The Burmese is a real human friend. He loves to be in the presence of people. Whether it is about playing or being petted, the Burmese is there. This breed fits perfectly in a family, even in families with small children. This makes this breed very popular. Dealing with the Burmese runs smoothly and is very nice. Do you want to know more about the Burmese? Then read this article.
The origin: created by a sailor from an eastern country
The Burmese came to America in 1930 and was created by a separate cat that was taken by a sailor from an eastern country. This cat was given to Dr. Joseph G. Thomson. The cat stood out because it was quite small and had a very compact body. At first it was thought to be a Siamese, but still there were remarkable differences. A few years later a breeding programme was set up to find out more about this cat. In 1932 a Seal Poin Siamese was bred. After years of breeding, the breed that we now know as Burmese finally came into being.
At first the Burmese was only known in America. In 1955 the first Burmese kittens were born in England because they had been imported to England a while earlier.
The TICA recognised the Burmese as a real breed in 1979, so this is a lot later than when he was first discovered and bred. This has everything to do with the different colours involved in the different ways of breeding.
There is a slight difference between the American and European Burmese. The European Burmese has a longer head and a longer body and can appear in more colours. For these reasons a distinction is sometimes made between the European and American Burmese.
The character: sweet and playful
The Burmese is known as a sweet breed that loves to hang out with people. He loves to play a game or just lie on your lap and be petted. Children often love to play with a Burmese because they tolerate a lot. So they can be used as a living doll, which happens regularly. They don’t mind fitting all kinds of different clothes. Moreover, the cat remains playful all his life so that you can continue to play with him all his life.
The cat is really focused on people and builds a very good bond with its owner. The cat can also combine well with other animals as long as you introduce them to each other in a calm way. Because the cat is so focused on humans there is a big chance that your Burmese will follow you from room to room. He likes to be in the presence of his owner and also likes to sleep in a bed together with his owner. The Burmese is also known for his soft and sweet voice. He likes to “talk” with his owner and comes across as very sympathetic.
The Burmese is therefore very social and needs attention. When no one is in the house, he will soon feel lonely. So it is wise that there is always someone in the house when you choose for the Burmese. If this is not the case, make sure there are enough toys or other pets in the house. For example, you could also choose to buy two cats instead of one. This way there will always be company, this is good for their health.
Moreover, the cat is very self-assured and has almost no fears. He is therefore not shy when people come to you. Because he is so self-confident and has no fears, it is wise to bring the cat indoors. He has no idea what dangers there may be outside the house, so there is a chance that the cat will get into trouble outside.
Appearance: a sweet look with expressive eyes
The Burmese is a medium sized cat with quite some muscles. The cat has a very sweet appearance and very expressive eyes. All in all the cat is in a very good physical condition. Also because the cat is quite muscular, the cat is surprisingly heavy for its size. A Burmese usually weighs between 3 and 5 kilograms where males are often a bit bigger and heavier than females.
The big difference between the American Burmese and the European Burmese is in the length of the body and the head. The European Burmese is a bit longer and can appear in several colours.
The body of the cat is medium sized and quite muscular. The cat has a broadly rounded chest but still has a rather compact appearance. The back of the Burmese is straight from the shoulders to the tail. The legs are rather slim but in proportion to the rest of the body. The cat stands firmly on the ground and can move smoothly. The paws are somewhat rounded and the cat has, like most cats, five toes in front and four toes behind. The tail is medium sized and straight.
The head of the Burmese is normal in size and is nicely rounded. The snout is rather short and keeps nicely the round contours of the rest of the head. The nose has a bit of an abrupt end and the chin is quite firm. Furthermore the ears of the cat are quite wide apart and have a broad base. The ears are nicely rounded and stand a bit forward. Because the ears are a bit forward the Burmese has a rather alert appearance. Just like the ears, the round eyes of the cat are also quite wide apart.
The coat and coat patterns that occur
The coat of the Burmese is very short and light close to the body. The coat is very fine and quite shiny. The coat has a kind of satin structure which makes the coat feel very nice.
There are also differences between the coats of the European and American Burmese. The coat of the European Burmese can appear in torsional colours, for example:
- Blue
- Cream
- Lilac
- Red
The pattern found in both the American and European Burmese is sepia. The difference, however, lies in the colours. The American Burmese can occur in all solid and tortie colours. So this is a striking difference and it is also fairly easy to tell whether you have an American or a European Burmese.
The upbringing: care for attention and socialisation
The education of the Burmese is crucial to their life expectancy. It is therefore important to prepare yourself well before you bring a Burmese into your home. Part of his upbringing is done by a breeder. As the future owner you have little influence on this. The only thing you can do is make sure that you buy your Burmese from a recognised breeder who is a member of a breed association. When you do that, you can assume that the kitten has had a good period of socialisation and is ready to go out into the wide world.
Before you buy that kitten, it is wise to check his future living environment. Are there things that need to be changed? Are there dangerous objects? Check the house, but also the garden, to see if there are any things that could hurt the kitten.
An important part of the education of the Burmese has to do with routines and structure. As soon as you bring a Burmese into your home it is important that he gets used to his new environment as quickly as possible. Cats demarcate their territory. When they enter a new space there is no territory yet, this can cause stress. If you don’t have a structure in place then the new cat can become very stressed, this is something you want to prevent.
