The Burmese Cat is originally from south-east Asia. It is characterised by its short hair, sepia color and fur as soft as silk.
Very dependent on its owners, it loves being the center of attention, making it an ideal companion for those who will be able to give it lots of cuddles and affection.
The Burmese cat originates from Thailand, south-east Asia. In 1930, Dr Joseph C. Thomson, an american, deicded to cross a slightly dark Siamese called Wong Mau, which he brought back with him from Rangoon, Burma, with a seal point Siamese, the result being a litter of dark and Siamese kittens. To fix a potential mutuation, he decided to mate Wong Mau with one of the dark sons, obtaining a litter of dark kittens.
The breeders subsequently decided to set up a breeding program so that more cats like Wong Mau could be produced. Over time, and in order to avoid inbreeding problems, breeders made crosses with Siamese.
The different crossings, starting in 1930, lead the Burmese breed to divide into two "sub-races": the english model and the american model.
On the english side, british breeders were more interested in creating different colors of Burmese: red, chocolate, lilac etc.
The american side was more interested in modifying the morphology of the Burmese in order to differentiate it from the Siamese and the Tonkinese.
The Burmese cat has a slender body, but is nevertheless muscular. The breed also has remarkable strength which contrasts with its slim build. The neck, as well as the legs, is slender and long. Their back legs are also longer than their front ones. As for its paws, they are small and oval shaped.
One of the Burmese's defining characteristics is its round and powerful chest.
Its tail is average length, thinning towards a rounded tip.
The head is of average size, triangular shaped and slightly protruding. The ears are also averagely sized, larger at the base well spaced apart on the head. It is easy to distinguish males as their cheeks are fuller than those of females.
The eyes of a Burmese are big, round and alert. All shades of yellow are accepted in the breed standards although golden yellow is the most sought after color.
The Burmese has a rather short coat, but it's fur is dense. It's know for being silky to the touch and very shiny.
Very robust, Burmese cats can live up to 20 years. A mature Burmese measures between 30 and 35 cm and weighs between 3 to 5 kg.
Source : Matoucity
A large spectrum of sepia shades are allowed for the Burmese. However, the color must be the same all over. It isn't uncommon for kittens to have light stripes but these disappear as they mature.
Among the numerous Burmese colors, there are brown, chocolate (or champagne), ginger, cream, and many more.
The Burmese is a very active, adept and curious cat. It is often described as being quite extraverted with a strong, exuberant personality.
It adapts well to new environments, situations and other animals, making it an ideal pet. It is the ultimate cat/dog compromise.
They are extremely devoted to their owner, often demanding attention off them. They are not avid adventurers, prefering to spend time with their humans being the center of attention.
The Burmese is often described as being quite chatty, but with a softer voice than the Siamese.
Burmese kittens are renown for being lively and playful. It is therefore important to keep an eye on it and be ready to reprimand it if does something wrong, otherwise it will never learn.
The Burmese cat is not predisposed to any particular diseases due to its robust nature. However, it is important to feed it a balanced diet. Certain Burmese have a weakness for fish, while others prefer meat or stew. They are not big fans of milk.
Burmese intensely dislike being cold as they don't have an undercoat. Be careful to make sure they don't get trapped in the cold!
The coat of the Burmese doesn't require any particular upkeep. A weekly brush during molting season should suffice. However, if you want to preserve the softness, you should do this more often.
