Cat Breed Facts: Burmese

The first Burmese to arrive in the United States, a small brown cat named Wong Mau, accompanied a sailor on a journey from Rangoon to San Francisco in 1930. Wong Mau had a dark brown body with even darker points on her face, ears, legs, and tail. When she was purchased by a Navy psychiatrist, Dr. Joseph Thompson, who bred her to a seal point Siamese. The results of this mating were Siamese kittens, and some kittens with a darker body very much like her own. When these darker kittens were bred together, they produced dark kittens, but these kittens were even-colored, lacking Wong Mau’s markings. This was taken as evidence that Wong Mau was a hybrid cat with Siamese in her background.

The Development of the Burmese

The first Burmese was registered in the United States in 1936. Very few Burmese were registered at this time, because the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) required three generations of like-to-like breeding before they would accept a cat as a purebred. This presented a problem because the Burmese gene pool was too small. Many breeders were still using seal point Siamese in their breeding programs to continue to produce quality kittens. In the 1930s, the only difference between a Siamese and a Burmese was the color.

By 1940, the Burmese had been accepted by three different associations for competition. However, in 1947, the CFA suspended the recognition of the breed, since there were so few who could meet the three-generation requirement. The only thing that saved the breed from extinction during this time was the fact that both the American Cat Association and the Cat Fanciers’ Federation continued to recognize the Burmese.

In the late 1950s, the Burmese, having established itself, was reinstated into the CFA. However, new Standards were also introduced, Standards which were almost opposite the Standards of the Siamese from which the Burmese was descended. In theory, this should have eliminated outcrossing, but the breed still needed new blood. So, crosses with the black Domestic Shorthair became common.

Eventually, the new look of the Burmese became popular, as did the introduction of new colors. However, the new colors were a point of bitter dispute between breeders, some of whom thought that only brown cats should be considered Burmese. Today, champagne, platinum, and blue Burmese are quite common, as is the original sable.

Some Breed Standards for the Burmese

The Standards for the Burmese, as with many other breeds, are quite strict. It is quite easy to have a cat that is penalized or even disqualified, so those picking a show or breeding kitten should do so with care.

General: The ideal Burmese is a cat of medium size with good muscle tone, and is surprisingly heavy for its size. This cat also has uniquely communicative eyes and a sweet expression.

Head: Pleasingly round without flat planes, the head should be well proportioned in relation to the body. The face is full, the muzzle short, and there should be a visible nose break.

Ears: The ears of the Burmese should be medium in size, set well apart, and rounded at the tips. They should also be broad at the base, and have an alert appearance.

Eyes: The eyes should be large, set far apart, and have a rounded aperture.

Body: A Burmese should present a compact appearance. This medium-sized cat should have legs that are in proportion to the body. Paws should be rounded, with five toes in front and four behind. Males should be larger than females.

Tail: The ideal Burmese has a straight tail, medium in length, with a gentle taper.

Coat: The coat of a Burmese should be fine and glossy. It should have a satin like texture, and be very short and close lying.

Penalties: Any cat with distinct barring on either the front of the rear outer legs will be assessed a penalty. Kittens and younger adults may have faint barring, which should disappear as the cat ages.

Disqualifications: There are several reasons a Burmese might be disqualified. These include: blue eyes, tail defects, distinct barring on the torso, lockets or spots, or anything that disrupts the line of the head or body.

The Burmese is a heavy and muscular cat, and they generally experience good health. However, these cats are prone to certain health defects, such as cleft palates and skulls that do not close. They are sweet, loving, and unique, and make wonderful companions for many cat lovers.

Hybrid Cats: Kinkalow

There are many hybrid cats in the world. Some of these will remain hybrids, others may eventually be recognized as a breed in their own right. The Kinkalow, though a deliberate outcross, falls into the latter category. Recognized as an experimental breed by the International Cat Association (TICA), this rare and exotic breed is the result of crossing the Munchkin and the American Curl.

The breed was originally established by Terri Harris in the mid-1990s. Harris decided to see what would come of breeding an American Curl to a Munchkin cat, and the result was quite endearing. The Kinkalow has the shortened legs of the Munchkin. The front legs are particularly shortened. The gene for the shortened, or dwarf, legs came about as a spontaneous mutation. As a result, this gene is not wholly dominate. It is therefore possible to have kittens born into the litter that have long legs. These kittens are generally not used in breeding programs, as the may not carry the dwarf gene.

