Burmese cats are believed to be the descents of the sacred brown cats of the palaces and temples of ancient Burma. In the late eighteen hundreds there were considered two types of Siamese, one being a chocolate variation of the standard lighter pointed cats. This variation soon disappeared, as it was not as popular as its lighter counterpart. Many people now think that these chocolate Siamese were not an accidental variation of the breed standard, but in fact, descendents of an ancient Burmese breed. Wong Mau seems to have been a hybrid of a Siamese and a descendent of this ancient Burmese stock.

The Burmese has many admirable characteristics, but their overwhelmingly dominant attribute is a love of people. These extremely affectionate cats feel a need to be near people at most times, preferably on their owners lap receiving warm caresses. As kittens these nimble acrobats are very lively and playful, an attribute that will stay with them long into adulthood. One might not guess at these cats' remarkable athletic skills, when they are young, as they often try feats beyond their limited kitten abilities with ungraceful results. As they grow older their playfulness continues with a matured sense of body control, leading to acrobatic feats of grace and strength. The Burmese are also very intelligent cats. They sometimes feel themselves as the official ambassadors of the cat world, converting non-cat lovers with playfulness and affection. The female especially likes to take a center stage role in the household. The females enjoy a more hands on role in day to day living, while the males prefer to recline in a lap and observe the goings on with a laid back swagger. Burmese cats have a passion for literature, and can be found sitting on top of the newspaper or on you chest as you sit down to enjoy some reading of your own. These cats are not just partial to their owners; they are usually quite comfortable with the family dog or visiting houseguest. This blind acceptance can be detrimental to the Burmese. This breed should always be indoors, as the wild world outside your door may not be as hospitable to such a loving creature. Being indoors doesn't seem to bother them as they can hunt their favorite prey, warm laps and caressing hands, more easily in the home.

If the Burmese's personality does not win you over they keep another trump card up their sleeve. Their sleek athletic bodies and silky dark coat give these felines a grace and beauty to compliment their tenderness. The Burmese tends to be a stocky cat with well-formed muscular development and short legs. They are a medium sized breed but can be deceptively heavy. A round head with a short muzzle plays a wonderful backdrop for their hypnotically large golden eyes. The silky short coat of the Burmese is very fine and tends to lie close to the body. The traditional Burmese wears a solid dark sable brown coat, but is also accepted in champagne, blue and platinum. Burmese that are not sable are often referred to as Malayan. A pear shaped face with limited nose break usually is associated with traditional Burmese, while contemporary cats have a more rounded face and short pug like nose. With their large brilliant eyes and silky coat the Burmese strut gracefully into the hearts of many.

The Burmese owe their heritage to Dr. Joseph Thompson and Wong Mau, a walnut brown female from Burma. In the early 1930's Dr. Thompson and Wong Mau undertook a breeding program with selected Siamese. Soon the Burmese was established as it's own distinct breed. Later as kittens were born with lighter non-traditional coloring, a new breed was recognized and these non-conforming kittens were classified as Malayan.

The Burmese can be prone to cherry eye, and corneal dermoids. Corneal dermoids are a surgically fixable attachment of skin or hair to the cornea.

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