Cat breed · Longhair
Birman
A colourpointed cat with distinctive white gloves and a famously even, unruffled temperament.
Medium13–16 yearsMyanmar / FranceCan suit apartments
Breed characteristics
- Group
- Longhair
- Origin
- Myanmar / France
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 4–7 kg (9–15 lb)
- Height
- 20–25 cm
- Lifespan
- 13–16 years
- Coat
- Semi-long, silky, low undercoat
- Temperament
- GentleQuietCompanionableBalanced
History
Associated with Burmese temple legend and established as a breed in France in the 1920s.
Appearance
Pale body with darker points, deep blue eyes and pure white paws.
Exercise and activity
Gentle daily play; Birmans are quietly sociable rather than athletic.
Care and grooming
Brush twice weekly; the silky coat mats less than a Persian's.
Health considerations
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Congenital hypotrichosis
- Corneal dermoid
- Kidney disease with age