Burmese Shorthair – Breed#45

Introduction

As a people-loving, affectionate, and sleek-looking breed, the Burmese Shorthair cat is a breed that has a wonderful personality and adopts an elegant look. Burmese Shorthairs are famous for their expressive gaze and pale, silky coat, and their desperate attachment to their humans. There is a reason why they would be chosen by cat lovers who would prefer a cuddlebug and a curious explorer at the same time.

This is a complete article on all that you need to know about the Burmese Shorthair: its history and personality, as well as its grooming, health, and what you should do to make the Burmese Shorthair the perfect home.

Origins and History of the Burmese Shorthair

From the Temples of Burma to Global Homes

The Burmese Shorthair is proud of an interesting history. It got originated in the Southeast Asia, specifically in the Burma (The modern-day Myanmar) and the cats of such breed were allegedly kept in the temples and revered by the locals: the ancient people who lived in that land of people believed in the beauty and iconic image, which was represented by a cat.

The Breed’s Journey to the West

Modern Burmese Breed: The Modern Burmese Breed originated with a female cat called Wong Mau, who was brought to the United States in the 1930s. Dr. The exclusive features of Wong Mau attracted the attention of Joseph Thompson, a cat fancier and breeder in San Francisco. She was a small, brown-walnut cat with a smooth, short, shiny coat and a good deal of good, friendly personality. Thompson initiated a breeding program by breeding her with a Siamese cat.

This breeding not only found that Wong Mau was probably a hybrid herself, part Siamese and part a native Burmese breed, but it also unearthed the fact that the true blue Siamese cats had existed before the Wong Mau. With the course of time, selective breeding with the accent on improving the appearance of the Burmese Shorthair concentrated on the features of the animal, including its round face, muscular body, and deeply colored coat.

The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) formally accepted the breed in the year 1936 and since the breed has become wide spread globally.

Check Out: Balinese – Breed#44.

Physical Characteristics of the Burmese Shorthair

Sleek Yet Sturdy

In appearance, the Burmese Shorthair appears to be a medium-sized cat, but it is a solid and muscular cat. This breed is sometimes known to be a silver-wrapped brick, meaning that it is both strong and elegant.

Key Features:

• Head: Rounded with a short muzzle, full cheeks, and a great chin line.
• Eyes: big, expressive, and typically gold or yellow.
• Ears: Rounded at the ends, of medium size, and placed far apart.
• Physique: Small, heavy-set, and surprisingly heavy in weight despite its dimensions.
• Tail: medium length, straight and slightly tapered.
• Coat: Short, fine, satin-like with glossy surface.

The coat clings very close to the body and does not need great grooming, which is something that makes the breed very attractive.

Coat Colors and Patterns

A Palette of Warm, Earthy Tones

The Burmese Shorthair cats were initially bred in a rich sable (dark brown) color, but with time, breeders came up with a diversity of colors.

Recognized Colors:

• Sable: a rich, warm-toned brown of reddish hue.
• Champagne: golden-beige, lighter.
• Blue: Medium grays of a soft level with a touch of silver.
• Platinum: A light gray that is frosty in nature.

The colors are usually darker on the extremities (the face, ears, paws, tail), but the Burmese cats lack the strict point pattern as the Siamese cats.

Personality and Temperament

Loyal, Loving, and Highly Interactive

Burmese shorthairs have gained fame because of being affectionate and human-oriented. They are also referred to as dog-like, with the same loyalty and the desire to follow their humans across the room.

Personality Traits:

• Amorous: Burmese cats are affectionate, and they love cuddling.
• Social: They do not like spending a lot of time alone, but they live best in interactive families.
• Playful: Burmese are playful even in adulthood, down to the level of kittens. They like toys, games of fetch and space discovering.
• Voice: Burmese Shorthairs are also vocal, though they are not that loud compared to the Siamese cats; they can meow in soft and raspy tones.
• Smart is smart: he or she is naturally very smart and keen, and likes puzzles, toys, and interactivity.

They are very welcoming and so a good choice for a family, single, and elderly person. They get along easily in different living conditions of the house, as long as they are not neglected.

Living with a Burmese Shorthair

Creating the Ideal Home

A Burmese Shorthair will soon feel very much at home and tend to be the center of attention in a household. Their nature tends to be an indoor cat, and they do better in an environment that makes them feel safe, stimulated, and loved.

Ideal Living Setup:

• Household cat: Curious, Burmese cats are preferably indoor animals to prevent dangers and to keep their slender coats clean.
• Enrichment: Cat trees, scratching posts, and window perches are welcome.
• Playtime: Interaction is necessary every day. Native Burmese are crazy about feather wands, laser pointers, and puzzle toys.
• Companionship: When you have to stay at home without company in the daytime, think of another pet (cat or dog) so that it can have company.

The Burmese Shorthair breed is not compatible with you, in case you are a person who does not lead a quiet lifestyle, travels a lot, or works a lot.

Grooming and Care

Low Maintenance, High Style

The coat of the Burmese Shorthair is short, lies close to the body, and is very easy to maintain. They are very clean by nature.

Grooming Tips:

• Brushing: Loose hairs can be removed once a week, which is normally enough to make the coat shiny.
• Bathing: This is only needed once and a while, with the exception that the cat has gotten into something dirty.
• Ears & Eyes: Clean them regularly and wipe them with a soft cloth where necessary.
• Teeth: Burmese, as well as all cats, are helped by routine dental care.
• Nail Trimming: Cut nails after every few weeks to take care of them.

Having such clean habits and barely shedding, Burmese Shorthairs are a great fit for those who would like to have a low-maintenance pet without losing beauty and personality.

Health and Lifespan

Generally Healthy, with a Few Considerations

The Burmese Shorthair is a sound breed that normally lives 12 to 16 years, and many of them go into their late teens, provided they are well taken care of.

Common Health Issues:

• DM: Others are genetically predisposed.
• Craniofacial Defect: Serious but rare defect, particularly in the extreme lines of breeding.
• Hypokalemia: a condition of weakness in the muscles related to an imbalance of potassium; an inherited test can detect it.
• Obesity: Burmese cats are loving kitties who can easily be overfed; therefore, it is necessary to control the amount of food and exercise.

Whenever you buy a Burmese kitten, you should get it from a good breeder who runs genetic tests. Frequent visits to vets and a healthy diet will help a lot in determining how healthy your cat will be and survive long enough.

Feeding and Nutrition

Quality Food for a Quality Cat

Proper nutrition that will accommodate the muscular structure and active nature of the Burmese Shorthairs is required as well.

Feeding Guidelines:

• High Protein: Protein is essential, meat-based.
• Proper Portions: Don’t get fat by giving out measured food, but not just food that can be left out all day.
• Clean Water: Foods should be provided with clean water.
• Avert Overfeeding Treats: Food in Particular that can be awful is especially human food.

According to your vet, he/she may advise on the type of food according to the age, weight of your cat and level of activity of your cat.

Burmese Shorthair vs. Other Breeds

Unique and Memorable

• Vs. Less vocal: more rounded features, laid-back personalities, Siamese:
• Vs. Tonkinese: Burmese are shy towards strangers and equally loving to their relatives.
• Vs. Bombay: The Bombays are closely related to the sable Burmese, but are an entirely different breed and look more like a panther and behave differently as well.

Burmese Shorthair is a much-loved cat because of its place, and this is due to its nature, friendliness, intelligence, and ease of maintenance.

Conclusion

The Burmese Shorthair is such a breed that brings a lot of warmth and class, and undeterred companionship into any household. As they have expressive eyes, smooth coats, and loving nature, they are not pets, but members of the family.

Owing to their smartness and social temperament, they are the most suitable household pets for a family with children, a couple, or an individual seeking a strongly attached feline companion. The Burmese Shorthair might just be the right breed to make you fall in love with the cat, as they are affectionate and show you love a hundred times more and reward you with years of faithful companionship.

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