Your guide to finding and caring for a Burmese in Des Moines
Burmese cats suit Des Moines homes where someone is around a lot. A Burmese will happily follow you through a Beaverdale brick bungalow, claim a sunny windowsill and invite itself into whatever you're doing. They're playful well into adulthood, so a cat tree and a wand toy matter more than square footage. Winters here run long, which suits a cat that likes warm laps. If you're adopting one in Des Moines, think about your schedule first, since most Burmese don't enjoy long days alone.
Find your Burmese
While we don't have enough cats near Des Moines, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
Nearly every Burmese in America traces back to Wong Mau, a walnut-brown cat brought from Southeast Asia to San Francisco in 1930 and paired with Siamese cats to establish the line. The breed is compact, muscular and heavier than it looks, with a short, glossy coat and large gold eyes. Sable brown is the classic color, though champagne, blue and platinum turn up too.
Burmese are known for being people-focused and playful into adulthood. Many follow their people from room to room and greet visitors at the door. In Des Moines, that fits households where someone is home often or another pet offers company. The coat needs only a weekly rubdown, so the main commitment is time and attention. Adopters should also know about a few inherited conditions, including diabetes.
Having a Burmese in Des Moines
A Burmese brings steady playfulness, a strong need for company and a very easy coat to a household. Inherited health risks and a big appetite for attention matter most when you're deciding whether your Des Moines schedule leaves enough time for one.
Burmese are usually affectionate, curious and social, and many act dog-like, following people around and learning games. They often get along with respectful children and cat-friendly dogs. They speak up for attention but tend to be softer-voiced than Siamese. Adult cats vary, so spend time with a cat in person before deciding.
Plan on daily interactive play, such as wand toys, fetch and puzzle feeders, to keep a Burmese lean and busy. Sturdy cat trees and shelves give it room to leap. Des Moines winters keep cats indoors for months, so climbing spaces and short training sessions do much of the work.
Burmese can be prone to diabetes, low potassium, feline orofacial pain syndrome and, in some lines, a serious head defect in kittens, and the breed has limited genetic diversity. Keep a Burmese lean, watch for increased thirst or weakness, and schedule regular checkups with blood work as it ages. A veterinarian can check a newly adopted cat's health.
Burmese adapt to apartments and houses alike, provided they have company, play and places to climb. In Des Moines, that could mean a Sherman Hill apartment or a larger house. A window perch works well through winter. Many cope poorly with 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* | $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.
* The $15 Des Moines cat license for a spayed or neutered cat, litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and climbing furniture, and minimal grooming.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Des Moines.
Des Moines has an active rescue community, and the rescues listed here help cats of all ages find homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Des Moines area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Burmese is coming in.
Yes. Des Moines licenses cats rather than restricting breeds, so a Burmese needs the same city license and rabies vaccination as any cat, and the license is due each January 1. Get it once the cat reaches six months. Microchipping isn't required citywide, but a chip helps a lost cat find its way home.
A Burmese fits Des Moines well when someone is home often or another pet offers company. Winters bring months of freezing nights, so a cat that loves warm laps and indoor play is a plus. Home fireworks are legal July 3–4 and New Year's Eve, so set up a quiet interior room for a cat that startles easily.
Yes, a Burmese can live happily in a Des Moines apartment if it gets daily play, a tall cat tree and a window perch. They're usually quieter than Siamese but still ask for attention, so expect some chatter. Confirm the building's pet policy in writing before signing, and use scratchers to protect doors and furniture.
No. DART is a bus-only system, and pets other than service animals aren't allowed on its vehicles; its guidelines list no exception for carriers. Plan vet visits and other trips by car, with a sturdy carrier secured on a seat or the floor so your Burmese stays calm and safe.
Very little. A Burmese's short, satin coat needs only a weekly rubdown with a rubber brush, plus regular nail trims and tooth care. Dry indoor winter air can leave some cats a bit flaky, so extra brushing helps. Grooming costs are minimal and fall within the Other line of the cost table, so most owners won't need a professional groomer.
No, plan to leave a Burmese at home. Iowa allows leashed pet dogs on qualifying restaurant patios, but that rule covers dogs, not cats, and each restaurant decides its own policy. A Burmese is also usually happier on a familiar perch than in a loud, crowded dining area.
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.
Plan on roughly $1,275 to $2,835 a year for a Burmese in Des Moines, covering food ($25–$50 a month), pet insurance ($30–$60 a month), routine vet care ($150–$350 a year) and other costs ($465–$1,165 a year) such as litter, parasite prevention and dental care. Insurance is optional but worth pricing, given the breed's inherited conditions.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Des Moines.
