BIRMAN CAT

The Birman is one of the world’s most mysterious and beautiful cats. With an existence that is completely shrouded in ancient folklore and legend, it’s no wonder that these beautiful cats captivate the imagination and have gained so many loyal followers. Every year, breeders of the Birman cat all name their cats with a rotating letter of the alphabet (ie: the 2007 cats may be named with the letter E, while all cats from 2008 may be named with an F). While this may seem a strange practice at first, it actually provides a very unique method of determining a cat’s age, simply by what his name is!

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 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.