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Breed-related disease: Burmilla

The Burmilla started out as an accident. In 1981, a Chinchilla Persian male and a Lilac Burmese bred, and the female delivered four kittens. These kittens had an unusual black-tipped coloring. The look of these cats was so attractive that a breeding program was inaugurated to produce a cat that would have the short hair of the Burmese, the roundness taken from both breeds, and the unusual coloring seen in the initial kittens.
The Burmilla is rarely seen. In Britain, it is still an experimental breed, and it is not yet accepted by the major registries in the United States.

The Burmilla is a medium-sized cat, but she is also stocky and heavy. This breed is somewhat compact while being very muscular with heavy boning. It is a cat that is very rounded. The head is round and the tips of the ears are round. The profile shows a “break,” and the eyes are very slightly slanted.
The coat of the Burmilla is short and soft. Because of the original pairing, the coat is also thick and dense.

The Burmilla is a fairly placid cat. She tends to be an easy cat to get along with, requiring minimal care. The Burmilla is affectionate and sweet and makes a good companion. They are good climbers and jumpers and should have cat trees and perches. The Burmilla is a sturdy, stocky cat and you might have to watch her weight carefully, particularly if she does not get enough exercise. Modify her nutrition if you need to do so.

Burmilla’s are a typically healthy breed with an expected lifespan of 7–12 years. Therefore they are also prone to a few health issues, Such as:

  1. Congenital keratoconjunctivitis sicca
    causes dry eyes, chronic conjunctivitis and corneal vascularization
  2. Feline Orofacial pain syndrome
    affects male cats in particular, although females are also affected. Symptoms include exaggerated licking and chewing movements, plus excessive pawing at the mouth. This happens in distinct episodes, although the cat remains alert (albeit in distress) for the duration . The disease appears to be related to some kind of oral pain or distress, and is possibly linked to teething or dental disease. A possible risk factor is stress, but it is believed that there are also hereditary factors involved.
  3. Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD )
    an inherited kidney disease where cysts form in the kidneys at birth, gradually increasing in size as the cat ages. PKD eventually leads to kidney failure, however, it can be managed to help decrease the workload on the kidneys.

Sources:

https://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-breeds/cat-breeds/burmilla/

https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-breeds/burmilla# :

Photo credit:

https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/cat-life-expectancy-burmilla