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Burmese vs Norwegian Forest Cat
The Burmese is a talkative, devoted short-coated cat that wants you home; the Norwegian Forest Cat is a large, easygoing longhair that copes alone.
Verdict
These two cats differ on company, size and coat. The Burmese rates 5 for affection and play, 4 for voice and 1 for independence, so it wants a person home much of the day. Its very short coat needs almost no grooming. The Norwegian Forest Cat is a large, easygoing cat of typically 9 to 16 lb, rates 4 for independence, and sheds heavily each spring. Choose the Burmese for a devoted, talkative companion and the Norwegian Forest Cat for a steady, self-possessed cat in a house with room to climb.
Choose the Burmese if
- You are home a lot and want a loving, playful cat.
- You enjoy a talkative companion.
- You want a very short coat with almost no grooming.
- You want a cat that suits a flat, with apartment living at 4 against 2.
Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat if
- You are out for part of the day, since independence is 4.
- You have space and tall climbing for a large cat.
- You will comb a long, woolly coat through the spring moult.
- You want a quieter cat, with voice at 2 against 4.
Where they are alike
Both cats are good with children and other pets, scoring 4 or higher for each. Each lists a few conditions for the vet to watch, so ask your vet and the breeder about screening.
Side by side
| Burmese | Norwegian Forest Cat | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Burma (Myanmar), developed in the United States and Britain | Norway |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | 9-13 lb (4-6 kg); males are larger | 9-16 lb (4-7.3 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years | Commonly reported as 15 years or more |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Very short, fine, glossy, satin-like coat | Long, glossy, water-repellent topcoat over a dense woolly undercoat, with a full ruff and bushy tail |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1936 | Championship breed since 1993 |
| How common | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Affection | 5 | 3 |
| Energy | 4 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 4 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 1 | 3 |
| Shedding | 2 | 4 |
| Good with children | 5 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 1 | 4 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 2 |
| 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 Norwegian Forest Cat sheds heavily each spring, and people who react to cats usually react to it too. |
| Suits | An owner who is home a lot and wants a loving, playful cat that stays kittenish for years. | A home with space and tall climbing that wants a friendly, steady, self-possessed cat and will comb it through the spring moult. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who is away for long hours, or who wants a quiet, independent cat. | A small flat with little height to climb, or anyone who wants a clinging 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