Burmese cats: features, choice and care

The Burmese cat is known for its loving and affectionate nature. She gets along well with young children because of her playful and gentle nature. These beautiful, blue-eyed creatures are recognized as extremely human-oriented. They are often called "human cats" because they quickly find rapport with humans. These cats love to communicate with their owners, especially when they are stroked on a beautiful, fluffy and shiny coat.

Once considered saints, Burmese cats are truly a royal breed. The Burmese sacred cat is known primarily from legends. As the legend says, in the monastery of Burma these cats always accompanied the monks. The animals had white fur and yellow eyes.

High Priest Moon Ha had a cat named Sinh. When the enemies attacked the temple, he was killed along with many other monks. The distraught cat jumped onto the body of its owner and suddenly changed its fur to a darker one. And the eyes turned from yellow to blue, and became like the eyes of the goddess who was worshiped in the temple. The next day, all the cats looked like Singh. It was believed that the goddess helped the monks repel the attack and save the temple.

This is what the legend says. However, the reason for keeping cats in the temple was a little more prosaic. Their task was to keep rodents under control.

The first European pair of Burmese cats actually came from Burma. They were sent in 1919 by ship to France.Recognition of the breed took place in France in 1925, where a cat of this breed was first shown at an exhibition. In the 1950s, the name Burmese cat was changed to the holy cat from Burma.

The Burmese cat is a medium-sized animal weighing 3-6 kg (males are larger than females). The head is in the shape of a triangle, and the forehead is slightly convex. The eyes are large, round, blue. The nose is medium in size, slightly concave. The ears are not set too low, rather small and covered with tufts of hair. The tail is of medium length. The cats are stocky, somewhat elongated, muscular and strong. Wool with a small amount of undercoat, semi-long and silky, pleasant to the touch. Let's consider some other characteristics.

• Colour... There may be multi-colored markings on the head (part of the muzzle, ears), limbs and tail. The rest of the body is eggshell-colored. Characterized by white "gloves" on the front legs and "spurs" on the hind legs - always symmetrical.
• Activity balanced, a cross between the British cat and the Sphynx.
• Life span - from 15 to 18 years old.
• There are short-haired and long-haired species Burmese cats.

The breeding of the Burmese breed was stopped by the Second World War, but 1955 brought an increase in the number of Burmese cats. In the United States and Europe, cats with classic coat colors were mainly bred. New color options were introduced in England. The cats were chocolate pink and lilac shades. Later years brought additional color combinations such as cream and red.

The Burmese cat is a rather rare breed. Therefore, obtaining the ideal cat of this species with symmetrical visual features such as “gloves” and “spurs” is quite problematic. Because of the characteristic coloration, which is the most restrictive of breed standards, breeding a Burmese cat is not the easiest thing to do.

The initial training of these animals is not difficult, because this four-legged friend has a calm and friendly character and an exceptional mind. The cat feels very good surrounded by many people and animals, but most of all she likes representatives of her own breed. This makes breeding a lot easier.

The modern Burmese cat was formed through breeding programs with the participation of Siamese and Persian species, as well as European shorthaired felines. Over time, it turned out that most of the European lines are firmly intertwined with each other, which affected the general appearance of cats.

Although each kitten has its own temperament, you can observe many similarities that are characteristic of all representatives of the breed. Sociability and affection for the owner are in harmony with self-control and restraint in relation to strangers. These cats are not very active, but also not very lazy. They may require cat fondling when ignored for too long. But they do it tactfully - in a soft, melodic and pleasant voice for the human ear.

Kittens are quick learners and show great creativity in finding new games. Reason and curiosity about the world around them, as well as loneliness and boredom, lead to the fact that they willingly accept the company of other animals. But preferably representatives of their own species, with the same gentle and conflict-free nature. They love family life, can live with all family members and willingly participate in their daily activities.

In the family of Burmese cats, you can observe a tendency to create "get-togethers" when cats sit in a circle and silently look at each other for a few seconds or minutes, as if thinking. None of the representatives of other "races" are invited to such a meeting.

The character of the Burmese cat is manifested, first of all, in great kindness to people and a very friendly disposition. These cats are smart and sociable, they will not be overly intrusive. They quickly and for a long time become attached to people, but they choose one, special family member. Burmese cats definitely need people, as they do not tolerate loneliness.

