Variety:
Burmilla cat
Country of origin:
England
Colours:
Silver white or golden white
Character:
Energetic, intelligent, friendly, understanding, curious, often demands attention
Weight:
3-7 kg
Longevity:
14-15 years
Other names:
Burmilla cat
Litter size:
From 6-8 kittens
The Burmilla cat is not only captivating in appearance, but also in character. This breed is very affectionate and gentle, wanting to be as close as possible to its owner. Burmila adapts very quickly to her surroundings, and is willing to interact not only with her family members, but also with guests. It is important to know that this breed simply cannot tolerate loneliness, and if they do not get enough attention from their owners, they will certainly demand it. If you don’t have enough time to devote to your pet, the Burmilla cat is not for you.
History of the breed
Burmese cats – are a very recent breed of cat. The breed was formed by accident: in 1981, a Burmese lily cat and a Persian chinchilla cat had an unplanned interbreeding in Great Britain. The kittens were born looking very much like Burmese cats, with silver-coloured fur. As the kittens grew up, it was noticed that these crossbreeds perfectly combined the best characteristics of the chinchilla Persian and Burmese cats, and it was decided to embark on a breeding programme. The name of the breed was given by combining the names of the two breeds (burm(ese)+ (chinch)illa=Burmilla). The first fanciers’ club was founded in 1984, the GCCF (Governing Council of the Cat Fancy) association recognised the breed in 1989 and FIFe – in 1994. In 2011, the 30th anniversary of the breed was celebrated and a competition for the most beautiful and funniest Burmillas was organised. The most beautiful Burmilla was a cat from Australia, currently living in Sweden.
Burmilla cat: appearance
The Burmilla cat is a medium-sized cat that can weigh between 3 and 7 kilograms (females are much smaller and more elegant than males). In profile, the head of these cats resembles a wedge. The eyes are far apart, large and very expressive (the eyes can be different shades of green, but light green is preferred). Kittens may have yellowish eyes up to the age of two years, but the colour changes over time. Cream, red and tortoiseshell Burmilla cats may have orange eyes. The eyes and nose have a distinct rim (red and cream Burmillas have pink nose and eye rims). The ears of this breed are medium-sized with rounded tips. The chin is firm and the nose is short. The jaw is broad, tapering to a blunt muzzle. Body firm and muscular, back straight and strong. Legs of medium length, the hind legs slightly longer than the fore legs. The tail may be of medium length or long, straight, with a rounded tip. The coat of the Burmilla may be short or semi-long, soft and dense. The main coat colour is usually silver or golden, and the tips of the hair may be sable, greyish-blue, cream, chestnut, chocolate, red or tortoiseshell. The back and tail are usually darker than the belly.
Burmilla cat: character
Unlike many cats, the Burmilla cat is not attached to the place where it lives, but to people. It is always important for Burmilla cats to get enough attention and they feel very sad when left alone. These cats win the favour of people who are hostile to cats. Burmillas are very intelligent, they quickly learn the rules of the house, and they are almost immune to pranks. Burmillas love to play with their owners, and can learn to fetch small toys that have been dropped (for example, a plush ball or a mouse).