Birman

Birman Cat Breed

Appearance:

• The Birman is a medium to large-sized breed with a sturdy and muscular body.
• They have a well-rounded physique with strong boning and a broad chest.
• Birmans have a semi-longhaired coat that is silky and luxurious. The coat is typically pointed, meaning their body is a lighter color while their face, ears, legs, and tail are darker.
• Their eyes are large and expressive, usually a deep blue color.

Temperament:

• Birmans are known for their gentle and affectionate nature. They are often described as being sweet and docile cats.
• They are typically calm and even-tempered, making them well-suited for households seeking a relaxed and loving companion.
• Birmans are intelligent cats but are not as active or demanding as some other breeds. They enjoy interactive play sessions and spending quality time with their human family members.
• They are generally good with children and other pets, making them a great choice for families or multi-pet households.

Care and Health:

• The Birman's semi-longhaired coat requires regular grooming to prevent matting and keep it in good condition. Brushing a few times a week helps to remove loose hair and prevent tangles.
• They are generally a healthy breed with no specific breed-related health issues. However, regular veterinary check-ups are important to ensure their overall well-being.
• Providing a balanced diet, regular exercise, and mental stimulation through playtime and interactive toys are essential for maintaining the health and happiness of Birman cats.

The Birman is a loving and gentle breed known for its stunning appearance and calm temperament. Their affectionate nature and serene presence make them wonderful companions for families or individuals seeking a peaceful and devoted feline friend.

History

A beautiful cat deserves a beautiful original legend. The sacred cat in Birman, as Birman is sometimes called, is said to have received its striking appearance from the intervention of a blue-eyed goddess, who rewarded a temple cat's love and devotion to her priest by coloring her white coat gold and closing her yellow eyes turning blue. His paws remained white as a symbol of his purity. Since then, the temple cats have carried the goddess 'sign of mercy, and it has been said that deceased priests were reborn in the cats' bodies.

How the cats actually came to be is unknown. Theories include Siamese crossings with Angoras or Persians, but when or where these original encounters took place is unknown. It may have taken place in Southeast Asia between different cats that carried the genes for a pointed pattern, long hair and blue eyes, or the breed may have been created in France from cats imported by two Europeans, a Frenchman named Auguste Pavie and a Major Gordon Russell who received a pair of Temple Cats as a reward for helping the priests in 1919. The cats were sent to France, but the male failed to live. Before he died, however, he received the impregnation of the female and her kittens helped to establish the breed in Europe. It was recognized in France in 1925 as the Sacre de Birmanie, from which the current breed name Birman comes.

The cats were first imported to the United States in 1959 and recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1967. They are also recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association, the Canadian Cat Association, the Cat Fanciers Federation and the International Cat Association.

Size

Burmese usually weigh 6 to 12 pounds.

Personality

Submissive does not mean stupid. Birman is a smart cat and of course curious. He enjoys exploring his surroundings and has been known to get stuck under floors that are replaced or accidentally (perhaps intentionally) ride on a car. It's a good idea to always keep track of where he is.

He communicates in a soft voice, mostly to remind you that maybe it's time for dinner or maybe a nice cuddle on the couch. He likes to be held and relaxes in your arms like a furry baby.

Health

Both pedigree and mixed breed cats have different frequencies of health problems that can be genetic. Problems that may affect Birman include the following:

• Congenital hypotrichosis, which causes them to be born without hair, and thymus aplasia, an immune deficiency that increases the risk of infection and death. Fortunately, these conditions are rare.
• Corneal dermoid, the presence of skin and hair on the surface of the cornea (the clear front of the eye) on one or both eyes. It can be surgically corrected.
• Fungal degeneration, a progressive degenerative disease of the central nervous system that causes symptoms such as weakness in the hind legs and uncoordinated movements.
• Shaking and shaking in kittens. This condition begins in some kittens when they are about 10 days old and lasts until they are about 12 weeks old. The cause is unknown and the recovery is spontaneous.
• Abnormally high levels of urea and / or creatinine in the blood, which may or may not indicate renal impairment.

Maintenance

Despite the length of Birman's fur, it has a silky smooth structure that is not easily matte. Comb it every week to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. Burmese shed their winter fur in the spring, combing them more often than removing loose hair. A warm bath can also help loosen and remove the coat. To take a Birman bath, it is often preferable to moisten the cat with a hand shower instead of soaking it in a tub of water.

Brush their teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Cut their nails every two weeks. Wipe the eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye so that you do not risk spreading an infection. Check their ears every week. If they look dirty, wipe them with a cotton ball or a soft, damp cloth dampened with a 50-50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the inside of the ear.

Keep the Burmese litter box completely clean. Cats value bathroom hygiene highly, and a clean litter box also helps keep their fur clean.

It is a good idea to keep a Burmese indoor-only cat to protect them from diseases transmitted by other cats, attacks from dogs or coyotes and other dangers that cats face when walking outdoors, for example. B. to be hit by a car. Burmese who go outdoors also risk being stolen by someone who wants such a beautiful cat without paying for it.

Fur color and grooming

Birman has a silky, medium coat in the pointed pattern of the Siamese (ie the color is darker in the face, ears, legs and tail), a wide, round head with medium ears, light blue eyes that give it a sweet expression, and four white feet that give him the appearance of wearing small white gloves. This is a medium to large cat with a sturdy, robust body that relies on its gentle demeanor.

The medium to long coat has a silky smooth structure and a little undercoat, which means that it rarely becomes dull. It forms a heavy ruff and is wavy on the stomach.

A pale body, which varies in shade depending on the cat's color, is marked with darker dots. For example, a sealing point Birman has a body that is a pale fawn to cream colored with a warm tone that gradually becomes a lighter color on the abdomen and chest. The dots are a deep seal brown. There are white "gloves" on the front and back paws that end in a straight line across the paw. On the hind paws, the gloves extend to the back of the leg (so-called shoelaces) and end in a point or an inverted V-shape. In the show ring, the symmetry of "gloves and shoelaces" is an important factor and can make a difference if a kitten pursues a career as a show cat or as a pet.

In addition to Seal Point, Birman is available in Blue Point, Chocolate Point, Lilac Point and various Parti-Color-Point and Lynx-Point colors. Lynx point Birman has a well-defined M mark on the forehead, light markings that resemble glasses around the eyes, spotted whisker pillows, monochrome ears without stripes and "thumb markings" on the back of the ears. The legs and tail have stripes and rings.

Children and other pets

Friendly, relaxed Birman is the perfect choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. He loves the attention he gets from children who treat him politely and respectfully, and he does not mind dressing up or taking the pram.

Thanks to his lovable nature, he also likes to live with cat-friendly dogs. Introduce pets slowly and under controlled conditions to ensure that they learn to get along with each other.

Characteristics

Interested in hearing more about other cat breeds?