Burmese (cat)

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Burmese
Blue and Sable adult American Burmese
Country of origin
Burma
Breed standards (external links)
AACE, CFA, TICA, CCA, ACF, FIFe

The Burmese is a breed of domesticated cats descended from Wong Mau, who was found in Burma in 1930 by Dr. Joseph G. Thompson. She was brought to San Francisco, California, where she was bred with Siamese males. Selective breeding created the Burmese as a distinct breed which was first recognized in 1936 by the Cat Fanciers' Association. American breeders also requested CFA recognition for lighter colored cats first as a separate breed called Malayan and then later as a dilute division of Burmese. The breed was recognised by the UK Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in 1952.

1 Characteristics
2 Varieties
3 Facts
4 Controversy
5 References
6 External Links

[edit] Characteristics

The Burmese is considered a foreign shorthair. They are recognized for their large, soulful gold or yellow eyes and very short, satiny coats that require no grooming beyond hand stroking. They are stockier and more muscular than the Siamese they are descended from and longer lived than most pedigreed cats, often reaching 16 to 18 years of age.

Burmese are vocal like the Siamese but have softer, sweeter voices. They are people oriented, forming strong bonds with their owners, gravitating toward all human activity and are generally far too trusting. It is recommended that owners keep them as indoor cats. The CFA breed information on the Burmese implies that all survival instinct of flight or fight seems to have been bred out of them.^[1]

The Burmese maintains kitten interests and energy throughout their adulthood and are very athletic and playful. In somes instances they even retrieve items as part of a game. Although all cats are obligate carnivores, some Burmese will sample fruit and vegetables.

[edit] Varieties

Mouse Island's Maverick of Evita, Champagne American Burmese

Pedigree Sable American Burmese Male (1 year)

Teddy, a Blue American Burmese male

Platinum American Burmese female kitten

Chester, an 8 month old brown Burmese.

CFA Approved Colors:

Sable
Champagne
Blue
Platinum

Non CFA Approved:

Cream^
Red^
Lilac^
A number of Tortoise-shell ("tortie") variants.^

^ Recognized in England and throughout Europe in various Cat Fanciers Organizations. In CFA these colors are classified under the European Burmese.

[edit] Facts

Burmese cats also earned the nickname, Mini-Panther, in some parts of the world, because of its similarities to the panther. They are very popular with pet owners world wide because of their exceptional personalities.

[edit] Controversy

For the past thirty years, there has been controversy over the appearance of the breed Burmese, which can now be divided into two camps. American breeders prefer the "contemporary" Burmese which has shorter noses and rounder skulls. The "traditional" Burmese was declassed by the CFA in the 1980s. England took the opposite approach and banned the registration of "contemporary" Burmese in order to preserve the "traditional" bloodlines.

The controversy stems around the fact that "contemporary" Burmese sometimes carry a lethal head defect and affected kittens do not survive. This problem does not generally occur with "traditional" Burmese. Breeders feel justified in continuing with "contemporary" Burmese because defective kittens die before they are of age to be sold.

Leslie A. Lyons, Ph.D. from University of California, Davis is doing research to locate the gene that is causing this mutation.