European Burmese
The European Burmese is the British and Continental European development of the Burmese breed — sharing the same founding ancestor (Wong Mau, brought from Burma to the USA in 1930) but diverging in type and colour range from the American Burmese through separate breeding programmes.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
United Kingdom
Lifespan
16–18 years
Weight
3–6 kg (6.5–13 lbs)
Height
25–33 cm (10–13 in)
Diet
Obligate carnivore — high-quality wet and dry food. Good appetite — monitor weight.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Felis
The Story
The European Burmese is the British and Continental European development of the Burmese breed — sharing the same founding ancestor (Wong Mau, brought from Burma to the USA in 1930) but diverging in type and colour range from the American Burmese through separate breeding programmes. The European Burmese has a more moderate body and head shape than the rounder American Burmese, and a wider colour range — ten colours are recognised including red, cream, and four tortoiseshell varieties not seen in the American standard. In personality, the two are essentially identical — among the most people-oriented of all cat breeds.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
Discover which pets match your lifestyle
Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
The European Burmese has a medium-sized, well-muscled body with a slightly more foreign type than the American Burmese — less rounded in the head, with more almond-shaped eyes. The coat is short, fine, and silky with a characteristic satin-like sheen. Eyes are vivid yellow to golden.
Grooming
Low
Shedding
Low
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Identical to the American Burmese — deeply people-oriented, dog-like, vocal, and demanding of interaction. They follow owners everywhere and form deep bonds. One of the least suited cats to solitary or low-interaction environments.
Living Profile
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •Minimal grooming. High social needs — pairs strongly recommended. Regular dental care. Same as American Burmese care requirements.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Health Overview
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Feline orofacial pain syndrome (FOPS) — elevated in Burmese-type cats. Diabetes mellitus elevated. Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (some lines). Generally long-lived.
Common Conditions
Fun Facts
The European Burmese recognises ten colours — including red, cream, and tortoiseshell varieties — compared to the American Burmese's four colours. The red and cream European Burmese have a particularly warm, glowing coat quality.
The European and American Burmese are now considered genetically distinct enough that crosses between them produce offspring that cannot be registered as either breed by most registries.
