Burmese Cat Breed Facts & Information - The Burmese Cat - A
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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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