What You Don't Know About Burmese

The Chatty Cathy of Cats … Burmese, Please!!!

- Candilee Jackson

Introduction

Visualizing Mr. Peabody’s “Way-Back Machine” and Mattel’s Chatty Cathy doll, the Burmese might just be the official Baby Boomers’ cat, as it was fully recognized by CFA in 1956.

Sleek and beautiful with terrific personalities, the mysterious Burmese have much more to give their caretakers than just these traits. “From their fascinating origins to their unique personality quirks, Burmese cats hold a special place in the cat world.” 1

These talkative cats can live up to 17 years of age or more, yet remain kitten-playful their entire lives. Burmese are practiced conversationalists who demand not just audience attention but also audience participation in all their exchanges. Craving attention and love, the Burmese are not shy when it comes to human interaction: there are no strangers in their lives.2

Burmese cats have their own rainbow of colored coats, and CFA recognizes four distinct colors: “Sable, a rich, dark- brown; Champagne, a warm beige; Platinum, a pale gray with fawn undertones; and Blue, a medium gray with fawn undertones. 3 They require little grooming other than petting, but there are few cats that can resist a good brushing for those feel-good moments that build the human-to-cat bond. Fearless, playful and spirited, the Burmese are the purrfect companion cat; these babies are loyal to their human family, and cannot stand to be left out of any family “do.”

The Burmese are extremely successful in the show ring, especially with judges who allow them to interact with toys. At home, the Burmese often train their human family to do their bidding, and although they adore treats, they will perform with little provocation.