Burmese

The Burmese originated from Thailand, and all Burmese can trace their ancestry to a cat named Wong Mau, who arrived in the United States in the 1920s. Burmese is an affectionate, lively, and even-tempered cat with a sleek, glossy coat. They are deceptively heavy due to their muscularity. They continue to be playful long into adulthood and old age. Though the original color of the American-type Burmese is solid sable brown, other colors (not recognized in all associations) include blue, chamagne, platinum, and tortie colors. American Burmese are commonly bred in two types: traditional and contemporary, the latter being a more rounded look. The European Burmese, or the foreign Burmese, is an elegant but not fragile cat. It is of medium size with good bone structure and muscular development, expressive eyes, and sweet expression. The most obvious difference between the American-type Burmese and the European Burmese is the colors. European Burmese can be found in brown, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, and various tortoiseshell colors, whereas the rounder American-type Burmese may only be bred in the traditional four colors of sable, platinum, champagne, and blue. The Burmese is accepted by all major associations, although different colors and types are accepted by different associations.