They feel even better among a large group of people, making them ideal for families with several children. In addition, they patiently endure carrying on their hands and all the affection that their little ones generously reward. At the same time, the child should be told that a cat is not a toy, but a living creature that also needs its place. With the right behavior, a cat and a child can become best friends.

The character of the Burmese cat can be described as a mixture of a calm Persian with the cheerfulness of a Siamese representative - it is rather a quiet cat with a melodic voice, but very curious and demanding entertainment.

You must provide him with many hiding places, places for sharpening claws and observation points. For a given pet, this is just as important as the time spent with a person and a large number of caresses.

Sacred Burmese cats are distinguished by their attachment to humans. They are ready to create a deep bond with their caregiver. Both in play and in food, these cats retain great delicacy and impeccable grace. One gets the impression that they know about their mystical origin from their ancestors. The Burmese cat is extremely polite and calm, but he should be not only a domestic mascot, but above all a member of the family. He participates in your life. And whenever you need it, he is by your side.

Birman matures earlier than most long-haired cats. The males of this breed are famous for their temperament, and the females are wonderful mothers. Holy Burmese cats are distinguished by their activity and physical health. At the same time, they are quite stress-resistant. They have a strong character.

Some experts say that Burma is an absolutely quiet cat. In fact, a Burmese is a chatterbox, and his every need, dissatisfaction, joy or even going to the toilet is commented on with a wide range of sounds - from gentle grunt to loud purr or insistent meow.

The Burmese breed owes its origin to the crossing of Siamese and Persian cats, which began in France in the 1920s, so it is not surprising that their character and appearance are different from other cats.

Burmese coloration belongs to the most stringent, but not the only breed standards. After all, not every cat with white paws and long fur is Burmese. The tail of cats of this breed is very fluffy and fluffy. Their sapphire blue, round eyes are particularly striking. The fur is semi-long and silky to the touch. However, unlike the Persians, they have little undercoat.

The semi-long fur is mostly white. The dark color only appears on the face, ears, paws and tail. This designation is called "point". Due to genetic conditions, any possible coloration may appear as a “spot color”. The most common colors of these animals can also include black, red and their shades.

The iridescent palette of color varieties of this breed will surely satisfy even the most demanding people. If originally the holy Burmese cat was mainly white, now we can choose from twenty-two officially recognized species (and several experimental novelties).Of course, all kittens are born in a light color, but after a few days, life begins to change. Ears, nose and tail darken first. Then the color change gradually spreads to the tops of the legs and to the muzzle, creating a certain mask.

Basic color options:

• color beige or cream with chocolate-colored spots;
• ivory background with dark spots;
• bluish coat with a white sheen and blue markings;
• white background with spots of lilac color.

Scientists have investigated the cause of fur discoloration in Burmese cats. A mutation is responsible for this, which leads to a weakening of the function of tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in the production of melanin, which causes partial albinism. The snow-white feet (called spurs) characteristic of this breed were also attributed to genetic changes in 2009.

Before you start choosing a kitten, you should decide on its gender. Burmese cats can be quite playful, affectionate, creative and fluffy. The downside is that they are very loud when they want to mate, and mark the territory with secretions with a specific smell. If you do not plan to breed cats, then castration is the best solution.

Cats are more independent and wise, moderately playful. The downside is inadequate behavior during estrus. If a female is not mated with a cat for several years, her health problems may appear. Many problems can also be avoided by sterilization.

Prices for kittens of this breed range from 10 to 50 thousand rubles. It happens that kittens are sold much cheaper. Of course, documents and guarantees are not provided in this case. And here you can fall into the hands of a swindler who can pass off a fluffy baby with a Siamese color for an expensive sacred Burmese. Don't be fooled by the "Pedigree Burmese Cats Giveaway" ad.

You should also think about time limits. The Burmese is relatively easy to maintain, but it is important to spend time with him regularly. It's good for the animal's well-being and is great for strengthening your bond. The cat will also need stimulation when you are not at home. You may want to consider adopting two cats if they spend a lot of time without you. Thanks to this, the kittens will be mentally and physically active, they will have fun together, climb, cuddle and the like.

