionately on the felines by the ship's captain, were first brought into Sydney.

"They went into quarantine for a very long time, whereas now we only need to wait a week for quarantine to pass them," she said.

"Boysie and Girlsie stayed with me until they died at the age of 18, and they still retained those names."

Ms Cootes said the show was a major boost for Canberra, given the number of interstate and international visitors attracted to the competition.

"They have a fantastic weekend and get to see what else Canberra has to offer while they're here."