In addition to the having the shortened legs of the Munchkin, the Kinkalow also inherited the body type of its dwarf parent. There are shorter in the body than the American Curl and quite compact and stocky. These cats also seem to be quite heavy for their size. They are so short in the body that sometimes their long tails are actually longer than their body.

From the American Curl the Kinkalow inherited the gene for curled ears. Like the American Curl, Kinkalow kittens are born with straight ears. However, within the first two weeks of birth, most ears will start to curl. And just like the American Curl, some kittens never do get the curled ears. Since the gene for curled is exhibits incomplete dominate expression, it is impossible to guarantee that all kittens of a given litter will have curled ears. Cats without curled ears can still be useful in breeding programs, as they do carry the gene. However, they would not be eligible for competition, if accepted by TICA as a breed in their own right.

The Kinkalow seems to inherit one more thing from its American Curl parent — exceptionally good health. The American Curl is remarkably free from genetic defects and diseases that often plague purebred cats. The Kinkalow is similarly healthy. Reports of unhealthy or deformed cats are generally the result of unscrupulous breeders. All breeds are subject to their breeders, and though healthy should always be the priority, unethical breeders will sometimes put money over health.

It should be noted, however, that the Kinkalow is a fairly new breed, and is still in the experimental stages. It is really impossible to have complete information regarding health or lifespan until the breed is more established and a true standard can be developed.

The Kinkalow has silky soft fur and are very sleek. They can be found in a variety of colors and patterns, including black, cream, orange, grey, tabby, tortie, and calico. These cats are also very playful and almost dog-like in their desire to please. They are quite intelligent and can be taught to fetch, sit, and come on command.

A unique addition to any household, the Kinkalow is well on its way to being recognized as a legitimate breed. In addition to being registered as an experimental breed by TICA, the Kinkalow is also recognized by the Dwarf Cat Association (TDCA).

Hybrid Cats: The Arctic Curl

Hybrid cats, sometimes called designer cats, are quickly rising in popularity. One of the most beautiful of the designer cats is the Arctic Curl. This hybrid cat is a unique cross between the Selkirk Rex and the Turkish Angora. In fact, it is very similar to the Turkish Angora in both appearance and personality. It does, however, incorporate much of the Selkirk Rex as well.

The Arctic Curl is a new breed of cat that some breeders are currently attempting to establish. Unlike the American Curl, the ‘curl’ in Arctic Curl does not refer to the ears in any way. Instead, ‘curl’ is used to indicate the state of the coat. The Arctic Curl has curly hair, much like the Selkirk Rex. Often described as a Turkish Angora with slightly rounded eyes and curly fur, the Arctic Curl has hair that is generally the length of the Turkish Angora. However, because this hair is curly, it appears to be shorter, except for the tail plume.

Though these cats come in a variety of colors, the original breeder of the Artic Curl, Penny Odell, is predominately interested in white cats with blue eyes. This is the reason for the addition of the word ‘arctic’ into the name. She is also attempting to control the shape of the ears. As such, she is considering outcrossing to the Balinese in an attempt to achieve the desired look.

The Arctic Curl seems to have incorporated the personality of both the Selkirk Rex and the Turkish Angora. Boasting a budding personality, this hybrid cat can be very playful at times. Other times, they definitely need their own space, often retreating to a dark corner of the house for a few minutes of peace and quiet. This is very much like the Selkirk Rex, so this occasional need for solitude should be respected.

This is a new breed, and so is quite rare. At this time, the Arctic Curl is not recognized by any association as a purebred cat. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. It takes time to establish a new breed, time for a consistent standard to be developed. As a hybrid, this breed is not subject to the inbreeding that often occurs with purebred cats. In addition, the Arctic Curl appears to be free of any known genetic defects. However, because the breed is very young, it is impossible to truly evaluate health or lifespan.

Though this breed is in its infancy, it is possible that the Arctic Curl will eventually be a recognized breed. This will mean that a breed standard will have to be introduced. This is no small task, and will require the cooperation of multiple breeders and associations.

Cat Breed Facts: Maine Coon Cat

The Maine Coon Cat is a naturally occurring breed whose origins have become a part of American legend. Some still believe that the Maine Coon Cat is the result of a mating between raccoons and cats local to New England. There are those who think that the Maine Coon is a descendant of the cats that had been sent to the United States from France by Marie Antoinette. Various cat fanciers also subscribe to the theory that a sea named Coon introduced both Persian and Angora cats to New England and these cats bred freely with existing shorthairs.

