Burmese

The Burmese is a medium-sized shorthaired cat that bonds tightly with its household. Lift one and the weight registers straight away: the body is compact and muscular, which earned it the description "a brick wrapped in silk." The coat sits short and glossy, close against the skin.

The breed talks, though never shrilly, and it will trail family members from one room to the next. A Burmese often meets visitors at the door, perches on a shoulder, and keeps itself in the middle of whatever the household is doing. People frequently liken its devotion to a dog's.

Most Burmese reach 16 to 18 years and stay lively well into old age. They suit owners after an interactive companion rather than a self-contained pet.

Who it suits

The Burmese fits homes where someone is about for much of the day, or where a second pet keeps it company. It is a poor match for anyone after a low-contact cat, since it hates long stretches alone and looks for constant interaction. That sociable streak makes it well suited to busy family households and to first-time owners who want an engaged companion.

The Burmese descends from a single brown female named Wong Mau, carried from South-East Asia to the United States in 1930. Dr Joseph Thompson of San Francisco set up a breeding programme around her, pairing her with Siamese because no comparable mate was available at the time.

Years of careful selection sorted the darker, solid-coated kittens from those born with Siamese points. The Cat Fanciers' Association recognised the Burmese in 1936, withdrew recognition in 1947 amid worries about continued Siamese crossing, and reinstated it in 1953 once the lines had settled.

British breeders imported their own Burmese and shaped a separate line, longer in build and guided by different standards. Two types are the result: the rounder American (or contemporary) Burmese and the more moderate British (or traditional) Burmese. The cat described here belongs to the United Kingdom line, the type recognised by councils such as the CCCA in Australia.

Starting from that original brown, breeders widened the accepted colours across later decades, bringing in dilute shades while holding on to the dense, satin-like coat that marks the breed.

A Burmese carries a solid, well-muscled body on sturdy legs. The British type runs a little longer and more moderate than the rounder American type, yet both feel surprisingly heavy in the hand. The head is rounded, the muzzle short, and the large eyes sit well apart with plenty of expression.

The coat defines the breed: short, fine, and lying very close, with a satin sheen that traces the muscle beneath.

Coat and colours

Brown, also known as sable, is the original and best-known colour, a deep warm tone that lightens a touch on the underparts. The dilute shades and the red series came in through later breeding. The British standard allows a broader palette than the American one, taking in chocolate, lilac, red, cream, and the tortoiseshell patterns. Across every colour the coat holds little undercoat, so it lies flat and catches the light.

Few cats are as centred on their people as the Burmese. It hunts out laps, shoulders, and any warm spot near its owner, and it keeps a close eye on family goings-on. Around children it stays patient and playful, often putting up with handling that other cats would refuse. It generally accepts other cats and cat-friendly dogs, and it copes better with feline company than on its own.

Strangers draw curiosity rather than nerves. Plenty of Burmese will walk straight up to greet a guest. The breed holds on to a kitten-like playfulness in adulthood and enjoys fetch, puzzle toys, and interactive games.

The one real caution is its dislike of solitude. Left alone for long stretches each day, a Burmese can grow bored or anxious, so a companion animal or a regular human presence matters. Its voice is soft and chatty, lighter than a Siamese, used to keep in touch rather than to nag.

Grooming

• Run a soft brush or rubber mitt over the coat once a week to lift loose hair and spread the skin's natural oils.
• Wipe the coat down with a damp cloth or chamois for added shine; a full bath is seldom necessary.
• Trim the nails every two to three weeks.
• Check the ears and clean them when needed, and brush the teeth regularly to hold off dental disease.

Exercise

• Set aside two or more interactive play sessions a day with wand toys or thrown toys for fetch.
• Put out puzzle feeders and rotate the toys to keep the mind occupied.
• Give the cat climbing trees and shelves; this is an active breed with a liking for height.

Environment

The Burmese is best kept indoors and prefers a warm, settled home. Its thin coat and sparse undercoat leave it feeling the cold more than most breeds, so warm places to sleep count for a lot. Company is part of the deal: a second cat, or a house with people home much of the time, gives it the best setting. Supply scratching posts, resting perches by the windows, and a quiet corner for sleep.

Feed a complete, balanced cat food built around animal protein. The Burmese is a muscular, active cat, so it does well on good-quality protein, but it also has a hearty appetite and will gain weight if food is left down all day. Measured meals suit it better than free feeding. Keep fresh water on offer at all times, and pair wet with dry food to support hydration and dental health.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than ten per cent of daily calories and take them off the meal portions so weight doesn't creep on. A cat on a complete commercial diet rarely needs extra supplements; add vitamins or joint support only if a vet advises it.

The Burmese is a hardy, long-lived breed that commonly reaches 16 to 18 years with good care. Its general health is sound, though a handful of inherited conditions turn up in the breed lines, and responsible breeders screen for them. Regular veterinary care, weight control, and dental attention all help towards a long life.

Preventive care

• Annual veterinary checkups, moving to twice a year for seniors.
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date.
• Hold the cat at a lean body weight to lower diabetes risk.
• Brush the teeth and book dental cleanings as advised.
• Ask the breeder about genetic screening for hypokalaemia.

The Burmese picks things up quickly and enjoys the attention that training brings. Being so people-focused, it responds well to short, reward-based sessions, and many take readily to fetch, sit, and even walking on a harness. Keep the sessions brief and finish on a win, since a bored cat switches off fast. Litter training tends to be simple; set out a clean tray in a quiet spot and the kitten settles in early.

Basics

1. Start with the litter tray: put it away from food and noise and keep it clean.
2. Bring in a clicker or a marker word paired with a treat so the cat ties the sound to a reward.
3. Teach one simple behaviour at a time, such as coming when called.
4. Reward on the spot and hold sessions to a few minutes.
5. Work up to fetch or harness training once the basics are reliable.

Burmese cats mature fairly early, and queens can come into season from around five to six months, though responsible breeders hold off mating until full maturity. Gestation lasts about 63 to 67 days, and litters run to four or five kittens on average. Burmese mothers are usually attentive and rear their young well.

Kittens should stay with their mother until at least twelve to fourteen weeks, by which point they are fully weaned, litter trained, and socialised. Because the breed carries inherited conditions, ethical programmes screen breeding stock for hypokalaemia where a test exists and watch litters for flat-chested kitten syndrome. Early handling supports the friendly, people-oriented temperament the breed is known for.

Burmese registration and microchipping in Australia

Torn flyscreens and doors left ajar send indoor cats to the pound every week, and a fair few states expect pet cats chipped and on the register anyway. A free United Pet Club profile means the scan pulls up your number wherever your Burmese turns up. Register your cat in a couple of minutes, free for her whole life.

Scanners find chips in seconds; the question is what the number points at. Point your Burmese's chip at a live record: free with the lifetime plan, open to all brands, kept current through every move without charges. Microchip registration plus a free account, and she's covered.