Your guide to finding and caring for a Burmese in Sioux Falls
A Burmese suits Sioux Falls apartment life well, because it wants to be wherever you are. In a converted early-1900s building in the Cathedral Historic District, one will follow you from room to room, claim a sunny windowsill and demand a game of fetch. Burmese are medium-sized, short-coated and playful well into adulthood. The long winters are easy to spend indoors with one, since most Burmese would rather be on your lap than anywhere else.
Find your Burmese
While we don't have enough cats near Sioux Falls, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 8 y., 742 miles
Burmese, Domestic Long Hair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 858 miles
Burmese, Bombay
M, 8 y. +, 891 miles
Burmese, American Shorthair
M, 3-7 y., 891 miles
Burmese, American Shorthair
F, 1 y., 954 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Burmese
M, 2 y., 954 miles
American Shorthair, Burmese
F, 0-6 mo., 961 miles
Domestic Long Hair, Burmese
M, 0-6 mo., 961 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Burmese
F, 5 y., 1105 miles
Burmese
F, 3-7 y., 1141 miles
Burmese
Most American Burmese trace back to Wong Mau, a small 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, with a short, glossy, satin-like coat and large gold eyes. Sable brown is the classic color, with champagne, blue and platinum also common.
Burmese are known for staying people-focused and playful for life, and many follow their family from room to room. In Sioux Falls, where winter pushes everyone indoors, that closeness makes them easy company, though long workdays alone can be hard on them. Adult Burmese are sometimes more reserved than kittens, so spend time with a cat before deciding. Brushing is simple, but a few inherited health conditions are worth knowing about.
Having a Burmese in Sioux Falls
Burmese pair a dense, muscular build with a big appetite for company. For Sioux Falls adopters, the biggest questions are who's home during the day, how much playtime fits the routine, and whether you're ready to watch for diabetes risk as the cat ages.
Burmese are affectionate, curious and clever, and many act more like dogs, following family around and learning games. They often get along with respectful children and cat-friendly dogs. In an apartment, that devotion is a plus, though some adult cats are more reserved, so personalities vary.
Burmese stay playful well into adulthood, so plan on daily wand-toy and fetch sessions plus a sturdy cat tree for leaping. Sioux Falls winters keep cats indoors anyway, so puzzle feeders and short clicker-training sessions help burn energy and keep a muscular cat from gaining weight.
Burmese can be prone to diabetes, low potassium, feline orofacial pain syndrome and, in some lines, a severe head defect in kittens. Keep the cat lean, watch for heavy thirst or weakness, and schedule regular vet checkups with blood work as it ages. Sioux Falls also requires current rabies vaccination.
A Burmese fits Sioux Falls apartments, duplexes and houses alike, provided it has climbing space, window perches and company. Many handle long solo days poorly, so a second compatible pet or someone home often helps. Keep it indoors, since coyotes live within the city.
| 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* | $455 to $1,155 per year | $455 to $1,155 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,265 to $2,825 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The $5 yearly Sioux Falls cat license for a spayed or neutered cat, litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and climbing furniture, and minimal brushing supplies.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls's rescue community includes an open-admission humane society and foster-based groups, all listed below. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Sioux Falls area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Burmese is coming in.
Often, yes, especially for people who are home a fair amount. Burmese want company and play, which suits long Sioux Falls winters spent indoors, and the short coat is easy to maintain. They struggle with long days alone, so a flexible schedule or a second compatible pet is a better match. Adult cats vary in personality.
Yes. A tall cat tree and a window perch give a medium-sized, athletic Burmese room to climb in a small space, and daily play keeps it from getting restless. Check the lease for pet rent, deposits and pet limits before signing, since Sioux Falls buildings set their own terms.
Yes, as indoor cats. A short single coat gives little insulation against Sioux Falls cold, where nights at or below 0°F happen about 25 times a year. Keep a Burmese inside, away from drafty windows, with warm beds and sunny perches. A cat that slips out can suffer frostbite quickly, so a microchip and ID tag matter.
Yes. No breed is banned in Sioux Falls, and South Dakota law forbids breed-specific local rules. You'll need a city license and rabies vaccination for a cat six months or older, and the leash rule covers cats whenever they're off your property. Landlords may set their own pet rules, so confirm before signing a lease.
Very little. The short, satin coat sheds lightly, and a weekly rubber-brush session keeps it glossy. Dry indoor air in winter can leave some cats a bit flaky, so brush a little more often then. Trim nails and check teeth as needed. A professional groomer is rarely necessary, so grooming adds little to yearly costs.
Sioux Area Metro runs buses only, with no rail, and it hasn't published a pet policy, so check SAM's rules before planning a trip with a cat. Service animals do ride. For vet visits, a secure hard-sided carrier is the safest option, and a car is usually simpler for a nervous cat.
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 $1,265 to $2,825 a year with insurance: $25 to $50 a month for food, $30 to $60 a month for insurance, $150 to $350 for routine vet care, and $455 to $1,155 for litter, parasite prevention, dental care, supplies and the city license. Costs rise if diabetes or another breed-linked condition appears.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Sioux Falls.
