Burmese Cat Breed Facts and Information
First mentioned in
the ancient text known as “The Cat-Book Poems,” the history
of the Burmese cat can be traced back to some where between
the founding of Ayudha, Siam in 1350, and the destruction of
the city, in 1767. Known as the “copper cats,” because
of their uniquely copper-brown coats, these solid little
felines are the perfect cat for someone who prefers a
stockier, more brick-like cat, reminiscent of the
traditional apple-headed Siamese.
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Origin: Russia
Weight: 8-16 pounds
Average Litter Size: 5-8
Grooming Needs: Medium
Life Expectancy: 15+ years
Good With Kids: Yes
Good With Other Animals: Yes
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The copper-coated cats of Asia can be traced
back to Siam, perhaps as early as the fourteenth century but the
Burmese, as we know him today, has been developed from a single little
female cat by the name of Wong Mau. Wong Mau was brought into the
United States in 1930, after she was gifted to Siamese breeder, Dr.
Joseph Thompson of San Francisco. Given to him by a sailor, Wong
Mau was an exotic little cat, built even more compact than the
traditional Siamese that Thompson bred, and yet showing that same
gorgeous pointed shading of the Siamese breed. Becoming so
enamored with the young female’s personality, as well as her beautiful
color and body type, Thompson set about to create a cat that would
reproduce Wong Mau’s beauty and personality.
No male had accompanied Wong Mau into the United States, so Thompson
experimented by breeding the little copper cat to one of his Siamese
males, a seal point individual known as Tai Mau. Some of the
resulting kittens carried the pointed gene, proving that Wong Mau also
carried the recessive pointed pattern too (in order to produce a pointed
kitten, both parents must carry one of the recessive pointed pattern
genes). This led Thompson, and the geneticists that were working
with him, to believe that Wong Mau was not actually a purebred Burmese
cat but was, in fact, a Siamese and Burmese hybrid, because she did not
throw kittens that bred true to type. Interesting to note is that
the Siamese and Burmese hybrid breed would later go on to be known as
the Tonkinese, further down the road. |
Crossing Wong Mau’s offspring back to her, as well as breeding the
offspring to one another, Thompson and his team were able to identify
three different varieties of kittens, within the different litters: one
variety looked like Tai Mau (the Siamese male who was originally crossed
with Wong Mau), one variety that looked like Wong Mau herself (a
medium-toned brown cat with darker points), or they were a dark,
solid-colored chocolate brown (a color that would eventually come to be
known as sable. It was the sable that Thompson was most taken
with, and so he and his team became all the more determined to isolate
the gene that created this color. These sables were then bred to
one another or crossed back to their mother, Wong Mau, eventually
producing three full generations of cats that bred true, as well as
carried that unique brown coat color.
In 1941, three more brown-coated cats were imported from Rangoon, so as
to expand upon what was a very limited gene pool. Fortunately,
Wong Mau lived a very long, healthy life and was able to produce many
litters of kittens during her time. Most of the Burmese that are
available today, are the direct descendants of this single exotic
feline. Wong Mau’s temperament and striking style is stamped upon
every one of these uniquely beautiful cats.
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The Burmese is often described as a more
brick-like, more compact version of the Traditional variety of Siamese.
In truth, however, there are actually several different varieties of the
Burmese breed, all of which are recognized by various associations.
The Contemporary Burmese cat is the more popular cat that is found in
the shows; medium-sized, he is a powerful little cat with an impressive
amount of bone, powerful muscles and shorter legs. He is generally
accepted in one of four universal colors: blue, champagne, platinum and
sable, but some associations are tolerant of other colors. The Traditional Burmese shares
the Contemporary’s sturdy and muscular form, as well as the cat’s
substantial amount of bone. His head, however, is not as shortened
as the other, instead leaning towards a more apple-headed style that is
reminiscent of the classic Siamese. There is quite a bit of
controversy amongst breeders of the two varieties, as the Contemporary
Burmese is known to run the risk of various breathing problems, due to
his shortened face and nose. Breeders of the Traditional Burmese
claim that their variety is hardy and free from such health problems. |
Burmese Cat
Poster Print
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A third variety, the European Burmese, is a moderate
cat that is somewhat lighter in build than his American
counterparts. Described as having a foreign body type, he
should be neither heavy nor svelte in type, but somewhere in
between. |
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The Burmese is a very active and
affectionate individual, known for his love of mischief.
Preferring a well-balanced lifestyle, he enjoys being handled and is
affectionate, but he is too curious and busy to settle for being a
mundane lap pet. Keenly intelligent, these beautiful little cats
love to problem solve and are very likely to learn tricks, such as how
to open doors or finding a way up to the tallest point in the room so he
can watch you with those mischievous eyes.
Burmese cats tend to do well with people, regardless of age, and they
usually get along with most other pets. In fact, it’s highly
recommended that you get a second cat or other animal to keep your
Burmese company, if you are away for long hours during the day.
Burmese thrive on companionship. |
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Care of your Burmese kitten is surprisingly
easy. A weekly brushing will help to remove any excess dead hairs
that would otherwise stick to your couch, and will help to remove any
excess dander. While the Burmese cat does shed fairly frequently,
this weekly brushing will help keep shedding to a minimum. |
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Burmese Cats, particularly the show variety
of Contemporary Burmese, are known to suffer from various health
concerns, particularly dealing with their shortened faces and noses.
Additionally, some problems are believed to be inherited, possibly from
the Siamese out crossings which were at one time allowed to broaden the
gene pool. Some of these problems include the following: |
- Susceptible to respiratory infections and pneumonia
- Premature tooth loss
- Some breathing problems
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If you’re looking for a quiet and placid lap
cat, chances are the Burmese is not for you. Also, if you don’t have a
lot of time to spend with a cat and you’re not willing to adopt a second
cat for companionship, you may again want to think again. The
Burmese cat is one who is loyal, loving and true, but he is rather
demanding of attention. Good with kids and animals alike, if you
don’t mind ensuring your feline friend always has company, perhaps the
Burmese may be the ideal member to adopt into your family! |
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