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Birman vs Devon Rex
The Birman is a calm, silky-coated family cat; the Devon Rex is a small, funny, clinging cat with a wavy short coat that needs a warm home.
Verdict
Both cats love company, so energy and coat decide it. The Birman is a gentle cat that rates 3 for energy and wears a medium-long silky coat that needs combing a couple of times a week. The Devon Rex is a small cat of 6 to 9 lb with a short, wavy coat, rates 5 for play, and wants a warm home with someone around. Choose the Birman for a calm, sweet companion and the Devon Rex for an affectionate, playful one that follows you everywhere.
Choose the Birman if
- You want a calmer cat, with energy at 3 against 4.
- You prefer a quieter cat, with voice at 2 against 3.
- You will comb a silky coat a couple of times a week.
- Your household includes children or other pets, since the Birman scores 5 for both.
Choose the Devon Rex if
- You want a small, funny, clinging cat of 6 to 9 lb.
- You can keep the home warm.
- You are home much of the day, because independence is 1.
- You want a cat that suits a small home, with apartment living at 5 against 4.
Where they are alike
Both cats are affectionate, at 4 for the Birman and 5 for the Devon Rex, and need company, so neither suits an owner who is away all day. Each is a common breed, and each has conditions on its health watch-list to review with your vet.
Side by side
| Birman | Devon Rex | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | France, with a legendary link to Burma | Devon, England |
| Size | Medium | Small |
| Typical weight | — | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are somewhat larger |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Long | Short |
| Coat | Medium-long, silky coat with little undercoat, longer on the ruff | Soft, short, wavy coat with sparse, curled guard hairs; fragile whiskers |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Championship breed since 1983 |
| How common | Common | Common |
| Affection | 4 | 5 |
| Energy | 3 | 4 |
| 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 | 1 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 5 |
| 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 Devon Rex sheds less hair than many cats, but allergens also come from saliva and skin. |
| Suits | A household that wants a sweet, calm, people-loving cat and will comb its coat a couple of times a week. | A warm, busy home with someone around much of the day and a taste for a clinging, playful cat. |
| 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 left empty all day, or someone who wants a calm cat that keeps its distance. |
| 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