Birman

The first thing you notice about a Birman cat is its glittering blue eyes. These cats are very popular with families due to their affectionate, playful nature. They have medium to long silky hair and can be found in many unique colors. These adaptable felines are good with children and adults alike.

Breed History

While the Birman cat breed is one of the oldest in the history of domestic cats, it actually dwindled to two lone surviving cats in the early 20th century. Luckily, the female, named Sita, was pregnant, while her mate died en route to France. Sita gave birth to a litter of Birmans, who carried on the breed lineage.

Legend has it that the breed, which originated in Burma (now known as Myanmar), was favored by Kittah priests. A particular high priest, Mun-Ha, was injured to the point of death when thieves sought to steal a treasured statue of the blue-eyed goddess Tsun-Kyan-Kse. This priest’s Birman cat, Sinh, placed its paws on his chest as he lay dying, and when he passed, the cat magically transformed, taking on the features of the goddess. Its fur changed to gold, its eyes to blue, and its paws to pure white.

Birmans were brought to Europe by two English residents of France, August Pavie and Major Gordon Russell, in 1919. The Kittah people gifted two Birmans to the men to thank them for defending their temple from invaders. The cats thrived for a while, but came down to two lone cats during WWII. However, thanks to the litter of Sita, they bounced back with a breeding pair that were crossbred with Persian and Siamese long-haired cats in France. By the 1950s, purebred Birman litters had been restored and multiplied. 

Birman cats made it to the United States in 1959 and were accepted by the CFA in 1967. They are now a well-known and popular breed in North America and are flourishing worldwide.

Traits: What to Know Before You Buy

There are some important things to consider before buying or adopting a Birman:

• These cats have a coat of medium to long hair that needs combing once or twice a week to keep it looking healthy.
• These cats can sometimes be wary around strangers, so it may be necessary to put this pet into another room when unfamiliar people visit.
• They are prone to obesity.

Personality

This breed of cat is known for its friendliness to other pets in a household. They are also known for their intelligence and playfulness. Dangle a piece of yarn in front of a Birman cat and let the games begin!

Some cats are known for their vocal behavior. But these cats are known for being on the quiet side.

These cats are affectionate and love to be around their owners. They are friendly with children, too. While some cats are known to keep to themselves, Birmans love lots of petting and attention.

Birman vs. Ragdoll

Look at a Birman and a Ragdoll sitting side by side; they look a lot alike. But there are both similarities and differences between these two breeds.

A lot of the similarities between these two cats relate to their personality. They can both be described as gentle and playful, especially with other pets. They are intelligent, quiet felines.

It’s hard to miss the glittering blue eyes of both cat breeds. They share many of the same colors.

One difference is found in their history. Birman cats are sometimes called Sacred Cats of Burma. They were raised in the temple of Burma by Kittah priests. Folklore claims this cat’s blue eyes were inherited from a goddess with sapphire blue eyes. Their glowing white paws are a symbol of purity, according to the Kittah priests.

The history of the Ragdoll cat has less folklore attached to it. Ragdolls were bred by a woman named Ann Baker back in the 1960s. Ann had a beloved and very affectionate Persian cat named Josephine. Josephine had a habit of going limp in her owner’s hands when she was picked up. This is how the name Ragdoll came about. Ann filed the paperwork to trademark the name Ragdoll and started breeding more of these gentle, sweet cats with this unique habit.

Though these cats look similar, there are some subtle differences in their colors and physical appearance. For one, Birman cats have rounded eyes of medium size, while Ragdolls have large oval-shaped eyes. Also, a Ragdoll cat’s fur is soft and cushy, while the Birman has just one layer of silky hair without any undercoat. Both Birman and Ragdoll cats have long, plumed tails, and tail length is not a primary distinguishing feature between the two breeds. In addition, adult Birman cats weigh less than adult Ragdolls.

Size and Weight

Adult Birman cats are between 15 and 18 inches long. Adults grow to a height of between 8 and 10 inches. Males are usually bigger than females.

Adults weigh between 6 and 12 pounds. A female Birman usually weighs between 6 and 10 pounds, while a male weighs 10 to 12 pounds.

Price

Purebred kittens cost anywhere from $600 to $3000 when purchased from a breeder. But that price varies by breeder.

One alternative to buying a Birman is adopting one from a rescue organization. Some rescue organizations have adults as well as kittens available. A Birman cat rescue organization charges an adoption fee. Adoption fees of Birman rescue organizations range from $60 to $150.

The annual vet costs for Birman cats range from $400 to $600. When it comes to this cat’s food budget, the monthly cost ranges between $20 and $30.

Birman kittens are so popular that many breeders have waiting lists. Of course, the kittens stay with their mother until they can live independently.

Kittens

Although these cats have coats in a variety of colors, the kittens are born with all-white fur. As they mature, kittens start to take on their adult colors. Of course, they all have glittering blue eyes from birth and keep white ‘mittens’ on their paws.

Newborn kittens weigh from 3 to 5 ounces and are about 3 inches long. Their eyes and ears don’t open until they are around 9 days old. They reach puberty between 15 and 18 months old. However, they don’t achieve full maturity until they are 3 years old.

Some of the coat colors include lilac, blue, chocolate, cream, red, tortie, and seal.

These kittens are friendly and affectionate with kids.

Lifespan

Birman cats reach an average age of 14 years. Of course, how long this cat lives depends on its overall health. The oldest known Birman cat, Minx, reached the age of 23!

Birman cats are hardy and don’t suffer from any unusual health issues. But they do share some general health issues of cats. For one, they are prone to obesity. Obesity in a cat can lead to other issues like heart and kidney problems. An owner who gives their Birman the appropriate amount and type of food can avoid this health issue.

Breed vs. Mixed

Purebred Birman cats have white paws, silky fur without an undercoat, a playful nature, and an affectionate personality. A kitten with only one Birman parent may not take on all of these features and qualities. The kitten may inherit more of the other parent’s qualities.

The Cat Fanciers Association lists the colors of purebred Birmans as seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, cream, and tortie.

Types of Birman Cats and Colors

The coats of Birman cats can vary between solid, tabby, and tortie patterns for accepted purebreds. All of these cats have blue eyes, points, and white gloves and laces. The CFA recognizes 20 color/pattern combinations. For a better understanding of coat coloring, below is a list of various Birman coat colors with descriptions:

• A Seal Coat: A Birman with a seal coat has cream fur on most of its body with dark fur or seal patterns on its face, tail, ears, and legs. It kind of looks a lot like a fluffy Siamese cat.
• A Blue Coat: When a cat enthusiast says blue fur, they really mean fur with a grayish tone. A Birman with a blue coat has mostly cream fur with blue (gray) fur on its face, tail, ears, and legs.
• A Chocolate Coat: A Birman with a chocolate coat has mostly golden/ivory colored fur with chocolate-brown fur on its ears, face, tail, and legs.
• A Lilac Coat: A Birman cat with a lilac coat has mostly pale ivory fur on its body, along with pink/gray fur on its face, ears, legs, and tail.
• A Red Coat: This cat has a cream coat with red/gold fur on its ears and face.
• A Tortie Coat: A tortoiseshell or tortie coat has a swirling pattern of black, blue, chocolate, and gold fur.