Emma Jones
If you like cats that like to communicate, learn little tricks and consciously seek human contact, take a closer look at the Burmilla. If this pedigree cat is sufficiently occupied and finds company in humans or animals, it is an affectionate, playful, and all-around enchanting companion.
Burmilla cat: character
Burmillas need a lot of attention and care, they don’t like to be alone. They have a people-oriented nature and can be very affectionate. A Burmilla tends to talk at length and likes to talk about her day. She has a relaxed and not very arrogant character. When she loves her human, she shows it to them.
The Burmilla is agile and likes to move. She proves her intelligence with the right toy. She also has a lot of fun learning little tricks. She maintains this behavior into old age.
Burmilla: appearance and care
The Burmilla is characterized by an elegant and muscular body, she explores her world on strong legs and delicate paws. The fact that their hind legs are longer than their front legs is hardly noticeable to the naked eye. Her tail, which is straight and starts off medium-wide, ends in a slightly rounded tip.
The head of the Burmilla is wedge-shaped. Their eyes, which are slightly rounded at the top, shine in every possible shade of green or, with some coat colors, in amber. They are large and have a distinctive dark border reminiscent of make-up.
The Burmilla’s short to medium-length, dense fur lies flat against the body. The undercoat provides sufficient support. The basic color of the coat is white, only the tips of the hair are colored. “Silver shaded” and “Silver shell” are permitted fur markings. One speaks of a chinchilla variant (or silver shell) in cats where the top eighth of the hair is dyed. The silver shaded variant involves coloring one-third of the individual hair length. The fur tips come in different colors such as black, blue, chocolate brown, lilac, fawn, or cinnamon. Some cats have a tri-colored tortoiseshell (tortie) pattern on their fur. Genetically, this only occurs in queens. The ends of the hair are also dyed in red or cream.
The Burmilla’s coat is easy to care for. Brush them once a week to prevent tangles. You can combine grooming with extensive cuddling sessions.
Burmilla: Attitude
Burmillas like to live in family groups. Don’t keep her as a single cat, especially if you spend part of the day away from home yourself. She requires company and is therefore particularly comfortable with older people who spend a lot of time with her. She also gets along well with families with children. If you work, it is advisable to get a second cat, with which your Burmilla can also live out her play instinct. This eliminates the risk of boredom or loneliness, which can lead to behavioral problems.
You can keep the Burmilla both indoors and outdoors. However, since she is a direct descendant of the Persian, she is sensitive to cold temperatures. So make sure you have a cozy, warm, and dry place where she can retreat. Your Burmilla does not need a lot of space in the apartment, but do not do without a sufficiently large scratching post.
The history of the Burmilla
In 1981, a female Burmese and a male chinchilla Persian met in Britain. What exactly happened can no longer be understood. But the fact is: the birth of the first Burmilla kittens was an “accident” when two cats that were not intended for each other found each other. Luckily they didn’t know about it… The name of the new breed, a contraction of “Burma” and “Chinchilla”, is a permanent reminder of its origin story.
The Burmilla breed combines the characteristics of the Burmese mother with the chinchilla coat markings of the father. At the beginning of 1984, the “Burmilla Cat Club” was founded, and from this point on, a separate club took care of breeding. The Burmilla has been recognized as an independent breed by the Féderation Internationale Féline (FiFe) since 1996.
Peculiarities of the Burmilla cat
The Burmilla is a very young cat breed. This may make it difficult to find a good breeder in Germany. Take a look at breeders who belong to a FiFe affiliated club or association. Once you have found a reputable breeder, make sure that their animals have been tested for aganglionosis. Cats suffering from aganglionosis suffer from progressive nervous system dysfunction and die very early. The breeder must therefore provide you with negative test documents.
Otherwise, however, the Burmilla breed typically enjoys stable health, although they do have a propensity for allergies. If your cat is affected, talk to your veterinarian. Allergies are easy to get under control under medical supervision.