BurmeseCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The FIFe profile says the breed comes from Thailand and Burma and appears in an old Thai manuscript about cats, the Smud Khoi, under the name Thong Daeng (“copper colour”).

Almost all of today's Burmese descend from a single cat, Wong Mau, found on the streets of Rangoon and taken to San Francisco in 1930 by the doctor Joseph C. Thompson. Wong Mau was in fact a Burmese–Siamese hybrid. She was mated with Siamese males, and the darkest kittens became the foundation of the breed, recognised by CFA in 1936.

From the USA, the breed reached England and then Europe and Australia. American and British breeders developed different standards: the American type is cobbier, with a broad head and a short muzzle; the British (European) type is slimmer, with a wedge-shaped head.

How the breed developed

• 1871 – at the first cat show, two “Siamese” cats appear that looked like today's Burmese.
• 1930 – Wong Mau arrives in the USA from Burma.
• 1936 – recognised by CFA.
• 1955 – the first blue Burmese is born, in Britain.
• 1960 – recognised by FIFe.

• People who spend a lot of time at home. Wikipedia says it is not suited to being left alone for long.
• Families with children. It is playful and affectionate.
• Homes with another cat. If you work long hours, German Wikipedia recommends a second cat.
• People who want a talkative cat with a soft voice.

It is a small to medium-sized cat, usually 4–6 kg, but muscular and heavy when you pick it up: “a brick wrapped in silk”. FIFe says its weight can be surprising.

General appearance

The European type (the one in the FIFe standard) has a slimmer, longer body, a wedge-shaped head, large ears, a long muzzle and slightly almond-shaped eyes. The American type is cobbier, with a broad head, round eyes and a short muzzle.

FIFe recognises 10 colours: brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream, plus their tortie variants. It must not have white hairs. The original colour is a rich dark brown, produced by the “Burmese” gene, which makes all colours lighter than usual. Slightly darker points may be visible on the muzzle, ears and legs.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Bombay was created from Burmese cats and looks like it, but is completely black. The Tonkinese is the cross between the Burmese and the Siamese. The Singapura has the same colour gene. Do not confuse it with the Birman, which has semi-long hair, blue eyes and white paws.

FIFe says that, as a “cousin” of the Siamese, Oriental, Korat and Thai, it has the same outgoing character: talkative, sociable, playful and very loyal to its owner. It stays playful into old age.

Wikipedia says it keeps its kitten energy all its life and has many “dog-like” traits: it becomes strongly attached to its owner, comes wherever something is happening and learns games such as fetch and tag. It meows insistently, like the Siamese, but with a softer voice.

Socialisation

FIFe says it gets on with other Burmese, with house cats and even with dogs, but some are quite dominant, so a companion should be chosen with care.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is very active and playful and needs people around. It is not suited to a home where it is left alone all day.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The very short, glossy coat is easy to look after: a weekly polish by hand or with a rubber glove is enough.

Common health problems

A British study found a life expectancy of 14.4 years, among the highest. The breed does, however, have a few typical diseases. Diabetes is more common: 2.27% compared with 0.58% in all cats, in England. The Burmese is the breed most affected by hypokalaemia (low potassium in the blood) and by orofacial pain syndrome, a severe mouth pain when the teeth change, in some British lines. In the American line there is a mutation that, in a double copy, causes a severe head defect that is always fatal.

Recommended genetic tests

For hypokalaemia (the WNK4 gene), for gangliosidosis type 2 (the HEXB gene) and for the head defect of the American line (the ALX1 gene) the mutations are known, so the parents can be genetically tested.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

The Burmese is among the breeds said to cause milder allergic reactions. However, research on whole breeds is not complete, so someone with allergies should spend time with the cat before taking it home.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

Because the risk of diabetes is higher, its weight should be kept under control and meals measured.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Ask for the results of the parents' genetic tests for hypokalaemia and gangliosidosis.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• “A brick wrapped in silk”. That is how it is described, because of its weight and its glossy coat.
• From a single cat. Almost all modern Burmese descend from Wong Mau, brought to the USA in 1930.
• Two standards. The American and European types look different; some associations consider them separate breeds.
• “Once a Burmese, always a Burmese”. So say many people who have owned one.

The Smud Khoi manuscript

The breed is described in the old Thai manuscript about cats, the Smud Khoi, under the name Thong Daeng, meaning “copper colour”.

How is it different from the Birman?

The Burmese has very short hair and yellow eyes; the Birman has semi-long hair, blue eyes and white paws.

Can it be left alone at home?

It is not suited to many hours alone. If you work long hours, get it a second cat.

Does it meow a lot?

Yes, it is talkative, but its voice is softer than the Siamese's.

How long does it live?

A British study found 14.4 years on average; FIFe says 15–20 years with good care.

What diseases does it have?

More often diabetes, hypokalaemia and orofacial pain syndrome.