This refined and elegant-looking cat is able to conquer the human, and to establish with him a beautiful relationship of respect and trust.
Breed’s origin
The history of the Sacred Cat of Burma is very controversial, full of legends.
Legend has it that the monaco Mun-Ha lived in the temple of Tsun-Kian-Kse, goddess of the transmigration of souls, with her white cat. The Monaco while he was absorbed in prayer, was attacked by the robbers and died. The cat then hop on his body, and his eyes became like sapphires, like the statue of the goddess, helping the soul of monaco in transmigration. The cat’s coat instead assumed the golden hue as the statue of the goddess, and his feet were as white as his habit of monaco.
Apart from the many legends, it seems simply a race “created” from scratch in the 20s of the last century by some French farmers, for the rich upper class French, who loved cats which have lost some ‘traces Khmer race, or of long-haired Siamese, some of which were of white gloves.
The breed was selected by increasing recessività of gloves, in the world to create homozygous with kid gloves. 3 also used the Siamese (at the time as the current Thai) and the Persians (who then were not hypertype as now). The first and only color was the seal. Then the race is Sperse and after various vicissitudes. We need a French breeder Simone Poirer (Read the interview in the book of Gisele Barney “Les secrets du chat Sacrè de birmanie”, the memory of the origins of Birman cats.
Probably the legend was invented out of whole cloth by a certain Marcelle Adam, journalist and adventurer, who owned one of these cats and wanted to give the race an aura of mystery and exoticism.
According to another version of legend, in 1920 a Dutch-born American industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt, bought a pair of Burmese by an unfaithful servant of the temple of Lao Tsun, and took them with him on his return to Europe. There are reports in 1935 of six cats Birman sold to Princess Ratibor-ohenlohe for 3000 francs. A year later Marcel Reney tells of having seen this cat in the castle-Francavilla Bisio.
Traces of the Sacred Cat of Burma are lost after 1940.
Another legendary origin of the Birman is found in France, in 1919, when it is said that the monks Kittahs, it regalarono a couple to two Frenchmen, Auguste Pavie and her husband, Gordon Russell, greater stationed in Burma, as a sign of gratitude. In fact, the Burmese cat was considered sacred by them (read the legend).
But he survived only the female, Sita, to trip, fortunately then gave birth puppies, in Nice.
In 1925 there is news of sacred cats of Burma exported to France: Orloff and Xenia De Kaabaa, from which were born the first European Burmese kittens.
After World War II the race was almost endangered.
The first Sacred Cat of Burmawhich we know is in Germany, Nadine DeKhlaramour, a cat imported in 1964 by Mrs. Anneliese Hackmann.
Nadine was therefore not only the mother of all Burmese Germans but also the grandmother of the Burmese and English of most Burmese Americans.
The breed was recognized in 1925 in France, in 1966 in England and 1967 in the US.
The Sacred Cat of Burma took the name of Sacred Cat of Burma to better distinguish it from the Burmese.
The first Sacred Cat of Burmawere imported from Italy Francamaria Gabriel in the 70s, the current President of the Club, Ga, Bi (the club’s Facebook page)
Sacred cat of Burma Character
The Birman is very sensitive and a bit shy. Has a very focused charming man, is very sweet and becomes attached to carer. Very playful even as an adult, loves to get what it wants, sometimes he puts “the face” if it is not satisfied. He loves the game and can even be his taught the “carry” a ball, something that few cats are able to learn.
It adapts very well to life with the children because it is never aggressive.
Appearance, color and characteristics
Birman
Birman – Photo: Stephen Capellini of We Can Group (www.wecangroup.it)
Cat by the movements and behavior very elegant.
Its characteristic is the so-called “gloves” that is, the white color of the white ends of the legs, due to genes Siamese. On hind legs there is also the “hock”, that is a strip of white in the shape of V under the plan of the paw. It ‘a feature NOT acceptable for the front legs.
The hocks are allowed ONLY behind and should be 1/2 to 3/4. Even higher are tolerated but should NOT exceed the joint, instead gloves in front must “close” the first of the spur. If you do not close or close under the spur of the cat is not show.
The Sacred Cat of Burma was born completely white and reaches its final color within 2-3 years.
The eyes are MEDI, OVAL and slightly blue.
Manto shorter on the face, stretches along the body to become long to semi-long, abundant in the ruff, especially in males. And ‘silky with little undercoat.
Coloring tips: can be seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream point, but also seal tortie point, blue tortie poin, chocolate tortie point, lilac tortie point. The same colors also as tabby, and from 1.1.2015 version also smoke (for non tabby) and silver (the tabby).
Weight: medium-sized, 5-7 kg male, female up from 3.5 to 4.5 kg
Breed standard of the Sacred Cat of Burma:
- General Appearance
Medium size - Head Shape Strong bone structure
Slightly rounded front
Solid cheeks, slightly rounded
Nose of medium length, without interruption (‘stop’), but with a slight curve (‘indentation’)
Strong chin - Ears
Shape Rather small with rounded tips
Placing wide apart, slightly sloping, not too straight on the head - Eyes
Shape Not quite round, slightly oval, of medium size
Dark blue - Body
Fairly elongated structure. Males are more massive than females - Legs
Short and strong
Feet Rounded
Guantaggio The specific feature of the “Sacred cat of Burma” are white feet called “gloves” on both front legs and rear. ”
The gloves must be absolutely pure white and you should stop at the articulation or the pass line between the foot and pastern, that line should not cross.
Slightly longer gloves on the hind feet can be tolerated.
On the plantar surface of the hind feet the white gloves end at the tip (spur). The termination of the gloves is ideal inverted “V”, between ½ and ¾ of the foot.
Spurs less or higher are acceptable but should not exceed the articulation.
It is important that the gloves are of equal length and presenting symmetry of white, respectively on the two front legs and the two rear, or even better, on all four paws - Queue
Medium length, feather-shaped. - Cloak
Structure From long to semi-long, according to the parts of the body: short on the face,
gradually growing longer on the cheeks to a full frill; long on the back and hips.
Silky texture.
Light undercoat. - Color
The Burmese show the characteristic colors of the Siamese cats ‘point’, but with the four white feet (gloves).
The ‘point’ include the face, ears, feet, tail and genitals.
The ‘point’ should be solid and well contrasted with the color of the coat color on the rest of the body.
Body color: as described in the general part for the Siamese point.
The color of the body and the ‘point’ are fully developed only in adult cats. - Notes Birman have a particular morphology, peculiar especifica of this race.
Sacred catof Burma Prices
The Birman cat has a cost ranging from $800 to $1300 , also in $1700 for racing units.
Necessary Care
His coat is silky and makes few knots, so it’s quite easy to brush, just a brushed weekly, something extra during the changeover period.
Gallery of Sacred Cat of Burma