Birman Cat Breed Profile

Birman cat history:

Also known as the "Sacred Cat of Burma", the Birman cat is an ancient breed of cat. With a striking pale coat with dark points and stunning blue eyes, the breed really is one of beauty. The actual background of the breed is not known however there are many legends as to the breed's origins. The most famous of which is that there was a colony of yellow-eyed, white cats living in a Burmese monastery as the guardians of the Temple of Lao Tsun. The golden goddess of the temple Tsun-Kyan-Kse was said to have deep blue eyes. Every night the head priest Mun-Ha would kneel and pray in front of the goddess, a cat by the name of Sinh by his side. One night the temple was taken over by Siamese invaders and the priest killed. Sinh stood guard over the body with his front paws on Mun-Ha's head. It is said his fur took on a golden colour, and his eyes turned blue. The cat's paws, which had touched the priest's head remained white, as a symbol of purity.

The reality is that there likely was a colony of cats and Siamese invaders likely did come along, but these were the feline variety who bred with the local cats, producing pointed offspring.

The Birman cat arrived in France in 1919. A pregnant female by the name of Sita. We don't know much about how she got to France, more legends surround this story too, but that's for another day. The arrival of the Birman in France was the beginning of the breed becoming established in Europe.

The first Birman arrived in the USA in 1959 and was registered in 1967.

Birman cat appearance:

The Birman is a moderate-sized cat who is well proportioned. It does not reach full maturity until around 3 years of age. The tail is of medium length, the legs medium, with round paws and white gloves which are characteristic of the breed.

The head is round with full cheeks and a Roman nose. The ears are set high on the head, at a slight angle.

The eyes should be a deep blue and oval in shape.

The coat is medium in length and extremely dense. The texture is silky and as such is less likely to get matted than in other semi-longhaired breeds.

Birman cat personality:

The Birman is a sweet-natured breed of cat. Intelligent, affectionate, gentle, and tolerant. They remain playful into old age.

Birmans enjoy company and if you are out for long stretches of time it is recommended you get him a companion, be it feline or canine. They can have a tendency to form a close bond with one particular family member.

Birmans are a quite breed of cat, laid back, and not in your face like some breeds of cat. They are well suited to single people, families, and retirees. They get on well with other pets.

Birman cat care:

The semi-longhair coat requires regular grooming to remove loose hairs. Once or twice a week should be enough.

Birman cat health:

The Birman cat is a healthy breed of cat with no real health issues.

Lifespan:

12-14 years.