Originating from the ancient land of Burma, or Myanmar today, the Burmese breed was once worshipped in Burmese temples as the embodiment of gods.
The Burmese as we know and love her today can trace her entire lineage back to a single cat: a brown female named Wong Mau who was imported to San Francisco from Burma in 1930. According to the Burmese Cat Club, Wong Mau was bred with Tai Mau, a seal point Siamese, then bred back to the males of that litter, and the Burmese breed was off and running.
So this is going to differ slightly, depending on where you live. There are, in point of fact, two Burmese cats. Though they originated from the same stock and most cat registries don't consider them to be genetically different breeds, there are still distinct differences between the American Burmese and the European Burmese.
The European (sometimes called "traditional") Burmese is the more slender of the two, with a wedge-shaped head, small, pointed ears, and almond-shaped eyes. Meanwhile, the American (or "contemporary") Burmese is notably stockier with a wider head, ears that are slightly wider at the base than the European, and with eyes that are much rounder and more expressive.
Burmese cats are loving, playful, and highly social. Expressing a number of tendencies that have been described as "dog-like," Burmese tend to develop strong loyalty bonds with their humans and have been described as a "Velcro cat," wanting to spend as much time as possible around their people. As such, Burmese aren't as well suited to isolation as some other breeds, and may develop stress behaviors such as aggressive grooming if left alone for extended periods of time.
Burmese revel in the company of humans, be they seniors, children, or somewhere in between. They also do extremely well in multi-cat households and can even fairly quickly learn to (at very least) tolerate the family dog.
True to the Siamese traces in their lineage, the Burmese is always more than happy to talk you through their day, though they have a softer, less intense voice than their Siamese cousins.
Burmese are a fairly healthy breed, though, like with all cats, there are certain health conditions owners should be aware of.
Burmese are at an increased risky of diabetes mellitus than most breeds, Lilly says. They can also be susceptible to feline orofacial pain syndrome and genetic hypokalemia, which is a condition connected to a low potassium level in the blood serum. In many cases, these conditions and several others can be helped through diet.
| Official Name | Burmese |
|---|---|
| Average Height | 9 to 13 inches |
| Average Weight | 8 to 15 pounds |
| Lifespan | 10 to 17 years |
| Colors | Blue / gray, brown / sable, lavender / silver, cream / cinnamon |
| Eye Color | Gold |
| Coat Length | Short |
| Shedding Amount | Seasonal |
| Temperament | Affectionate, sociable, friendly, vocal |
| Intelligence | High |
| Playfulness | High |
| Energy Level | High |
| Social Traits | Good with children, families, seniors, other cats and dogs. Good for first-time pet owners, tolerable when picked up, strong loyalty tendencies. |