Your guide to finding and caring for a Burmese in Denver
Burmese cats suit Denver's apartment neighborhoods well, because they'd rather be near you than anywhere else. In a Capitol Hill condo or a Union Station loft, a Burmese will follow you from room to room, ride a shoulder and greet guests at the door. They're playful well into adulthood, so a tall cat tree by a sunny window goes a long way. If you're thinking about adopting one in Denver, look at your schedule first, since most Burmese don't enjoy long days alone.
Find your Burmese
While we don't have enough cats near Denver, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 0-6 mo., 878 miles
Domestic Long Hair, Burmese
M, 0-6 mo., 878 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Burmese
F, 3-7 y., 894 miles
Burmese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 4 y., 917 miles
Burmese
F, 3 mo., 1083 miles
Burmese, Oriental Short Hair
M, 3-7 y., 1086 miles
Burmese
M, 7 y., 1129 miles
Burmese, Domestic Long Hair
F, 3-7 y., 1129 miles
Burmese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 8 y., 1129 miles
Burmese, Domestic Long Hair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 1175 miles
Burmese, Bombay
Nearly every Burmese in America traces back to Wong Mau, a walnut-brown cat brought from Southeast Asia to San Francisco in 1930. The breed is compact and muscular, and heavier than it looks, usually 8 to 13 pounds. The short, glossy coat has a satin finish, and the large gold eyes are hard to ignore. Sable brown is the classic color, with champagne, blue and platinum also seen.
Burmese are known for being people-focused and playful into adulthood. Many follow their family around, greet visitors and learn games like fetch. In a city of apartments and condos like Denver, that sociable streak works well, as long as someone is home often or another pet offers company. Adopters should also know the breed is prone to a few inherited conditions, including diabetes, so regular vet checkups matter.
Having a Burmese in Denver
A Burmese packs plenty of personality into a dense, satin-coated body. Its need for company, lifelong playfulness, easy grooming and a few breed-linked health risks all shape how well one fits your schedule and your Denver home.
Burmese tend to be affectionate, sociable and curious, often called dog-like because they follow people around and pick up games. Many get along with respectful children and cat-friendly dogs. They're usually quieter than Siamese but will speak up for attention. Adult cats vary, so watch how each one reacts to people and handling.
Most Burmese stay playful well past kittenhood, so plan daily interactive play with wand toys, fetch and climbing. Puzzle feeders and short clicker sessions keep clever minds busy, which matters on Denver's snowy or stormy days when everything happens indoors. Sturdy cat trees and shelves suit their leaping, muscular build.
Burmese can be prone to diabetes, low potassium, feline orofacial pain syndrome and, in some lines, a severe head defect in kittens. Keep a Burmese lean, watch for extra thirst or weakness, and schedule regular vet visits, with blood work as the cat ages. A veterinarian can check a newly adopted cat's overall health.
A Burmese adapts to Denver's apartments, condos and houses alike if it has company, play and vertical space. It does best as an indoor cat with a secure window perch or catio. Many cope poorly with long hours alone, so busy households often benefit from a second compatible pet.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $30 to $60 per month | $360 to $720 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $465 to $1,165 per year | $465 to $1,165 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,275 to $2,835 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the Denver cat license, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and climbing furniture, and minimal grooming for the short coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Denver.
Denver's city shelter and nonprofit rescues care for cats of every age, and the groups below list their adoptable pets here. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Denver area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Burmese is coming in.
Yes, for people who are home often or have another pet. Burmese want company and daily play, which suits Denver's many apartments and condos and hybrid work schedules. They're a weaker match for households that sit empty most of the day. Each cat's personality differs, so watch how an adult cat handles time alone.
Yes. Denver's breed-specific rule applies only to certain dogs, not Burmese cats. Cats 6 months and older must be licensed, vaccinated against rabies and spayed or neutered, and a household can keep up to five animals in total. Cats adopted from the Denver Animal Shelter come with a one-year license.
Yes. Burmese are medium-sized, light shedders and don't need a yard, so a Denver apartment or condo works with vertical space and daily play. Because they're social, a second compatible pet can help during work hours. Read your lease before applying, since Colorado caps what landlords can charge for pets.
Yes, as an indoor cat. Denver's cold winters and hot summer afternoons are easy to manage inside, where a Burmese can find warm perches in winter and shade in summer. Snow, hail and thunder season affect your routine more than the cat's comfort. Keep antifreeze locked away and fresh water available.
Only in a carrier. RTD allows small pets in carriers on its buses and trains, and Denver has no subway. A Burmese weighs roughly 8 to 13 pounds, so most fit a roomy carrier, though RTD lists no size limit. On commuter rail, keep the carrier on your lap or the floor, not on a seat.
Very little. A Burmese's short, satin coat needs a weekly rub with a rubber brush or soft cloth, plus occasional nail trims, and shedding stays light through Denver's seasons. Most owners never need professional grooming, which is why grooming adds little to the yearly Other costs.
A Burmese is a medium-sized, muscular shorthaired cat known for a glossy, satin-like coat, gold eyes and a famously people-oriented personality. Most American Burmese trace back to a single brown cat, Wong Mau, brought to San Francisco in 1930. They are playful, social and affectionate, and they come in sable, champagne, blue, platinum and other colors.
The name Burmese simply means from Burma, the country now called Myanmar. It refers to where the breed's foundation cat, Wong Mau, was believed to come from, in the region near the border between Burma and Thailand. Brown cats resembling the Burmese are thought to appear in old Thai cat manuscripts, long before the modern breed was developed in America.
Burmese cats are moderately vocal. They usually speak up when they want attention, food or company, but they are generally quieter than their Siamese relatives, with softer, sweeter voices. Many hold chatty conversations with their people and greet them at the door. Individual cats vary, and some are quite talkative while others rarely meow.
Expect roughly $1,275 to $2,835 a year for a Burmese in Denver. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $30 to $60 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and $465 to $1,165 a year in other costs such as litter and the city license.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Denver.
