Breeds Archives

What’s new Burmilla pussy cat? Look at those big pussy cat eyes! — The Burmilla, a beautiful “oops!” breed with a stunning silver coat

Accidental Feline Breeding Produced Burmillas

“Because it’s an amusing tale of feline fate, we just had to write about how Burmilla cats became another “oops” breed. And a very beautiful one at that.

What happened, never should have happened. It was unintentional and came as a complete surprise. So, let’s get started!

The History

It all came about when Sandquist, a male Silver Chinchilla Persian, and Fabergé, a female Lilac Burmese, had a one-night stand. However, this occurred just before the latter had a scheduled blind date with one of her own kind. When Fabergé produced her litter, the offspring didn’t look quite like her. That’s when the tryst became public news and Burmillas were eventually recognized as a new breed. The incident (oops! accident) occurred in England, in 1981. In 1984 the Burmilla Cat Club was formed. And by 1990 the breed had achieved preliminary Championship Status.

The Looks

The Burmilla has striking green eyes outlined in black and the ear tip is slightly rounded. Its dense, double, silver-toned coat is either short or medium-long. The fur is either tipped or shaded in an extensive range of hues, such as, black, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, caramel, apricot or cream. In addition, there are tortie variations of some of these.

The Personality

These fabulous felines are affectionate, devoted, playful and, just so you keep your fragile valuables well protected from mishap, slightly clumsy! Burmillas love to climb and survey their surroundings. Generally they get along well with children and other pets. To sum up…sweet, friendly, loyal and adventurous.

The Care

Burmilla cats tend to shed a lot and should be brushed and combed frequently, especially the medium-haired variety.

Otherwise considered a pretty healthy breed with a longevity of 10-15 years, these felines are prone to polycystic kidney disease. This is a medical condition where cysts form in the kidneys which can eventually lead to renal failure. So, it is advisable to make sure they always drink sufficient water.

I bet they’re as cute as can be as kittens. But before you contemplate acquiring one or several Burmillas, remember this…they are a life-time commitment.

Together, let’s keep our precious pets healthy, happy and safe!

You might also like to meet these two European dog breeds recently recognized by the American Kennel Club: https://petpeevesunmasked.com/akc-expands-breed-recognition-2018/

Two European Dogs Join The List

As the list of dogs keeps growing, the prestigious AKC expands its breed recognition in 2018. Generally known by its full name, the American Kennel Club recently took the decision to allow two more breeds to join their ranks. Both of these newcomers hail from Europe and one in particular has a name that most of us will be challenged to pronounce. Let me give you an introduction.

THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB LIST GROWS BY TWO

Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

The first breed to be added to the American Kennel Club’s growing list is the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje. Pronounced Coy-ker-hund-tsje, you may have already guessed from the name, it originated in The Netherlands. And, no, it’s not a new breed at all. In fact, it has been popular in that country for centuries. And even depicted in paintings by Dutch masters such as Rembrandt.

Ducks In The DNA

Since it was bred for duck hunting, it enters the AKC’s Sporting Dogs category. The name actually means “little cage dog,”which indicates what it was trained to do. Interestingly, it uses its long fluffy tail as a tool to lure ducks into cage traps. Quite ingenious, don’t you agree!

A Happy Home

Surprisingly, this sporting breed doesn’t have to be in the countryside. Experts tell us that it can live quite happily in an apartment as long as it gets regular exercise. However, one important factor is this. Because it is very sensitive to sound, it doesn’t do at all well around small children that make a lot of noise. Apart from that, it is intelligent, loves to please and makes a great companion.

Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen

Now let’s meet the second canine to be selected as the AKC expands the breeds it recognizes in 2018. This one comes from France and falls into the Hound category. It is the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen and the larger relative of the already recognized Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen.

Traits And Demeanor

This particular breed used to hunt wolves and deer but, at the same time, also tracked smaller game such as rabbits and hares. Now, as you might expect, the GBGV is a high-drive dog that requires plenty of mental stimulation and lots of space to exercise. In addition, because they would typically hunt in a pack, this breed thrives on being part of a group and staying very active.

Friendly And Cute

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the GBGV is friendly and looks really cute. It has the typical Griffon wire coat but its short legs and droopy ears are what gives it a most endearing appearance. It is friendly and mostly low-maintenance, except for the fact that it needs a lot of space to run and express its hunting instincts.

To Sum Up

Winning the Best in Show trophy at the renowned Westminster Dog Show may not happen just yet. Nevertheless, it won’t be too long before both these latest AKC-recognized European breeds gain popularity among dog lovers in the USA. And, when that happens, we’ll all have to learn how to pronounce their names correctly!