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Burmese Cat Breed Introduction
The Burmese Cat is a medium-sized domesticated cat breed from Burma and developed in the United States and Britain. These cats require a lot of human contact and mental stimulation to stay healthy. They portray intelligent, energetic, and playful traits. They are good cats around children as long as they are well-socialized and the children respect the cat’s boundaries. Moreover, this cat breed require more attention and suit a family where there is constant human contact.
Burmese are available in sable, champagne, blue, and platinum colors. Their face has a hint of exotic Asian breeds and large and round eyes. They are also not sufficient with indoor life as they are curious to explore around. Thus, they require large homes with a secure outdoor space such as a covered run or cat-proofed fence.
Origin
The Burmese first originated in Burma and became known in the United Kingdom around 1800 before it was first developed in Britain during the late 1800s. Originally, the breed was developed as Chocolate Siamese. The breed was outed by the louder and more boldly marked Siamese and ended up dying. In the 1930s some of the Burmese were taken from Burma to the US which later led to the modern Burmese breed.
The breed was later re-introduced to Britain by Mrs. Lilian France having imported three cats. The cats were originally available in classic brown color but in the 1950s blue kittens began appearing in some litters. A tortoiseshell cat color was established in the 1960s when an escaped queen matted with a stray tom.
Burmese Cat Lifespan
The Burmese Cats have a life expectancy of 10 to 16 years.
Care
Burmese cats have a short, fine, glossy, and silky coat that requires minimal grooming. Brushing should be done once a week with a rubber brush to remove dead hair and keep the coat clean. Frequent bathing is not necessary, as once a month is sufficient. When bathing your cat, use lukewarm water, mild shampoo formulated for cats or kittens, and conditioner. After bathing, dry the cat with a towel and brush the coat to remove any matted fur or knots.
To avoid periodontal disease and dental abscesses in cats, it’s important to clean their teeth using a soft-bristle brush or finger brush and toothpaste designed for cats. Burmese cats also require nail trimming once a month, which can be done by gently pressing the top and bottom of the cat’s paw on the joint for the claws to appear.
Additionally, cats love to scratch, so offering scratching pads is a good idea. It’s essential to clean your cat’s ears using an ear-cleaning solution, cotton balls, or gauze. Neglecting ear cleaning can lead to the risk of perforating the eardrum or causing trauma to the ear canal.
Shedding
Burmeses do not shed their coat excessively and thus require low maintenance when grooming. However, they may shed during seasons to make room for fresh coats.
Coat
Burmeses have a silky, gleaming, short coat with a small amount of undercoat lying close to the skin.
Burmese Cat Long Hair
The Burmese Cats have short-haired coats. However, people tend to confuse these cats with the long-haired cat Birman which originates from France.
Burmese Cat Hypoallergenic
Most Cats shed their coats and are not usually hypoallergenic. However, Burmese cats are an exception. They are hypoallergenic because they do not shed excessively like other breeds. This makes it possible for people who suffer from allergic reactions to cat hair to keep them as pets. However, it is important to note that the Fel-D1 protein that causes inflammation and asthma in allergic people is also present in their saliva and urine.
Training
Burmese cats are intelligent and require positive reinforcement during their training. Their training should kick off when they are kittens before they join their new homes. It’s important to socialize the kittens to avoid shyness, which can be achieved by taking them to parks, new places, new people, and new animals. The training sessions should be short to avoid distractions or boredom for the cats.
These cats are playful, and owners are recommended to train them to play mostly with toys instead of hands, as the play can escalate into harder bites and scratches. You can teach the cat command words like “high five”, “sit”, “come” or “no” and reward them if they cooperate. Owners can also use a clicker for training.
Always provide the cat with a scratching pad where they can scratch their nails to avoid messing up the house. Additionally, provide effective housebreaking rules, such as early crate training, potty training, and feeding schedules.
Burmese Cat Personality
- Intelligent.
- Energetic.
- Playful.
- Affectionate.
- Loving.
- Sociable.
- Trusting.
- Cuddly.
