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Burmese vs Devon Rex
Both are devoted, playful companions; the Devon Rex is a small cat with a wavy coat that needs warmth, the Burmese a medium cat with a glossy coat.
Verdict
Both rate 5 for affection and play. The one thing that decides it is size and coat. The Devon Rex is a small cat of 6 to 9 lb with a soft, wavy coat and fragile whiskers, and it needs a warm home. The Burmese is a medium cat of 9 to 13 lb with a very short, glossy coat, and it talks more. Choose the Devon Rex for a small, clinging, funny cat 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 more talkative cat, with voice at 4 against 3.
- You prefer a sleek coat in place of wavy fur.
- Your household has children, since it scores 5 against 4.
Choose the Devon Rex if
- You want a small cat that suits a small home, with apartment living at 5.
- You can keep the home warm.
- You want a funny, clinging companion.
- You accept the health items of hereditary myopathy, atopic dermatitis and patellar luxation, and will ask your vet.
Where they are alike
Both cats have a short coat that sheds lightly, rated 2 for each, and both rate 1 for independence. Each is a poor match for a long working day away.
Side by side
| Burmese | Devon Rex | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | Burma (Myanmar), developed in the United States and Britain | Devon, 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 somewhat larger |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Very short, fine, glossy, satin-like coat | Soft, short, wavy coat with sparse, curled guard hairs; fragile whiskers |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1936 | Championship breed since 1983 |
| How common | Uncommon | Common |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 4 | 4 |
| 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 | 1 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 5 |
| 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 Devon Rex sheds less hair than many cats, but allergens also come from saliva and skin. |
| Suits | An owner who is home a lot and wants a loving, playful cat that stays kittenish for years. | 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 for long hours, or who wants a quiet, 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