Burmese are the dogs of the cat world. Intelligent, energetic, charming and playful, they’re bundles of almost canine energy in a cat shape. Like dogs, Burmese are loyal and adore their humans. They quickly win over strangers with their friendliness - they’ll even show off their game-playing skills, including fetch or tag. As well as regular playtime, Burmese demand regular pets and attention. If your attention isn’t up to scratch, they’ll let you know - Burmese are very talkative and have inventive ways to get love and cuddles, including climbing up your leg! Being surrounded by their humans is their happy place.
Burmese Facts
Burmese are famously known for weighing more than you’d expect them to! Although they look very sleek, they’re actually strong, sturdy cats. Their short, glossy coat is their distinguishing feature. Although their coat is most commonly seal (dark brown), it can come in a range of colours.
- Breed: Burmese
- Height: 23-33cm
- Weight: 3.5-7kg
- Life Span: 10-15 years
- Coat: Short, smooth
- Colour: Various but traditionally seal (dark brown)
What Does a Burmese Look Like?
With their glossy, smooth, short coats, Burmese look silky soft and ideal for cuddling (which luckily, they love!). Medium-sized, they’re stocky, compact and surprisingly muscular for a cat - pick one up and you’ll find they’re heavier than you think. They have rounded heads with large expressive eyes that are shades of yellow. Their heads are topped off with large ears that are rounded at the tips and tilt forward. Check out those adorable paws too - they’re big and round, ideal for jumping and playing.
Burmese are the only natural breed of brown cat - they’re traditionally a rich deep brown (seal). However, their distinctive coat can also come in a range of colours, including chocolate, blue, red, cream and lilac.
Burmese
Burmese Temperament: Dog-Like Cat
If you claim you’re a dog person, not a cat one, meet the Burmese - it’s the most dog-like cat out there. That’s because Burmese are playful, super social and loving. Like some dog breeds, they bond really strongly to their humans and want to spend as much time as possible with you. Unusually for cats, they’re not massively independent and won’t cope well if they’re left alone for too long. They’re prone to stress behaviours, like aggressive grooming.
Like your privacy? Burmese don’t respect that. Whether you’re trying to read a book, work on the computer, cook dinner or watch TV, they’re going to be right there with you, trying to force themselves onto your lap and ensure they’re the centre of your attention. Ignore them at your own risk: a Burmese is a chatty cat and will tell you off if the pats aren’t coming. They might even scale your leg, demanding to be picked up and cuddled. Expect a Burmese to charm every visitor to your home with their attention-seeking ways.
Burmese thrive in busy households and love humans of all ages, including children and older family members. They live happily with other cat breeds, and they might tolerate a dog. Animal company can help them stop feeling lonely and ward off stress.
Living up to cat characteristics about curiosity, Burmese love to thoroughly explore your home and will take every opportunity to show off their playful side, which includes running, climbing and jumping.
Keeping Burmese Cats Healthy: 4 Issues to Watch Out For
Sturdy strong cats, Burmese are normally healthy although there are a few health conditions to be aware of.
Feline Orofacial Pain Syndrome (FOPS)
FOPS is common in Burmese cats. Although the cause isn’t known, it’s thought to be related to stress and anxiety, like being left alone for a long time or having a run in with another cat. Signs of FOPS include exaggerated licking and chewing motions and pawing at the mouth. You might also notice your Burmese eating less, as FOPS can be painful during eating. If you spot any of these signs, take your Burmese to the vet. There are medications that can help.
Hypokalemic Polymyopathy
Hypokalemic polymyopathy can be seen in Burmese kittens. It’s muscle weakness caused by low levels of potassium in their blood. Symptoms include general weakness, stiffness, a reluctance to move and head tremors. Potassium supplements can treat it.
Diabetes Mellitus
Burmese cats are at greater risk of developing diabetes mellitus than other cat breeds. Diabetes causes high blood sugar levels, which causes them to experience lethargy, reduced appetite, increased thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea and weakness. Regular insulin injections and diet changes can help manage diabetes.
Pica
Pica involves eating of non-food items, especially wool. Unfortunately these objects aren’t easily digested like food and can cause blockages in their digestive system, which will need surgery to fix. If you know your Burmese suffers from Pica (because you’ve seen them repeatedly chewing and eating things they’re not supposed to), be on the lookout for signs of blockage in their intestines. These include vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and listlessness. Pica can be managed by reducing their access to non-edible things and improving their environment with toys, puzzles and daily play sessions.
Caring for Your Burmese Cat
With their short smooth coats, a Burmese doesn’t need much grooming. But what they do need a lot of is attention - keeping them healthy and happy involves lots of time spent with their human and lots of things to feed their active tendencies.
Grooming
Grooming your Burmese is simple, thanks to their super short coats and low shedding. Although Burmese shed more seasonally (spring and autumn), they still only need a light groom during those months to help them get rid of dead hair. Otherwise, a weekly brush can help keep their glossy coat looking its best.
Burmese are prone to teeth problems, like decay. Try to brush their teeth every day and add dental suppliements and treats to their diet. Finally, keep their litter tray spotlessly clean so it’s a worthy place for their business.
Nutrition
Burmese will do well on top quality premium cat food that’s suitable for their life stage (kitten, adult or senior). Because of their tooth problems, it’s important to feed Burmese a mixture of wet and dry food. Dry biscuits (or kibble) can help remove tartar build-up on their teeth like the Royal Canin Oral Care Dry Cat Food.
As active cats that are strong and stocky, it’s important to follow the feeding guidelines on your chosen food to ensure your Burmese is getting all the nutrients and energy they need (but not too much!). If you’re worried about their weight, have a chat with your vet who can help you choose the right food and quantity for your cat.
Exercise & Play Time
Burmese are great climbers and jumpers so will love climbing a tall cat scratcher. They’re also really intelligent and love to perform for their humans - they might stop what they’re doing and ensure they’ve got your full attention before carrying on. Their dog-like tendencies come out at playtime, which they enjoy daily. Burmese have been known to play games with their humans and can enjoy fetch, tag, and hide and seek. Stock up on cat toys, especially puzzle and enrichment toys to keep their minds stimulated and interactive toys to keep them busy.
Add in a daily petting session (especially belly rubs) and you’ll have one happy Burmese.
Litter Training
It is usually easy to train a Burmese to use a litter tray as they will respond best to positive reinforcement. Read our blog: Cat litter tips from our cat fanatic for tips and advice on litter and litter training.
Use a quality litter and keep the litter tray spotlessly clean. Cats are very particular about bathroom hygiene, and a clean litter tray will help to keep the coat clean as well. Speaking of litter trays, ensure to get a litter tray that fits your cat to ensure they have plenty of room to turn around and squat.