The raccoon legend notwithstanding, the true origins of the Maine Coon Cat are likely a combination of many theories. It is certain that early settlers brought the ancestors of the Maine Coon to America. These cats bred freely, creating a breed that is strong, intelligent, and prolific. It is unlikely that these cats were more popular in Maine than anywhere else. Instead, it is reasonable to assume that the breed was first promoted in Maine, hence the addition of ‘Maine’ to ‘Coon Cat.’

The Development of the Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon Cats began appearing in official shows as early as the 1860s. They were very popular and frequent winners. In fact, in the 1985 Madison Square Garden Show, a brown tabby Maine Coon Cat owned by E.N. Baker was accorded the honor of best cat. However, as cat shows became more sophisticated and imported cats gained popularity, the Maine Coon started to fade from shows, and eventually disappeared altogether.

Despite this, the Maine Coon Cat continued to be a popular outcross for Persians in North America. In the early days of cat fancy in the United States, registries accepted cats of unknown parentage as long as they conformed to the standard of the breed. Since Persians were, at that time, very similar in type to the Maine Coon, any solid color Coon Cat was quite acceptable in Persian breeding programs. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) allows longhairs to be simply Persian or Angora ‘type’ and not necessarily of a particular breed.

During the years when the Maine Coon Cat was in disfavor, proponents of the breed attempted to regain recognition for the breed. These attempts were thwarted not only by the snobbery of other breeders, but by the inability of the Coon Cat fanciers to develop a consistent Breed Standard. There were also those who insisted that Maine Coon Cats did not possess desirable conformation and that the many colors of the breed could not be controlled through selective breeding. In the minds of many, this meant that a true Standard could not be developed.

Throughout the decades, the idea that the Maine Coon Cat was simply a longhaired version of the American Shorthair was hotly debated. Eventually, it was determined that Maine Coon Cats had to be their own breed. They were larger and longer than the American Shorthair, but had different a different texture and coat quality than the Persian or Angora. In short, there were enough unique qualities to the Maine Coon Cat to recognize it as a distinct and beautiful breed.

Some Breed Standards for the Maine Coon Cat

The Standards for the Maine Coon Cat, as with many other breeds, are quite strict. It is easy to have a cat that is penalized or even disqualified, so those interested in choosing a show or breeding kitten should do so with care.

General: The Maine Coon Cat was once a working cat, and so is solid, rugged, and able to endure a harsh climate. They have a smooth and shaggy coat, an amiable disposition, and are incredibly adaptable.

Head: Medium in length and width, the head of the Maine Coon Cat generally has a squareness to the muzzle. Cheekbones should be high, the chin should be firm, and the nose should be medium long but slightly concave when viewed in profile.

Ears: The ears of the Coon Cat are large and wide at the base, but taper to appear pointed. The tufted tips of the ears make them seem larger than they are.

Eyes: Eyes should be large and expressive. Acceptable eye colors include shades of green or gold, though white cats may have blue eyes or even be odd-eyed. CFA accepts copper-colored eyes, though most associations do not accept copper as an acceptable color.

Body: A Maine Coon Cat should be muscular and broad chested. They are heavy and long, but should be proportioned to appear well balanced. As these cats tend to mature slowly, allowances must be made for younger cats, who may appear ungainly until reaching adulthood.

Tail: The tail must be long and wide at the base, but tapering. The fur should be long and flow off the tail, creating a beautiful plume.

Coat: To conform to the Breed Standard, Maine Coons must have a heavy and shaggy coat, shorter on the shoulders but longer on the stomach and britches. A frontal ruff is desirable but not necessary. The coat itself should be silky in texture and fall smoothly. Some allowances should be made for seasonal variations.

Penalties: Any cat with a coat that is short or overall even will be assessed a penalty.

Disqualifications: There are several reasons a Maine Coon Cat might be disqualified. These include: delicate bone structure, undershot chin, crossed eyes, kinked tail, buttons, lockets, or spots.

The Maine Coon Cat is a popular breed available in a variety of colors, including white, black, red, cream, or many variations of tabby or particolor patterns. Since they are a naturally occurring breed, they are generally free of genetic defects, though inbreeding has become a problem in some lines. They are sweet, intelligent, and unique, making them the perfect companion for most cat lovers.