Burmese

The beautiful Burmese is a popular and loving cat breed. They simply love to be loved and get along well with other Burmese, and even dogs.

History:

Thanks to a lovely dark brown cat known as; Wong Mau, who made her way from Burma to the USA back in the 1930s, the Burmese breed was born. Alongside her owner Dr. Joseph C Thompson, and some like-minded people who wanted to develop the breed further, Wong Mau was bred to a Siamese resulting in kittens to be Burmese/ Siamese mix and pure Siamese. After a few more breeding lines, the stunning dark Burmese kittens were born proving that the Burmese was in fact its own breed and not a Siamese mix.

However, drama occurred ruing 1947 when many Burmese cats being shown at the Cat Fancier’s Association show were in fact hybrids of both Burmese and Siamese. For this reason, the breed was banned from being shown, until 1953 when a resolution was finally discovered, and the Burmese Cat Society of America assured that it would never happen again.

At a Glance:

The Burmese is a muscular cat with rounded features including the head, ears eyes and chin, and are surprisingly heavy for their size. They are a solid and robust cat that is very active and playful. The traditional colouring of the Burmese is a deep brown known as sable. Today, other colours are also acceptable in the showring, depending on your country, that includes:

• Stable (rich brown)
• Champagne/Chocolate
• Platinum/Lilac (silvery grey)
• Blue
• Tortoiseshell
• Cream and Red

Personality:

The Burmese is a very active and spritely cat, particularly when kittens. They are incredibly smart and intelligent breed who are known for their charm and lovingness. Unlike their Siamese cousins, they are very softly spoken. However, don’t be fooled! The Burmese certainly has their way of ensuring they are the centre of attention and get all the snuggles and cuddles they need. They are marvellous jumpers and love to play well into adulthood. The Burmese is a very loving and loyal cat who will happily follow their owners around. They love the attention of children, an interestingly enough other Burmese, and many have been known to even play with dogs.

Grooming

The Burmese has a short smooth coat that is easy to groom. They will benfit from a weekly rub down with a brush or rubber mitt to help remove dead hair and skin. Grooming also helps you bond with your precious cat while helping move the necessary oils around the skin and coat to keep it looking and feeling it’s best. Weekly grooming is also a good way to check the skin/coat for any issues. You will find your precious Burmese will take very good care of themselves coat wise. They are very clean and meticulous cats.

Indoors/Outdoors

Like with all cats and kittens, keeping your pet indoors can provide safety and protection against a range of injuries and illness’. Indoor cats have been proven to live longer lives and can be happily entertained without the need of roaming unsupervised outside. Cleverly built cat enclosures can also allow your new kitten to explore the great outdoors in a safe manner. Two kittens, a quality cat scratcher and an indoor life can provide your cat with a wonderfully happy existence full of fun and play. If you do decide to let your kitten outside, ensure they are microchipped and also wearing a snag proof collar. Kittens should not be allowed outside unsupervised until six months of age. The Burmese loves to watch the world go by and will benefit from high perches and tall cat scratchers.

Breeding

It is vital you source your kitten from a reputable breeder to prevent heartache and medical problems that are common with badly bred pets. Ensure your chosen breeder is listed with their registered breed club and ask as many questions as possible. Sighting mum is also a good way to ensuring your kitten has come from good breeding practises and not a kitten-mill environment. Meeting the breeder in person and visiting your kitten before you choose to buy is also recommended. If you are wanting to adopt a kitten contact your local club or shelter organisation.