How Long Do Burmese Cats Live? Average Lifespan, Data & Care
Updated on
Click to Skip Ahead
If you own a Burmese cat, you must be asking yourself how long your trusted companion will be by your side. Since cats make our lives so much better, we want them near for as long as possible. The average lifespan of a Burmese cat is between 10 and 16 years, which is a great life expectancy, but some Burmese cats live to be 27 years old!
If you’d like to learn how to care for your Burmese cat to provide a long and healthy life, continue reading below.
What’s the Average Lifespan of a Burmese Cat?
The age expectancy of every cat, no matter the breed, depends on the pet owner and how they care for it. If you are a caring, loving, and devoted pet owner, your cat will likely live a long and happy life. The average lifespan for cats, in general, is between 12 and 14 years, and a Burmese cat’s average lifespan is between 10 and 16 years. Burmese cats are considered to have a long life expectancy, especially with proper care and nutrition.
With a happy and stress-free life, your Burmese cat can surpass the average life expectancy and stay in your life for as long as possible. Ensure it has a well-balanced diet and plenty of unconditional love.
Why Do Some Burmese Cats Live Longer Than Others?
1. Nutrition
To make sure your Burmese cat has a long and high-quality life, it needs to be fed the best possible food. Food of high quality will quickly reflect in the shiny coat of your cat, with plenty of energy and a strong muscular body. Burmese cats need a high-protein diet and a moderate amount of fats. While carbs are also necessary to a certain extent, you should feed your Burmese cat only the minimum requirement of carbs because they can be dangerous for this breed.
2. Environment and Conditions
Because Burmese cats are excellent climbers and jumpers, providing them with cat trees and climbing areas around your home is a good idea. Ideally, these cats should live in a spacious environment allowing them to express themselves and be as active as possible. They need to have access to the outdoors, such as a backyard or a garden, and if that’s not possible, a safe balcony or patio.
3. Personal Space
Burmese cats are very resilient and easily adaptable creatures, although each kitten needs some time to get acquainted with the new environment. If you acquire a Burmese kitten, setting up its personal space can be crucial to its integration into the new home. The best way to ensure your kitten doesn’t develop any fears or anxiety is to provide a private and secluded resting area. Place a bed, water, food, and litter tray in the corner of a room where you think the kitten may feel safest. Be patient and give it time to explore your home one room at a time.
This initial care and attention to detail can help your cat live a well-rounded, stress-free life. Kittenhood is a vital stage of a cat’s life and fears and anxiety can form during this period that can cause many health issues later on.
4. Size and Appearance
Burmese cats are medium-sized cats, with their average height varying between 10 and 12 inches when measured at the shoulder. An average adult male will weigh around 8 to 10 pounds, while a female will weigh 6 to 8 pounds. Burmese cats are pretty heavy for their size because of their large bone structure and solid muscular physique.
5. Genes
While Burmese cats are quite robust and resilient, some inherited conditions and diseases can be passed down through generations. If your cat inherits one of these health issues, it may mean a shorter lifespan, although this is not always the case.
The 3 Life Stages of a Burmese Cat
1. Kittens (0–1 year)
Burmese kittens are amazing tiny creatures with plenty of energy and spirit. They are very playful and confident in their every move. They seemingly do not fear any situation and will often show their fearless spirit by attempting incredible jumps and landing firmly on the ground.
2. Adult (1–11 years)
Burmese cats will stay playful even as they begin to mature. When they are young adults, they will be curious and easily adaptable. Adult Burmese cats tend to become placid and peaceful and will watch most events and activities without feeling the need to participate.
3. Senior (11–end of life)
Burmese cats tend to become lazy as they age, like most cats. They become a lot more reserved, far less active and playful, and sometimes clingier with their owners. This is where you’ll need to switch to a senior diet for your cat, as excessive weight gain can become a real issue due to lack of activity. Some senior cats also have trouble gaining weight.
How to Tell Your Burmese Cat’s Age
If you’d like to tell your cat’s age precisely, you could do that best with your trusted veterinarian’s help, who will thoroughly examine your cat. That said, there are some signs you could look for without the help of a professional to determine which stage of life your cat is in.
- Slightly cloudy eyes indicate a cat older than 9 years
- Older cats usually groom less often
- Kittens will gain their first baby teeth at 2 to 4 weeks old and replace them by the time they are 6 months old
- Older cats will often have fur that is more matte with white patches
Conclusion
If you are a proud Burmese cat owner you will probably discover new information about your gorgeous cat that you haven’t heard before. This information will be beneficial for handling and caring for your Burmese, bringing you closer to your feline friend. With the right care, Burmese cats can live long and happy lives.
Featured Image Credit: AdinaVoicu, Pixabay
