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Burmese Cat
IntroductionIt seems that for centuries this cat was found in the Far East, in Siam (now Thailand), Burma and the Malay Peninsula (now Malaysia). A female Burnese cat was imported into the USA in 1930. The imported cat was mated with a Seal Point Siamese and a male offspring from this breeding was bred back to his mother to produce the Sable Burmese
This is because of a fundamental disagreement between the UK and US cat fancy as to what the Burmese cat should look like. It is a shame that the US and UK differ in respect of their standard for this breed. The differences between the GCCF (UK) and CFA (US) makes it more difficult for non-cat fanciers to appreciate this cat breed. It also means that other countries and associations have to decide how to treat the divergent Burmese subgroups. Most apparently treat them as the same cat, while some differentiate and call the UK cat the European Burmese. Most of the cats illustrated on this page are the American Burmese. In the US she is considered a foreign shorthair cat.
History
Appearance and CharacterIf one where to summarise the CFA description it would be that the Burmese Cat is a pleasant, sweet natured and people orientated cat with all the usual attractive domestic cat attributes.Surprisingly the CFA says that the Burmese Cat has almost no sense of survival and should be kept in as a result. This brings to mind the Ragdoll cat as
The original Burmese was sable (dark brown) in color. Since then, through careful breeding, a wide range of colors have been developed. This has been a further source of controversy. The CFA accepts, sable, champagne, blue and platinum. The GCCF accept these colors: brown (similar to sable), blue, chocolate, lilac, red, brown tortie, cream, blue tortie, chocolate tortie and lilac tortie. Candido the cat featured on this page is (I believe) a platinum colored cat ("pale silvery grey with pale fawn undertones" - CFA) Because of the different approaches to the breeding of this cat, there is a range of head and body types. As can be seen from the American cats on this page the face is round.
Breed Standard - head and body for GCCF (UK) and CFA (USA)The USA breeders prefer the "contemporary Burmese" while the Brits go for the "Traditional Burmese". A brief and limited comparison of breed standards helps to understand the difference.UK - the head should be a "short wedge", wide at the cheeks and tapering to a blunt nose. There is no reference to roundness as in the US standard
USA - the head should be "rounded" with a sweet expression. The body should be medium in size and compact. This comparison tells us a lot about the difference between the UK and US. The European Burmese (UK type) is nearer a normal or standard cat shape (moggie shape). Although some call it more Oriental. While the US Burmese has a slightly exagerated roundness (supporting the desired sweet look) to her pug-like conformation. Similar terms are used for the American Shorthair and Persian with respect to a round appearance). Americans, it would seem, demand something a little more ourstanding and tend therefore to breed more extreme cats, either very cobby and round (Ultra Persian) or long and delicate (Modern Siamese). HealthThe breeding lines of the American cat has a defective gene that can make itself manifest by the birth of kittens with a deformed head. Kittens that are born alive are euthanized. This does not effect the UK Burmese. This major health problem has been hard to eradicate. The idea is that it will gradually fade out through wise breeding.
BreedersThese are catteries with their won websites found by Google and listed on the first 2 pages in the order listed.Casa Del Gatos Located in Dallas, Texas Metroplex, USA. Chamsey Located in Illinois, USA. Breed European Burmese. Founded in 1985. Hexpride Located in Salisbury, North Carolina, USA. Also breed Bombau Cats and are listed on that page too. Okeydokey Cattery Located Sallisaw, Oklahoma, USA. Breeding Burmese since 1980 1. Philosophical point. Why do we find breeding closely related cats acceptable and desirable (to produce the desired "type") when as humans we forbid such mating on health grounds?  Burmese cat -
Lorenzo - photo © Helmi Flick
Sources:
From Burmese Cat to Home Page
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