Sacred Cat of Birma (Burmese): characteristics and photos

Halfway between the Persians and the Siamese, we find this curious feline that will captivate you for much more than its exuberant appearance and its calm and docile character. The Sacred Birman or Birman is a perfect family breed that manages to charm you with its little acrobatics. Perhaps it is thanks to all this that this breed is one of the most popular today. Attention, the Sacred Birman or Birman must not be confused with the English Burmese.

If you are considering adopting a cat of this breed or if you already live with one of them, PlanèteAnimal explains everything you need to know about the Sacred Birman, its care, its temperament and his possible he alth problems.

Origin

  • Asia

FIFe Rating

  • Category I

Physical Characteristics

  • Thick Tail
  • Little ears
  • Strong

Size

  • Average

Average Weight

  • 3-5

Life expectancy

  • 10-15

Character

  • Affectionate
  • Smart
  • Curious
  • Calm

Climate

  • Temperate

Hair type

  • Medium

Origin of the Sacred Birman (Burmese)

The origins of the Sacred of Burma are legendary and come from the writer Marcelle Adam, who tells the story of a temple in Burma dedicated to a goddess who had a body of gold and eyes of sapphire who had a priest within it who owned a cat named Sinh. Enemies killed the old priest and the cat jumped on the head of its guardian while looking into the eyes of the goddess. Little Sinh's eyes turned blue like sapphire, his coat turned golden, and his paws remained white like the priest's hair. The cat died of grief and the temple cats transformed just like Sinh, becoming the very first cats in Burma.

Another version claims that a couple of Burmese cats were brought from a Lao Tsun temple to the United States in 1920 and only the female survived by giving birth to a kitten. The female was named Doll of Madalpour.However, Doctor Jumaud, founder of the first feline club in France, describes a cat with Birman characteristics before this date.

After the Second World War there was only one couple of Burmese cats left in France. According to the LOFFF, the Birmans are descended exclusively from these two cats, sometimes crossed with Persians to avoid inbreeding problems.

The Sacred Birman or Birman breed was recognized in 1950, thus avoiding confusion between the Birman and the Burmese.

Physical characteristics of the Sacred Birman (Burmese)

According to the characteristics of the Sacred Birman, it is an animal of medium size and strong composition. Birmans have short, stout, dark-colored legs and a long, dark-colored tail that matches their ears. Its coat is medium-long and dense because of the lush woolen undercoat and its silky feel.It has golden tones on its back, creamy white on the gloves, that is to say at the ends of its legs and ears, the face, its tail and its legs are dark and contrast with the rest of the body.

His eyes are large and almond-shaped, always blue and mesmerizing in appearance. Their weight varies between 3 and 6 kilograms, females weigh between 3 and 5 kg and males between 5 and 6 kg. Normally, their life expectancy ranges from 9 to 13 years.

The Birman is recognized by major cat registries these days, but not all registries allow all colors. Associations of friends of cats recognize two types: Sacred Burmese and European Burmese.

Character of Sacred Burma (Burmese)

The Birmans are calm and balanced cats who will also be perfect playmates as they are an extremely sociable and affectionate breed that will always seek our love and attention.Although Birmans enjoy peace and quiet, they don't tolerate solitude well, something to consider if you don't spend a lot of time at home. Balance is the key to defining the Birmans because despite their playful nature they are neither destructive nor restless, they are neither demanding nor annoying, which makes them perfect cats for families, because they will like spend hours playing with the children of the house and cuddling.

The Birman is docile, curious and attentive to its guardians, moreover, it is a remarkably intelligent cat. For all these reasons, it is easy to teach him tricks and acrobatics!

Care for the Sacred Birman (Burmese)

Special attention should be paid to the regular brushing of his coat to avoid the formation of knots and potentially problematic hairballs, which can affect his digestive system.In addition, it is recommended to take care of his claws, teeth and general he alth, taking care of his eyes and ears by cleaning them with products recommended by your veterinarian.

In addition to brushing for a Birman to be happy, we must insist on giving them the attention and affection they need. In return, they will not disappoint us and they will be faithful and attentive companions. Likewise, precisely because of their difficulties in dealing with loneliness, it is important to socialize them properly and educate them so that they remain calm during the times when we should be away. For this, it is advisable to offer a correct enrichment of its environment, with various toys, scrapers of different heights, etc. It may be necessary to use diffuser pheromones to calm the environment.

Sacred He alth of Burma (Burmese)

Birmese are generally he althy cats, but there are some he alth issues that this breed is more likely to suffer from. Birmans have a higher possibility of suffering from glaucoma, cranial malformations or feline hyperesthesia syndrome, a pathology that consists of an increased sensitivity to touch or painful stimuli. They may also be prone to calcium oxalate stones in the urinary tract. Therefore, the vaccination schedule and periodic veterinary checks must be observed in order to prevent and detect these pathologies in time.

If you want to know more about Sacred Birman or Birman cats and kittens, you can read our article on curiosities of the Sacred Birman from PlanèteAnimal.

References

http://www.loof.asso.fr/races/desc_race.php

Sacred of Burma (Burmese) pictures