Looking for 2 purebred kittens: Help with breed selection, please

[godiva]

Originally Posted by Abymummy

Yes, they are slighty different to what the Europeans/Australians call "American" Burmese

Having met both types, I have a slight preference for the E Burms to the Burmese - rounder, smoother doming on the head and a stockier body type. Personality is just the same though!

CFA distinguishes the two Burmese types just like the Siamese and Colorpoint Shorthairs - it's down to color. However, as stated above, there are now obvious differences between the two types.

The Burmese conformation popular in the US is the contemporary/American Burmese. They are the stockier, rounder cats with somewhat flatter faces and huge eyes. In some cat organizations, they are only allowed in four colors and they have to be selfs (whole body is one color): sable, platinum, blue, and chocolate. Some organizations recognize both "styles" of Burmese as separate breeds in the registry.

European Burmese are larger, but more lean and not-so-round face, athough they are still a more muscular and cobby breed than the Tonkinese. European Burmese are also allowed in many many more colors.

I love Burmese cats... my Godiva is certainly unique. I have a special bond with her.

 

[godiva]

Originally Posted by Bahger

Well, we went to see a breeder of Burmese yesterday evening. I've already recommended her to the person looking for a Burm in another thread. This lady runs an amazingly tight ship, she's so well organized, her cats are happy and immaculately cared for and even though she has approximately four entire males, maybe as many queens, two or three retired females and two litters of kittens, there is not the faintest hint of any cat odor anywhere in her house. I'd recommend Bear Country Burmese enthusiastically to anyone looking for Burmese, especially in CA.

The kittens were all champagnes and even the tiniest ones had the unexpected physical heft that has earned the breed its reputation as "bricks encased in satin", or something similar. Their coats are like nothing else I've ever felt on a cat, velvety and luxurious and the cats' temperaments compliment this because they are so sensual and tactile, seeming to revel in human contact. Even the stud males we were introduced to at the end of the visit were sweet and compliant. These would make wonderful companion cats for single people, elderly people, anyone who doesn't want a rascal that squirms at being picked up.

Having said all that, I'm not sure this breed is for us, although I'm not dismissing it entirely. I think they'd mesh well with our old Persian and they won't be climbing the walls but only the boys showed a really playful spirit and they were all spoken for. The girls were sweet but I reckon their level of energy and playful interactivity with my children may be limited. Gorgeous felines, though, absolutely stunning, and very receptive to the language of touch between cats and their people.

So, it will be Ocis Saurday and Abys Sunday if we haven't fallen for the chocolate silver Ocicat pair by then.

BTW, I found a good pet site with rather good pet gates and doors among other things: PetEdge.

Of course, all cats are different and perhaps my Godiva is just unusually playful, but she is the most athletic (but not most active) out of all my cats!! She leaps and does flips and gets manic when she plays. She goes crazy for feather toys on a stick.

But she's not always in the mood to play, perhaps the cats you saw were close to naptime or something?

 

[bahger]

I received a photograph of one of the chocolate silver Oci kittens we'll be meeting tomorrow but it appears that I cannot upload photographs here unless they are hosted on a web site. Can anyone confirm? The kitten is stunning.

 

[godiva]

Yes... you are correct. You need to upload them from your computer to some hosting site like photobucket.com and then post the

 

[sarahp]

Yes yes go get a photobucket account!!!! You're going to be posting lots more photos of your kitties for us here in the future so you might as well get started now!

 

[goldenkitty45]

Originally Posted by sarahp

Yes yes go get a photobucket account!!!! You're going to be posting lots more photos of your kitties for us here in the future so you might as well get started now!

 

[kluchetta]

Well....what happened???

 

[bahger]

Okay, well we are the proud new owners of a pair of gorgeous chocolate silver Ocicat kittens!

These cats are absolutely stunning and I will post pics here, maybe later today, when I've got a Photobucket account and can get the little ones to cooperate.

They are eleven weeks old. The boy has lighter markings and is the bolder of the two. The little girl has more of a contrast between her silver base color and her chocolate markings and is such a beauty that we all gasped when we first saw her.

The cats are healthy, clear-eyed, inquisitive and quite playful but the female is very timid. They are littermates and have bonded together strongly, so whenever the little girl seems at all distressed or disorientated, she squeaks and her brother will immediately squeaks in response and they will locate each other and curl up together. Needless to say we are being as quiet, considerate and solicitous as we can be. They have eaten a little and used their litter box. They are adorable.

The female is very timid, tends to hide a lot and we hope this will pass.

- I'm not sure that fish and seafood-based wet food is entirely beneficial to cats so I've tended to stick with duck, rabbit, chicken, even beef. Would anyone care to comment?

- I'm assuming I should give them water, not milk.

- Our old Persian seems to know something is up but is not off her food or acting out in any way, much to my relief. The kittens are secluded from her behind an opaque screen in the next room. She cannot hear them because she's stone-deaf. How soon do you think we should introduce them? My wife is eager to put them together but I'm a little concerned because the girl is a scaredy-cat right now and gets a little spooked by any sudden sound or movement.

