Burmese cats: features, choices and care

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

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

The high priest Moon Ha had a cat named Singh. When enemies attacked the temple, he was killed along with many other monks. A distraught cat jumped on 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 a goddess who was worshiped in the temple. The next day, all the cats looked like Sinh. It was believed that the goddess helped the monks to repel the attack and save the temple.

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

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

The Burmese cat is a medium sized animal, weighing 3-6 kg (males are larger than females). The head has the shape of a triangle, and the forehead is slightly convex. The eyes are large, round, blue. The nose is medium sized, slightly concave. The ears are not set too low, rather small and covered with tufts of wool. 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. Consider some other characteristics.

• Colour. There may be multi-colored markings on the head (part of the muzzle, ears), limbs and tail. The remaining parts of the body are egg shell colors. Characterized by white "gloves" on the front legs and "spurs" on the hind limbs - always symmetrical.
• Activity balanced, a cross between a British cat and a sphinx.
• Lifespan - from 15 to 18 years.
• There are short-haired and long-haired types Burmese cats.

Breeding of Burmese breed was stopped by World War II, but 1955 brought an increase in the number of Burmese cats. In the United States and Europe, cats were mostly bred with a classic coat color. New color options have been introduced in England. Cats had 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 an ideal cat of this species with symmetrical visual features, such as “gloves” and “spurs,” is rather problematic. Because of the characteristic coloration that is most affected by breed standards, breeding a Burmese cat is not an easy job.

The initial training of these animals is simple, because this four-legged friend has a calm and friendly character and an exceptional mind. The cat feels very well surrounded by many people and animals, but most of all she likes the representatives of her own breed. This makes breeding a lot easier.

Modern Burmese cat was formed in the framework of breeding programs with the participation of Siamese and Persian species, as well as European shorthair members of the cat family. 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, one can observe many common features characteristic of all members of the breed. Sociability and affection for the owner are in harmony with self-control and restraint towards strangers. These cats are not very active, but not very lazy. They may require cat caresses when ignored for too long. But they do it tactfully - in a soft, melodic and pleasant voice for the human ear.

Kittens quickly learn and show great creativity in finding new games. Reason and curiosity about the world, 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 kind, 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, one can observe a tendency to create "sit-rounds" when the 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, above all, in great kindness to people and a very friendly disposition. These cats are intelligent and sociable, will not be overly intrusive. They quickly and permanently become attached to people, but they choose one particular family member. Burmese cats definitely need people because they can not stand loneliness.

They feel even better among a large group of people, so they are ideal for families with several children. In addition, they patiently carry the carrying on their hands and all the caresses that their kids generously reward. At the same time, the child should be explained that A cat is not a toy, but a living creature, which also needs its own place. With the right behavior, the cat and 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 - this is rather a quiet cat with a melodious voice, but very curious and in need of entertainment.

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

Sacred Burmese cats are distinguished by affection for man. They are ready to create a deep connection with their guardian. Both in the game and in food, these cats retain great delicacy and impeccable grace.It seems that they know about their mystical descent from their ancestors. The Burmese cat is extremely polite and calm, but it should be not only a household talisman, but above all a member of the family. He is involved in your life. And whenever you need it, it is next to you.

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

Some experts say that burma is an absolutely silent cat. In fact, the Burmese is a talker, and his every need, dissatisfaction, joy, or even going to the toilet is commented on by a wide range of sounds - from gentle grunts to loud purrs or persistent meows.

The Burmese breed owes its appearance 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 coloring is one of the most stringent, but not the only breed standards. In the end, not every cat with white paws and long fur is Burmese. The tail of this breed is very fluffy and fluffy. Their sapphire blue, round eyes are especially remarkable. The fur is semi-long and silky to the touch. However, unlike the Persians, they have a little undercoat.

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

The iridescent color palette of this breed will undoubtedly satisfy even the most demanding people. If initially the holy Burmese cat was basically white, now we can choose from twenty-two officially recognized species (and several experimental novelties). Of course, all kittens are born in a bright color, but after a few days of life they begin to change. First dark ears, nose and tail. Then the color change gradually spreads to the upper parts of the paws and to the face, creating a certain mask.

Basic color options:

• color beige or cream with chocolate-colored spots;
• ayvori background with dark spots;
• bluish fur with white tint and blue markings;
• White background with stains of lilac color.

Scientists have investigated the cause of the discoloration of fur in Burmese cats. 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 paws (the so-called spurs) characteristic of this breed were also explained in 2009 by genetic changes.

Before you start choosing a kitten, you should determine its sex. Burmese cats are quite playful, affectionate, creative and fluffy. Minus - 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 will be the best way out.

Cats are more independent and wise, moderately playful. The downside is the inadequacy of behavior during estrus. If a female has not been mated with a cat for several years, her health problems can 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 in this case are not provided. And here you can please into the hands of a fraudster, who can give a fluffy baby, who has a Siamese color, for the dear sacred Burmese. Do not be fooled by the advertisement "Burmese cats without pedigree, giveaway."

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 is good for the welfare of the animal and perfectly strengthens your connection. The cat will also need stimulation while you are not at home. You may consider taking two cats if they spend a lot of time without you. Due to this, kittens will be mentally and physically active, together they will have fun, climb, cuddle and the like.

Also, keep in mind that It is better to take cats from professional breeders who, working with registered nurseries, guarantee the pedigree origin of their cats. Animals from famous breeders are tested for genetic diseases. Professionals will be happy to discuss your choice and help you decide which breed will be most suitable. You can visit and see the cats before you take them home.

