Breed Profile: Burmese

Contact Australian Burmese Breeders

Dr David Richardson   07/03/05

 

Burmese cats are one of the most popular pedigree cat breeds in Australia today. In personality Gloria Stephens describes Burmese as “ happy-go-lucky, take anything-in-its-stride” sort of cats. They are friendly, outgoing and love to be around people. Burmese are vocal and won’t be ignored. They are sleek, svelte, muscular, athletic and active and feel heavier than their size because of their high muscle to fat ratio.

 

Yet the origin of these well known and loved cats is rather recent. In the 1930’s Dr Joseph Thompson brought a solid chocolate coloured cat, Wong Mau, home to San Francisco from Burma. Wong Mau was bred to a Siamese. Resulting generations were of three types, Siamese looking, some like Wong, and some solid dark brown.

 

These brown Burmese are the origin of today’s Burmese. These cats were of foreign type, and this description remains in the Australian standard. However North American Burmese have deviated to become a rounder, small but heavy, cobby cat. This look originated with a Burmese called Theebaw in the 1960’s, and this style is referred to in North America as contemporary Burmese.

 

 Burmese Kitten 2005 showing Australian Style

 

Ten colours of Burmese are recognized by WNCA. These are Brown, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Red, Cream and the Tortie variants of the above.

The WNCA standard awards 55 points for the head and neck, including 10 for eye shape (Large Lustrous, set well apart, the top line showing a straight oriental slant towards the nose while the lower is rounded), and 10 points for eye colour, golden yellow preferred but all shades of yellow to amber allowed. Green eyes are a fault, as are oriental or round eyes.

 

Thirty points are awarded for Coat type (fine and satin texture, glossy and very short & close lying), colour and pattern, and only 20 for the rest of the cat (body, legs, paws, and tail).

The body is hard and muscular, the chest strong with a round profile, and the back straight. Legs are medium and nicely in proportion to the body. Paws are neat and oval. The Tail is medium in length with a rounded tip and only slightly tapering.

 In assessing the cats at the 2005 Burmese Show, I was slightly perturbed at some of the cats having poor doming and a flat plane between the ears, both of which are disallowed by the standard.

Pattern can be solid or tortie, and it is acceptable for the points to be slightly darker than the coat reflecting the breed’s genetic origins.

WNCA standard for the Burmese requires a cat of foreign type. Below are some photos of WNCA Burmese which illustrate our standard for this rumpacious breed.

 

Bibliography:

Legacy of the Cat by Gloria Stephens

WNCA Breed Standard – Burmese