MyCatBreeds
LaPerm is originated from United States but Birman is originated from France. Both LaPerm and Birman are having almost same weight. Both LaPerm and Birman has same life span. Both LaPerm and Birman has same litter size. LaPerm requires Low maintenance. But Birman requires Moderate maintenance
The LaPerm cat hails from the United States of America but you’ll find him in many other countries around the world.
The cat has a dominant gene which results in the unusual curly coat of the cat. This means he is part of the rex breed. This is a term given for the naturally occurring genetic mutation that gives the cat its wavy coat.
It’s not an old cat breed this and it seems to have come about in the early 1980s for the purposes of controlling rodents. The breed founders were Linda and Richard Koehl from Oregon. They started a formal breeding program and the breed was named after their curly coat.
After the cats got the name LaPerm, it was in 2002 that they got recognition from the Cat Fanciers Association.
There isn’t clarity as to this exquisite cat’s origins. Many people believe they originated as the companions of temple priests in northern Burma.
The cats somehow found their way to France, and it is believed that they have been in France since the 1920s.
The cats nearly disappeared during World War II, but luckily the remaining Birmans that survived were crossed with Siamese and Persians to strengthen the breed. In the early 1950s, pure Birnam litters were produced. It was in about 1959 that Birmans were brought to the United States.
The cats were also recognized in Britain in 1965 and in 1966 by the CFA. The first Birman cats were seal point but later other colors were brought in such as red, chocolate, and tabby.
The LaPerm is a medium-sized cat that can weigh anything between 3 and 7kg. They’ve got an athletic build. The legs and the neck are fairly long.
It is thought that they are more hypoallergenic than many other cats but no cat is truly hypoallergenic. The coat is the cat's most exceptional feature, with loose curls. The coat can be long or short. All colors and patterns are acceptable, with red, tabby, and tortoiseshell being more common.
There is no undercoat. The eyes of the cat are medium-sized and almond-shaped.
These are affectionate cats with an outgoing personality. He has a sense of humor so becomes an entertaining cat.
He gets on well with children in the home. People who have owned the cat describe him as clownish. He is playful and that means providing him with some interesting toys.
It’s an intelligent cat and learns to use his paws to open doors and tap you to take notice. He is also fairly active and will willingly retrieve small balls. He is gentle, loving, quiet, and affectionate towards his human family.
These are medium-sized cats which can become fairly large. They can weigh up to 4, 5 or 6kg. They are fairly heavily boned with a broad face and ears that are widely spaced.
The round eyes are deep blue. The cat’s fur is medium-long and should be silky to the touch with no undercoat. Ther cat is a moderate shedder.
The base color is whitish to cream, but the kittens are always born white. Coat color, whether red, cream, or chocolate is always pointed and the cat always has the white paws.
The Birman isn’t as outgoing as some of the other cat breeds and its a quiet, docile intelligent cat that attaches itself to one particular family member. They can actually become jealous of their human companion and demand their attention.
These friendly cats are wonderful choices for families with children and dogs. They are calm and affectionate, and softly spoken, quietly letting you know when it’s dinner time and enjoying just being around his human family.
He is able to get along well with kids and other pets in the home. He can become quite playful too and because he is so intelligent, you can buy him some toys that require him to think.
The LaPerm cat is known for its loyal, loving personality. It’s a cat that thrives on being involved with its human family and can easily turn into a lap-cat.
They’re active and also intelligent, and will love you to play some games with him. He will become quite vocal when he demands your attention.
Provide him with a climbing tree as he is active and loves to climb where he can survey the room and decide which human being’s lap he has in mind.
The Birman cat has to be one of the most beautiful cats there are, but the cat isn’t only a beautiful cat, it has wonderful characteristics as well.
It is a loving, affectionate cat with his human family, loving to spend time around them. Playful and healthy, when you bring this most wonderful cat into your home, it will be as though an angel has come to stay.
La Perms are generally healthy cats. However, any cat owner needs to recognize the signs of some of the common cat illnesses there are.
Cancer, feline immunodeficiency virus, diabetes, and heartworm are all diseases that your healthy cat can at some time succumb too.
Keep an eye on your furry friend, and if he is lethargic and no longer his happy self, get him to the vet immediately for a check-up.
With good health your Birman can reach up to 13 years of age. With the Birman, the most serious illness is feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which also happens to be the most common heart disease in cats.
It’s a progressive disease and can result in heart failure. The cats are also at risk of developing feline infectious peritonitis.
Also, because this is a larger cat and a stocky kind of breed, it can easily put on weight and then become overweight. Strict attention will need to be given to diet as well as daily exercise.
Also, look out for Corneal dermoid - skin and hair on the surface of the cornea in one eye or in both. Luckily this is an eye problem that can be surgically corrected.
The LaPerm’s unusual coat is easy to care for as it isn’t a big shedder. You’d think that the curls would tangle but they don’t. You can gently comb or brush the curls once or twice a week. Just like with a human perm, you can mist the cat’s curls and comb and fluff them out with your fingers.
Cats are particularly prone to periodontal disease, so look into your cat’s mouth occasionally to see that the teeth are as they should be. Brushing the teeth can stress a cat out and make it miserable and the dry cat foods help to keep the teeth clean.
Pet groomers and the vet can check out the teeth for you and make sure they are in tip-top condition.
Make sure your cat’s eyes are clear and bright and free of discharge. Trim the nails as required – something the vet or the pet groomers can also do for you.
Provide your LaPerm with a litterbox and keep it spotlessly clean, ridding it regularly of the cat’s droppings.
Even though there are excellent commercial cat foods on the market, some cats develop finicky eating habits. Don’t start feeding your cat human foods and snacks to coax him to eat. It can cause a host of digestive problems.
Cats are carnivores and require foods high in protein to remain healthy. A veterinarian will need to examine your cat if he is refusing to eat and is losing weight.
The Birman has a silky coat that sheds moderately so you want to give him a gentle brush once or twice a week to keep the coat of his soft and silky.
The Birman has a full topcoat, with no undercoat which means that you won’t have the coat matting or tangling.
He’ll need his nails trimmed and his teeth checked regularly. Your vet or professional groomers can do this for you and clean his teeth and check that there are no bad teeth making your pet sick.
The Birman cat has access to some great commercial cat food as there are some seriously good quality ones.
Many cat lovers choose cat foods that are AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) approved. It at least provides minimum standards for pet foods.
For your Birman you want to avoid artificial flavors and preservatives. Choose quality foods high in meat protein. As a carnivore, a cat has a huge need for meat protein. Get to know your pet food labels and choose foods with added taurine and vitamin A.