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Burmese vs Maine Coon
The Burmese is a medium, short-coated, talkative cat that wants you home; the Maine Coon is a large, longhaired, easygoing family cat.
Verdict
Both score 5 for children. The one thing that decides it is size and coat. The Maine Coon is a large, very common cat of typically 8 to 18 lb with a thick coat that needs brushing a few times a week. The Burmese is a medium cat of 9 to 13 lb with a very short coat that needs almost no grooming, and it rates 4 for voice. Choose the Burmese for a compact, talkative companion and the Maine Coon for a bigger, calmer, easygoing one.
Choose the Burmese if
- You want a medium cat with a coat that needs almost no grooming.
- You want a playful cat that stays kittenish for years.
- You are home a lot, since independence is 1.
- You enjoy a talkative companion.
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 and accept seasonal shedding.
- You want a quieter, more independent cat, with voice at 2 and independence at 3.
Where they are alike
Both cats are affectionate, playful and sociable, and each does well in a family home. Both rate 4 or higher for affection and play.
Side by side
| Burmese | Maine Coon | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Burma (Myanmar), developed in the United States and Britain | Maine, United States |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | 9-13 lb (4-6 kg); males are larger | 8-18 lb (3.6-8.2 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Very short, fine, glossy, satin-like coat | Shaggy, water-shedding double coat, longer on the ruff, belly and britches |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1936 | Championship breed since 1976 |
| How common | Uncommon | Very common |
| Affection | 5 | 4 |
| Energy | 4 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 4 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 1 | 4 |
| Shedding | 2 | 4 |
| Good with children | 5 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 5 |
| Happy alone | 1 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 3 |
| 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 Maine Coon's thick coat sheds seasonally, and people who react to cats usually react to this breed too. |
| Suits | An owner who is home a lot and wants a loving, playful cat that stays kittenish for years. | 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 for long hours, or who wants a quiet, 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