burmese cats

I first fell in love with Burmese cats ten years ago when I went to an acquaintance’s house to see his new cat, a gorgeous purebred Burmese male named Darshan. Darshan sat majestically atop a tall cat tree that looked fit for a king, alongside another beautiful Burmese woman.

I was captivated by its beauty, and when I learned more about this breed, its folklore and its history, I promised myself that my next cat would be a Burmese. However, I put that thought in the back of my mind and eventually forgot about it.

How I won the heart of my unsocialized Burmese cat

A few years later, my cat died, and since I always have a cat in my house, I went looking for a new companion cat almost immediately. I am a strong believer in adopting pets from shelters or sanctuaries due to the enormous problem of dog and cat overpopulation. So, I started looking on the Pet Finders website and was surprised to see a cat that looked almost identical to Darshan available at a local pet sanctuary. I immediately got on the phone and asked if he was still available. The owner told me the cat’s name was Leanne and she was a Himalayan mix. However, when I went to see her, I could see that she was Burmese.

Purebred Burmese are very expensive and can range from $500 to $700. I was thrilled and immediately wanted to adopt her even though she had a history of neglect and socialization issues – she was extremely shy and hid from people all the time . It was almost impossible to find her when I first met her at the shrine, and no one had been able to bond with her after months of trying. The sanctuary director warned that Leanne would never be able to socialize.

When I adopted Leanne, she was two years old, and now at six, she is a fully socialized member of my household who loves my dog, Beardog, waves to people passing by and loves to sit on my lap and sleep with me at night . It took me many months to help her come out of her shell, and she continued to hide for a long time. But now he has all the wonderful traits of the Burmese cat. They are gentle cats that generally like people and other animals, they are strong and healthy with few genetic problems, charming and very sociable.

These were my strategies to make Leanne love me and come out of the closet:

I bribed her with toys and playtime. – I found that if I brought her toys at the end of the day, she was willing to play with me (this was amazing because she adamantly refused to interact with anyone in the sanctuary). Every day when I got home from work I would bring her some new interactive toy and sit on the floor with her for about an hour while she jumped around like any normal kitty who loves to play.

By far the best and most well made toy I found was Da Bird. A friend who had recently adopted two cats recommended Da Bird, and it really brought her out of her shell. As I relaxed and watched TV, I kept my unsocialized cat busy for literally hours, jumping up and down and doing incredible back flips that I didn’t know were possible even for felines in gymnastics. The way to my Burmese’s heart was gymnastics!

I found some cat furniture that she could call her own. – All cats need to scratch to exercise their muscles and sharpen their claws (please don’t declaw your cat!), so provide suitable scratching posts – Found a great post online!

Cats, like dogs, children, and most adults, are easily impressed by treats – Treats are a great way to teach your cat to come when called. After they know there are treats in a bag, just shake the bag and call, and you can usually make even unsocialized cats appear. Get treats that are good for your cat!

Catnip makes cats happy – Catnip is to cats what chocolate is to humans. It makes their brains feel good and seems to elicit a positive response in felines. Buying catnip toys, providing catnip plants or fresh dried catnip is a great way to show your unsocialized cat that you have a lot to offer and are a great provider.

In addition to cat toys, cat furniture, cat treats, and catnip, I also employed some important feline psychology to build confidence in my skittish Birman. Money alone cannot buy the love of an unsocialized cat. Leanne was, despite all the treats, toys, and leftovers, still hiding in the basement ceiling more often than I wanted to. Here are some tips for developing a healthy, long-term relationship with a cat:

• Never yell at a cat; doesn’t work, especially if the cat is already skittish.
• If you must discipline a feline, it’s best to clap loudly when she misbehaves so she associates an uncomfortable sound with her behavior rather than attributing the discipline directly to you.
• Never hit a cat – Cats will never forgive any kind of physical discipline and will lose the trust you have worked hard to earn.
• Be patient and don’t expect socialization to happen quickly: It took about 3 months for Leanne to feel comfortable walking freely around my room and another month before she was able to move freely around my house. For a long time, it would run with its tail lowered from one hiding place to another, only coming out to play and eat, and then retreating to its safe hiding places.
• Don’t bring cats out of their hiding places; let them go out on their own when they are ready.
• Once you’ve set up your litter box and sleeping and eating areas, don’t change them! Cats hate change and when they’re just being socialized, it’s best not to make too many changes.
• Brush your cat frequently and show her as much affection as she can tolerate. Leanne loved being brushed even when she was still in hiding. Grooming is a great way to bond with animals.

It is true that many cats, like feral cats, cannot be socialized and it is not a good idea to bring one home. But there are cats that you find in a shelter that can be very shy, but still have the opportunity to have a happy domestic life. If you have the patience and time to work with such a cat, you can have a wonderful companion. These tips will make a difference.