European Burmese Cat

The history of the European Burmese and the Burmese is pretty much the same. These cats come from the Siamese and the “copper cat” of Burma. Most cat lovers believe they were kept by priests in their temples, where they were in charge of vermin control. Most modern-day Burmese can be traced to a cat called Wong Mau, owned by Dr. Joseph Thompson. Dr. Thompson, alongside other cat breeders and geneticists, created a breeding program. Still, there weren’t many Burmese cats available in the US.

European Burmese was even in a worse position, so European cat breeders took a slightly different path. They crossed the Burmese with British Shorthairs and redpointed Siamese. After a few breeding generations, these cats were called “Foreign Burmese” and European Burmese. The latter name stuck till today.

The European Burmese is a striking cat. One look at these cats, and you will surely be mesmerized by their beauty. They are very elegant and have slightly rounded contours. They are muscular and have čarge, expressive eyes. Here are other characteristics you should be aware of.

Coat

One of our favorite things about the European Burmese is its coat. These cats have a short, soft coat that has a satiny texture. Their coat is relatively easy to maintain, and these cats will do most of their grooming themselves.

Coat color

Besides the European Burmese’s body structure, the thing that defines them as a breed is their color. These cats come in 10 colors. The most common ones are brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, and lilac tortoiseshell.

Size

The European Burmese is considered a medium-sized cat. Females are generally smaller than males, and most adult cats weigh 6 - 10 pounds.

Temperament

The European Burmese is beautiful cats, but the thing that makes them so unique is their character. Their temperaments are very similar to those of the Burmese. These cats are charming, determined, affectionate, friendly, and playful. They inherited many of the Siamese’s character traits, which means they are fantastic pets. These cats are also very curious and intelligent. The European Burmese is highly social, so if you have a busy work schedule and your cat stays at home most of the day, you should probably pick another breed.

Health

All pureblooded cat breeds have diseases that are relatively common within the breed. Unfortunately, the European Burmese has a lot of them. That doesn’t mean the cat will necessarily develop them; it just means you and your vet will need to keep a close eye on early symptoms of these potential diseases. These cats have an average lifespan of 10 - 15 years. Here are those potential problems;

• Corneal dermoid - Skin and hair under the cornea
• Congenital peripheral vestibular disease - Affects the cat’s balance and movement.
• Lipemia of the aqueous humor - Milky appearance during kittenhood.
• Orofacial pain syndrome - The eruption of the second teeth causes extreme discomfort, and young cats tear themselves to relieve the pain.
• Diabetes Mellitus - Increased risk of diabetes.
• Flat-chested kitten syndrome - This is a disorder in cats wherein kittens develop a compression of the thorax caused by lung collapse.
• Hypokalemic polymyopathy - The cat can develop muscle weakness due to low potassium levels.
• Kinked tail - This usually happens because a kitten has a deformed tailbone. This is only an aesthetic issue.
• Endocardial fibroelastosis - This is a common heart condition in which the left ventricle of the heart thickens.

World Cat Finder Team