Now if you already own a Birman cat, you probably already know this but, these guys are “AWESOME”. So awesome that they were originally breed to be worshiped!
And while…
Your Birman probably isn’t aware of his or her “royal” background, that’s not going to prevent them for “intrinsically” understanding that they should be “worshiped” by you!
The good news is…
That falling in love with one of these guys and “dote” over just about everything that they do. This is because these little guys not only have the “looks” that make you want to pick them up and hold them, they also have the personality that never makes you want to put one down!
But before you…
Run on out of your home and seek out the nearest Birman cat breeder, we want to take a moment and discuss exactly what it may be like to own one for these adorable types of cats. This way if you ever find yourself fortunate enough to get your hands on one, you won’t be disappointed with your decision to adopt him or her.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Birman Cat Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Burma
Size: Large
Weight: 8 to 11 pounds
Eyes: Round and blue
Head Shape: Round
Life Span: 12 to 16 years.
Origin of the Birman cat breed
This sacred cat has a clouded origin story, but at best guess they hailed from Mount Lugh, located in Burma and the temple’s located throughout.
It was here that…
The sacred Birman cat, was not just a pet to the priests, they were actually worshiped as well.
You see…
According to early Burmese legends, these cats were given their striking good looks as a gift from a blue-eyed goddess. Legend also says that these cats are inhabited by the souls of departed priest’s. So, you can see that in addition to being highly valued for their beauty within the United States, these cats also have a long and rich historical background dating back many centuries.
But whatever…
Their original back story is, what is known for sure is that in the early 1900’s two Europeans were gifted a pair of Temple cats from Burma to Nice, France. It is said that only one of the pair survived – a pregnant female – and that said female went on to become the ancestor of most of the cats alive in France ever after.
That said however…
We almost lost this breed entirely due to the conflict throughout Europe during WWII during which time, the breed became so rare that it became impossible to save it without interbreeding it with other long hair cats such as the Siamese and the Persian cat breeds until the Birman breeding population became large enough to begin breeding them responsibly.
For this reason…
Modern day Birman cats can vary in appearance – although there is a standard for their markings which is widely accepted to be the ‘correct’ pattern (which we’ll discuss a bit later in this article).
The Birman was…
Officially recognized in France in 1925 and named the Sacre De Birmanie breed and then later by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1967 and have since been recognized by Cat Fancier’s everywhere – and we do mean everywhere… from Canada to the UK these former Temple cats and possible carriers of Priestly souls have made an impression all over the world.
Birman cat characteristics
Let’s face it, the Birman cat wasn’t chosen to be worshiped because he is an “ugly” cat breed. These cats are beautiful when they grow up and absolutely adorable as kittens.
What with their…
Soft, fluffy and pale as a cloud coat of fur, it’s nearly impossible to see a Birman kitten and not want to pick them up. And while his predominant appearance will be that of pale fluff, he will always have pointed markings on his coat that help set this breed apart from other similarly gorgeous cat breeds.
Because it should be noted…
That because the Birman cat is so attractive, with their white fur and blue eyes, this breed has often been used to create “new” cat breeds including but not limited to the Ragdoll breed which is another stunning cat in and of itself.
But let’s not wonder…
Because, in addition to having pointed marking on his coat, the Birman will also have corresponding color markings on his legs and tail which is another great way to help one identify a Birman as a Birman and not some other type of cat breed.
And don’t forget…
About his beautiful blue eyes, you will get lost in. After all, it’s those eyes that were “gifted” to him by a deity after all.
Now as far as…
The Birman coat is concerned, it will have the approximately the same mid-length fur coat as a Siamese cat; but without the tangling undercoat that gets in the way. Their fur will always come with a blue point or a lilac point, and while other colors are recognized as well (such as tabby or tortie), all variations will have matching white paws that look like they are wearing little socks.
The “standard”…
Will also call for a “traditional” Birman to have a slinky triangular body with broad ears and a wide head, and their tails will probably be pointed in the middle, as well.
Birman Traits and Personalities
The Birman have a few distinguishable personality traits. Unlike other breeds they are very softly spoken, and won’t give a screeching, nails-down-the-blackboard “Meow”. They are fantastic with children and families, and even get on with some dog breeds.
In fact…
Because they are so friendly and so expensive you should consider keeping this as an inside cat, just in case he gets lost, stolen or eaten by any number of different animals out there (particularly coyotes throughout the southwest United States).
Now…
Rumor has it that this is not the smartest of breeds, and you might want to keep checking on where he is before you do things like lock a door or start your car. And we hate saying things like this because we know that there are a ton of Birman cat owners who are going to disagree with us here on this one, which is why… we’re only going to say that this is a “rumor” it’s not confirmed, and your Birman could be a total genius!
What we can state as fact is…
That you Birman will be inquisitive and loving, and he will appear under your feet whenever you are trying to do something important… So, if you love having a cat that will just love to follow you all over the place, then this may just be the cat that you’re looking for.
Birman cat breed health
Although this this is a favorite among families and breeders everywhere; it is not a traditionally healthy pet. They are prone to suffering from a few medical conditions including:
- Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is a potentially fatal heart condition.
- Corneal Dermoid is an irritating eye condition they suffer from and requires surgical correction.
- Spongiform Degeneration is also a high risk for this breed, this is a degenerative condition of the nervous system that can also be fatal.
- Immune deficiency thymic aplasia – another disease that is potentially fatal if left untreated.
These cats are also prone to liver and kidney diseases, as well.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet will often recommend that anyone considering adopting a Birman kitten or Birman rescue cat take a moment and consider purchasing a pet insurance policy as well.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, of course not. But it should be noted that many of the conditions that can affect a Birman cat as they grow older can be quite expensive to treat. Which is why it may make sense for some folks to “hedge” their bet by deciding to purchase a pet insurance policy so that if anything does happen to their Burmese Goddess, they won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of her medical bills.
For more information about who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies in the industry, we would definitely encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
Great Artical!