Worshipped in Burmese temples for hundreds of years, the Burmese cat originated in Myanmar, where it is know as the copper cat. Burmese cats in the U.S. are ancestors of Wong Mau, a little brown female cat who was brought from Burma to America in 1930 by Dr. Joseph Thompson. Genetics show that Wong Mau was a hybrid of Siamese and a new breed with a dark coat, called Burmese.

In Thai, Burmese means fortunate, beautiful and splendid appearance. This domesticated cat is split into two subgroups: the American Burmese and the British Burmese (or European Burmese). Most cat registries do not recognize a split between the two groups.

The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) recognized the Burmese in 1936, but poor breeding and opposition caused the CFA to rescind registration in 1947. The registration was reinstated in 1953, after breeders improved their practices and the breed.

Varieties

There are three basic Burmese body types and various colours and patterns:

• European Burmese is the slimmer of the three, with a fine bone structure, triangular face and slanted eyes. The first blue Burmeses were born in 1955 in England, followed by red, cream, and tortoiseshell over the next few decades.

• Traditional Burmeses have a longer and less flat nose, more aligned with the original Myanmar Burmese. This is a people's cat who loves companionship and is a fast learner.

• The Contemporary Burmese is more compact then the others, with a round face and short broad nose. The eyes are wide-spaced, like the [[Persian] cat face. Colors include Blue/Gray, Champagne, Platinum and Sable.http://www.graymark.com/

Purebred Burmese cost at least $300-$500 and sometimes more, based on bloodlines, marking etc.

Temperament

Extremely playful, this breed is full and energy and loves to climb. Burmeses are very patient cats, so they make good pets for the family and are very accepting of other animals. They are comfortable traveling in cars.

They are very vocal, but their voices are soft. Sensitive to the moods of their owners, they make good companions. The Burmese is a very smart breed, and can be trained to retrieve and jump through hoops like a dog. A Burmese will keep its kitty curiosity well into its adult life.http://www.thecatsblog.com/tag/wong-mau/

Grooming

They are self sufficient when is comes to grooming, but enjoy attention, so a good brushing or head petting is always welcome.

More About the European Burmese

• If your job/lifestyle keeps you away from home all day, it would be a good idea to have two Burmese as they don't like to be alone. These cats are ideal for apartment life.
• The hair structure seems to produce less allergens than other shorthairs. Yet there is no evidence that everyone will have the same reaction.http://www.messybeast.com/allergy.htm

Health Problems

Burmese cats do not have any inherited disease and, if given their vaccination shots, they can live long lives.

Burmese kittens can however develop a third eyelid disorder known as cherry eye, which is a oval pink or red mass that protrudes from the corner of the eye, closest to the nose. This condition is caused by a weakness of the ligament attachment of the gland of the third eyelid, but can be surgically corrected.

Gingivitis is also a common health problem with this cat. To prevent plaque build-up, you can brush the cat's teeth using a babies tooth brush or a small pet toothbrush that attaches to your fingertip.