Who you calling a random thought?

So we should all be so freaking flattered that the European Burmese (or Foreign Burmese, as the canucks have it) is this month's feature breed in Cat Fancy magazine.

Which we know ... isn't exactly the New York Times. BUT. To hear Cat Fancy tell it, the European Burmese was a random thought that occurred to a British breeder after WWII.

"At that point, some of the breeders said, 'OK, we're going to bring in Burmese.'"*

HEY! CHECK YOUR FACTS!!

The European Burmese is in fact, the original Burmese. That's why, in most of the world -- like those parts of the world outside The Thirteen Colonies -- there's an "American" Burmese. And the European Burmese is just called a Burmese.

The American Burmese even LOOKS different. Flat face, buggy eyes, cobby body.

But while the Americans were developing their version, the Brits weren't just, oh, inventing the mini skirt, medicare and the Beatles. No, the Brits were outcrossing THEIR Burmese and adding a red gene to get six more colours NOT available in the U.S. Red (like yours truly), cream, blue and various tortie. While maintaining a wedge shaped head and muscular frame.

Yeah, that's what we call ... a Burmese. Period.

*Cat Fancy magazine, May 2009

The smartest cat in the world

Behind every great cat, there is another. In my case, there are a couple.
Meet Mimi, a champagne tortie Foreign Burmese.
She is, without a doubt, the smartest cat in the world. And here's why:

Although she is a former champion showcat, Mimi has never really worked a day in her life, and has no visible means of income. Yet ...

1. She has a fur coat. She is very proud of it, wears it all the time, even sleeps in it.
2. She maintains a special diet, available only at selected retail outlets.
3. Although she has had two litters of kittens, and is 11 years old -- that's the human equivalent of about 70 to 75 years old, she is as svelte and smooth as a little mink.
4. She enjoys the company of two handsome younger males, myself and Farfel. Both of us will defer to her in a heartbeat. She's just too smart!
5. Every Friday, she shares a meal of the finest poached salmon available at St. Lawrence Market with She-Who-Feeds-Me.
6. She never has to vacuum, wash dishes, or clean up Farfel's barfies.
7. She gets to sleep about 20 hours a day.
8. Really, her main responsibility is deigning to have her photograph taken.