Maine Coon vs Birman - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Maine Coon vs Birman - Breed ComparisonBirman is originated from France but Maine Coon is originated from United States. Both Birman and Maine Coon are having almost same weight. Both Birman and Maine Coon has same life span. Both Birman and Maine Coon has same litter size. Both Birman and Maine Coon requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

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France
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
9 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
The Sacred Cat of Burma
Gentle Giant, Coo Cat
Colors Available:
White, cream, chocolate
Many colors - brown tabby most popular
Coat:
Medium-long, silky and shiny
3 layers - thick and silky
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

birmanThere isn’t clarity as to this exquisite cat’s origins. Many people believe they originated as the companions of temple priests in northern Burma.

The cats somehow found their way to France, and it is believed that they have been in France since the 1920s.

The cats nearly disappeared during World War II, but luckily the remaining Birmans that survived were crossed with Siamese and Persians to strengthen the breed. In the early 1950s, pure Birnam litters were produced. It was in about 1959 that Birmans were brought to the United States.

The cats were also recognized in Britain in 1965 and in 1966 by the CFA. The first Birman cats were seal point but later other colors were brought in such as red, chocolate, and tabby.

maine coonThe Maine Coon cat hails from Maine, USA. It’s a natural cat breed with actually little being known of its exact origins.

In fact, the first reference to the cat seems to have been in about 1861. It was in 1895 that a female Maine Coon was named Best Cat at a cat show held in Madison Square Gardens.

The Cat Fanciers Association was formed in 1908, and the 5th cat registered as a Maine Coon named Molly Bond.

The Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association was formed in 1968. The cat is also the official state cat of Maine.

Description

birman kitten - descriptionThese are medium-sized cats which can become fairly large. They can weigh up to 4, 5 or 6kg. They are fairly heavily boned with a broad face and ears that are widely spaced.

The round eyes are deep blue. The cat’s fur is medium-long and should be silky to the touch with no undercoat. Ther cat is a moderate shedder.

The base color is whitish to cream, but the kittens are always born white. Coat color, whether red, cream, or chocolate is always pointed and the cat always has the white paws.

Temperament:

The Birman isn’t as outgoing as some of the other cat breeds and its a quiet, docile intelligent cat that attaches itself to one particular family member. They can actually become jealous of their human companion and demand their attention.

These friendly cats are wonderful choices for families with children and dogs. They are calm and affectionate, and softly spoken, quietly letting you know when it’s dinner time and enjoying just being around his human family.

He is able to get along well with kids and other pets in the home. He can become quite playful too and because he is so intelligent, you can buy him some toys that require him to think.

maine coon kitten - descriptionThis is a large cat breed with strong bone structure. They can weigh between 5 and 9kg.

The height of these cats can be in the region of 25 and 41cm and they can reach a length of 97cm, including the tail. The body is muscular and robust with the chest being broad.

When it comes to the cat’s coat, the Maine Coon is characterized by the ruff along its chest. It has a 3-layered, water-resistant coat with longer hairs over a silky undercoat, and a long, bushy tail. The color of the coat can vary but the most common color is brown tabby. . It is medium- to long-haired. It’s a seasonal shedder with the fur being considerably thicker in the winter. All colors are available in this cat except blue.

Temperament:

The Maine Coon is a sociable cat and known for it playfulness as well as it being an intelligent cat and easy to train.

You’ll certainly need to supply the cat with some puzzle toys so as to stimulate his brain. It is also one of these cats known to have dog-like characteristics, becoming attached to its human owners, and being good-natured.

It is a loving cat and is also fairly vocal, wanting to tell its human owners what it wants. It’s not a lap cat. It is a gentle cat and gets on well with children and dogs as well as other cats.

Characteristics

birman cat - characteristicsThe Birman cat has to be one of the most beautiful cats there are, but the cat isn’t only a beautiful cat, it has wonderful characteristics as well.

It is a loving, affectionate cat with his human family, loving to spend time around them. Playful and healthy, when you bring this most wonderful cat into your home, it will be as though an angel has come to stay.

maine coon cat - characteristicsMaine Coon cats are such awesome pets and highly entertaining. They're excellent climbers too and to add to their many amazing characteristics, they love playing in water too.