Make sure that as soon as you bring a Burmese into your house he will have to deal with a routine around eating and sleeping. Feed him every day at the same time. Make sure that he is also cared for at the same time every day. It may also be wise to leave him in a room for the first few weeks before he can use the whole house as a playground. In this way he can better get used to his new environment. Structure and routine are therefore important.
In addition, toys are also important during his upbringing. So make sure they are present. It is also wise, when you have children in the house, to teach them how to deal with their new housemate.
So the most important thing about his upbringing is to make sure that he can adapt as quickly as possible, that he gets enough attention and that he has a fixed routine around eating, sleeping and grooming. In this way he will most likely be happiest and healthiest.
The care: take care for the coat on a weekly basis
The Burmese should be cared for on a weekly basis, especially his coat. His coat needs little care. Brushing once a week to remove loose hairs will keep his coat in good condition. He will stay as smooth and shiny as possible.
A number of other things are also important, such as vaccinations. On average, this should be done annually. A health check is also advisable.
It is also important to clean his teeth on a daily basis. Gum inflammation, but also other diseases of the teeth, often occur in cats. This can be prevented by regularly cleaning the teeth. At the pet shop you can buy special toothpaste and toothbrushes for cats. In this way you can clean your Burmese teeth optimally and make sure he doesn’t get any dental problems.
His nails also need to be taken care of. He does this partly himself by scratching a scratching post. So it is important that you buy one. It is also important to cut his nails. By doing these things his nails stay in top condition and do not become too long.
Inflammation in the ears is also something that can occur in the Burmese, so it is also wise to check their ears every week and clean them if necessary
The care of the Burmese is, compared to other breeds, quite simple. This is, besides the fact that he is so playful and sociable, one of the reasons why people like to buy this cat
The food your cat needs
Feeding a Burmese should be done twice a day. It is wise to do this every day around the same time, that way he gets used to it. In between you can give snacks, but limit this as cats have a tendency to be overweight.
If we look at the diet of the Burmese, vitamins, minerals and animal proteins and fats are the most important. All these nutrients can be obtained from animal food, such as meat and fish. This must therefore be the basis of his diet.
Cat food exists in dry and wet form. It is advisable to give your cat a combination of both types of food.
Many people think they can give their cat milk. Yes, they like it, but it is often difficult to digest the enzymes in milk. This can cause problems. If you want to give your Burmese something other than standard food, give him a well fried piece of meat as a snack, or buy special snacks at the pet shop.
If you are looking for food for your Burmese, pay attention to the label of the food. Go for a complete meal. It contains all the vitamins, minerals and amino acids your Burmese needs to live a healthy life.
Diseases that are common in this cat
There are a number of ailments that are most common in the burmese:
- Muscle weakness
- Bladder dust
- Diabetes
In addition to these conditions that can occur in the Burmese, he can also contract the “standard” conditions that occur in cats, such as heart problems and obesity.
Muscle weakness is something that cannot really be treated. During breeding it is possible to test if the Burmese contains this gene. More and more healthy cats are being bred to, so the chance of this disorder is getting smaller.
Blow mulch also occurs and can cause annoying problems. It is best to call in a veterinarian in good time. The symptoms of this disorder are:
- Frequent urination
- Peeing in places where he didn’t do it before (in the house)
- Pain when urinating
- Bloody urine
Often it is easy to determine whether a cat is bothered by this. Consult a vet in good time if you notice any of the above symptoms.
Diabetes is a disease for which the Burmese is known. It occurs regularly. This disease makes him feel weak and can eventually cause him to go blind. If you notice that your Burmese does not behave as before, go to the vet. He can get the diabetes under control by means of insulin.
Some of these conditions are hereditary. However, with healthy food and a healthy lifestyle you can prevent many problems in your Burmese. So really make sure you take this seriously. This is good for your cat, but also for the costs you may have to pay if you have to go to the vet.
How old can this cat get?
On average, the Burmese are about 9 to 13 years old. This is a nice age for a pedigree cat. The degree of burden he experiences from hereditary diseases determines to a large extent his life expectancy. His upbringing and diet also influence this. As the owner you only have control over his nutrition and upbringing. If you focus on this and make sure that this is in order, you can enjoy your Burmese for the longest time.
What do you need to know before you buy this cat
Because a Burmese can have quite a few health disorders, the health costs of this breed can be higher than those of other breeds. This is something to take into account in advance. Do you have the money to take him to the vet regularly, if necessary. Insurances are possible, but these also cost money. Decide before you buy a Burmese if this is something for you.
What price do you have to think of when you buy a Burmese?
The average cost of buying a Burmese is between $750 and $1700. This depends very much on the breeder. Also the European Burmese is often a bit more expensive than the American Burmese, so also take this into account.
Via burmesecat.org you can get in contact with breeders who are affiliated with this breed association. This way you can buy a healthy Burmese in a safe and honest way. The costs per breeder will also differ a bit.
In addition to the purchase, the maintenance costs are also important. Take this into account as well. In particular, health costs can increase. Also the costs for toys, food and other things need to be taken into account when checking whether you are going to buy a Burmese. Be sure to charge a few hundred euros a year, but this can be higher. It all depends on his health.
Do you also choose the Burmese?
A Burmese is a popular family cat that loves playing and attention. He fits perfectly into any family. Do you also choose the Burmese? Do you already have a Burmese in your house? Even if you are considering this cat and are not sure if this type of breed is for you, let us know. Let us know what you think of this beautiful breed in the comments below. We and our readers are very curious about your (future) experience with this playful breed.