- I'd like to see them eat a little more but they've been nibbling at their dry food and some Whiskas chicken for kittens.

- There is a breeze that comes through the screened french doors of the romm they are in right now. Can this give them a cold or be otherwise detrimental to their health?

The breeder kindly allowed us to take them for a week or so just to make sure they adapt well. I think there is very little chance that we won't keep these gorgeous kittens but as I say, I'm just a tiny bit concerned about the female's timidity and would appreciate any advice.

We have picked out names, which I will reveal when I post the pics.

 

[kai bengals]

Congratulations on your new Oci's!

I would stay clear of the fish products if at all possible. White fish commonly causes food allergies in many cats.

Also no milk! Just water. Most cats are lactose intolerant.

If you're going to switch up their food from what the breeder was feeding, try to do it gradually over a 2 to 3 week period. This will prevent upset stomach and loose stools.

Looking foward to the pics!

 

[sharky]

I utilize some fish in the diet ( Named like salmon cod lobster)... But I like more chn and beef based

Nial or Terri gave you great advice and they know

 

[kluchetta]

In my opinion, regarding the little girl - some kitties are just more timid than others. It's wonderful for her that you got them together. I had one kitten of Elsa's that was more timid than the others and she did outgrow it. She's in a very new place with new sights and smells.

 

[hopehacker]

I have a feeling the timidity will pass on your little female. kitten. I know when I brought my Siamese SunLee home, she was beyond timid, she was traumatized. It took about a week and a half for her to start to come out of it, by the end of the 2nd week, she was completely at home. She decided she was ready to come out of her seclusion room and join the rest of the household, and never looked back. Today, she's the MOST well adjusted, friendly to everyone, cat I have.

Congrats on your Oci's. I'm looking forward to seeing their pictures.

 

[goldenkitty45]

OHHHH I can't wait for pictures - now we have FIVE Ocicats on board

3 chocolate-silvers and 2 chocolates

Boys tend to be bolder, so I would not worry too much. I'd also not give them much fish - Charlie only gets "people" fish - when we are eating it. We feed them mainly canned beef, chicken (and they LOVE boiled chicken breast too), turkey and liver.

Also I'd gradually switch them over to Royal Canin Kitten (then when they are about 5 months old, change to the Special 33 or Beauty & Fit. Charlie's breeder (who has some of the top Oci's in the country) feeds her Royal Canin foods.

Give them water - no milk. They can have little nibbles of cheese - ours likes motzarella the best but will eat most cheeses.

As far as introductions - wait another week or two - let them get used to you, their room/house and be more sure of things before seeing the "big cat"

Maybe your pictures will convince DH that I really NEED to be getting my chocolate-silver boy

I think I'll wait till Charlie finishes his grand championship in ACFA and CFA first before really pushing for another Ocicat.

What names did you pick out?

 

[missymotus]

Congratulations

More chocolate silvers. And a girl Demetri might be interested in since Sadie is smitten with Charlie

 

[siggav]

Congratulations! and please posts pics as soon as possible.

I second the Royal Canin dry food recommendation, that's what I feed Nikita as well and she's doing good on it.

I hope they'll settle in quickly and that the girl will come out of her shell. Yay! kittens

 

[anakat]

Congratulations

photos soon please

 

[abymummy]

Congratulations!

Did you go to see the abys at all?

PS. Another vote for Royal Canin here - but I prefer to give my cats RC Persian!

 

[renovia]

congratulations! too bad you didn't get a russian blue, but ocicats are beautiful too!!!!!!!!! we need pictures!

 

[bahger]

Ok, here are pics!

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Chas and Pherber.

Here they are together.

And here is Chelsea, our beloved Persian tortie (who will be twenty years old next March).

Bear in mind I took these photographs in a hurry this morning; the light was not good and the kittens are still confined to the least photogenic parts of the house.

Last night after everybody else had gone to bed I sat quietly in their room and got them to come out and play. It was a joyous experience. Within five minutes they were leaping all over me and each other and even though the little girl requires that one respect her space, she's very tactile when she's in the mood and her timidity has basically dissipated as people here have predicted. She's very feminine, where the little boy is a "guy", uncomplicated, goofy and reckless. And I was thrilled to see them devour their food like leopards feasting on a deer carcass.

I hope you like the names. The obscure source is a classic 'sixties British gangster movie called "PERFORMANCE" with James Fox, Mick Jagger and Anita Pallenberg. Cats and gangsters have certain things in common and next on our list of names was Tony and Carmela.

I've ordered a big cat tree. I'm going to take advantage of the quiet week by making an appointment for a checkup at the vet on Thursday. Chas's eye gets a little gummed up but we had that issue with our Persians, too.

These cats are going to be a wonderful addition to our family once I get the three felines acquainted with each other. The kittens are so well-socialised already; they know what a scratching post is, they are immaculately litter trained, they both allow you to tickle their bellies and they do not use their teeth and claws in earnest when playing. A lot of credit must go to Jeannie Dolan, the breeder at Tassajara Ocicats.

 

[godiva]

They're gorgeous, and they look like they are going to be quite the handful...

Congratulations!