Burmese cat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Burmese cat
Brown (American "sable") male European Burmese
Origin	Burma, near the Thai-Burma border
Domestic cat (Felis catus)

The Burmese cat is a special type of cat that first came from Burma (now called Myanmar). People believe these cats originally lived near the border between Thailand and Myanmar. They were then developed further in the United States and Britain.

Most Burmese cats today are related to one female cat named Wong Mau. She was brought from Myanmar to America in 1930. Wong Mau was bred with an American Siamese cat. From this, cat breeders in America and Britain created two slightly different types of Burmese cats. This is quite unusual for purebred cats! Most groups that register cat breeds don't see them as completely separate. But if they do, they call the British type the European Burmese.

At first, all Burmese cats were a dark brown color, known as "sable." But now, you can find them in many different colors. How these colors are officially recognized can vary. Both types of Burmese cats are known for being very friendly, playful, and for talking a lot with their voices.

History of the Burmese Cat

In 1871, a man named Harrison Weir held a cat show in Britain. There, some Siamese cats were shown that looked a lot like today's American Burmese cats.

The first attempts to create the Burmese breed in Britain in the late 1800s didn't quite work out. People thought they were just "Chocolate Siamese" cats, not a new breed. This idea lasted for a long time, and breeders often mixed Burmese cats with Siamese cats. Because of this, the breed almost disappeared in Britain.

How the Breed Grew in America

In 1930, Dr. Joseph Cheesman Thompson brought Wong Mau, a brown female cat, to San Francisco. Dr. Thompson thought Wong Mau was different enough from Siamese cats to be a new breed. He bred Wong Mau with a Siamese cat named Tai Mau. Then, he bred her with her own son. This created dark brown kittens that became the start of the new Burmese breed.

In 1936, the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) officially recognized the breed. However, because so many Siamese cats were still being used to make more Burmese cats, the original Burmese type got lost. So, the CFA stopped recognizing the breed for about ten years. But American breeders kept working to keep the unique Burmese look. In 1954, the CFA recognized the breed again for good. In 1958, a group called the United Burmese Cat Fanciers (UBCF) created a standard for judging American Burmese cats, which is still used today.

Burmese Cats in the UK and Beyond

Meanwhile, people in the UK became interested in the breed again. The cats used in the new British breeding program came from different places, including some from America. By 1952, three generations of true Burmese cats had been born in Britain. The breed was then recognized by the UK's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). Since the 1950s, many countries in Europe and the Commonwealth started bringing in British Burmese cats. Because of this, most countries now use the British standard for the breed.

For a long time, the American and British types of Burmese cats were kept completely separate. In the 1980s, the CFA stopped recognizing the British Burmese as a separate breed. The GCCF in the UK even stopped registering Burmese cats imported from America to protect their "traditional" bloodlines. Most cat registries today don't see them as separate breeds. But those that do call the British type the European Burmese. Recently, some cat clubs in Europe have started using the American breed standard at their shows.

Other Breeds from the Burmese Line

Early on, it became clear that Wong Mau herself was a mix of Siamese and Burmese types. This mixed type was later developed into its own breed, now known as the Tonkinese. Burmese cats have also helped create other breeds, like the Bombay and the Burmilla.

What Burmese Cats Look Like

Appearance and Body Shape

The American and British types of Burmese cats look a bit different, mainly in their head and body shape.

• The British or traditional Burmese tends to be more slender and long-bodied. They have a wedge-shaped head, large pointed ears, a long nose, and eyes that are moderately almond-shaped. Their legs are long, with neat oval paws. Their tail is medium length and tapers.
• The American (also called "contemporary") Burmese is a stockier cat. They have a much broader head, round eyes, and a shorter, flatter nose. Their ears are wider at the bottom. Their legs and tail should fit their body size, and their paws are rounded.

Both types of Burmese are small to medium-sized cats, usually weighing about 4 to 6 kilograms (9 to 13 pounds). But they are very muscular and feel heavy for their size. People often say they are "a brick wrapped in silk."

Coat and Color of Burmese Cats

No matter the type, a Burmese cat's coat should be very short, fine, and shiny, feeling like satin. The color should be solid and even all over the body, only getting a little lighter on the belly. Sometimes, faint colorpoint markings (like those on a Siamese) might be seen, especially on kittens. But any stripes or spots are considered a serious fault. Their eyes are usually green or gold, depending on their coat color.

