Your guide to finding and caring for a Burmese in Charleston
A Burmese suits an East End apartment or a South Hills split-level in Charleston, as long as someone's around. These cats follow you from room to room, so they like a compact home where they can keep you in sight. They want a window perch to watch birds from, a sturdy cat tree and a bit of play every day. Long workdays alone don't sit well with most Burmese, and a second cat can help.
Find your Burmese
While we don't have enough cats near Charleston, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 4 y., 399 miles
Burmese
F, 3-7 y., 438 miles
Burmese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 3-7 y., 1072 miles
Burmese, Siamese
M, 5 y., 1073 miles
Burmese
F, 6 y., 629 miles
Burmese
F, 1 y., 748 miles
Burmese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 0-6 mo., 989 miles
Domestic Long Hair, Burmese
M, 0-6 mo., 989 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Burmese
M, 8 y. +, 1071 miles
Burmese, American Shorthair
M, 3-7 y., 1071 miles
Burmese, American Shorthair
The Burmese traces back to Wong Mau, a walnut-brown cat brought from Southeast Asia to San Francisco in 1930 and bred with Siamese cats to establish the line. The result is a compact, muscular cat that feels heavier than it looks, with a short, glossy, satin-like coat and big gold eyes. Sable is the classic color, and champagne, blue and platinum are also seen.
Burmese are known for being people-focused and playful well into adulthood. Many follow their family around, greet visitors and learn games like fetch. That makes them a good match for Charleston homes with someone around often, though adult cats vary in personality. Their coat needs little care, but the breed has a few inherited health risks, including diabetes, worth discussing with a veterinarian.
Having a Burmese in Charleston
A Burmese packs a lot of personality into a dense, satin-coated body. Its need for company, lifelong playfulness, easy grooming and a few breed-linked health risks all affect how well it fits your schedule and home in Charleston.
Burmese tend to be affectionate, sociable and curious, often called dog-like for following people and learning games. Many spread their affection across the whole family and get along with respectful children and cat-friendly dogs. They're usually softer-voiced than Siamese but will ask for attention. Personalities vary, especially in adult cats.
Most Burmese stay playful well past kittenhood. Daily sessions with wand toys, fetch games and climbing spaces burn energy and help prevent weight gain. In a Charleston apartment, a tall cat tree by a window and puzzle feeders go a long way. Their muscular build means they enjoy leaping, so choose sturdy furniture.
Burmese can be prone to diabetes, low potassium, feline orofacial pain syndrome and, in some lines, a severe inherited head defect in kittens. Keeping a Burmese lean, noticing extra thirst or weakness, and scheduling regular veterinary checkups, including blood work as the cat ages, helps catch problems early.
A Burmese adapts well to apartments and houses as long as it has company, play and places to climb. Charleston's East End apartments and hillside homes both work for an indoor cat with a secure window perch. Many dislike long hours alone, so a second compatible pet can help.
| 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* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,260 to $2,820 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and climbing furniture, and minimal grooming for the short, satin 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 Charleston.
Charleston's shelters and rescues care for thousands of cats and dogs each year, many of them ready for adoption. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Charleston area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Burmese is coming in.
Yes, Charleston has no known breed-specific rule for cats, and Burmese are welcome like any other cat. The city requires rabies vaccination for cats six months and older, and there's no known cat license. If you rent, get your landlord's pet terms in writing before you sign.
Yes, a Burmese adapts well to apartments, including the brick East End buildings. What matters most is company, daily play and vertical space, like a sturdy cat tree and a window perch. About 37% of Charleston households rent, so confirm your landlord's pet policy and any fees in writing.
It works well for an indoor Burmese with some planning. Winters average lows near 28°F, with ice storms that can cut power, and a Burmese's short single coat gives little insulation. Offer warm bedding in winter. In humid summers, about 24 days reach 90°F, so keep the home cool.
No, Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority buses prohibit pets in their rider rules, and Charleston has no subway or rail system. Service animals are covered by federal law. Plan to drive to veterinary visits, using a secure carrier, and ask about ride options with a car-owning friend.
Very little. A Burmese's short, satin coat needs only a weekly rubber-brush session, with a bit more in the seasonal shed. Charleston's humidity and cold don't change that much. Most owners skip professional grooming, so budget mainly for nail trims and dental care, which fall under the Other costs on this page.
Yes, for people who are home often or have another pet for the cat to enjoy. A Burmese is happy in a compact apartment or a hillside house, and the easy coat suits the climate. It's less suited to long days alone, so consider your schedule first.
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 a Burmese to cost roughly $1,260 to $2,820 a year. 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 $450 to $1,150 a year in other costs, including litter and dental care.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Charleston.
