Your guide to finding and caring for a Burmilla in Virginia Beach
A Burmilla is a good match for Virginia Beach's townhouses and mid-rise apartments, since it's quiet and content with a sunny window. In a Green Run townhouse or a Town Center condo, a Burmilla will likely take the highest perch in the living room, then ask for a game with a wand toy before dinner. Most are fine alone during a workday, and they stay playful well into adulthood. The breed is uncommon, so finding one here may take some patience.
Meet your next Burmilla
While we don't have enough cats near Virginia Beach, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 0-6 mo., 798 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bombay
F, 0-6 mo., 798 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bombay
M, 5 mo., 801 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bombay
M, 4 mo., 801 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bombay
M, 5 mo., 801 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bombay
M, 0-6 mo., 802 miles
Bombay
M, 3-7 y., 802 miles
Bombay
M, 0-6 mo., 802 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl, Bombay
F, 3-7 y., 806 miles
Bombay, Domestic Short Hair
M, 0-6 mo., 806 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bombay
The Burmilla began with an accidental mating in Britain in 1981, when a Chinchilla Persian male met a lilac Burmese female and produced four shaded silver kittens. The name blends Burmese and Chinchilla. Burmillas are medium-sized, usually 6 to 13 pounds, with green eyes outlined in dark color and a shimmering coat that is pale at the root and tipped with color.
Many combine the Burmese's sociable, playful side with the Persian's calm, and they're usually quiet and people-oriented. Coats come short or semi-long, and shedding is low to moderate, so a weekly combing handles most of it. In a humid place like Virginia Beach, regular combing also keeps the coat tidy through the long warm season. Cats vary, so a Burmilla's own manner counts for more than the breed label.
Having a Burmilla in Virginia Beach
Burmillas pair playful energy with a mellow streak and modest grooming. In Virginia Beach, the main points are indoor enrichment, summer humidity, a storm plan for hurricane season, and screening for inherited kidney disease.
Burmillas are often sweet, curious and sociable, settling near their people without constant demands. Many get along with respectful children, other cats and cat-friendly dogs after gradual introductions. They tend to be quiet, and many handle a workday alone. Cats vary, so watch how each one responds to handling and new people.
Expect short bursts of play followed by long naps. Wand toys, climbing trees and food puzzles cover most needs, and daily interactive play helps prevent weight gain. In Virginia Beach, a window perch or screened porch gives an indoor cat something to watch, while a harness is the safest way to get outdoors.
Burmillas can inherit polycystic kidney disease from Persian ancestors and the Burmese head defect. Both have DNA tests, and a veterinarian can explain testing. Not every cat will develop problems. Virginia requires a current rabies vaccination, and yearly exams, dental care and weight checks matter more as a cat ages.
A Burmilla does well in an apartment or house with climbing spots, window perches and a quiet place to rest. That suits Virginia Beach's mix of condos near Town Center and townhouse neighborhoods like Green Run. Screen windows and balconies, since curious cats can slip out, and use a secure enclosure or harness outdoors.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,200 to $2,700 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the $5 to $10 Virginia Beach cat license, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and cat trees, and combing 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 Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach's rescue community includes a city shelter and nonprofit groups, and their cats are listed here. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Virginia Beach area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Burmilla is coming in.
Yes. Virginia Beach has no known breed-specific rule for cats, so a Burmilla is treated like any other cat. Cats over four months need a city license and a current rabies vaccination. Because the breed is uncommon, watch this page for new listings, save a search to hear about new pets, and browse similar breeds or nearby cities in the meantime.
Yes, a Burmilla usually does well in an apartment. The breed is quiet, medium-sized and often fine alone during a workday, which suits condo and apartment life around Town Center. Provide a tall cat tree, a window perch and a few play sessions daily, and screen balcony doors. Read the lease's pet policy and any weight or breed limits first.
Yes, as indoor cats. Summers here are hot and humid, so keep the home air-conditioned, offer fresh water and save play for cooler mornings or evenings. Never leave a Burmilla in a parked car. July 4 fireworks and thunderstorms can frighten cats, so keep the cat indoors with current ID and offer a quiet interior room.
Very little. A Burmilla's short or semi-long silky coat needs a weekly combing, with a bit more during seasonal shedding. Humidity doesn't change the routine much, but regular combing keeps the coat tidy and helps you spot fleas during the long warm season. Combs and brushes fall under the yearly Other costs, and professional grooming is optional.
Only in a small carrier. Hampton Roads Transit buses and the VB Wave trolley allow animals in small cages that don't need a separate seat, so a Burmilla in a compact carrier can ride. Virginia Beach has no subway or rail line, and The Tide light rail runs only in Norfolk and admits service animals only.
Almost certainly not. Virginia's food rules let restaurants admit dogs on qualifying open-air patios, but they don't cover cats, and live animals aren't allowed inside dining rooms. A Burmilla is happier at home anyway, since crowds, noise and heat stress most cats. Service animals are covered by disability law instead.
Often yes, for adopters who want an indoor, affectionate cat that's fine alone on workdays and playful in the evenings. The trade-offs here are humid summers, noisy storms and fireworks, and hurricane season, which calls for a carrier, ID and an evacuation plan ready by June. A cat's own personality matters as much as breed.
No, Burmilla cats are not hypoallergenic. They shed like other cats, and the main cat allergen, a protein found in saliva and skin secretions, spreads onto the coat during grooming. There is no evidence that Burmillas produce less of it. People with allergies should spend extended time with the specific cat before adopting and discuss options with their doctor.
Burmilla cats typically live about 10 to 15 years, and many healthy indoor cats reach their mid-teens or beyond. Lifespan depends on genetics, weight, dental care and access to veterinary care. Inherited kidney disease from Persian ancestry can shorten life, so scheduling regular blood and urine tests as the cat ages is worthwhile.
Plan on roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for a Burmilla in Virginia Beach: food at $25 to $50 a month, pet insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and $450 to $1,150 a year for litter, parasite prevention, dental care and supplies. Costs run close to the national average.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Virginia Beach.