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

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

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

What seems beautiful and original to us does not necessarily work in everyday life. If your cat, despite repeated repetitions, seems to be "deaf" at the sound of its name, this does not always mean that it intentionally ignores you. It is possible that this word does not sound clear enough in her ears to make her react.

Cat ears are focused on capturing high 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, which 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. You can take into account other factors that suggest successful names.

• Depending on the behavior. Tender cat can be called Laska or Murlyka, and sleepy lover - Sonia.
• From color. Depending on it, cats can be called Smoke, Snowball, Peach.
• From what profession or hobby the owner has. The programmer can call the pet Mouse or Klava. Tennis lover - Rocket or Ball.
• By movie or cartoon characters cats can be called the Moon, Nala, Bagira, 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;
• Tom;
• Simba;
• Marquis;
• Simon;
• Coconut;
• Garfield;
• Tyson;
• Oscar;
• Mars;
• Loki;
• Casper;
• Alf;
• Ice;
• Caesar;
• Semyon;
• Leon;
• Marseilles;
• Ky;
• Athos;
• Richard;
• Watson;
• Jackie;
• Ricky.

The Burmese cat is a beautiful, aristocratic animal with wonderful fur and unusual eyes, which is a real rarity among feline breeds. This is a very undemanding cat in terms of care, with a gentle and peaceful nature. However, it should be remembered that because of the small undercoat, low temperatures for such animals are uncomfortable - this is a typical domestic cat. Do not forget also that Burmese cats suffer from loneliness. They can be very upset from living alone in an empty apartment.

In the diet of Burmese cats, the most important point is the feeding of moist food, although cats are not very demanding of food. It will be necessary to provide them with food with the necessary amount of nutrients to keep the body in good condition. In order for cat hair to be well-groomed, it is necessary to use vitamins that nourish the skin and, accordingly, provide a healthy, beautiful and shiny fur.

Scientific studies have confirmed that cats prefer food corresponding to their original food - rodents. The average "victim" of a cat usually consists of 50-60% protein, 20-30% fat and 5-8% carbohydrates. Therefore, it is not surprising that meat should be in the first place in the list of feed ingredients. Legislation requires placing a list of ingredients on packaging labels and sorting them according to the quantity in the product. Therefore, you can navigate the label.

Burmese prefer delicious food. For them, food quality is more important than quantity. The priority for these cats is to get natural meat food. They are happy to consume chicken, turkey or beef. Some cats love fish. It is undesirable to give them fatty meat and food containing salt. Such food can adversely affect the kidneys and liver.

Giving the Burmese cat food "on the table" is contraindicated. Also in her diet should not be spicy and smoked food. You can mix natural food with high-quality food. Cheap feeds can damage the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

In the menu of kittens you can include a little low-fat chicken or ground beef and dairy products. Babies are given food 4-5 times a day. Portions - no more than 150 g. Elderly individuals are given food twice a day, in an amount of not more than 250 g.

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

• Burmese cat is undemanding and easy to care for. Sacred Burmese require regular combing so that buns are not formed in the hair. Bathing is also desirable. Long fur with a small amount of undercoat does not have a strong tendency to get tangled. Just brush it with a metal scraper once or twice a week.However, during the period of intensive molting, regular combing of dead hair will undoubtedly make life easier for both the cat and the owner, reducing the amount of wool left on the carpet.
• Contamination of the eyes or ears is removed if necessary (which happens infrequently). It is very important to clean the eyes, because, like the Persian cats, the Burmese have short tear ducts.
• Pay more attention to oral care, especially in older cats that usually have tartar. Special edible toothpaste works best because it does not require the use of a brush that cats do not really like.
• Do not forget to also periodically trim the claws.

The health of Burmese cats should not cause many problems. Most of them live in good health for many years. Burmese cat is considered a healthy and persistent representative of these pets. The best prevention of disease is an adequate healthy diet. The basis should be a full-fledged diet - a wet meat feed rich in proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Unfortunately, proper nutrition can not always prevent some diseases.

• Eye diseases. Diseases of Burmese cats often touch their eyes. Inflammation and strabismus are common.

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

• Neurological diseases. One of them is spongy degeneration. It causes a lack of coordination, and even paralysis.

• Tumors. The appearance of a benign tumor on the cornea is a 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 sick person from getting sick. Intercellular communication is broken by the damaged gene, which leads to severe seizures. Symptoms of this disease in a Burmese cat may appear as early as 3 weeks of its life. These include movement disorders and temporary tremor. The disease can cause hearing loss or shorten life expectancy.

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

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

People who seek to increase breeding and profits, invest in high-quality feed, the necessary research and good maintenance of their animals. They also care about the length of the period during which the kittens must stay with their mother. This time is extremely important for the proper development, physical and mental health of a kitten, because it studies everything that is important for a long and balanced life.

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

• Exotic Burmese sacred beauty with beautiful fur will be the pride of any home. In addition, she is a faithful and loyal friend.

• A kitten, accustomed to playing with children from an early age, will be friendly and kind to them. An animal likes when family members tend to surround it with tenderness and devote their time to it.

• Burmese cat, due to its inherent softness, will be an ideal companion for children.

• Burmese cats are very attached to their owner, and each parting is very painful for them. Keep this in mind when planning a longer trip. The animal needs constant contact with man. Therefore, this breed is not suitable for people who spend most of the day away from home.

• Sometimes they are 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 it has good health. Diseases are rare, although, of course, there are. Therefore, for the purchase of a kitten, it is advisable to choose a special nursery where purebred, tested and healthy Burmese cats are bred.

For more on Burmese cats, see the video below.