Birman

This is a cat for a secure garden or outdoor enclosure – they can be kept happy purely indoors in a large house, but for the smaller home, consider cat-proofing the garden or building a ‘catio’. Find out how to cat-proof your garden with our handy article. 

The Birman is a little too laid back to really cope outdoors ‘in the wild’ and they are also rather too pretty and friendly with strangers, making them a high theft risk. 
 

The Birman wants to be involved in whatever you are doing although some will restrict themselves to a supervisory role, observing what you do closely. Others will want to be more closely involved so expect sitting on paperwork and stealing of pens, small tools or components! To dilute this rather helpful nature, provide lots of opportunity for play, particularly using interactive cat toys that dispense food rather than feeding all meals from a bowl. 

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry cat food recipes. Find out more about cat feeding guidelines with our article. 

The coat of a Birman cat is soft and silky but not as difficult to deal with as that of the Persian. However, to help keep it this way, it does require cat grooming once a week with comb and brush. Birman cats groomed from any early age enjoy the extra human attention this regular activity brings. Remember that a greasy coat can be evidence that your cat is no longer attempting to groom themselves, which can be indicative of poor or failing health. As with all cats, Birmans benefit from regular vaccination, parasite control and an annual veterinary cat health check. 

For those with children who can respect a cat’s space and follow rules or instructions, the Birman can make a wonderful and affectionate family pet. Remember that this is a cat who needs a fair bit of attention, play and grooming so do consider whether you have the time to meet those needs.