You’ll be doing him a favor by providing him with a paddling pool. They’re so clever, they may even learn to turn a tap on.

He is such a social, friendly, family-loving cat and it's not surprising that he’s a firm favorite with most cat lovers.

Health Problems

birman kittens - health problemsWith good health your Birman can reach up to 13 years of age. With the Birman, the most serious illness is feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which also happens to be the most common heart disease in cats.

It’s a progressive disease and can result in heart failure. The cats are also at risk of developing feline infectious peritonitis.

Also, because this is a larger cat and a stocky kind of breed, it can easily put on weight and then become overweight. Strict attention will need to be given to diet as well as daily exercise.

Also, look out for Corneal dermoid - skin and hair on the surface of the cornea in one eye or in both. Luckily this is an eye problem that can be surgically corrected.

maine coon kittens - health problemsThere are certain health problems that seem to occur in this particular cat breed, including hip dysplasia and feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hip dysplasia is a condition of the hip joint that can cause degeneration of the joints. It can lead to stiffness and pain for your cat and it can be that your cat develops osteoarthritis.

If your cat develops hip dysplasia it won’t want to jump, it becomes lethargic and there may even be muscle loss in the rear legs.

Caring The Pet

General:

birman cats - caringThe Birman has a silky coat that sheds moderately so you want to give him a gentle brush once or twice a week to keep the coat of his soft and silky.

The Birman has a full topcoat, with no undercoat which means that you won’t have the coat matting or tangling.

He’ll need his nails trimmed and his teeth checked regularly. Your vet or professional groomers can do this for you and clean his teeth and check that there are no bad teeth making your pet sick.

Diet:

The Birman cat has access to some great commercial cat food as there are some seriously good quality ones.

Many cat lovers choose cat foods that are AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) approved. It at least provides minimum standards for pet foods.

For your Birman you want to avoid artificial flavors and preservatives. Choose quality foods high in meat protein. As a carnivore, a cat has a huge need for meat protein. Get to know your pet food labels and choose foods with added taurine and vitamin A.

maine coon cats - caringCat owners need to realize that diet is one of the most important factors of keeping a cat healthy. The Maine Coon needs nutritious food.

Some people give their cat a mix of dry kibble as well as wet food. It is better to feed your pet smaller meals as opposed to large meals. What is very important is that the cat food is of a high-quality and that it be made up of meaty protein as every cat is a carnivore.

Provide your Maine Coon with a litter box and put it in a quiet, private area. It’s a large cat so make sure the litter box is large as well. With a cat you may need to experiment with him to figure out where he prefers his litter box to be.

This is an active cat so ensure that he gets plenty of exercise. Provide him with climbing equipment and stimulating toys. Your Maine Coon might even enjoy going for a walk and for this, you’ll need to get a cat harness.

Every cat likes to scratch – it’s normal behavior. Make sure you have one or two scratching posts with heavy bases set up for your cat otherwise he may direct his scratching on your furniture.

Every cat owner needs to know a good vet in their area so that their pet can get immediate veterinary help when he becomes sick.

Your Maine Coon’s coat is thick – made up of 3 layers. To maintain its silky feel, and to prevent matting, make sure to brush it once or twice a week. Make it an enjoyable, gentle grooming session for your furry pet. Speak to your vet about the right kind of brushes.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Maine Coon vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Maine Coon vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Maine Coon vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Maine Coon vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Maine Coon vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Maine Coon vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Maine Coon vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Maine Coon vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Maine Coon vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Maine Coon vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Maine Coon vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Maine Coon vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Maine Coon vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Maine Coon vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Maine Coon vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Maine Coon vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Maine Coon vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Maine Coon vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Maine Coon vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Maine Coon vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Maine Coon vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Maine Coon vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Maine Coon vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Maine Coon vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Maine Coon vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. Birman vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. Birman vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. Birman vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. Birman vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. Birman vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. Birman vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. Birman vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. Birman vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. Birman vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. Birman vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Birman vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Birman vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. Birman vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. Birman vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. Birman vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. Birman vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. Birman vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. Birman vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. Birman vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. Blue Russian vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Bombay vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  47. Brazilian Shorthair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  48. Bristol vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  49. British Longhair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  50. British Shorthair vs Birman - Breed Comparison