“What’s the most mysterious, mystical, and majestic kitty out there?” without an ounce of shame, you Google your days away, looking for another addition to your family. And, your trusty FBI agent (man, those iPhones) decided to match you with the kitty of your dreams – a Lilac Point Birman.
As you’re swiping through pictures and pictures of adorable lavender-colored snouts and fluff, and rounded paws, you can’t help but wonder “What has my life become?”
Not that you’re purrsonally offended by the fact that you somehow managed to become the crazy cat lady everyone’s raging about. But you’re a little embarrassed to admit you would rather spend your day surrounded by blush-colored ears than a bunch of “friends” who cringe at everything you love about life.
But, haven’t you heard!? You’re the right type of “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs” at the right moment because cat ladies are becoming a thing of high fashion!
That’s right, cat ladies of today are fashion-forward and culture-conscious trendsetters who dictate which kitties are TikTok’s stars of the week and which should end up on the cover of Vogue.
Trust me, you could own a cattery and you wouldn’t be out of style! And we’re here for that because that means you’re on the right path to becoming a parent to a Lilac Point Birman – the Elizabeth Taylor of the feline world. But before we move on to matters of the breed, Lilac Point Birmans aren’t necessarily… lilac.
Truth be told, when you take a closer look at them, you might notice they’re blue and cream. Blue and cream don’t make lilac (according to color theory). However, when they’re splattered across the fluff, they tend to give off that lilac hue (under certain lighting and angles). There’s more where that came from!
What’s a Lilac Point Birman cat?
Oh, you haven’t witnessed perfection before you’ve held and cuddled a Lilac Point Birman (or any other color combination, to be honest).
Trust me, Birman cats are some of the most charming felines out there. With gentle purrsonalities and huggable demeanor, they were sure to take the world by storm from the beginning.
And they sure didn’t waste any time considering the fact they were once known as the Sacred Cats of Burma. Admittedly, we wouldn’t look for anything other than that, knowing that these beauties are some of the most affectionate, appreciative, and adorable fluffers out there.
Oh, and you wouldn’t believe how sociable and friendly these curious creatures are! Turns out they don’t mind meowing and purring at your annoying neighbor while he keeps asking whether he can come to your place after work to check how your lavender kitty’s doing.
Sure, they don’t even mind running after your friend’s dog because he keeps begging her to play. And, don’t even get me started on the fact that Birman cats are ridiculously even-tempered!
These babies don’t bat an eye when you spend a couple of hours trying to annoy them because you think they’re adorable when they’re aggressive (word of advice: don’t do that). They’re purrfect pets and there’s hardly anything anybody could say about them that would change that.
And, a Lilac Point Birman’s pretty much the same. We don’t have a reason to believe that the color of the coat has anything to do with the purrsonality you’re 100% getting.
On the off chance that you’re looking up Lilac Point Birmans but you’re not entirely what they look like, they’re a combination of a white undercoat and lavender/lilac/gray spots on the face, ears, legs, and tail. How adorable, right!?
What’s responsible for the color of the Lilac Point Birman?
Now, we’ve already mentioned the fact that Lilac Point Birmans aren’t necessarily lilac. Of course, the color of the coat appears that way under certain lighting and that’s how they’ve earned the name. But the coat color seems to be closer to cream/gray rather than lilac.
And, knowing that most cats assume one, two, or three of the basic coat colors such as white, black, brown, and chocolate, you might be wondering, “What makes Lilac Birmans… lilac?”
Sure, those basic colors seem to be the most common among Birmans. But, we can’t overlook the world of colors and shades that go unnoticed. Of course, we’re talking about colors such as chocolate, cinnamon, red, blue, lilac, cream, and fawn.
“What!? You’re meaning to tell me there are cats that look like cinnamon or cream?”
Oh, the sweetest of desserts come fluffier and poutier than ever with these miscellaneous, dilute shades. That’s right, the thing to blame for these fashionable coat colors is the recessive gene that “dilutes” them and makes them appear lighter.
Therefore, black becomes blue (a shade of gray in animal terms), brown becomes fawn, and red becomes cream. Of course, chocolate becomes lilac because the shade we’re talking about resembles a cross between cream and gray.