Behaviour Problems
The Burmese Cats may develop various behavior problems if not well socialized or trained which causes anxiety or stress. Some of the behaviors they may attain include:
- Aggression.
- Scratching.
- Anxiety.
- Litter Box Issues.
- Excessive personal grooming.
- Urine marking.
- Vocalization.
- Playing rough.
- Fear.
- Pain.
- Hiding.
Exercise
Burmeses are energetic cats that require a 30-minute exercise a day depending on their age, breed, and lifestyle. They can be exercised indoors by providing a catio, an empty box, a puzzle feeder, interactive toys, hide and seek with treats, adopt playmates, and a kitty exercise station.
Meow
Burmese Cats are expressive cats that meow, chirp, hiss, growl, and make 26 other distinctive sounds. These cats thrive in households that don’t mind lots of meowing. However, the owners can train the cats to only give them attention when they stop meowing. The Meowing sounds caused by the heat cycle can be reduced by spraying the queen or neutering the tom.
Burmese Cat Size
Burmese Cats stand at a height of 9 to 13 inches (approx. 23 to 33cm ) and weigh 8 to 12 pounds ( approx. 3.6 to 5 kg ).
Height
Burmese Cats stand at a height of 9 to 13 inches (approx. 23 to 33 cm ).
Weight
Healthy Burmese Cats weigh 8 to 12 pounds ( approx. 3.6 to 5 kg ).
Health Issues
Burmese cats are generally known to be healthy cats. However, they may inherit health and disease conditions from their breeding parents. Some of the health issues include obesity, dental disease, panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, and rabies. They may also suffer from parasites, heart disease, eye problems, renal failure, patellar luxation, Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome, and Psychogenic Alopecia. In addition, the cats are required to visit the vet once a year for a check-up.
Apart from Burmese Cats, cat breeds include:
Eye Problems
Some Burmese can inherit several eye conditions that may cause blindness if not treated right away. They may suffer from Glaucoma which may lead to blindness if not treated, Eyelid Agenesis which is caused by the upper lid not forming properly, and Corneal Sequestration a black tissue forming on the cat’s eye.
Allergies
The Burmese Cats are healthy but they can suffer from plant particles and other substances in the air or food. They may suffer from Airborne Allergies which affect the cats’ skin, causing severe itching, redness, and skin swelling. For Food Allergies, the cats tend to have small crusty bumps or hair loss on both sides of the body. Food allergies appear in cats ranging from three months to 11 years. This type of allergy requires the owner to visit a vet as the Food elimination process is difficult as they may be reluctant to change diets.
Names
Burmese Cats’ owners give the cats names before they adopt them or after they adopt them. The owners name them according to their origin, songs, books, movies, and coats. They may also name the cats according to their personality and looks. Some of the names given to Burmese cats include:
- Tigger.
- Kitty.
- Ginger.
- Puss.
- Smokey.
- Misty.
- Coco.
- Max.
- Oscar.
- Missy.
Food
The are carnivores that feed mostly on meat. They seniors and adults should feed twice a day. Owners should be cautious when feeding Burmese dry foods as they can consume too much carbohydrates. These cats require a high-quality kitten or cat food containing taurine, an essential amino acid, for heart and eye health.
They are fed depending on their life stage and age. Also, they require treats that make up about 10% of their diet. Avoid feeding them food that contain onions or gallic powder as it may poison the cats. Ensure their diet is monitored to maintain their lean-but-stocky stature. Always provide the Burmese with clean fresh water.
Burmese Cat Color
Burmese are available in sable, champagne, blue, and platinum colors. However, their head, paws, and tail are slightly darker while the neck and chest can have a lighter shade.
Burmese Cat Black
Black Burmese Cats are genetically the dark brown Burmese cats. These cats contain a black nose and dark brown paw pads. Their body is covered with a black glossy coat.
Black And White
There are no black and white Burmese Cats.
Blue
Blue Burmese Cats contain a unique shade of polished steel. Their color stands lighter than their British counterparts. When they are out in the sun, their coat shimmers, revealing an exquisite spectrum of silvery shades. Additionally, they have dark blue parts on the muzzle, legs, and tail as well as a blue-grey nose and paw pads that have a pinkish-blue-grey tint.