The original color of the breed is a rich dark brown, called sable in the USA or brown in the UK. This color comes from a special gene called the Burmese gene. This gene reduces the amount of pigment (color) the cat produces. It turns black into brown and makes all other colors look paler. This gene also causes the modified colorpoint effect, which is easier to see in young kittens.

The first blue Burmese cat was born in Britain in 1955. Later, red, cream, and tortoiseshell colors also appeared. The champagne color (called "chocolate" in the UK) first showed up in America. Platinum (called "lilac" in the UK) was the last major new color, developed in America starting in 1971.

Today, the British GCCF recognizes solid brown, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, and cream colors. They also recognize tortoiseshell patterns on a base of brown, chocolate, blue, or lilac.

In America, champagne, blue, and platinum cats were first considered a separate breed called the Malayan. This changed in 1984. But until 2010, the CFA still judged sable Burmese cats separately from all other recognized colors. Currently, the CFA only recognizes Burmese cats in solid sable, blue, champagne, and platinum.

Other colors have been developed, with different levels of popularity and recognition. For example, cinnamon and fawn Burmese cats have been developed in New Zealand. A new color mutation called "Russet" appeared in New Zealand in 2007. These cats are born with dark fur that fades to a lighter orange as they grow.

Burmese Cat Personality

Burmese cats are very friendly and love people. They keep their playful, kitten-like energy even when they are grown up. People often say they act a lot like puppies! They form strong bonds with their owners and love to be part of human activities. These cats often learn to play games like 'fetch' and 'tag'.

They are also very vocal, meaning they talk a lot, like their Siamese ancestors. But their voices are softer and sweeter. Burmese cats are not as independent as some other breeds. They don't like to be left alone for long periods of time.

Burmese Cat Genetics

The Burmese gene is also found in some other cat breeds. For example, it can be seen in certain rex breeds. This gene can also mix with the Siamese gene to create colors like "mink."

The Asian cat breed is related to the Burmese. Asian cats look similar but come in different patterns and colors. The Singapura cat always has the Burmese gene combined with a ticked tabby pattern. Some Snow Bengals with non-blue eyes also carry this gene.

Genetic Diversity in Burmese Cats

A study in 2008 found that American Burmese cats have very low genetic diversity. This means they have less variety in their genes than almost any other cat breed. This can lead to health problems. Breeders are reporting smaller litters, smaller adult cats, and problems with their immune systems. This suggests that too much inbreeding (breeding closely related cats) is happening.

To help with this, Burmese breed groups now allow breeding with Bombay, Tonkinese, and Burmese-type cats from Southeast Asia. This helps bring new genes into the group and improve genetic diversity.

Burmese Cat Health

Burmese cats in Europe and Australia are more likely to get diabetes than other breeds. However, American Burmese cats do not have this higher risk, because of the genetic differences between the two types.

A condition called flat-chested kitten syndrome was once thought to be common in Burmese cats. But recent studies have questioned this idea. The breed generally lives for 10 to 17 years.

Specific Health Issues

Some Burmese cats in the UK can suffer from a painful teething problem called Feline Orofacial Pain Syndrome (FOPS). This happens when their second teeth come in, causing extreme discomfort. The young cat might scratch at its face to try and stop the pain. The problem usually goes away once the new teeth have fully come in. Pain relief can help prevent the cat from hurting itself too much. After the problem passes, the cat usually recovers completely, apart from any scars.

Hypokalemia, a genetic disease that causes low potassium levels in the blood, has also been seen in British Burmese cats. This problem can be traced back to certain family lines. It's a recessive gene, meaning both parents must carry the gene for their kittens to get the problem. If a cat carries the gene but doesn't have the problem, it can pass it on for several generations without anyone knowing.

Cats with hypokalemia can have weak muscles, which often comes and goes. It can affect their whole body or just their neck muscles. This can make it hard for them to walk or hold their head up. In serious cases, it can be life-threatening if not treated. Cats with hypokalemia can usually live a normal life if they get the right potassium supplements. Symptoms often start around puberty, and many cats might never have another attack. There is now a DNA test to find cats that have or carry this gene.

Genetic Testing for Health Problems

DNA tests are available for three genetic problems found in Burmese cats: the Burmese head defect, GM2 Gangliosidosis, and Hypokalemia. Breeders are working to remove these genes from the Burmese cat family. Some of these genes are only found in certain groups of Burmese cats. For example, the head defect is not known to be in British Burmese cats, likely because of strict rules about importing cats.

Images for kids

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  Blue and Sable adult American Burmese

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  Chocolate British/European adult male

See also

In Spanish: Burmés para niños