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Birman vs Maine Coon
Both are sociable longhairs that suit families; the Maine Coon is the much larger cat with heavier grooming and shedding.
Verdict
Both score 5 for children and other pets, rate 2 for voice and enjoy company. The one thing that decides it is size. The Maine Coon is a large cat, typically 8 to 18 lb, with a thick coat that needs brushing a few times a week and sheds seasonally. The Birman is a medium cat with a silky coat that needs combing a couple of times a week. Choose the Birman for a smaller, calmer companion and the Maine Coon for a bigger, more playful one.
Choose the Birman if
- You want a medium cat that takes up less room.
- You prefer a silky coat with little undercoat and moderate shedding.
- You live in a smaller home, since apartment living scores 4 against 3.
- You want a sweeter, calmer cat, with play at 3 against 4.
Choose the Maine Coon if
- You want a large, sociable cat and accept a bigger litter box and food bill.
- You have room for climbing.
- You will brush a thick coat a few times a week.
- You want a cat that copes better alone, with independence at 3 against 2.
Where they are alike
Both cats are friendly, family-minded longhairs that get on with children and with other pets. Both breeds are easy to find, with the Maine Coon rated very common.
Side by side
| Birman | Maine Coon | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | France, with a legendary link to Burma | Maine, United States |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | — | 8-18 lb (3.6-8.2 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Long | Long |
| Coat | Medium-long, silky coat with little undercoat, longer on the ruff | Shaggy, water-shedding double coat, longer on the ruff, belly and britches |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Championship breed since 1976 |
| How common | Common | Very common |
| Affection | 4 | 4 |
| Energy | 3 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 4 |
| Shedding | 3 | 4 |
| Good with children | 5 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 5 | 5 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 3 |
| 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 Maine Coon's thick coat sheds seasonally, and people who react to cats usually react to this breed too. |
| Suits | A household that wants a sweet, calm, people-loving cat and will comb its coat a couple of times a week. | A family or a household with other pets that wants a large, sociable cat and will brush it a few times a week. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who is away most of the day, or who wants a very active and independent cat. | A small flat with little room to climb, or anyone who wants a lap cat that stays small. |
| 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