Burmilla Cats        
Breed:        Burmilla

Temperament:        extroverted, social, playful

Cost:        from $650  

Lifespan:        15 years plus

Maintenance:        low (short hair) medium (med-long hair)

Recommended for:        families and elderly




BREED:
Burmilla cat        COSTS:
From $650        GROOMING:
Once weekly
CHILD COMPATIBILITY:
Gentle and accepting of kids.        TEMPERAMENT:
Loves human companionship.        ACTIVITY LEVEL:
Spurts of energy tempered with lazy lie-ins.
AVAILABILITY:
Not one of the most commonly bred cats. Waiting lists may apply.         TRAINABILITY:
Intelligent and responsive to education.         SATISFACTION RATING:
Owners are always smitten with these kittens.
AGGRESSION:
Not aggressive.         HEALTH & LIFESPAN:
Very good health and long lived.         NOISE:
Vocal but not demanding.
INDOORS POTENTIAL
Great indoors.        IDEAL FOR:
Apartments and families.        POPULARITY:
Rising in popularity.
TURN-ONS:
Great temperament and healthy vigour.        TURN-OFFS:
Nothing. A great breed.         INTERESTING FACTS:
Semi-long haired varieties are called ‘Tiffanies’ in NSW.

Appearance
Burmillas are elegant looking cats with a distinctly ‘foreign’ appearance, reminiscent of Burmese and
Chinchillas. It is in fact these two breeds that started the Burmilla. It is a medium-sized cat, with a gently
rounded head, wider at eyebrow level and tapering to a short, blunt wedge. The ears are medium to large
with slightly rounded tips. The coat is short with a silky texture and smooth lying with sufficient undercoat to
give it a slight lift. There are five coat colours; black, brown, blue, chocolate and lilac. The coat may be
either ‘tipped’ or ‘shaded’. Tipped means that only 1/8 of the hair tip is coloured, so the coat will actually
look paler. A shaded coat is 1/4 coloured. Large, expressive, luminous green eyes are a key feature of the
breed. In red, cream and tortie varieties, the eyes may be amber and are surrounded by dark rims, much
like eyeliner.
Coat length can vary from short to semi-long. In N.S.W. the semi-long haired variety is also called the
‘Tiffanie’, however for all intents and purposes, it remains a Burmilla.
History
The Burmilla developed as a result of an accidental mating between a lilac Burmese and a silver Chinchilla
in the 1980s in England. The breed is promoted as having the colours of the Chinchilla with the Burmese
shape, coat and temperament. The first Australian litter was born in 1994 and received official national
recognition in 1999.
Temperament
Unlike many cats, which may be either distant or demanding, the Burmilla is curious and affectionate, without
being too cloying. Strangers may take some time to be accepted, but once introduced, a Burmilla will happily
seek out the occasional stroke.
Health
Dr. Chris Brown, Burke’s Backyard resident veterinarian is very impressed with the breed and says that
there is very little to worry owners of the breed. A once yearly vet check is suggested, including a teeth
clean. Feeding chicken necks will also help keep gums free from gingivitis.
Feeding
A balanced diet of raw meat, canned food, dry food is ideal to maintain health and teeth. It costs about
$7.00 a week to feed an adult Burmilla.
Breeding
Breeders spend a great deal of time to produce the ‘true’ Burmilla.
Breeding programs must only use Burmese and Chinchilla cats. After matings, longhaired kittens can
appear in the same litter as the shorthair types, but all make good pets.
Grooming
Unlike the Chinchilla, the coat isn’t too long, does not matt and is easy to manage. It requires a comb once a
week. The double coat means that there is more fur to shed during moulting.
Housepet potential and ideal owner
Since we last road tested the Burmilla, it has become more popular and easier to obtain a kitten. It is an
excellent indoor’s breed, ideally suited for apartments. Burmillas are equally popular with families and as
companions for the elderly.


      
      
      
      
      

© CTC Productions 16 2004



Disclaimer:  Burke's Backyard and Backyard Blitz do not accept payment to promote products. All
recommendations are genuine. Details on the fact sheets are accurate at the time of publishing, however
prices and contact information are not updated and may change.