Are you considering of adopting a Burmese cat, or do you have already got one in every of these attractive kitties in your home? You may surprise in regards to the Burmese cat’s lifespan, how lengthy they stay on common, and assist them stay longer.
Burmese cats can stay properly into their teenagers and even their early twenties! There are threat components that make Burmese extra prone to die young, equivalent to poor breeding, free-roaming open air, and lack of veterinary care.
In this text, we’ll talk about how lengthy Burmese cats stay, their life cycle, and preserve your Burmese wholesome and thriving for so long as potential.
How Long do Burmese Cats Live?
While we don’t have correct knowledge on how cat breeds affect lifespan, we do know that housecats typically stay into their teenagers and early twenties.
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Burmese cats usually stay longer than blended breed (home quick or longhaired) cats. However, there aren’t many research on cat lifespan or the affect breed has on how lengthy cats stay.
You’ll discover sources that state something from 9-13 years to 18-25 years, however the reality is that we’d like extra scientific knowledge earlier than we have now a solution to this explicit query.
The Average Burmese Cat Life Cycle
Burmese kittens are prepared for adoption at eight weeks old, however some breeders and kitten fosters wait longer to provide them extra time to develop and socialize.
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Newborn-Eight Weeks
Until eight weeks of age, Burmese kittens ought to stay with their mom and siblings. Burmese cats are born helpless and utterly depending on their mom. They develop shortly, nonetheless.
By one week old, they will see and listen to–although not very properly. They achieve the flexibility to play, eat stable meals, and use the litterbox throughout week three. The mom cat weans them by the point they’re six to eight weeks old.
Kittenhood
Burmese cats are technically kittens till one yr old, although they’ll retain a young, boisterous vitality past this time.
It’s necessary for kittens to develop up round different kittens, which is why many breeders and rescues will advocate adopting two, somewhat than one. Well previous weaning age, they educate one another abilities like good play and even family manners.
Two kittens additionally occupy each other and are usually simpler to deal with than a solo kitten. Of course, you’ll additionally wish to socialize your Burmese kittens with folks and get them used to dealing with, equivalent to brushing their coats and trimming their nails.
You’ll additionally wish to have your kittens spayed or neutered. Most vets advocate the process early, earlier than the cats are 5 months old, to stop undesirable pregnancies.
Adulthood
Adult Burmese are identified for being candy, affectionate, and playful. They get pleasure from (and require!) every day play, they usually usually get pleasure from being dealt with. However, each Burmese has totally different preferences.
These cats are good as properly! They’ll decide up on methods shortly and get a number of psychological enrichment via coaching.
Adult cats are usually decrease upkeep than kittens and seniors, however they nonetheless require consideration, every day care, and vet visits at the very least annually.
Senior Years
As your Burmese cat enters their senior years, they’re prone to play much less and sleep extra. Like people, it’s quite common for senior cats to develop arthritis and different well being issues.
Routine bloodwork finished each six months can assist you retain on high of their well being and make sure that, if issues do come up, you’ll be able to catch and deal with them early.
Factors that Threaten the Burmese Cat’s Lifespan
Keeping your Burmese cat indoors drastically will increase their life expectancy.
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Genetics
We can’t all the time management our cats’ genetics, however they’ve a big impact on lifespan. Many diseases are genetic, and a few might be screened for within the father or mother cats earlier than breeding a litter.
Only buy kittens from breeders who full all beneficial well being assessments for his or her breed, and by no means purchase from somebody prepared to breed cats with genetic well being issues.
Since Burmese cats are brachycephalic, or short-snouted, their breed normal encourages poor breeding that may trigger well being points equivalent to issue respiratory, train intolerance, and brachycephalic airway syndrome.
If you’ve already adopted your Burmese cat, otherwise you’re adopting from a rescue or shelter, you received’t have management over their ancestry. However, there are nonetheless a number of issues you are able to do to extend their lifespan. These embody bringing them to annual vet visits, offering every day train, and feeding a high quality, vet-recommended weight-reduction plan.
Health Problems
Burmese cats are vulnerable to some genetic well being points, together with:
Free-Roaming Outside
Free-roaming cats usually have a lot shorter lifespans than indoor-only felines, and their deaths are usually extra ugly. Threats that outside cats face embody:
- Traffic
- Predators
- Dogs
- Cat fights
- Disease
- Parasites
- Ill-intentioned people
- Poisoning from vegetation or different substances, equivalent to antifreeze
If you’d like your Burmese cat to expertise the nice open air, the most secure methods are to build an enclosed catio (cat patio) or to harness prepare them. This permits them to discover safely.
Talk to your veterinarian about parasite preventatives and vaccinations they advocate earlier than letting your cat outdoors.
Thank you for studying! If you have got suggestions on this publish, please contact the AZ Animals editorial workforce.
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