The Burmilla is an elegant cat that is very rare. The breed is quite new and not yet recognized by all registers. However, this cat is becoming more and more popular. So where does this cat come from? The cat comes from a cross between the Persian and the Burmese and therefore has a very fine character. Curious what is so nice about the character of the Burmilla and why this cat is a perfect addition to the home? You can read it in this article!
The pedigree: an accident that turned out well
It is true, the Burmilla is the result of an accident. There was an unplanned cross between a Chinchilla Persian cat (male) and a Lila Burmilla (female) from which a litter with 4 special kittens came out. These kittens had a special black colour pattern. The kittens were thought to have an attractive appearance after which they were bred especially for these kittens. About 40 years ago this breeding started.
The breed is still very rare and therefore still in the experimental phase. The breed hasn’t been recognised by all the registers yet, but it is becoming more and more popular.
The character: a special combination of the characters of the Burmese and the Persian cat
The Burmilla is a loving cat that loves its owner very much. The cat is very playful and will remain so until an older age. The Burmilla has the energy and mischief of a Burmese while at the same time the gentleness of a Persian comes strongly to the fore. The cat is very active and sleeps relatively little. This combination makes this cat more and more popular.
Besides that, the Burmilla is easy to get along with and gets along well with children and other animals. The cat likes to be petted and loves to play enormously. The cat can meow a lot but in general the cat doesn’t have a hard meow. This will also benefit your morning rest as cats sometimes manage to wake up their owners in the early morning.
Appearance: a muscular and elegant body
The Burmilla has an average size for a cat but is quite muscular. The cat has an elegant appearance as the body is nicely in proportion. The cat is fairly compact, has a broad and round chest and slender strong legs. The tail has an average size and has a rounded tip. In general, a Burmilla weighs between 4 and 7 kilograms. Males are a bit heavier than females.
Furthermore, the Burmilla has a round head with a broad and short snout. Adult males have fuller cheeks than females. The ears have a normal size, are wide on the head and have a rounding at the end. Next to that the Burmilla has big eyes which are far apart from each other. These eyes always have a greenish colour. In most cases this is green gold where the colour in the youth of the cat looks yellowish. The eyes become greener as the cat gets older.
The coat of the Burmilla
The coat of the Burmilla can be short-haired as well as semi-longhaired. The coat is shiny, fine and feels silky soft. Because the Burmilla has an undercoat, the coat is slightly off the body. The basic colour of the Burmilla’s coat is usually silver, but in some cases it can also be golden. The coat of the Burmilla is tipped. This means that only the tip of the hair is coloured. The colours that come with this tipping of the Burmilla are:
- Black
- Blue
- Chocolate brown
- Lila
- Caramel
- Beige
- Apricot
So, the cat has a silver/gold basic colour with a tipping in the above colours. Besides this tipping, the Burmilla’s coat can also appear in the turtle pattern. Here there is a mix between two colours.
The upbringing of the Burmilla
For the development of a kitten, it is very important that it can grow up with the mother cat. The mother cat teaches the kitten about life experience and prepares it for the rest of its life. Besides that, it is important that the Burmilla gets used to human touch and gets used to the way things are done in a household. As a breeder it is very important to pay enough attention to this. When your kitten has had a good upbringing in the beginning of his life, life will go a lot smoother. And so will you!
A cat has two socialisation periods during which it can get used to strange sounds, other animals and human touches. Would you like to read more about these socialisation periods? Read here how to socialise your cat.
Care: focus on the coat
To keep your cat in good health it is important to take good care of it. For example, it can be useful to take good care of the cat’s teeth. Brushing your Burmilla from time to time will keep your cat’s teeth in good condition and prevent problems. In addition, cleaning the eyes and ears is an important part of the care. By cleaning the ears and eyes on a regular basis, your cat stays fresh and prevents infections. The same goes for cutting the nails. By cutting the nails on a regular basis you prevent them from growing together.
The coat needs – certainly in comparison with other cats – quite some care. It is important to brush the coat several times a week to remove the dead hairs. By doing this the coat will stay healthy looking and shiny. When your Burmilla is in a moulting period – the period in which the cat changes coat – it may be wise to brush the coat a bit more often.
As mentioned before the Burmilla is a quite active cat. It is therefore important that the cat gets enough exercise. By getting enough active toys in the house you can help the Burmilla to get rid of its energy. Besides that, the Burmilla is very good at climbing. The cat needs scratching poles and benches. Make sure you buy these; you will make your cat very happy with them.
