The Burmese Cat

The Burmese cat is one of the oldest breeds in the world, with descriptions of its kind noted in the 14th century. Bred for companionship in Buddhist temples of Burma, this is a very social breed that requires human interaction, forms very strong bonds and does not like to be left alone. Some individuals are so highly domesticated that they seem to have lost the "fight or flight" instinct. Care must be taken  to make sure other members of the household do not dominate these gentle and sometimes passive cats, and they are best not allowed outdoors unsupervised. These are lovely, exotically beautiful cats with a sweet and special quality all their own.

 Cool Cat Facts...
The Burmese is probably the heaviest purebred cat breed per square inch! They are surprisingly dense and muscular and are often referred to as the "velvet brick" of the cat world!                                                                  

Is A Burmese Cat Right For You?

The Burmese cat is recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the world's largest cat organization. and is one of the more popular pure-bred or "pedigreed" domestic cat breeds. The modern breed can be traced back to one female named Wong Mau, brought to California from Burma in 1930, and cross-bred with Siamese of traditional type. Todays cat is a lovely companion with some of the dog-like tendencies and vocal proclivities of the Siamese, though not as loud, and certainly not as aggressive. They will fuss with you around the house all day, then cuddle in your lap all evening. The coat is short, smooth and velvety with remarkable shine. Shedding is minimal and regular grooming is not required. These are small-sized cats that are very sturdy. They are known to be quite long-lived, sometimes reaching high into the teens. They have few breed-related health issues other than an unusual tendency to ingest materials like wool or other fibers. This has been known to cause some stomach issues so keep attractive items away. Because it is highly active, gentle, affectionate, and demands interaction with humans the Burmese cat is a fine family cat that does wonderfully well with considerate children. For the right household, they can be a dream come true, so by all means investigate if this sounds appealing. They do not like to be left alone and can become destructive, so singles with demanding lives take note.

Burmese Cat Breed Standards

Head Shape: The head should be medium size in proportion to the body, well rounded and not angular. The muzzle is short and small but well developed with full round chin. Ears should be medium in size and set far apart on the skull. Well cupped with slightly rounded tips. Eyes should be large, round and wide-set with yellow or gold color. Brilliant eye color is highly desirable.
Body and Tail: The body should be lean and muscular and compact with a tight and heavy feel to it. The top line should be straight. Legs should be of medium length but quite substantial in bone. The feet should be round and tightly knuckled with no splaying. The tail should be of medium size, straight and tapered.
Coat: The coat is fine and short with a soft, satiny appearance and texture. Distinctively shiny and close-lying with no undercoat.
Pattern: The only accepted colors are sable, champagne, blue and platinum. All must be without barring, striping or extensive shading. The more even the color and the richer the hue the better. The nose and paw pads should match the body color, pink allowed in the lighter colors.
Overall Appearance: This should be a unique and exotic looking small size cat with particularly fine, satiny fur and a taut, muscular structure. Surprisingly heavy when lifted, lovely personality.

Inside Cat or Outside Cat?

Wondering if you should allow your cat to go outside unsupervised? Well there are definitely some pure breeds that should never be outside cats. Hairless breeds like the Sphynx are extremely vulnerable and should always be supervised outdoors. Docile breeds like the Burmese may not be able to defend themselves. All cats allowed outdoors are exposed to diseases and parasites that they would not otherwise encounter. Fred Flintstone put his saber-tooth out every night, but the cat jumped right back in the window - and he was a saber-tooth! Still, most of us feel a little envy when we see our domestic companion out on some high perch, sniffing the breeze of liberty, and there is no doubt that cats love their freedom. So what do YOU think ....Inside Cat or Outside Cat? Comment Here...

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