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Getting a Cat or Kitten
17 min read
| Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
| Playfulness: | 5/5 |
| Intelligence: | 3/5 |
| Likes Other Pets: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 4/5 |
| Shedding: | 3/5 |
Burmilla Cat
This medium-build short haired cat is sturdy and well-muscled, with males being quite robust, and females more elegant and daintier. Their head is gently rounded with a moderate wedge-shaped face and wide set ears. Eyes are large, slightly almond shaped and expressive and may be any shade from gold to green. Their coat is dense and short with a pale undercoat and distinctive dark tipping to the ends of the hairs giving the cat a silvery look which is enhanced by dark rims around the eyes and a distinct M marking on the forehead. There are a number of accepted patterns and colours within the breed.
Lifespan
10 - 15 years
Weight
3 - 5.8kg
Colours
Coat is dense and short with a pale undercoat and distinctive dark tipping to the ends of the hairs.
The need-to-know
- Great for first-time cat owners
- Enjoys playing games and is active at home
- Playful and curious cat
- Independent but friendly
- Slightly talkative cat
- Average build cat breed
- Requires grooming once a week
- A bit of both indoor and outdoor space
- Great family cat
- Can be regularly left for a few hours
- Great for a relaxed home
Generally healthy breed
The Burmilla breed can suffer from:
- Polycystic kidney disease which is an inherited condition where cysts form in the kidneys. This affects kidney function and can eventually lead to kidney failure. However, it is worth noting that the risk of developing this disease in this breed is lower than in other cat breeds that are prone to the problem.
- Burmese head defect which is a condition where the face and skull do not form correctly.
Testing available:
- DNA testing for polycystic kidney disease and Burmese head defect which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by these conditions
Personality
The Burmilla is sociable, playful and affectionate, gets along well with other household pets and with children who behave appropriately around cats, and retain many kitten-like characteristics into adulthood. Despite this friendly nature, they are also a fairly independent and irreverent cat, capable of spending time alone and are not overly or loudly demanding.
The Burmilla was the result of an accidental mating between a Chinchilla Persian male and a Burmese queen in the UK in the early 1980’s. As the whole litter of four kittens were so attractively coloured and marked, it was decided to pursue a breeding program to create a new breed.
The Burmilla will benefit from some access to a secure garden or a purpose-built cat run ideally complete with climbing branches, ramps and sunbathing shelves so that they can enjoy the outdoor world safely. Due to their friendly, outgoing nature and athletic ability, it is not recommended that a Burmilla have unsupervised access to the outside in an insecure area, as they are highly likely to wander and are at risk from thieves.
Although laid-back and relaxed, the Burmilla is an active and playful cat that will benefit from games, puzzles and climbing equipment such as cat-trees or even cat gyms. Providing plenty of opportunities to climb, jump and play, as well as interactive games with their humans, will keep a Burmilla happy, mentally satisfied and fulfilled.
They also respond well to clicker training and can learn a variety of tricks and useful behaviours.
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 food recipes.
The Burmilla is a neat, clean cat, however a weekly groom is an opportunity to check your cat all over, spend some time bonding and ensure the coat is in top condition. A greasy coat is a sign your cat is not self-grooming at all and this may indicate poor health.
As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended.
The Burmilla makes a great family pet, willing to interact and play, but easily able to spend time without human entertainment. As with all cats, children should be old enough to respect their space and handle them gently. Better suited to a calm and relaxed home, rather than a wildly busy and boisterous home.
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