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Getting a Cat or Kitten
17 min read
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Playfulness: | 4/5 |
| Intelligence: | 4/5 |
| Tendency to Vocalise: | 2/5 |
| Likes Other Pets: | 5/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
| Shedding: | 3/5 |
Birman
The Birman is another ‘colour point’ cat, with a pale cream to white coat over the body, and coloured points, i.e., the face, ears, legs and tail. The Birman is a semi long-haired cat with a silky soft, luxuriant coat, beautiful blue eyes and pure white feet (gloves on the front paws, socks on the back.) Under the fur this is a moderately built cat, medium to large with a well-muscled body, rounded face and neat ears.
Lifespan
12 - 16 years
Weight
2.7 - 5.4kg
Colours
Birmans come in 20 different colours including the classic Siamese colours of seal, blue and lilac, and many more.
The need-to-know
- Great for first-time cat owners
- Enjoys playing games and is active at home
- Highly active and inquisitive cat
- Sociable and dependent cat
- Slightly talkative cat
- Average build cat breed
- Requires grooming every day
- A bit of both indoor and outdoor space
- Great family cat
- Can be left alone all day
- Great for a relaxed home
Generally healthy breed
The Birman cat breed can suffer from:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is a disease were the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick which means the heart cannot beat effectively.
- 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.
- Hypotrichosis which is a condition where areas of fur do not grow and this can result in skin infections.
Testing available:
- DNA testing for polycystic kidney disease which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by this condition.
Personality
Due to their long history of selective breeding to fulfil a companion cat role, the Birman is an exceptionally friendly, laid back and relaxed pet. Birmans love to be with people, love to play and don’t have a strong hunting instinct. They are fairly gregarious, and will get along well with other cats and dogs if socialised well and introduced sensibly. Whilst not naturally a loud or noisy cat, the Birman can be quietly chatty.
The Birmans origins are hazy. Legend has it that the Birmans attractive blue eyes were a reward for a temple cat’s love and devotion to his priest from a blue-eyed goddess. The same goddess also turned the Birmans coat golden, but left the paws white as a symbol of purity.
We do know that the Birman was first recognised in France in 1925, and in England by the Governing Council of Cat Fanciers in 1966.
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.
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