One of the biggest advantages of purchasing a pedigreed cat
is that you will know the personality and characteristics
of the breed. This helps you in choosing the breed that will
best fit into your home, family, and lifestyle.
The European Burmese is a very affectionate, intelligent,
and loyal cat. They thrive on companionship and will want
to be with you, participating in everything you do. While
they might pick a favorite family member, chances are that
they will interact with everyone in the home, as well as any
visitors that come to call. They are inquisitive and playful,
even as adults. Expect them to be in your lap whenever you
sit down and snuggle up next to you in bed. They become fast
friends to other cats and even dogs, making them the perfect
addition to your family.
Taking care of a European Burmese is very easy. They do
not require bathing, and regular grooming with a rubbertype
brush will keep shedding under control. “Scratching”
is a natural behavior for all cats, so a scratching post should
be provided. Sharp claws can also be trimmed with clippers.
Keeping such a rare treasure indoors and neutering or spaying
are all essential elements for giving your European Burmese a
healthy, long, and joyful life.
The European Burmese is a medium sized, shorthaired cat of
far eastern origins. Body type is elegant with gently rounded
contours, solid boning, and excellent musculature. Eyes are
large, alert, and expressive, with color ranging from yellow to
amber. Coat colors include brown, chocolate, blue, lilac, cream,
and a soft apricot red. Tortoiseshell colors are also popular.
The European Burmese and the Burmese we know in North
America originated from the same source – Wong Mau,
the first Burmese introduced to the Western world by Dr.
Thompson in 1930. As Wong Mau was the only example of
her type, she had to be mated to another breed of similar
type. The obvious choice then was the Siamese. Resulting
litters revealed that Wong Mau herself carried a pointed gene,
as kittens in her litters were both solid and pointed in color.
The solids were selected for further propagation of the breed.
From the United States, the breed spread east to the United
Kingdom, where the same lack of breeding stock led again
to the introduction of the Siamese. From then on, the breed
followed different courses of development; today we have two
very different looking cats with two different standards, both
sharing a common ancestry.
The most obvious difference between the breeds is the array
of colors displayed by the European Burmese – ten to be
exact. Introduction of the red gene is responsible for the
additional colors. This gene was introduced both deliberately
and by accident. In the U.K., Siamese come in many colors,
including red points, so the introduction of this gene to
the existing four colors (brown, chocolate, blue, and lilac)
produced the colors red, cream, brown-tortie, chocolatetortie,
blue-tortie, and lilac-tortie.
There is also a difference in type between the two Burmese
breeds. The European Burmese is an elegant, moderate cat
with gently rounded contours, whereas the Burmese has a
compact, well rounded appearance. The eye shape differs
between the two breeds. The European Burmese should have
eyes with a top line that is slightly curved, with a slant towards
the nose. The lower line should be rounded. The Burmese
eyes should have a rounded aperture.
If you think that a European Burmese would be a good fit
for your family, you’re probably wondering what the next
step will be to find one. Many breeders have web sites and
are also listed in national publications. Doing an Internet
search should help you find a breeder close to you. Kittens are
usually ready to leave their mom at the age of 12 to 16 weeks.
Being with mom and siblings this long helps them develop
the physical and emotional stability needed for their move
to a new environment. They will also have received their first
set of vaccinations by 12 weeks. Pricing will depend on type
(show quality or pet quality) and may vary depending on
location. Some kittens might come from Grand Champion
(GC), National (NW), National Breed (BW), and/or
Regional (RW) winning parentage. This may also influence
the price of the kitten. Often times, breeders will have adult
cats available for adoption, too. These cats are usually retired
show kitties and are ready to be in a forever home. Whether
you choose a kitten or an older cat, you are sure to have many
wonderful years ahead of you with your European Burmese!
For more information, please contact the Breed Council Secretary for this breed.