Published on 19 Feb 2021
With exotic origins, the Burmese is an affectionate cat who makes a wonderful addition to many different types of households.
The Burmese cat, as the name suggests has origins Burma (now Myanmar) and Thailand from the 1800’s. It wasn’t until the 1930’s when the breed was officially developed into the cats we know today. Most Burmese cats share a common ancestor, "Wong Mau" who was brought to the USA from Burma in 1930.
They are a muscular, medium-sized cat weighing up to 6kgs. The coat colours are typically brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream, as well as mixed colour tortoiseshell.
Burmese Breed Facts & Characteristics
|Burma, Thailand & Malaysia|
|20 to 30cms, 3 to 6 kg|
|3 to 6 kgs|
|Brown, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Red, Cream, Tortoiseshell|
|10 to 17 Years|
|Soft and short, minimal grooming required|
|Medium, enjoy playing.|
Best suited for
|Couples, families, elderly|
Burmese cats are known for being affectionate and friendly making them a popular choice for families. Like most cats, they enjoy playing, so make sure you’ve got plenty of cat toys available and get ready to enjoy play time with your Burmese.
Encourage play with your Burmese cat to help keep them fit and healthy. Playing with your cat also strengthens your bond.
Be sure to provide your cat with plenty of cat trees and toys to play with.
With a short soft coat, minimal grooming is required, but it is a good idea to get your Burmese used to being gently brushed from an early age.
Brushing helps to remove loose fur. A cat grooming glove is a great option for your Burmese cat. You may not notice your cat scratching like you would with a dog, but the cat flea "Ctenocephalides felis" is the most common flea found on both dogs and cats.
So, make sure your kitty is on flea and tick control all year round to prevent these nasty parasites.
When choosing a food for your Burmese, select a premium food appropriate to your cats age and life stage. As Burmese cats can have urinary tract issues, consider foods that include urinary tract protection.
Ensure that you follow the recommended feeding guides on the food appropriate to your pet's size to help avoid obesity which can lead to serious illness like diabetes.
Always ensure your Burmese has a constant supply of fresh water available, and consider providing them with a water fountain, as many cats prefer to drink moving water.
Common Health Concerns
As traumatic accidents ranked as the second most common claimed condition for Burmese cats, it may be possible to help your Burmese cat avoid outdoor accidents by keeping them indoors or in a suitable cat friendly enclosure.
According to PetSure data from 2019, the five most common reasons for a Burmese cat to visit the vet (excluding for routine visits like vaccinations) are as follows:
|Rank||Condition||Average cost for single treatment|
(average pet insurance claim amount)
|Highest cost for single treatment|
(highest pet insurance claim seen for this condition)
|3||Urinary tract disease||$313||$7,150|
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.
Most popular Burmese names
According to PetSure data from 2019, the post popular names for Burmese cats were:
Most popular female names
Most popular male names
Burmese Cat FAQs
Are Burmese cats affectionate?
Burmese cats are playful, friendly and easy-going animals. They bond well with their owners and have a dog-like attachment with them, wanting to play frequently and interact with strangers.
Are Burmese good indoor cats?
Burmese cats make excellent family pets, they are people-oriented meaning they interact with everyone including children, strangers and even family dogs quite well. Burmese cats are also loyal and cling to their owners, following them from room to room.
How much does a Burmese cat cost?
From an experienced, well-known breeder, a Burmese cat can be costly averaging anywhere from $1200 to $2200. The high price is primarily due to the professional care given to breed an excellent pedigree and keep up their appearance which performs well at cat shows.
Do Burmese cats like to cuddle?
Burmese cats are incredibly affectionate creatures and love being held by their families. They are extremely devoted to their owners and have a docile nature which bonds well with little children that are fascinated by cats and seniors that need company.
What is the personality of a Burmese cat?
Burmese cats are naturally docile, affectionate and affectionate animals. Their loyalty and devotion to their families is unmatched and their sociable nature allows them to befriend kids and other animals. Burmese cats are also highly intelligent and love performing tricks.
Where can I get a Burmese cat?
Your local animal shelter or rescue organisation is the best place to look for a cat as shelters generally have many cats looking for loving homes. It may also be possible to find a Burmese cat through a breed specific rescue.
Did you know?
Burmese cats disappeared from Myanmar (Burma) around 1948. A project was started in 2007 which saw several Burmese cats imported back to Myanmar to start a breeding program, which continues to this day.
- Burmese Cat Association, accessed on 14 October 2020
- Rigby, Jennifer (2015) ‘Heading home: Burmese cats going back to Burma’, The Sydney Morning Herald, November 3, 2015, accessed on 14 October 2020
- Inle heritage, (ND), ‘About’, accessed on 14 October 2020
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