Burmilla Shorthair Cat Breed

History

While the Burmilla is the newest cat breed to grace the cat fancy, the origin of this cat breed dates back over thirty years ago. The Baroness Miranda Von Kirchberg initially purchased a Chinchilla Persian male cat named Jemari Sanquist as a pet for her husband. Just before having the cat neutered, he unintentionally met up with a bright Lilac Burmese female cat named Bambino Lilac Faberg. When a cleaner accidentally left Faberg's door open, she was able to escape and mate with Sanquist. This led to producing the very first litter of Burmilla cats.

The outcome of this mating produced four female kittens, all short haired and black shaded silver in colour. They were so beautiful that it was decided to start a breeding program, however, Burmilla cats are still relatively a rare cat breed. 

Personality

Burmilla cats are cheeky and independent cats that love their human companion and display many kitten-like natures well into adulthood. The personality of the Burmilla is pretty extraordinary. The Burmese cat's demanding and playful nature, combined with the calm and laid back personality of the Chinchilla Persian, makes Burmilla cats friendly, playful, and loving. As a result, these fun-loving, yet quiet, calm, and affectionate cats get along excellently with children and other animals.

Burmilla cats love human interaction and enjoy spending quality time with them. Due to their intelligence, Burmilla cats crave acknowledgement and connection. Don’t worry, though, as these cats won’t make noise endlessly just to get your attention, but remember. Just remember to give them lots and lots of love though.

An ideal environment for a Burmilla is where they can engage in lots of interaction and play, and some one-on-one time. This cat breed is a good fit for almost anyone, whether it is a home with another cat, dogs, or children. What’s more, they tend to be friendly and affectionate towards guests.

Burmilla cats, while very affectionate cats and sometimes demanding, do enjoy some independence on their own. Surprisingly, these cats don’t need to be constantly entertained by their human companion or other playmates. While it is important to give them some space to do their own thing, too much can cause these cats to become bored and uneasy.

Overall, these wonderful cats are good-natured and sweet feline companions. They will snuggle in your lap when they want to rest and will maintain their kitten-like playfulness well into adulthood. Due to their intelligence, inquisitive and affectionate nature, the Burmilla is a cat that is irresistible and fascinating to live with. To make your Burmilla happy and content, a quiet, predictable home with constant human interaction and companionship is best. 

Coat & Care

Grooming your Burmilla should be moderately easy, whether their hair is short or long. Both coat lengths are disposed to matting, but weekly brushing or combing should be enough to lessen any serious mats and tangles. You can use a stainless-steel comb to eliminate dead hairs.

While Burmilla cats are usually indoor cats, they can be trained to walk on a leash or harness to discover and explore the outdoors. So make sure to supervise them each time they go out to avoid any mishaps and other unfavourable incidents. During hot months, make sure that your Burmilla is inside where it is cool as they are very sensitive to the heat.

Start training your Burmilla kitten early by using a very soft brush to get them used to regular brushing or combing. By using this soft brush, it won’t pull their fine young kitten hair or hurt their delicate skin. After every grooming session, give them a small reward to encourage them to behave while they are being brushed or combed. If your day-to-day, regular coat care is not triggering any problems, upgrade your tools to a more suitable fit for their coat needs.

On a weekly basis, check their ears for dirt, wax and other buildups. Wipe them using a clean cotton ball or soft, moist cloth and a vet-approved ear cleanser. If you notice a foul odour coming out of their ears, immediately contact your vet for treatment and care.

When it comes to dental care, weekly brushing is enough to keep your Burmilla’s teeth healthy and away from any tooth and gum diseases. Keep their nails clean by trimming them twice a month or when needed. For a healthy set of eyes, wipe the corners with a clean, soft, moist cloth to eliminate any discharge. Just make sure to use a separate part of the clean cloth for each eye to avoid any infection risk.

Make sure to frequently clean their litter boxes as Burmilla cats are very particular about their bathroom hygiene. If it is left dirty, they tend to use other places in the house for their business. Plus, clumps of dirty litter might get to their coats and cause matting or tangling. 

Children & Other Pets

Burmilla cats are an excellent choice for new cat owners because they are very friendly and people-oriented. That’s why many families are beginning to select this cat breed for their household with children and other pets. They love to entertain, and they can entertain themselves as well. However, always supervise younger kids to avoid mishaps or any skin scratching episode when during play.

Burmilla can live harmoniously with other cats and cat-friendly dogs in the same household. Because of their sociable nature, you can expect them to adjust quickly and become part of the pack. But as always, it is still recommended to introduce pets slowly and in controlled environments to ensure they get along well together, especially when the older pets are not used to having a new cat in the house.