Colorpoint Shorthair vs Burmese - Breed Comparison

The Colorpoint Shorthair is a Siamese cat that came about when the Siamese cat was used with the red American Shorthair to bring about new colors.

The actual name is given by the CFA or Cat Fanciers’ Association to refer to pointed cats that have Siamese parents and that have many colors other than the usual 4 Siamese colors which are blue, lilac, seal, and chocolate.

It was in the 1940s and 1950s that cat breeders in the UK and the USA wanted to develop a Siamese cat with red points as opposed to the traditional Siamese colors. It was in 1964 that these red and cream Colorpoint Shorthairs were awarded championship status with the Cat Fanciers’ Association.

Today, different cat registries recognize the Colorpoint Shorthair as a separate breed while others see it as a variation of the Siamese.

A dark brown cat together with Dr Joseph C. Thompson made their way from Burma to the United States in 1930. Cat fanciers believed that it was a dark-colored Siamese.

Dr. Thompson along with other breeders decided to breed the cat and she was the start of the Burmese breed.

Hybrids however, began appearing in the show hall in 1947. This was considered a violation of the show rules of the Cat Fanciers' Association and recognition of the Burmese was withdrawn until 1953. The Burmese Cat Society of America then had to give assurance to the registries that this type of thing would not happen again.

The Colorpoint Shorthair is a medium-size cat that typically weighs between 2 to 4kg and is nicely muscled. This is a long cat with legs that are long and slender too.

The coat is short and glossy, light-colored with darker extremities. Colors can be Cream Point, Red Point, Cinnamon Point, Seal Point, Blue-, Lilic- and Chocolate Point among others. The cat is well known for its mesmerizing almond-shaped blue eyes.

Temperament:

This sweet agile, athletic cat will be a delight in your home as he is highly intelligent and can easily learn a few basic commands but he is also friendly, playful, and loving. They’re social, outgoing cats too and when he’s not amusing himself, he will happily come and lounge about close to where his beloved human companions are.

On the other side of the coin, these cats can also be somewhat nervous and sensitive and they won’t adapt easily to a change in environment and lifestyle. It is why you have to choose your pet carefully and understand that owning a pet is a commitment of some 15 years or so.

Like the Siamese cat, these felines can be very vocal and they let you know when they want your attention.

The Burmese is a medium-sized cat - fairly stocky and solid and weighs between 3 and 5kg.

The dense, short coat of the Burmese comes in a variety of colors such as chocolate, cream, sable, red, tortoishell and solid colors too. The color you are most likely to see is sable.

It’s a low shedding cat so his grooming needs are low. The eyes, often a beautiful yellow shade, can be in different shades of yellow really.

Temperament:

Your gorgeous Burmese cat is a curious cat and finds exploring new places a huge adventure. They’re prepared to get on with some other pets in the home, but they may not be happy to welcome all cat breeds. The Burmese don't particularly like sharing their home and his human family with other cats in the home and love to get all the attention for themselves.

Once these cats mature, they do tend to settle down quite a bit and become placid, being a spectator to fun activities rather than a participant.

Still, they love their humans and are more than happy to find a place in the sun and to watch everyone from there.

Choose the wonderful Colorpoint if you want a cat that isn’t cold and independent. With this cat you have one that is more like a companion and looks forward to being around you.

This is a loyal and loving cat who wants to be part of the human family and he wants to be involved in your life.

He suits first-time cat owners, those with children and pets in the home as well as being an excellent pet for seniors – anyone in fact, who is willing to bestow on him the love and affection he craves.

The Burmese cat loves to climb and survey his world from a high perch so don’t forget to invest in some kind of climbing apparatus or cat tree for him.

He tends to become a bit inactive as he gets older and this can be a problem and lead to obesity. Encourage your Burmese cat to come out and play to make sure he gets enough exercise.

He loves being noticed by his human family and will thrive on being petted and noticed, and of course, you’ll want to, as a Burmese has got a whole love of loving to give you too.

When it comes to the health of these beautiful cats, you may well find similar health issues as what affects the Siamese, some of which are asthma or bronchial disease, congenital heart defects and lymphoma among others.

Lymphoma is cancer in the lymphocyte cells. Your cat will be lethargic and you will need to get him to the vet and provide the vet with a medical history of your cat. Lymphoma is believed to be associated with exposure to feline leukemia virus as well as the feline immunodeficiency virus.

These cats are a healthy breed and if you take good care of your Burmese he can live to up to 13, 14 or 15 years of age.

But you have to be aware of diabetes mellitus as well as something known as hypokalaemic polymyopathy – muscle weakness because of low blood potassium levels.

You’ve also got to look out for obesity as these are sturdy, stocky cats and overeating can lead to obesity and a host of health issues such as painful joints and diabetes.

Rember that your Colorpoint Shorthair is a long, lean, musculac cat and for health purposes, you want to ensure a good diet of the best cat food there is. There are some excellent commercially manufactured cat goods available and it is wise to get to know the ingredients as meat and protein is high on the list. Cats are carnivoes and it is imperative to feed your cat high quality protein. When in any kind of doubt, speak to your vet about the best cat food available for your special feline friend.

The short coat requires brushing once a week.

Check your cat over for any unusual lumps. Look at his eyes, check inside his ears for signs of redness and infection and check inside his mouth for signs of bad teeth as this can cause him terrible pain.

Provide a litter box and keep it scrupulously clean.

Have the claws cut.

Have your cat spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted kittens and to also promote better health for your cat.

Provide your cat with a warm bed, food and water bowls, and stimulating toys.

Burmese cats are naturally good climbers and you will need to provide these cats with some kind of climbing tree or something else where they can climb and perch.

While adult Burmese cats tend to be fairly placid cats, they still love to play and love the interaction between themselves and their humans. As he gets older, don’t forget to keep up a regular playtime with him.

Shedding is minimal with the Burmese cat and weekly brushing will be a good bonding session and also keep your Burmese cat’s coat healthy and shiny by removing dust and loose hair.

Diet:

Your fur child requires the best – a balanced cat food packed with protein to support him in all his activities and to ensure he maintains a good weight.

There are many excellent commercially manufactured cat foods on the market so learn to understand the ingredients and what nutrients are required.

Certainly, your Burmese kitten will require a complete and balanced kitten food with all the right nutrients to ensure good bone and coat growth. Then it is time to choose a kitten food which will later change to adult food as your kitten matures.

There are excellent cat foods for every stage and season of your cat’s life and from top brands – people who know the needs of cats.