The Burmese cat is a sacred temple animal in Burma. It is distinguished from other cats by its unusual and attractive appearance.
Burmese cat can truly be called the embodiment of austerity and elegance. Seeing it once, you can already fall in love with Burma, what’s just the look of the animal. The bright yellow eyes of this cat express its intelligence, inquisitive mind and kind character.
The historical homeland of these cats is Burma, where these animals were considered sacred and lived in temples and homes of the nobility. For the first time representative of this breed with the exotic nickname of Wong Mau was brought from Southeast Asia to the U.S. by Dr. Joseph Thompson in 1930. The appearance of this cat was significantly different from the appearance of the known breeds at the time, the most unusual feature was a deep chestnut color with darker poinsettias. The extraordinary Wong Mau so impressed the scientist that he decided to breed a new breed. The joint efforts of Dr. Joseph Thompson and scientists from the University of California in 1934 resulted in a preliminary standard for the new species and its first representatives, and two years later the Burmese cat was already officially recognized as a separate breed.
In the middle of the XX century, several descendants of the Wong Mau were brought to England, where they immediately became very popular. Breeders and enthusiasts, by crossingbreeding cats with a few different looks, thus creating a new standard for the breed - the European Burmese cat, which was different from the American. Interbreeding of representatives of these two lines is forbidden.
According to the official standards today distinguishes 10 possible colors of burmese: chocolate, brown, purple, blue, cream, red, chocolate tortoiseshell, brown tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell and purple tortoiseshell. Whatever the color, there is a definite pattern: the intensity of color varies in different areas. Paws, a tail and a head have a darker shade, a coat gradually gets lighter from a back to a belly, a breast and a neck also slightly lighter than the basic color of a coat. This combination of colors is due to a gene which only Burmese cats have. Kittens are born with a light coat and the final color is formed only by one year.
Besides, the fur of these cats is fantastically soft and silky, and shines in the sun with peculiar shine. The hairs are not long and fit tightly to the animal’s body. Another striking feature of this breed - the eyes. They are distinguished by a honey-gold color, widely spaced, a little rounded at the bottom. The ears of Burmese cats have a rounded shape and small size, widely spaced, slightly inclined forward.
The body of representatives of this breed is of medium size, rather muscular with an elegant long neck and long slender paws. The tail of the Burma is straight, somewhat tapered to the tip. If to take the cat in hands, you can feel its considerable weight, though outwardly the animal doesn’t make such impression (the average weight of the cat is 3-4 kg, in a cat it can be up to 6 kg).
Expressive appearance of Burmese cats emphasizes their unique character, which has a bright personality. These animals are extremely loyal to their owners, what resembles a dog. Burma walks on the heels and is a participant in all family affairs, it is always near. Even in relation to children, it is extremely tolerant, will never hurt a baby and will participate in children’s play.
Despite the apparent clumsiness, these cats are characterized by particular restlessness and activity. They love the audience, for which they perform incredible jumps and cartwheels during their games. They can even fetch and carry toys in their teeth and so they resemble dogs.
Representatives of this breed are also friendly with other animals, and you can safely take them as another pet, if your home already has other cats or dogs. With them Burma certainly get along.
But due to their character, animals can get into various unpleasant situations, so maximum attention is required from the owner. The burma must be carefully monitored, so that she does not run away from home, because she is curious and a real adventurer, not afraid of other people and transport. When traveling to the cottage with a cat, it is better to take a leash to walk. Burma is very heat-loving and does not tolerate cold and drafts. Because of its sociability, this cat does not like to be left alone, it is sad and very bored alone, so you should think carefully before you get such an animal at home.
As for the rest, burmese are not fastidious enough. They gladly eat not only special food for cats, but also food from the owner’s table: macaroni, cheese, vegetables, butter, bread and cottage cheese. Due to its short hair, it doesn’t need special care for its coat, but you should brush it with a brush only during the moulting period. Nails should be trimmed 2-3 times a month.
Burma is a real oriental beauty with an excellent and gentle character, so it managed to win great popularity among cat lovers in a short time. It is a great friend for both adults and small children.