On the other hand, we can’t forget about the fact that Lilac Birmans are pointed, which means they possess a lighter undercoat with darker “points” of color splattered across the face, ears, legs, and tail.
There, now you’re familiar with the “science” behind the color combinations and patterns a Lilac Point Birman can assume. But, you might be wondering about pretty much everything else that makes these meowers so popular.
And, we’re here to make your wishes come true with a rundown of Lilac Point Birman characteristics!
Why are Lilac Point Birman cats the talk of the town?
Enough talk about the color combinations and patterns, don’t you think? Whether you’re a cat connoisseur or a fan of the breed, Lilac Point Birman cats are crème de la crème of the feline world regardless of what they look like.
And, we’re not only focusing on the beauty of the breed but the mystery surrounding them, too.
Turns out nobody knows where Birman cats come from! Now, we know what you’re thinking: “Don’t Birman cats come from… Burma?” And, you’re not far off because there are theories suggesting that these beauties might have originated from what we nowadays know as Myanmar.
Right off the bat, humans have been drawing connections between Birman cats and strange, ancient frolics for decades. Trust me, there are tales galore about how Birman cats came to be known as the Sacred Cats of Burma.
The most prominent one, though, suggests that these cats were companions of the Kittah priests. Not only that, but they were carriers of the priests’ spirits that would flow over to them after the priests would die. That’s not creepy, right?
Whatever the case might have been, around the 1900s, the Birman breed reached France and England. Of course, more tales suggest that a male and a (very pregnant) female Birman cat were shipped to France.
During the trip, the male, unfortunately, passed away. But that didn’t stop the female from reaching France and giving birth to a kitten named Poupee de Madalpour.
The kitten was one of the most adorable things the French have ever seen. Of course, a couple of years later, the Federation of Feline Francaise recognized the breed.
1. They look like fluffy clouds!
We’ve talked your ears off about how adorable these splatter-faced snickerdoodles are! But, we’re not sorry because they deserve the hype they get. With sparkling ocean eyes and white paws, they’re probably the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.
And, if you’re thinking of making your cat lady aesthetic even better, you’re probably looking for every bit of info on Lilac Point Birmans you can find. Of course, we’re here for both the damsel in distress and the completely self-sufficient lady who knows what she wants.
With that rant out of the way, Lilac Point Birman cats are predominantly white with lavender/lilac/gray points of color ever-so-neatly placed over the face, ears, legs, and tail.
But, don’t forget that all Birman cats are born white! Oh, you don’t want to press charges against your breeder only to find out he didn’t do anything wrong, right!?
Birmans are glamorous. With a “romantic,” rounded shape, soft and silky coat, and a hefty weight of around eight to ten pounds, they make for the snuggliest of buddies.
Not to mention that even though they possess that long, luxurious coat, they don’t need too much in the way of grooming and brushing. As luck would have it, their coat barely ever gets tangled!
And, have we mentioned that Birmans can fashion other coat colors, too? That’s right, these fashionistas weren’t happy with the regular selection of blacks and browns.
They opted for seal, blue, cream, chocolate, lavender, blue tortoiseshell, lilac tortoiseshell, seal tortoiseshell, chocolate tortoiseshell, and blue cream. That’s a lot of colors to choose from, but we trust you’re going to make the best decision for yourself!
2. They have the biggest purrsonalities!
Growing up, one of my neighbors had a chocolate Birman cat. That Birman was one of the most mesmerizing kitties that ever entered my life.
That Birman beauty was one of the reasons my friends kept coming over and hanging out at my house. Everyone wanted to snuggle with her, chase her around the backyard, and play with her toys.
And she absolutely adored the attention she got! It had to have been why my neighbor never complained about the fact that she spent more time at my house than she did with him.
That’s the thing with Birmans. They don’t appreciate alone time or the whole “staying at home while my human’s at work” thing.
Birman cats (lilac or otherwise) are affectionate and sweet! Even when they’re not happy to play with children or other cats, they don’t mind going with the flow. They know that’s what would make you happy – and that’s what matters the most to them.
They’re the epitome of the perfect family pet because they put everyone’s needs above what they need. Sweet, but sad!?
