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Burmese vs Cornish Rex
Both are devoted, playful companions; the Cornish Rex is a small, high-energy cat with a fine wavy coat that needs warmth, the Burmese a medium cat.
Verdict
These two cats are close in devotion and play. The one thing that decides it is size and warmth. 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 needs a warm home. The Burmese is a medium cat of 9 to 13 lb with a glossy coat, and is more talkative. Choose the Cornish Rex for a small, energetic cat in a warm home and the Burmese for a bigger, chattier one.
Choose the Burmese if
- You want a medium cat of 9 to 13 lb.
- You want a talkative cat, with voice at 4 against 3.
- You want a glossy, satin-like coat that needs almost no grooming.
- Your household has children, since it scores 5 against 4.
Choose the Cornish Rex if
- You want the most energetic cat of the two, rated 5 against 4.
- You can keep the home warm.
- You want a small cat of 6 to 9 lb.
- You want a coat that is fine and wavy, in a cat that is uncommon.
Where they are alike
Both cats rate 5 for affection and 5 for play, and both are poor matches for a long working day away. Each has a coat that sheds lightly and needs little grooming.
Side by side
| Burmese | Cornish Rex | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | Burma (Myanmar), developed in the United States and Britain | Cornwall, England |
| Size | Medium | Small |
| Typical weight | 9-13 lb (4-6 kg); males are larger | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are slightly larger |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Very short, fine, glossy, satin-like coat | Very fine, soft, tightly waved coat of down hair only, with no guard hairs |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1936 | Championship breed since 1964 |
| How common | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 4 | 5 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 4 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 1 | 2 |
| Shedding | 2 | 2 |
| Good with children | 5 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 1 | 2 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The very short coat sheds lightly, but people who react to cats may still react to a Burmese. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The thin coat sheds less hair than most, but allergens come from saliva and skin as well as fur. |
| Suits | An owner who is home a lot and wants a loving, playful cat that stays kittenish for years. | An active household that wants a playful, people-loving cat and can keep the home warm. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who is away for long hours, or who wants a quiet, 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