Also, please be aware that it is better to take cats from professional breeders who, working with registered catteries, guarantee the pedigree origin of their cats. Animals from reputable breeders are tested for genetic diseases. The professionals will be happy to discuss your choice and help you decide which breed is most suitable. You can visit and see the cats before taking them home.

If you do not have the opportunity to buy a cat from a certified cattery, then carefully examine the animal before purchasing. A healthy Burmese kitten should be active, playful, with clear eyes, clean ears and a shiny, thick coat. If you find discharge from the eyes or ears, discard this individual. You also need to ask the owner about the availability of a veterinary passport and vaccinations. Specify what the baby ate so that there are no stomach problems at home.

When looking for a name for a new family member, we take into account a variety of criteria. Some analyze the external characteristics of the animal. Others take inspiration from their favorite movies and books.Still others choose a name at random. But few people think about the preferences of the cat itself.

According to experts, not every cat has a “good” name that sounds equally pleasant. Some words sound much better in cat ears than others. According to this theory, if we want our animal to respond to a command without any problems, we must consider several important factors when choosing.

What we find beautiful and original does not necessarily work in everyday life. If your cat, despite repeated repetitions, seems "deaf" at the sound of his name, this does not always mean that she is deliberately ignoring you. It's possible that the word doesn't sound clear enough in her ears to make her react.

Cat ears focus on capturing high-pitched sounds. They hear them much better than low tones, because most of the victims of cats are birds and rodents. And the latter communicate at high frequencies that we humans often do not hear. This means that a name that ends in a low tone (for example, Lancelot) will be perceived by a cat much less than a sound containing higher frequencies (for example, Pixie). And that is not all. Cat ears are also sensitive to hiss and rustling.

In addition, experts suggest that it is easier for cats to learn longer names that have 3-4 syllables. There are other factors that can be taken into account to suggest good names.

• Depending on the behavior. A gentle cat can be called Laska or Purr, and a lover of sleep is Sonya.
• From color. Depending on him, cats can be called Smoke, Snow, Peach.
• From what profession or hobby the owner has. The programmer can call the pet Mouse or Klava. Tennis lover - Rocket or Ball.
• By characters from films or cartoons cats can be called Luna, Nala, Bagheera, Matilda.

Popular names for girls:

• Musya;
• Asya;
• Bagheera;
• Burma;
• Sonya;
• Busya;
• Nyusha;
• Simka;
• Jesse;
• Eve;
• Haze;
• Masyanya;
• Cleo;
• Adele;
• Roxy;
• Athena;
• Martha;
• Alpha;
• Mayan;
• Sherry;
• Fenichka;
• Linda.

Boys:

• Kuzya;
• Barsik;
• Peach;
• Alex;
• Lucky;
• Tikhon;
• Felix;
• Bucks;
• Zeus;
• Smoke;
• Timon;
• Volume;
• Simba;
• Marquis;
• Simon;
• Coconut;
• Garfield;
• Tyson;
• Oscar;
• Mars;
• Loki;
• Casper;
• Alf;
• Ice;
• Caesar;
• Semyon;
• Leon;
• Marseilles;
• Kai;
• Afonya;
• Richard;
• Watson;
• Jackie;
• Ricky.

The Burmese cat is a beautiful, aristocratic animal with wonderful hair and unusual eyes, which is a real rarity among cat breeds. It is a very undemanding cat in terms of caring, with a gentle and peaceful disposition. However, it should be remembered that due to the small undercoat, low temperatures are uncomfortable for such animals - this is a typical domestic cat. Don't forget, too, that Burmese cats suffer a lot from loneliness. They can get very upset about living alone in an empty apartment.

In the diet of Burmese cats, wet food is the most important consideration, although cats are not very picky about food. You will need to provide them with food with the necessary amount of nutrients to keep the body in good condition. To keep a well-groomed cat's coat, it is necessary to use vitamins that nourish the skin and, accordingly, provide a healthy, beautiful and shiny fur.

Scientific research has confirmed that cats prefer food that matches their original food - rodents. The average “prey” of a cat usually consists of 50-60% protein, 20-30% fat and 5-8% carbohydrates. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that meat should be at the top of the list of feed ingredients.Legislation requires listing the ingredients on packaging labels and sorting them according to the amount in the product. Therefore, you can navigate by the label.

