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Nature

Burmese Cat

What is burmese cat?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Breed Pedigreed breed of domestic cat[3]
Origin Burma (Myanmar)[3]
Development Selective breeding in the United States and Britain[3]
Ancestor Wong Mau[2]
Recognition Distinct breed officially recognized by The International Cat Association in 1979[2]
Coat colors Sable, champagne, platinum, blue[2]

The Burmese cat is a pedigreed breed of domestic cat that originated in Burma (Myanmar) and was developed through selective breeding in the United States and Britain [3]. Modern Burmese cats trace back to a cat named Wong Mau [2]. It is a distinct breed, not a wild cat species, and is recognized by major cat registries [2].

Context

The Burmese cat is a pedigreed breed of domestic cat that originated in Burma (Myanmar) and was developed by selective breeding in the United States and Britain [3]. Modern Burmese trace back to the cat Wong Mau [2]. The breed was officially recognized by The International Cat Association in 1979 [2]. Coat colors include sable, champagne, platinum, and blue [2]. Burmese cats were developed from a cat imported to the United States in 1930 [4]. The Cat Fanciers' Association notes that Burmese are a relatively healthy natural breed, with selective breeding largely eliminating an above-average number of FIP cases [5]. The breed is sometimes confused with the Birman cat, another breed associated with Burma [1].

Documented claims

  • Burmese cats were developed from a cat imported to the United States in 1930. [4]
  • The Cat Fanciers' Association says Burmese are a relatively healthy natural breed and that selective breeding largely eliminated an above-average number of FIP cases. [5]

Questions and answers

What is special about Burmese cats?

Burmese cats are known for being sleek, social, and unusually loyal [2]. They are a pedigreed breed developed through selective breeding in the United States and Britain [3].

How expensive is a Burmese cat?

The cost of a Burmese cat is not specified in the available sources.

Are Burmese cats high maintenance?

The Cat Fanciers' Association describes Burmese as a relatively healthy natural breed, with selective breeding largely eliminating an above-average number of FIP cases [5].

Are Burmese cats hypoallergenic?

The available sources do not state whether Burmese cats are hypoallergenic.

Sources

  1. 11 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About the Burmese Cat — rover.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Sleek, Social and Unusually Loyal: The Burmese Cat Breed — latimes.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Burmese Cat Breed Guide | Australia's #1 Pet Store — petcircle.com.au (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Choosing A Burmese Breeder — vetstreet.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Burmese — cfa.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature