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Burmese

    Ask someone who has knowledge of the breed and they'll tell you that "to know a Burmese is to love it."  These beautiful cats are outgoing and affectionate, intelligent, playful and vocal.  They quickly become attached to members of their human family and might even engage in a "conversation" with a willing participant.  If you're looking for a furry companion that will amuse, entertain and attach itself to you, look no further than the Burmese.

Great Grandma

    The Burmese cat was developed in the United States during the 1930s from a brown female Siamese hybrid named Wong Mau.  Her owner, Dr. Joseph G. Thompson of San Francisco, was so enamored of Wong Mau that he enlisted the help of a group of knowledgeable and interested people to breed her in order to isolate the characteristics that made her so unique, and reliably pass them on from generation to generation.  The Cat Fanciers' Association recognized the Burmese as an official breed in 1936 and today, nearly all Burmese are descended from Wong Mau.  

    Although now there are many color variations of the Burmese, including blue and platinum, the original sable remains the most popular, and is the only one recognized by the CFA.  Kittens are often quite pale in color with faint tabby markings which fade with maturity.  The glossy, satiny coat of the mature cat is a uniform sable brown,  although it may shade to a darker hue on the chest and stomach.  The paw pads and nose leather are also brown.  The mature Burmese has rounded eyes, colored yellow to gold, although the eyes may be blue as a kitten.  To meet judging standards, the Burmese head should be rounded with a distinctive indentation above the nose.  The body should be firmly muscled with a level back and rounded chest.  

Me, My Burmese and I

    Burmese crave attention and physical contact.  They are known to "shadow" their owners around the house and make great "lap cats".  We've even heard of Burmese cats that like to sleep in their owners beds with them - under the covers.  Talk about a "one cat night!"  Gentle and loving, Burmese get along well with other cats, dogs and children.  However, the Burmese cat doesn't like to be left alone for long periods of time.  Many Burmese aficionados have found that having two or more of these adorable cats alleviates the problem of having to leave them for several hours during the day.  

    While cat-E-corner.com does not endorse allowing any cat to roam free in neighborhoods, this is particularly true of the Burmese.  Trusting and gentle, the Burmese, while an extremely intelligent cat, is not equipped with a strong survival instinct.  A Burmese, allowed to fend for itself, might not come back to your warm home at the end of the day.  If you are thinking of buying or adopting a Burmese, please consider that it should be treated as a true housecat, not an "indoor/outdoor" pet. 

    Look for a reputable breeder from whom to purchase your Burmese kitten.  If you don't know where to find one, check with some local veterinarians who might be able to suggest one or several.  Or, consider rescuing a cat or kitten from a shelter.  Purebred cats and kittens are sometimes given up for adoption and can be found at area shelters.  Check the Links page of cat-E-corner.com for a partial listing.  

Artist's rendering of a Burmese cat

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