about birman kittens
Birman kittens are known as the Sacred Cat of Birma. These cats are a statuesque, regal cat with a beautiful, flowing, silky coat and an equally beautiful and docile temperament to match it. For those looking for a cat that adapts easily to circumstances and is ideal for families with children and other pets, the Birman can be a perfect choice.
Appearance
The Birman cat is a medium-large breed, weighing 6 – 12 lbs. Birman cats a pointed cat, which means that they have a light base coat that darkens at the points (legs, tail, face, ears). One of the things that separates them from other medium to longhaired, pointed breeds is their gloves and laces. All Birmans have four white feet (the gloves). On the rear legs, the white extends up the hock, ending in a V shape (the laces). Ideally, the white on the feet is evenly distributed and ends in neat lines just past the toes but the truly important thing is that the white feet and laces up the hocks be present.The head is rounded but slightly longer than wide with a notable roman nose. The ears are approximately as wide at the base as they are tall and of medium size overall. The eyes are a deep blue. The Birman has a substantial body with medium to heavy bone. They are sturdily built animals with good musculature.
The coat tends to attract much attention with its silky, flowing softness. It is a single coat with no undercoat. As a result, it tends to lie relatively flat and is not prone to matting or tangling. Shedding is moderate and a weekly combing will reduce it substantially. This is a breed that does shed more heavily on a seasonal basis. During that time, you may need to brush more frequently to keep up with the hair.Most Birmans are extremely docile and enjoy any type of interaction with you. Done with care, brushing and combing can be a peaceful activity enjoyed by both cat and owner.
History
The history of the Birman is shrouded in mystery. As the name implies, an eastern heritage is suspected. There are a number of legends about how the cats came to be. The most common one involves a white cat with golden eyes that lived at the temple of a golden skinned, blue eyed goddess in Birma. One day the temple was invaded and the priests were killed. A cat, named Sinha, stayed with his dying master with his paws on the priest’s body. As a reward for his loyalty to the priest, the goddess turned the white cat golden in colour with darker points and changed his eyes from gold to blue like her own. The cat’s feet stayed white as a symbol of the purity of his love for his master.The real origins of the breed are unknown although many suspect that there is Siamese and Persian ancestors behind the Birman. They were first seen in France early in the 19th century and came to the United States in the mid to late 1950s. Today, they are one of the most popular breeds of purebred cat and have remained consistently in the top ten in popularity for many years now.
Appearance
The Birman cat is a medium-large breed, weighing 6 – 12 lbs. Birman cats a pointed cat, which means that they have a light base coat that darkens at the points (legs, tail, face, ears). One of the things that separates them from other medium to longhaired, pointed breeds is their gloves and laces. All Birmans have four white feet (the gloves). On the rear legs, the white extends up the hock, ending in a V shape (the laces). Ideally, the white on the feet is evenly distributed and ends in neat lines just past the toes but the truly important thing is that the white feet and laces up the hocks be present.The head is rounded but slightly longer than wide with a notable roman nose. The ears are approximately as wide at the base as they are tall and of medium size overall. The eyes are a deep blue. The Birman has a substantial body with medium to heavy bone. They are sturdily built animals with good musculature.
The coat tends to attract much attention with its silky, flowing softness. It is a single coat with no undercoat. As a result, it tends to lie relatively flat and is not prone to matting or tangling. Shedding is moderate and a weekly combing will reduce it substantially. This is a breed that does shed more heavily on a seasonal basis. During that time, you may need to brush more frequently to keep up with the hair.Most Birmans are extremely docile and enjoy any type of interaction with you. Done with care, brushing and combing can be a peaceful activity enjoyed by both cat and owner.
History
The history of the Birman is shrouded in mystery. As the name implies, an eastern heritage is suspected. There are a number of legends about how the cats came to be. The most common one involves a white cat with golden eyes that lived at the temple of a golden skinned, blue eyed goddess in Birma. One day the temple was invaded and the priests were killed. A cat, named Sinha, stayed with his dying master with his paws on the priest’s body. As a reward for his loyalty to the priest, the goddess turned the white cat golden in colour with darker points and changed his eyes from gold to blue like her own. The cat’s feet stayed white as a symbol of the purity of his love for his master.The real origins of the breed are unknown although many suspect that there is Siamese and Persian ancestors behind the Birman. They were first seen in France early in the 19th century and came to the United States in the mid to late 1950s. Today, they are one of the most popular breeds of purebred cat and have remained consistently in the top ten in popularity for many years now.
