The Sacred Birman or Birman cat: affectionate and easygoing!

Table of Contents

Description and characteristics of the Sacred Cat of Burma

Origins of the Sacred Cat of Burma

Character and behavior of the Burmese cat

How to take care of your Sacred Birman: its needs

Feeding the Burmese cat

The health of the Sacred Birman

The Birman cat, or Sacred Birman, is a breed with legendary origins and many qualities. First recognized for its beauty, which is reminiscent of that of the Siamese, it is appreciated for its docile character which makes it a pleasant cat to live with for the whole family. Very sociable, he loves the company of children and other animals, and will not fail to charm your guests! Curious and communicative, lively of character, he will seduce all cat lovers. A breed to discover as soon as possible if your heart still swings between Persian and Siamese... The Sacred Birman is perhaps the ideal companion for you and your family.

• Size:                        medium to large
• Weight:                  between 3 and 6 kg
• Hair:                       medium-long and silky
• Colour:                   colorpoint
• Life expectancy:   12 to 16 years
• Gestation period: 63 to 65 days

Description and characteristics of the Sacred Cat of Burma

The Birman is a cat of truly striking elegance and beauty; halfway between the Siamese, whose color it has, and the Persian with its mid-length fur, it has a light coat and a rounded morphology: it has neither the crushed face of the Persian nor the muzzle pointy Siamese. The physique of the Sacred Birman is balanced and his eyes are always blue.

Its legs are of medium size and its frame quite heavy but not massive. His hair, mid-long and silky, has the advantage of not getting tangled because the undercoat is light. The specific dress of the Birman, called colorpoint, is the same as that of the Siamese except for the "white gloves" required by the breed standard: without them, the Birman would not be Birman! There are variations of the basic coat: blue point, seal point, chocolate point, lilac point, red point, cream point.

Origins of the Sacred Cat of Burma

Such a beautiful cat deserves a beautiful legend about its origins! The story goes that it got its beauty from the intervention of a blue-eyed goddess, who would have rewarded the cat of a priest living in a temple, for its devotion and loyalty to its master. The goddess would have changed her white coat into a magnificent golden dress, and her yellow eyes into blue eyes; the tips of the paws were kept white to symbolize its purity. Beyond the myth, the historical origins of the Burmese are little known. The breed was developed in France following the importation of two cats in 1919, offered to Auguste Pavie by Burmese priests to thank him for his help. The breed, perpetuated by breeding, was recognized in France in 1925.

Character and behavior of the Burmese cat

More than just a cat, the Birman is a "cat-dog": not very shy, he will enjoy sharing his place of life with "his" favorite humans, following them from one room to another, and never not hesitating to capture their attention in search of caresses and when dinner time comes! The Birman has the advantage of being docile and discreet, unlike the Siamese who meows a lot. Of a curious nature, he likes to explore his environment and can sometimes find himself stuck in a closet or in the basement! It is therefore better to know how to keep an eye on the Birman when he goes on a mop around the house. Very affectionate, he loves to be held in the arms and cuddled by young and old; he appreciates contact with dogs, especially for play and for friendly naps.

How to take care of your Sacred Birman: its needs

The Sacred Birman requires regular brushing, not that its fur tends to tangle as we said above, but for the health of its hair and skin, especially during molting. A warm bath can also be helpful to get rid of dead hair, followed by brushing as gently as possible. It is recommended to brush his teeth to prevent gingivitis, at least once a week. We will use a clean and soft textile to wash the corner of his eyes, or cotton soaked in warm water that we will be sure to renew for each eye. Check the condition of his ears every week: if they seem waxy, they will be cleaned with a cotton ball soaked in warm water and 50/50 cider vinegar.

Feeding the Burmese cat

The diet of the Sacred Birman must be adapted to its weight, age, and degree of physical activity. For an indoor cat, kibble is the best base because it allows the cat to chew and thus keep its teeth healthy. In terms of quantity, it is recommended to speak to your veterinarian, especially following the castration or sterilization of your Birman, which can lead to weight gain when the cat does not exercise much.

It is therefore important to establish good eating habits, so if the cat asks for a few hours after the meal, you should not give in and wait 24 hours before the next ration. In the meantime, we can occupy it with treats designed for this purpose, and provide it with catnip for example. Always make sure your cat has access to freshwater throughout the day and banish all human food, which is often harmful.

The health of the Sacred Birman

The Birman cat is of rather a robust constitution, unfortunately, it is subject to a certain number of affections in particular beyond the seven years. After this age, it is recommended to switch to a suitable diet with kibble for older cats, in particular, to limit overweight and certain digestive or kidney disorders.

The Birman can suffer from renal dysfunction, most of the time of congenital origin: too much concentration of urea or creatinine in the urine, which can make him suffer and cause incontinence. We will make sure to offer him a clean litter box that he must be able to access day and night. Birman kittens can suffer from spasms, the cause of which remains unknown but which generally disappear spontaneously after the age of 12 weeks.