Do Burmese Cats Shed a Lot?

Your Burmese sports a soft, silky coat that you just can't help but run your fingers through. At first glance you may assume caring for this coat requires regular bathing and conditioning and hours of brushing to keep it looking nice and to prevent his cast off hair from coating your couch. Not so, as the Burmese does not shed much at all, and his own urge to groom keeps his fur looking shiny and healthy. A once-a-week brushing with a rubber curry brush removes what little hair he has shed and keeps it looking healthy.

Considering how often you see your cat grooming, it seems odd to think about giving him a bath. But sometimes it must happen, such as when your curious Burmese finds his way into something particularly nasty and cannot hope to clean himself properly. You can bathe him yourself if you're feeling courageous, or you can leave the job to a professional groomer. Wet his coat thoroughly, running your fingers through as you soak him to ensure you get to his skin. Massage a small amount of cat shampoo into his hair and lather well. Rinse him completely to remove all shampoo residue and dry him with towels. He may give you the stink-eye for a while, but once he's dry, he'll most likely feel better.

Providing your Burmese is healthy and well cared for, his coat should not shed much. The operative word being “healthy.” A cat's coat is a good reflection of his medical well-being, and a dull, thinning coat typically means a sick cat. Monitor your Burmese's diet and offer a high-quality cat food for optimum health, inside and out. Regular brushing distributes his skin's oils to moisturize and protect the coat. If your cat's coat still looks lackluster, visit your veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical issues.

One day you're sitting on the couch, happily petting your Burmese, when you suddenly find a thin spot in his coat. Or maybe it's actually a skin-only bald spot. Your Burmese isn't suffering from male-pattern baldness, but he may have a number of other problems that is causing him to compulsively yank his hair out. Parasites, allergies and ringworm are common issues that make a cat's skin so itchy the poor thing yanks and chews and licks at the spot to alleviate the irritation. Some cats suffer from anxiety and compulsively groom in an attempt to calm themselves, essentially licking themselves bald in the process. Visit your veterinarian if you notice any signs of unusual hair loss for proper diagnosis and treatment.