FRIENDS INDEED

Easy-going, affectionate and playful, Burmese cats make purr-fect companions, writes Roger Crosthwaite.

There are, it’s said, cat people and dog people. Of course, that doesn’t take into account those of us who love both... But if you are one of those who straddle the divide and you could only have one pet, which way would you go? Burmese cat, anyone?

Originating from the area around the Thailand-Myanmar border, these Oriental cats were taken up by breeders in the USA and Britain from the 1930s and cross bred with Siamese, the elegant result being today’s Burmese.

There are some discrepancies between standards for the US and British strains, but the important factor – their suitability as a companion – is common to both.

For the Burmese is a breed that disproves the myth that cats are all aloof, self-possessed loners that only hang around for the free food.

They’re known for their dog-like attachment to their owners and willingness to play and interact with people well past kittenhood.

If yours is a busy household with children, other pets and plenty of visitor traffic, a Burmese will lap it up, and not, like many other cat breeds, disappear into a quiet corner.

They love toys, will play fetch, can be taught to walk on a leash, and are generally quite relaxed about being transported in a travel basket in a car, so trips to the vet are no drama.

The flipside of their easy-going, friendly nature, though, is that they really need company and can become distressed and anxious if left on their own for too long.

So an ideal owner would have plenty of time to interact with their Burmese, or if you’re a single-person household, be prepared to accommodate another pet so they can keep each other company while you’re out.

Outdoor or indoor? Sue Mangoulias, who breeds Burmese at her Anelon cattery near Lithgow in NSW, recommends caution when giving your Burmese freedom to roam the great outdoors. “They love going outside but, being so friendly, they’re likely to meet someone on the street and decide they want to follow them home,” she says. “They’re also very inquisitive cats – the kind to investigate a neighbour’s garage and get locked inside.” They don’t seem to have any fear of cars either, adds Sue, which means busy roads are a danger.

Another advantage of the Burmese’s genial, outgoing nature is that mature cats can be rehomed relatively easily, so adopting an older Burmese from a shelter is always a viable option.