The History of the Birman Cat

There is no written history of the Birman cat breed and, therefore, no one knows how this breed came to be or why he was so favored by the Kittah priests in Burma.  Raised as sacred companion animals, the only history that is known of the Birman’s presence are the various legends and a tale of how the Birman cat came to be graced with his magnificent coat and intricate markings.

It is said that, centuries ago, all of the cats of the Kittah priests were actually pure white felines with long silky coats and brilliant copper eyes.  100 of these cats lived in the monastery of Lao-Tsun, where there jobs were to carry the souls of the deceased monks through their change, or transmutation.  Some monks did not need to transmutate and their souls were so perfect and pure that they would remain in this world, instead inhabiting the bodies of these beautiful white cats.  When these cats then passed away, the monk would then attain the desired Nirvana; the goddess Tsun-Kyan-Kse overseeing which monks had souls pure enough to enter the bodies of these sacred temple cats.

Mun-Ha was the head monk at the monastery and he was said to be so holy that it was the god, Song-Hio himself, who braided gold into the beard of this holy man.  Mun-Ha happily dedicated his life in service to the goddess Tsun-Kyan-Kse and, every evening, he would be joined by his faithful cat, Sinh, where the two would pray before the great golden statue of the goddess.

One day, the temple was attacked and Mun-Ha struck down in the battle.  As he lay dying, his beloved companion, Sinh, crawled up onto his chest, purring to calm his friend and preparing him to make the journey into his next life and, as expected, Mun-Ha’s soul flew up and into the body of his feline friend, Sinh.

 

As Sinh rose, she fixed her coppery eyes on the goddess and they changed to match the rich sapphire hue of the statue’s eyes.  Her coat took on a similar golden hue, not unlike that of the statues, though her ears, face, tail and legs all darkened to a rich shade that matched the earth on which Mun-Ha had rested.  The most amazing transformation, however, was that where the loyal Sinh’s paws touched her beloved friend’s body, they remained the purest, most dazzling shade of white.  This, the monks believed, was due to the purity of Mun-Ha’s spirit.  The next morning, every cat in the temple had the same strange coloration as Sinh… and so the Birman earned her color.  Refusing all food and not leaving the site where her dear friend had passed, seven days later, Sinh passed on as well and carried the soul of Mun-Ha to Nirvana with her.

In 1919, a pair of cats were transferred from Burma (perhaps even from the temple of Lao-Tsun) to France.  The male, named Maldapour, perished during the journey but the female, pregnant with Maldapour’s kittens, survived.  Sita and Maldapour’s kittens would become the foundation cats for the Birman breed in Europe but, during World War II, almost all would be lost.  By the end of the war, only two Birman cats remained throughout all of Europe.  It was only after many years of selective crossbreeding that the breed would finally be saved and, in 1959, the first Birman cats would make their way into the United States.  Today, they are one of the most popular longhaired cats in America.

Birman Cat Breed Facts | Birman Cat Breed History | Birman Appearance | Birman Temperament
Grooming Your Birman Cat | Birman Cat Health Information | Is a Birman The Right Choice For You?

Birman  Cat Appearance

The Birman is a compact and well-balanced animal with brilliant blue eyes.  A semi-longhaired cat, they are also a pointed breed, meaning that their bodies are lighter in color than their extremities, or points (ears, nose, feet and tail), and they are known for their very sweet dispositions and playful personalities.

The Birman is a beauty to behold; misted in gold, they come in solid point, lynx point and particular points, with the following colors all being accepted by the breed standard: seal point, blue point, chocolate point, lilac or frost point, red point and cream point.  Unique to this breed are the markings known as the Birman’s “glove and laces.”  The gloves are the daub of white color on each front foot, preferably marked with a straight line across the ankles.  The corresponding laces are the white that covers the back toes and extends up further onto the cat’s back legs, ending just below the hock point.  While these are the ideals, finding a cat with perfect markings is a lifelong challenge for Birman breeders.

Birman Cat Temperament

The Birman is known for his easygoing temperament and yet, while he enjoys his share of lap time, he is far from clingy.  Birman cats are very adaptable to their surroundings and the desires of their human friends; they can entertain themselves or they can be a doting companion, depending on what is desired of them.  Either way, most Birman seem perfectly happy.  They often tend to be a sort of go-with-the-flow kind of cat.

As laid back as they can be, the Birman usually gets along with children, other cats, and with other cat-friendly pets.  Be careful with them around aggressive dogs, however, as the Birman may deliver a painful slap to your pup or he could suffer serious injury.  When introducing your Birman to any new pet, you should always supervise and observe the pets together for an extended period of time to determine whether or not they will get along.

Birman Cat Breed Facts | Birman Cat Breed History | Birman Appearance | Birman Temperament
Grooming Your Birman Cat | Birman Cat Health Information | Is a Birman The Right Choice For You?

Birman Cat Grooming Requirements

Care of your Birman cat or kitten is relatively easy.  A weekly combing through of his coat will help to remove any excess dead hairs, free up any tangles he might have gotten, and will help to remove any excess dander.  While the Birman is known to shed fairly frequently, this weekly combing will help keep to keep the heavy undercoat thinned out and will help to keep shedding to a minimum.

Birman Cat Health Concerns

The Birman cat is known as a very genetically sound breed of cat.  To date, there are no breed-specific genetic diseases known though, as with all purebred animals, potential buyers should always have their cat checked over thoroughly - just because his breed is   not prone to any genetic problems doesn’t mean a cat will never have a problem.  Always take time to interview breeders and discuss their rearing practices as well as asking to see both parents and siblings of your potential kitten.

Is the Birman the Right Breed For You?

The Birman is a very good-natured and easy going feline, well-known to get along with people, animals and with children.  Rarely a climber, they tend to prefer playing on the floor or lounging on the couch.  If you like a very friendly and loveable cat, then it’s very possible that this uniquely beautiful cat may be just the breed for you.

Ready to add an exquisite Birman cat or kitten to your family? Visit our Birman Cat Breeders Showcase where you can find contact information for responsible Birman catteries and view photos, detailed information and litter announcements for Burmese kittens for sale. Click here!