The Birman Cat

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Sacred cats are a staple in the far east.  But the Birman’s origin does come from the temples of Burma.  While there are myths and legends about their origins and coloration, it is fact that they are a lovely, sweet tempered cat that is very popular in the US.

The Birman is a breed with a medium to long silky coat.  Unlike some other longhair breed, the Birman has little in the way of an undercoat.  The hair is also a little different from cats such as the Persian in that there is usually very little matting associated with the coat, and so they only need a weekly brushing with a stiff bristle brush.

The coloration of the Birman is in the Himalayan or color point pattern, lighter in the body, with darker markings on the face, ear and tail.  One difference is that while most cats with point coloring also have darker colors on the lets and paws, the paws of the Birman are always white.  Like many of the seal points, the birman kitten is all white, with the color points developing with age.  They are also blue eyed, which seems to be more typical of the point colored breeds.

The birman is a sweet tempered and loving cat.  They can be a little shy, and do prefer a quieter home environment.  Although they are moderately active, and enjoy some play, they also like to snuggle up or even get off by themselves for some quiet time every now and then.  They often become one person cats, attaching themselves to one member of a family.  They can get along with other cats and even dogs, as long as there is not too much interaction and chasing involved.


I just have one question that I have not been able to find an answer for.  If this breed originally came from Burma, why aren’t they called Burmans instead of Birmans?  The world may never know!

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