Traditional Siamese vs European Burmese - Breed Comparison

There are now three types of Siamese cats. The Traditional Siamese is said to be the original cat imported from Thailand.

The Classic was the type that was common in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The original Siamese cat became one of the most popular breeds in Europe and North America in the 19th century.

The Traditional Siamese is also called an applehead Siamese.

The European Burmese was developed in the 1960s when they were imported to England by British breeders.

They were then crossed with red-point Siamese as well as British Shorthairs to expand the gene pool and number of coat colors.

In 1994, the cat was recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association and later by the Canadian Cat Association as well as the Cat Fanciers Federation and others as well.

The Traditional Siamese cat is medium-sized, lean, and muscular and weighs between 3 and 6kg. The coat is short and he is considered a medium shedder.

The kittens of these cats are born white and the coloring comes in over the next days and weeks. The head of the Traditional Siamese is well proportioned to its body size.

The medium size ears are slightly rounded at the tip and the eyes are large and bright blue in color.  

The coat is short, sleek, and soft and accepted colors are cream with chocolate, brown, lilac, red, tortie or blue points.

Temperament:

The personality of the Traditional Siamese is loud, vocal, and demanding. These cats let you know precisely what they want and it is almost like having a human companion in the house.

They love to give their human owners lots of attention as well. They’re intelligent, curious, playful, and energetic.

The Traditional Siamese cat isn’t really recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) anymore as the breed’s temperament has changed so much.

Your beautiful European Burmese cat is a small to medium-sized cat and both males and females will weigh between 3 and 5kg.

The cat’s coat is short and glossy and it comes in a number of different colors such as white, brown, cream, blue, red and tortoisehell.The cat has large, expressive eyes that are a yellow or amber shade.

Your European Burmese has a silky short coat and the coat will also only need to be brushed once a week to keep it in tip-top condition.

Temperament:

The European Burmese is a very affectionate, loyal ad intelligent cat, loving the companionhip they share with their human family.

They’re a great pet for families as they’re active and playful. They are also a cat breed that likes to bond with one particular family member more than others.

They’re also inclined to be lap cats, grabbing each opportunity to be stroked and petted. They will also be quite willing to become friends with other pets in the home and don’t like to be left alone for a long time.

They like having other pets around to keep them company and can become withdrawn if constantly left on their own.

The Traditional Siamese cat is such an amazingly intelligent animal and sometimes they can become quite human.

These are not your traditional cool, independent, sleep all day kind of felines and people liken them to having a dog as a pet. They love to play, and they are so active you could even put a leash on one and take it for a walk.

They are energetic, local, and lively. They are such affectionate cats too and they get on well with children and with other pets.

When you bring a Traditional Siamese cat into your life, it is like you are bringing in a human companion, except that the Traditional Siamese is far more amicable than many humans.

Your European Burmese has a sweet disposition and it is a loving, companionable cat. They enjoy the company of their human owners as well as other pets.

They can be quite vocal too and they don’t like being left alone. If you work all day, it will be a good idea to have another pet as a companion for the European Burmese.

The European Burmese loves to play and is a fun-loving, active, social cat. While they love their human family, they may not make the greatest pet for an inactive, single person as these cats actually seek out companionship.

A person unable to involve themselves with this cat, may well find it becoming depressed. These are cats that require a lot of interaction and attention, craving the attention of their human families.

These are robust cats and you won’t find many health issues with it.

Avoid obesity. Siamese cats are prone to obesity and these slim cats can’t afford weight gain. Extra weight can put a whole lot of pressure on the cat’s joints and they can also develop other problems such as diabetes. The label of the commercial cat food you give your Traditional Siamese will indicate how much food your cat should get a day based on your cat’s weight.

Diet plays a massive role in the health of a cat, and inferior cat foods can mean you spending more money at the vet because of digestive issues.

If you are in any kind of doubt as to what to feed your cat, rather speak to your vet about what and how much to feed him. Your cat is a carnivore and it is most important to feed your cat foods high in protein.

Take your cat to the vet whenever he is sick and also just for a general check-up. You want to make sure that your Traditional Siamese is free from any health problems as well as parasites.

Also, make sure your cat is always up to date with his vaccinations as there are some cat illnesses such as feline panleukopenia, also known as distemper, that can kill your cat.

It is always a good idea as well to spay or neuter your Siamese to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

If your Traditional Siamese has any health conditions, your vet can help provide you and your pet with a treatment program.

The European Burmese is a fairly healthy cat and is unlikely to cost you a lot in terms of vets fees.

Just like with other cats, some of the common cat illnesses include developing diabetes mellitus. There have been some of these cats that ave been known to suffer from Feline Orofacial Pain Syndrome (FOPS).

It is a disease related to the teeth. Teeth problems are a common ailment with cats. With this particular problem, there is an unusual amount of pain when the cat's adult teeth begin to emerge. Your cat will be displaying a lot of licking and chewing motions. The symptoms do however go away once the adult teeth come in.

The cat will in all likelihood need to see the vet for pain medication and other treatments such as a potassium supplement.

To care for your Traditional Siamese, you need to feed him a high protein diet. Always read the labels of the cat food you buy to ensure that the proteins included come from animal sources and not from plants.

All cat food should contain taurine.

Provide your active cat with a climbing tree or perch.

Brush your Traditional Siamese cat regularly. He has a short coat so once a week will be enough to keep it shiny and clean.

You can feed your cat and provide all he needs, but nothing will be more important to your cat than showing your love for him by spending lots of time with him and showering him with love.

Because the European Burmese is a very affectionate, loyal cat, and because they thrive on the companionship of their human family, you owe it to him to provide him with consistent companionship. They are friendly cats and will be amicable to visitors to the home too.

Scratching is a natural behavior of pets so instead of becoming angry with your cat when he scratches on your furniture, provide him with a scratching post.

You can also learn how to carefully clip your cat's nails, otherwise a professional cat groomer can do it for you.

It’s not always easy keeping a cat indoors and that is why neutering or spaying becomes important to avoid unwanted kittens. It makes your European Burmese a more balanced cat and it has a host of health benefits too.

It can’t be stressed enough how important good food is for the health of people and animals. The European Burmese needs top quality food high in proteins and meat to remain healthy.

If you feed your cat human food or food high in carbs, expect to spend a lot on vet fees.

Make sure your pet enjoys his food but that it is also nutritious and in the right portions to avoid obesity.

Kittens will eat 4 bowls of food a day and then progress to 2 bowls of food after the cat turns one year of age.