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Burmese Breed Summary
Cuddly, Affectionate, Fun-loving
The Burmese is known to have a very 'dog-like' personality! They love nothing more than following their owners from room to room and to be involved in everything; it's their special way of ensuring they receive all the attention they desire and is a way to show their humans how much they adore them.
While Burmese kittens are curious and active, they can become more docile as they get older – preferring to observe what happens around them rather than joining in with activities. However, whether they're young or old, Burmese love to take in the world around them and their fur-vourite place is likely to be perched beside a window, where they can watch the world go by.
These are strong yet graceful cats who have athletic bodies under their beautifully glossy coats. Females tend to be smaller than their male counterparts, but both are affectionate and loyal through and through, so it's no surprise the Burmese has continued to be a popular family pet and companion throughout the ages.
| Lifespan | 10 - 16 years |
| Height (at the withers) | Males and Females: 25cm – 30cm |
| Weight | Males: 3.6kg – 4.5kg, Females: 2.7kg – 3.6kg |
| Coat | Short, fine, silky coat |
| Colour | Sable, champagne, blue, platinum, lilac, fawn, red, cream, chocolate, cinnamon, tortoiseshell |
| Eye colour | Green, gold, yellow |
| Common health issues | Cranial deformities, glaucoma, feline hyperaesthesia syndrome |
The Burmese is an energetic and friendly cat, with all the charm of their Siamese ancestors. These cats enjoy a chit-chat (or chit-cat!) as much as the next breed, with a voice that's soft and sweet, albeit rather hoarse. They're an intelligent breed that adores human companionship, so they're best suited to a family that aren't away from the home too often, otherwise they will need the company of another pet – another cat and even a dog will suit them just fine, but another Burmese is sure to be their best fur-iend.
The Burmese is one curious cat! Don't be surprised to find this kitty exploring every nook and cranny in your home. As well as investigation your home, expect the Burmese to involve themselves in everything you do – whether you're working at your computer or preparing a meal, your Burmese will undoubtably be close by, and when you're sat down – prepare for your Burmese to settle down on your lap. While males are more restful, female Burmese are more eager for attention (they're the definition of feline queenliness!). Whichever you choose, one thing's for sure… You'll probably want another!
The origin of the Burmese began in 1930, when a cat named Wong Mau made its way from Burma to the USA with Dr. Joseph C. Thompson. Wong Mau was deep brown in colour and many fanciers believed her to be just a very dark Siamese. However, Dr. Thompson didn't have this view and he decided to breed Wong Mau to determine just what breed she was.
The kittens produced by Wong Mau appeared to prove Dr. Thompson's theory. When she was bred to a Siamese, the kittens produced appeared to be Burmese/Siamese hybrids and pure Siamese. When the Burmese/Siamese mixes were bred to each other, they produced the deep, dark Burmese kittens, just like Wong Mau. The darker coloured Burmese cats then bred true, proving that Wong Mau was in fact a combination of the Siamese and a dark-coloured unknown cat.
In 1947, as the breed became popular, hybrids began appearing in the show hall instead of pure Burmese. The showing of hybrids was a violation of show rules at the Cat Fanciers' Association and unfortunately, recognition of the Burmese was withdrawn and not restored until 1953, when the Burmese Cat Society of America assured the registries it wouldn't happen again. By the 1970s, the Burmese was the third most popular breed in the US, after the Persian and Siamese.