But, don’t forget that Lilac Point Birmans are sociable creatures when yours starts following you from room to room, waiting outside your bedroom door while you’re sleeping, and grabbing onto your leg while you’re walking.
Birman cats crave attention and they don’t care whether you judge them or not for it! They don’t even hide under the table when you have people over!
They’re great with strangers because they trust you wouldn’t do something dumb. They’re very people-oriented and look forward to being petted by many, many hands. Cute as a button, right?
3. They’re high-maintenance queens!
Now, you might have spent your entire life thinking that “high-maintenance” wasn’t something to strive for! But, we’re here to make sure you understand that Lilac Point Birmans are high-maintenance, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Who deserves the royal treatment more than the kitties who carry the spirits of ancient Burman temple priests!? Come on, they carry the weight of the world on their fluffy shoulders!?
While we might have gone overboard, we’re keeping the attitude as we’re talking about what a Lilac Point Birman needs for a happy and healthy life.
Starting with a bang, Birmans can be a little clingy and needy. They won’t mind when you decide to bring a dog home. They won’t mind when you move them to a minuscule room with only a little, fluffy bed and a couple of toys.
But, they will mind when you leave them alone for hours and hours without giving them a three-days notice and an apology letter beforehand.
And, we can’t overlook the fact that the lilac point coat doesn’t look that luscious without proper care! Grooming, brushing, and bathing are a must when you’re parenting a Birman fluffer.
When you’re happy to spend a bunch of money to get those honey highlights, you shouldn’t mind spending some time getting your cat’s coat on fleek.
Don’t worry, though – brushing or combing a couple of times a week should do the trick. And, don’t shy away from getting her professionally groomed once or twice a year – she deserves the pampering!
4. They have a few health niggles!
Goes without saying that you can’t predict a cat’s health problems based on the breed, for the most part. Some breeds are more susceptible to different diseases due to the breeding process.
But, that’s not to say that nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle don’t play a part. As for the Lilac Point Birman, you shouldn’t worry because Birmans are a healthy and hearty breed.
As a matter of fact, most diseases they’re faced with are the same diseases that attack cats on a regular. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), polycystic kidney disease, and dental disease seem to be the ones that reoccur among the felines of the world.
Make sure you keep an eye on the symptoms and schedule regular veterinarian checkups and you should be good to go.
First things first, some of the most common symptoms of HCM are problems with appetite, weak pulse, lethargy, difficulty breathing, snapping or crackling sounds coming from the lungs, atypical heart sounds, collapse, coma, and heart failure.
Of course, these symptoms occur over a longer period. But, you should be able to catch them before something serious happens.
On the other hand, symptoms you should keep an eye out for when we’re talking about polycystic kidney disease are excessive thirst and urination, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, weight loss, blood in the urine, and high blood pressure.
Genetics and breed seem to be the most prominent causes of the disease. Persians are super susceptible, but Birmans take the middle ground.
Last but not least, numerous breeds are predisposed to dental problems. Whether they’re not that great at brushing or they keep away from dental hygiene, there’s no denying that cats have pretty bad teeth. Other than that, they’re healthy!
5. They’re tough on your pocket!
Depending on what you consider tough!? Lilac Point Birman cats are a force to be reckoned with. They’re affectionate, appreciative, and adorable. They look nothing like your everyday, neighborhood tabbies.
And, they’re pretty difficult to cross paths with, considering they’re rarer than the steak they serve at Salt Bae’s Steakhouse.
But, without beating around the bush, what does the average Birman cat cost? Birmans are a popular breed. While they’re not as expensive as Maine Coons, they’re not as affordable as Cornish Rex.
However, the price depends on a bunch of factors. Whether you’re rescuing, adopting, or purchasing, whether you’re going for a kitten or a grown cat – these factors affect the price the most.
Adopting a Lilac Birman should cost you somewhere between 75$ and 400$, given that you manage to stumble upon an adoption agency that keeps Birman cats (and the color you’re looking for).
Frankly, you might be more likely to get a Birman for free from a friend or a neighbor than you are to find one at the rescue shelter.
On the other hand, purchasing a Lilac Birman from a reputable breeder should cost you somewhere between 400$ and 2000$. Quite the expense, but they’re worth every penny – take a look at that splattered, smooshy face and you won’t even remember the price!
