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Birman vs Cornish Rex
The Birman is a calm, silky-coated companion; the Cornish Rex is a small, fine-coated athlete that clings to people and needs a warm home.
Verdict
These two cats share a love of people but little else. The Birman rates 3 for energy and 2 for voice, and wears a silky medium-long coat that needs combing a couple of times a week. The Cornish Rex is a small cat of 6 to 9 lb with a very fine, wavy coat of down hair only, rates 5 for energy and 5 for play, and needs a warm home. Choose the Birman for a gentle lap companion and the Cornish Rex for a playful, clinging one.
Choose the Birman if
- You want a calm, sweet cat for a family, since it scores 5 for children and other pets.
- You will comb a long, silky coat a couple of times a week.
- You want a quieter cat, with voice at 2 against 3.
- Your home runs cool, a setting that suits a Cornish Rex poorly.
Choose the Cornish Rex if
- You want an energetic, clinging companion that plays into adulthood.
- You can keep the home warm.
- You want a small cat of 6 to 9 lb with a coat that sheds little.
- You are home for much of the day, because independence is 2.
Where they are alike
Both cats are affectionate, with the Birman at 4 and the Cornish Rex at 5, and both do poorly if left alone all day. Each is a good fit for a household with children.
Side by side
| Birman | Cornish Rex | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | France, with a legendary link to Burma | Cornwall, England |
| Size | Medium | Small |
| Typical weight | — | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are slightly larger |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Long | Short |
| Coat | Medium-long, silky coat with little undercoat, longer on the ruff | Very fine, soft, tightly waved coat of down hair only, with no guard hairs |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Championship breed since 1964 |
| How common | Common | Uncommon |
| Affection | 4 | 5 |
| Energy | 3 | 5 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 2 |
| Shedding | 3 | 2 |
| Good with children | 5 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 5 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 2 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The silky coat has little undercoat and sheds in moderation, but people who react to cats may still react to a Birman. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The thin coat sheds less hair than most, but allergens come from saliva and skin as well as fur. |
| Suits | A household that wants a sweet, calm, people-loving cat and will comb its coat a couple of times a week. | An active household that wants a playful, people-loving cat and can keep the home warm. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who is away most of the day, or who wants a very active and independent cat. | A cold house, a home that is empty all day, or anyone who wants a calm lap cat. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026