The birman cat in breed portrait

The Birman cat has a fascinating origin story that makes it one of the most mystical cat breeds. This noble breed originated in the temples of Birman (now Myanmar), where it was worshipped as a sacred temple cat. According to legend, it is called sacred because of a white temple cat that kept a dying high priest company. At the moment of his death, Saint Birman is said to have taken on the appearance so worthy of veneration today: Her eyes turned blue, her head, tail and legs turned golden brown and her paws turned white.

In the early 20th century, the first Birman cats found their way to France, where they were further developed through targeted breeding. Crossbreeding with Siamese cats in particular led to the development of the current breed standard of the Sacred Birman, which was recognised as a breed in 1925. This majestic cat breed quickly gained worldwide popularity and is now regarded as a symbol of elegance and grace.

The appearance of the Birman cat is unmistakable and immediately attracts everyone's attention. The breed has a semi-long silky coat with a particularly dense undercoat, which makes its coat appear more voluminous, and a broad colour spectrum reminiscent of Siamese cats. The Sacred Birman is available in the various point colours

Cream,
red,
Lilac and
seal and
with tabby patterning - stripes of different colours running through the coat - and
with tortie markings, where a red or cream shimmer runs through the coat in addition to the point colours, which usually only females can have.
Another striking feature are the white "gloves" on the paws, which give every Birman cat its unmistakable look.

The strongly built body is long and relatively stocky. This does not create a very slim or round overall impression - the build is balanced. The head and face are rounded and broad, the blue eyes are almost completely round and set wide apart. The tail is bushy and perfectly complements their elegant build with strong legs and proportionate ears.

Birmans have the people-orientated and moderately active nature of Siamese cats and the calm, gentle nature of Persian cats. They are affectionate, playful, fond of children and often eager to learn. Birman cats build a strong bond with their owners and are extremely intelligent. Influencer Maja explains: "We click with our Birman cat Monty very often. He can already give his paws and do his little man. Little tricks, such as running over a tyre, jumping or tapping an object with his paw, can also be learnt with patience!"

Birman cats are very sociable and social animals that usually feel uncomfortable alone and should therefore be kept together with other members of their species if possible. The breed also gets on well with other pets. If kept alone, you should pay particular attention to the cat's needs and build in routines if necessary. Regular play sessions with appropriate cat toys are important when living with a Birman cat. The interactive pedigree cat needs sufficient attention and care, which future cat owners should be aware of. If kept alone, there should at least be the option of working from home - this way the cat is not alone so often and feels comfortable.

In general, this cat breed is very adaptable and suitable for life in a flat as well as in a house as an indoor or outdoor cat.

Training the Birman is usually easy as it is intelligent and eager to learn.

Grooming your Birman cat is relatively straightforward, but requires regular attention. You should brush the coat about once or twice a week - especially during the shedding season in spring and autumn. As the Sacred Birman has little undercoat, the risk of matting is low, but brushing contributes to their well-being and promotes bonding with their humans. The diet should be balanced and of high quality to support the health and shiny coat of the Birman. Due to their sensitive skin and thick coat, it is important to pay attention to possible allergies or food intolerances. Regular checks of the ears and teeth are also part of the care regime.

The health of the Birman cat is generally robust, but there are some breed-specific hereditary diseases that should be taken into account when breeding. Eye and heart diseases as well as anaemia are common. Dermoid cysts on the genital organs and in the head area, eye inflammation, squinting and hypomyelination can also occur in Birman cats. Regular veterinary examinations are therefore important in order to recognise possible health problems and treat diseases at an early stage. With the right care, the right diet - preferably moist, fresh food with a high meat content, high-quality proteins and fats - and regular health checks, Birman cats have a high life expectancy of up to 20 years.

"It took three days for our Birman cat Monty to arrive in his new home. It's now almost three years since we've been spending our everyday lives together. Monty is a typical Birman- so the description of the breed applies to him exactly. He loves routines, his cuddles and a long game of hide and seek in the evening. And yes, I do hide from him and he looks for me - and vice versa, of course.

In the summer months, we spend a lot of time together in a monastery garden near us in Meißen. As soon as Monty sees the first rays of spring sunshine coming through the windows and his transport box is in the hallway, he's in very quickly and waits until it's time to go outside. He sweetens our every day. When we come home and open the door, he immediately greets us with joy. If you are looking for a loving animal, have a lot of time and like to cuddle, you should choose a Birman cat. There is a saying that goes: once a Birman, always a Birman. We can confirm this only too well!"

_In collaboration with Maja from @monty_the_birmancat