BIRMAN CAT PERSONALITY AND BREED (ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW)

Do you want to know more about the Birman cat personality? The Sacred of Burma is a sort of a mystery cat, at least as far as its origins are concerned.

But he is, above all, a devoted companion, at ease in a domestic environment. It will not be difficult to brush this long-haired feline, as it lacks a thick undercoat.

At a glance, the Birman is a great companion with magnificent blue eyes. He is a meek house lover with a very loyal nature and well-defined color spots.

Let’s find out more about the Birman cat personality and breed.

WHAT IS THE BIRMAN CAT GENERAL ASPECT AND SIZE?

With an imposing size but graceful, the Birman is also called the sacred cat of Burma (Sacred of Burma), but should not be confused with the Burmese, which is an entirely different breed.

Tail: The coloring on the tips begins to develop when the kittens are two weeks old.

Eyes: They are round in shape and are of an intense blue.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BIRMAN CAT:

Characteristic	Description	Notes
In summary	A rare breed of Asian origin conceived almost entirely in the West	it can take up to two years for the final color to become perfectly clear
Appearance	Breed with semi-long hair with colored tips and white patches on the front and hind legs
In the house	Despite its Asian origins, it is silent and easygoing breed
Behavior	Not very interested in hunting, he enjoys playing and running after toys	Generally, gets along with dogs
Grooming	It should be brushed several times a week, especially during the moulting period
Most common health problems	He may have kidney problems because sometimes this cat has kidneys smaller than normal
Personality	Sociable and relaxed nature, he creates a a deep bond with family members
Size	Medium size; 6-7 kg for the male, 4-5 kg ​​for the female
Ears	Small, with a rounded tip, lightly bent forward and well apart
Eyes	Large and round
Head	slightly round, slightly rounded forehead slightly forehead, full cheeks, nose with a slight depression
Paws	short and robust; feet characterized by white “gloves”
Coat	Semi-long, soft, silky, with little undercoat
Allowed colors	The shades of the the color point, and the base colors such as seal, lilac, chocolate, cream, and red

Based on the breed standard, the “gloves” must be symmetrical. Males are generally bigger than females and present a more majestic and vaporous ruff than the latter.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE BIRMAN CAT

In Burma, their homeland, these cats were kept in temples because they were considered the reincarnation of dead monks. In the mid-1920s, two Europeans received a couple of those kittens as a gift for their help in repelling an attack on the Lao-Tsun temple.

Only the female reached France, giving birth to kittens. It is said that all subsequent Sacred of Burma date back to these two specimens, although almost certainly, the crossings with other races have helped broaden their lineage.

Lately, cat lovers who managed to enter Tibet have described native specimens as having similar color spots.

THE PATTERN AND COLOR OF THE SACRED BIRMAN CAT

The white areas on the front of the paws are called gloves. A much more extensive motif appears on the hindquarters, reaching up to the hocks: these marks are called “boots” and must be symmetric.

For years only the Sacred seal points were recognized; afterward, blue points were also created, resulting from the crossing with the Persians. A wide range of other varieties have been introduced since, albeit not all are considered valid for exhibitions.

DETAILED ORIGINS OF THE BIRMAN CAT

The Birman cat landed in Europe in 1919, although the news regarding how it came to Old Continent are pretty nebulous. According to the first version, the French Auguste Pavie and the English Gordon Russell got a gift from some monks.

The gifts were a pair of beautiful cats in recognition of the help given to their temple in a delicate situation.

Another version, however, says that it was Mr. Vanderbilt, an American billionaire, after having bought them from a servant. In every story, only the female touched European land (the male died during the trip).

Apparently, she left the temple already pregnant and gave birth once she arrived in Nice.

From this moment, the Burmese race achieved unquestionable success, and the first standard was recognized in France in 1925. Unfortunately, the second World War decimated the Birman breed, similar to what happened with other breeds.

The situation was so severe that only two specimens of the Burmese were left as the only survivors. From those two cats, the breeders started the selection again.

The 1950s of the last century marks another critical period in these cats’ history: the name change. It was decided to change it into the Sacred of Burma to avoid confusing it with Burmese.

The official (and definitive) recognition initially arrived in France in 1925, then in Great Britain in 1966, and finally, in 1967, in the United States.

BIRMAN CAT PERSONALITY

One of the most pleasant peculiarities of the Sacred of Burma is undoubtedly the balanced character. His quiet disposition does not prevent him from being a great toy lover and playful, especially with children, and going up on daring climbs.

▷ The Sacred of Burma is undoubtedly one of the most peaceful cat breeds.

This is why the ideal home is endowed with a spacious garden. It has a strong personality. However, it does not create problems when living with other animals. Toward humans, the Birman cats are faithful and affectionate and therefore are also perfect for older people.

The Sacred of Burma suffers a lot from loneliness and is not a quarrelsome type, as long as no one insists on getting its space. The kittens are an explosion of liveliness that will not calm down even in adulthood.

Elegant and graceful, he seems keenly aware of his own beauty when lying down, showing off the candid “gloves,” or when walking with paws out, just like a dancer.

Apparently, it was once the guardian of Buddhist temples.

✔SACRED AND GALANT
The royal ways of the Sacred of Burma are undoubted one of the most enchanting qualities of this cat, but perhaps few know that males are a true example of chivalry. Before starting to eat, in fact, they always wait with aristocratic elegance that the kittens and the females have finished their meal.

▷ It is almost impossible to stay behind the inexhaustible desire to play of the kittens.

HOW TO CARE FOR AND FEED THE BIRMAN CAT

The silky cloak of the Sacred of Burma requires only one pass with one soft brush twice a week and daily brushing during the moult. The diet must always be varied by alternating packaged foods and fresh ones.

It is always better to choose first white meats and fish accompanied by cooked vegetables, especially as an evening meal. During the day, on the other hand, it is fine to feed him a portion of kibble.

The Sacred of Burma does not suffer from obesity and can self-regulate regarding the amount of food he ingests. It is recommended multivitamin supplements for kittens up to one year of age and, for adults, during periods of moulting or stress.

To make cooked vegetables more palatable for your Sacred of Burma, mix them with the rest of the baby food after steaming.

Do not forget to clean regularly and carefully with specific products, the “gloves” of your Sacred of Burma, if you don’t want them to turn yellow.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS