International Cat Day: Meet Prince, Our Regal Birman

New to International Cat Day

Wow, this is the first I’m hearing about International Cat Day, which is surprising considering I am the very proud parent of six adorable babies. At first, I thought it was National Cat Day, but International Cat Day might actually be even more appropriate for our little family since some of my babies are international themselves! So naturally, I have to start with my true pride and joy: my sweet 8-year-old Birman, Prince. And yes, his name is incredibly fitting. Prince does not simply enter a room. He turns an otherwise mundane moment into a theatrical occasion. Everything about him, from the way he carries himself to the looks he gives us, has this strangely posh and regal quality. He has always behaved as though our home is, in fact, his palace and the rest of us are simply lucky enough to live in it. Honestly, for a Birman, that attitude may be historically appropriate

A little Bit About the Birman

The Birman is a beautiful long-haired breed traditionally associated with Burma, now Myanmar. One of the things that first made me fall in love with Birmans is the mythology surrounding them. According to the traditional legend, Birmans were sacred temple cats who lived alongside priests in ancient Burma. The story tells of a white temple cat named Sinh whose master was killed during an attack on the temple. As Sinh stood beside him, his appearance miraculously transformed: his white coat became golden, his eyes turned a brilliant blue, and his paws remained pure white where they touched his master. Those white paws became one of the Birman’s most recognizable features and are sometimes referred to as their “gloves.” Whether you believe the legend or simply enjoy a good cat story, it’s hard not to look at a Birman and think there is something a little special about them. Prince certainly seems convinced. He has the striking blue eyes, long silky coat, beautiful coloring, and those perfectly white paws. More importantly, he has the charisma of a cat who apparently comes from generations of temple royalty. Eight years later, he is still incredibly playful and curious. He has always been independent and has never been the type of cat who wants to be carried around all day, but he shows affection in his own way. Birmans have this incredible ability to give you these long, deep looks that somehow say everything without them doing much at all. Prince has perfected that look.

Finding Prince Some Birman Kinship

Lately, I’ve actually been on a little mission for our Princeton. I’d love to find another Birman family nearby so Prince can have some Birman kinship in his life. My other five babies are domestic cats with a much more indoor-outdoor lifestyle, while Prince has always lived a very different little royal existence. It also got me thinking about cats around the rest of the world. Here in the United States, domestic shorthairs seem to be everywhere. But what does the average cat look like in Japan? Turkey? England? Egypt? Pakistan? Australia? I’d love to know what cats or breeds are most common where everyone else lives, especially outside of the U.S. As for my other five babies… they deserve introductions of their own. We’ll save those little troublemakers for National Cat Day. ❤️