The food Burmilla needs
A good and nutritious diet is very important for every cat. It is important that you tailor the diet to your cat’s character. For example, very active cats can use some extra food and nutrients than less active cats. In this way you can also prevent overweight cats who are less active.
When looking at the kind of food a cat needs it is important to look at the natural food of the cat. Cats naturally eat mice. Cats are therefore real meat eaters as mice consist for more than 75% of meat. This also makes cats bad at processing carbohydrates. So, when looking for food for your Burmilla it is best to choose low carbohydrate food.
It is generally prescribed to give your cat high quality dry food in particular and to alternate this with wet food from time to time. Dry foods, such as cat kibble, are very important for cats to prevent the development of tartar. Wet food, on the other hand, can be important because the cat doesn’t drink very much. With wet food you can make a cat that doesn’t absorb enough fluids absorb more fluids.
In most cases there is a special cat food available that is tailored to the needs of a certain breed. It is always important to look at the labels. For example, you can check whether there are any additives in the cat food that could be harmful to your cat.
Diseases affecting the Burmilla
In general, the Burmilla is a very healthy cat. Breeders test the parent cats well for hereditary diseases. A document that breeders give with the kittens guarantees the absence of hereditary diseases. However, from time to time there are still some disorders and diseases in this cat. Diseases that sometimes occur in the Burmilla breed:
- Kidney diseases
- Allergic diseases
- Dry keratoconjunctivitis
In case of kidney abnormalities, the kidneys function less well over time. Kidney tissue is affected with often fatal consequences. The cat gets less appetite for food, has to urinate often and becomes leaner and leaner. After some time, the cat’s body is exhausted due to dehydration and the cat can die.
Allergic disorders vary from cat to cat. It may be that your cat is allergic to certain substances, resulting in an allergic reaction. You can think of itching and watering eyes, but also sneezing and sniffing can be characteristics of an allergic reaction.
When a cat suffers from dry keratoconjunctivitis the cat suffers from dry eyes. The cat doesn’t make enough tears which results in sticky mucus. If you don’t do anything about this, there is a chance that your cat will go blind. Of course, you have to prevent this from happening!
How old can a Burmilla get?
A Burmilla usually gets around 15 years old. However, there are several factors that influence the life expectancy of a cat. For example, good care increases the life expectancy. With good care your Burmilla will stay healthy longer and probably live longer. Diseases shorten the life expectancy. If your cat has a kidney disorder, for example, it is very likely that it will become less than 15 years old. Always stay alert for any changes in the health of your cat.
What do you need to know before you take in a Burmilla?
Before you take a cat into your home, it is wise to read carefully. First check with yourself what kind of cat you would like to have in the house and if this character fits into your household. Cats have different characters. If you are looking for an energetic and tolerant cat, the Burmilla is a good choice and an excellent addition to your home.
It is also important to check whether the cat has had a good upbringing. The first 14 weeks of a cat’s life are the most important with regard to his upbringing and the effects of these first 14 weeks can be seen in the rest of the cat’s life. It is important that during this period the cat grows up with its mother and gets used to human touch. It is also important to take a good look at the parents. Usually, you can tell if the cats have been raised well or not.
It is also important to check whether the cat is dewormed, vaccinated and possibly chipped. In most cases the breeder takes care of all these things. It can’t do any harm to double-check this, as it is very important for the health of the cat.
What price do you have to think of?
A price of around 1,000 euros is what you pay for the Burmilla. The Burmilla is quite rare. Breeders have to keep the classic line of the Burmilla so that the cat is not available much. Because the cat is not widely available the prices can rise quickly. If you manage to get hold of a Burmilla you will soon have to pay something like 1000 euros for it.
In addition to these costs, you will also have to get the necessary materials. For example, a litter box, cat basket and toys. A climbing pole is also wise as the Burmilla loves to climb. The total costs for further care will soon amount to something like 500 euros on an annual basis. So, it is good to take this into account in advance.
Have you managed to get a Burmilla?
The Burmilla is a rather rare, but therefore also a very popular cat breed. If you have managed to get hold of this cat, you can consider yourself lucky. All in all, we are very curious if you have a Burmilla in your house and what you think makes this cat so special. You can let us know by leaving a comment on this article!