Sable
The brown-colored Burmese Cats have a rich warm seal brown hue, often referred to as “sable”. This color is known to be the foundation of these cat breeds and is mostly common. The color is unmatched and only available on these cat breeds. Moreover, the colors can span from a dark chocolate allure to a vibrant mahogany warmth. The cats may seem dark but they are not solid black.
Lilac
Lilac or cream Burmese Cats were decent from the red-shade cats. These cats contain a soft blush of apricots as they resemble light apricots. They have a unique powdery finish on their ears, head, and back. The nose and paw pats are pale pink making them have a soft visual.
Chocolate
Chocolate Burmese Cats have an evoking color that is the profound richness of chocolate with the soft luminance of milk. This color distinguishes the Burmeses from other cat breeds. The body features a warm honey-beige hue and has a signature of dark chocolate markings on the muzzle, legs, and tail.
White
There are no white Burmese Cats as they are mostly available in Lilac and cream colors.
Red
The red Burmese Cats resembles a vibrant shade of orange which is known to be a captivating coat among the cats. The body is covered with light tangerine paint that makes them stand out. They have a pink nose and a light tangerine color on their paw pads. Furthermore, they have the brightest amber eyes that look like golden gemstones.
Tortie
Tortoiseshells or Torties are patches on the coat of the color that can be white or mixed with other colors. They are red and black, but the “red” patches can instead be orange, yellow, or cream. These cats are available in Seal Tortie, Blue Tortie, Chocolate Tortie, and Lilac Tortie Burmese Cats.
Orange
Orange Burmese Cats were formed in 2007 after a color mutation appeared in New Zealand in 2007. These cats contain dark pigment in the cats’ coats that become pale orange as they grow.
Burmese Cat Siamese
Burmese Cats and Siamese are two distinct breeds. Siamese is a pure cat breed from Asia that is intelligent and very vocal. They are also affectionate and can easily adapt to family life.
Eyes
These cats have large and shiny eyes. The lower line of their eyes is round while the top line is slanted towards their nose. They have compassionate eyes that can detect changes in light intensity and color. Most of these cats have round, golden eyes.
Blue Eyes
Burmese Cats may have blue eyes as kittens, but not as adults. Blue eyes as adults indicate a hybrid or Birman cat.
Burmese Cat Mix
The Burmese Cats are descendants of one queen, Wong Mau who was bred with American Siamese.
Kitten
Healthy Burmese Cat dams can give birth to four to eight kittens, while first-time mothers usually give birth to two to three kittens. It’s not easy to predict the coat color of the kittens at birth, as it may change as they grow up. Kittens require minimal grooming, but they need lots of exercise and a balanced diet. When feeding a kitten, they should eat four times a day until they reach 16 weeks of age. After that, their meals should be reduced to three times a day until they turn one year old. It’s important to avoid giving kittens milk, as they are often lactose intolerant.
Kitten Price
The price of Burmese Kitten ranges from $500 to $1200.
Burmese Cat Price
Healthy Burmese Cats have a price ranging from $800 to $2000 depending on the age, linage, and location of the breeder.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Much Do Burmese Cats Cost
Burmese cats have a price range of $800 to $2000.
What Does A Burmese Cat Look Like
Burmese Cats are intelligent cats that are sociable with children and other people. They are also energetic and playful around their owners or friends.
What Is A Burmese Cat
Burmese Cats are medium-sized domesticated cats breed from Burma with a lifespan of 10 to 16 years. They are said to be hypoallergenic as they do not shed excessively and are available in several colors.
How Long Do Burmese Cats Live
Healthy Burmese Cats live from 10 to 16 years.
Are Burmese Cats Expensive
They are expensive cats as they are hypoallergenic and also a charm to many people which causes their cost to go up.
How Big Do Burmese Cats Get
Healthy Burmese Cats weigh 8 to 12 pounds ( approx. 3.6 to 5kg ).
Burmese Cat Quick Facts
- Burmese Cats love attention and can suffer from separation anxiety when left alone.
- Burmese Cats are related to the Asian Group cats breed.