Burmese prefer delicious food. For them, the quality of the food is more important than the quantity. The priority for these cats is to obtain natural meat food. They happily consume chicken, turkey or beef. Some cats love fish. It is undesirable to give them fatty meat and food with salt content. These foods can adversely affect the kidneys and liver.

Giving a Burmese cat food "off the table" is contraindicated. Also, her diet should not contain spicy and smoked foods. You can mix natural food with quality feed. Cheap food can damage the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

In the kittens menu, you can include a little lean chicken or ground beef and dairy products. Babies are given food 4-5 times a day. Servings - no more than 150 g. Elderly individuals are given food twice a day, in an amount of no more than 250 g.

As for the hygiene of the pet, there are several important nuances to consider here.

• The Burmese cat is undemanding and easy to care for. Sacred Burmese require regular brushing so that tufts do not form in the hair. Bathing is also advisable. Long fur with little undercoat does not have a strong tendency to tangle. Just scrub it with a metal scraper once or twice a week. However, during a period of intense shedding, regular brushing of dead hair will undoubtedly make life easier for both the cat and the owner by reducing the amount of hair remaining on the carpet.
• Eye or ear contamination is removed as needed (which does not happen often). It is very important to clean your eyes because, like Persian cats, Burmese have short tear ducts.
• Pay more attention to oral care, especially in older cats, which tend to have tartar. Special edible toothpaste works best because it doesn't require the use of a brush, which cats don't really like.
• Remember to trim your nails periodically as well.

The health of Burmese cats shouldn't be too much of a problem. Most of them live in good health for many years. The Burmese cat is considered a healthy and resilient representative of these domestic animals. The best disease prevention is adequate healthy nutrition. The basis should be a complete diet - moist meat feed rich in proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Unfortunately, eating well can not always prevent certain diseases.

• Eye ailments. Diseases of Burmese cats often affect their eyes. Inflammation and a tendency to squint are common.

• Cyst. Another threat is cysts, which in Burmese cats are usually found in the ovaries and testes, less often around the head.

• Neurological diseases. One of them is spongiform degeneration. Causes impaired coordination, and even paralysis.

• Tumors. The appearance of a benign tumor on the cornea - corneal dermoid. The tumor is operable.

• Hypomethylation... Hypomethylation is a common disease in this breed. To reduce the prevalence of this disease, it is necessary to prevent the mating of sick animals. Cellular communication is disrupted by the damaged gene, resulting in severe seizures. Symptoms of this disease in a Burmese cat may appear as early as 3 weeks of her life.These include movement disorders and temporary tremors. The illness can lead to hearing loss or reduced life expectancy.

• Genetic diseases. They are the most common causes of cardiomyopathy. A 2017 study by British scientists showed that cardiomyopathy affects about 10% of Burmese cats. The most common is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which affects nearly 7% of this breed.

The emergence of genetic diseases reminds us of the importance of selective selection and thoughtful mating of animals. Breeders who care about the welfare of their animals invest in additional genetic testing and do not hesitate to exclude sick animals from breeding. For the future owner, this means one thing - you need to trust only professional breeders who can provide complete medical documentation for the animal and the results of any possible genetic tests.

People who are looking to increase breeding and profits invest in high quality feed, the necessary research and good management of their animals. They also take care of the length of time the kittens must stay with their mother. This time is extremely important for the proper development, physical and mental health of the kitten, because he learns everything that is important for a long and balanced life.

Most of the reviews about Burmese cats are positive. Consider what exactly the owners mark on the forums.

• An exotic Burmese sacred beauty with beautiful fur will be the pride of any home. She is also a loyal and loyal friend.

• A kitten trained from an early age to play with children will be friendly and kind to them. The animal likes it when family members tend to surround him with tenderness and devote their time to him.

• The Burmese cat, thanks to its inherent softness, will be the perfect companion for children.

• Burmese cats are very attached to their owner, and every separation is very painful for them. Keep this in mind when planning a longer trip. An animal needs constant contact with humans. Therefore, this breed is not suitable for people who spend most of the day outside the home.

• They are sometimes wary of strangers, but get along well with other cats.

• It is worth making a choice in favor of this cat also due to the fact that she is in good health. Diseases are rare, although, of course, they do. Therefore, to purchase a kitten, it is advisable to choose a special cattery where purebred, proven and healthy Burmese cats are bred.

For more information on Burmese cats, see the video below.