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Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese Cat Breed Comparison

"Find similarities and differences between Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese" Compare Burmese and Birman. Which is better: Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
 
 
 
Name Burmese Birman Tonkinese
OriginsThailand flagThailand France flagFrance Canada flagCanada
Cat Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group Natural Crossbreed Crossbreed
Popularity Rank211918
Reviews000
User Ratings

Other Names
What other names do they have?
Burmese Cat Sacred Birman, Sacred Cat Of Burma Tonk
Price
Which one is cheaper, Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese cat?
$1000 to $1500 $700 to $1500 $600 to $1000
Cost Of Ownership Low Moderate Moderate
Breed Recognition No data available The International Cat Association (TICA)
Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)
American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) 		The International Cat Association (TICA)
Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)
American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA)

Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese Size, Appearance and Physical Traits Comparison

Size
Which is bigger, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese cat?
Small
The small-sized cats usually weigh 5-11 pounds and are 7-10 inches long from the nose down.
Medium
The medium-sized cats usually weigh 10-15 pounds and are 8-11 inches long from the nose down.
Small
The small-sized cats usually weigh 5-11 pounds and are 7-10 inches long from the nose down.
Weight
Which is heavier, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Male: 8 - 12 pounds, Female: 6 - 10 pounds Male: 9 - 15 pounds, Female: 6 - 10 pounds Male: 8 - 12 pounds, Female: 6 - 8 pounds
Bite ForceWeak Bite Strength: Less than or around 10 PSI Weak Bite Strength: Less than or around 10 PSI Weak Bite Strength: Less than or around 10 PSI
Body Type Semi-cobby
This body type is a mix between the cobby and foreign types.
 Semi-cobby
This body type is a mix between the cobby and foreign types.
 Semi-foreign
Tonkinese have a moderate build, more elongated than cobby cats but not as slender as foreign cats.
Ear Shape Medium
Rounded
Wide-set 		Medium
Rounded
Wide-set 		Pointed
Medium
Wide-set
Eye Color Gold
Green 		Blue Blue
Hair Color and Pattern Blue
Sable
Champagne
Platinum 		Red
Blue
Seal
Chocolate
Lilac
Cream 		Mink pattern, which is a combination of Siamese colorpoint and Burmese solid colours; base coat is cream or fawn with coloured points on ears, face, paws, and tail; point colours include natural (sable), champagne, blue, and platinum.
Coat
What is the difference between Burmese, Birman and Tonkinese coats?
Short Hair Long Hair Medium-short
Leg Lenght Medium Medium Medium
Whisker Length Medium Long Medium
Musculature Solid Solid Slender
Head Shape Round Round Round
Toe Count 5 front
4 back 		5 front
4 back 		5 front
4 back
Eye Shape And Orientation Oval Round Oval
Night Vision
Paw Size Medium Medium Medium
Nose Structure Convex Concave Straight
Neck Length Medium Medium Medium
Fur Texture Short
Dense 		Short
Dense 		Silky
Long
Bone Density Medium Medium Medium
Flexibility
High
Medium
High
Bone Structure Fine Sturdy Slender
Fine
Tail Length Long and Tapered Plumed Long and Tapered
Sleep Patterns Active
Less Sleep 		Calm
More Sleep 		Active
Less Sleep

Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese Special Abilities Comparison

Attention Span Long, highly social and focused Moderate, enjoys companionship Long, social and playful
Guarding Instinct Low Low Moderate
Protection Instincts Low Low Moderate
Climbing Ability Moderate Moderate Moderate
Jumping Ability Good Good Good
Swimming Ability Poor Poor Poor
Water Affinity
Rescue Capability Moderate Moderate Poor

Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese Health Comparison

Litter Size 4-6 Kittens 4-6 Kittens 4-6 Kittens
Special Needs Social
Affectionate
Moderate grooming 		Social
Moderate grooming
Gentle 		Affectionate
Vocal
Requires attention
Breeding Requires experienced breeders, small litter size Requires grooming knowledge, moderate litter size Requires grooming knowledge, small to moderate litter size
Dietary Preferences High protein, balanced diet Balanced diet Low fat, high fiber
Solo Time Tolerance High Medium Medium
Noise Sensitivity Moderate Moderate Low
Genetic Diversity Low Low Low
Sensitivity To Changes
High sensitivity
Medium sensitivity
High sensitivity
Food Motivation Low Low Moderate
Feeding Schedule Twice a day
Morning and Evening 		Two to three times a day Three times a day
Morning, Afternoon, and Evening
Maintenance Level Moderate Moderate Low
Exercise Needs High Medium Medium
Life Expectancy
Which will live longer, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
15-16 years 14-15 years 14-16 years
Energy Level
Which is more energetic, Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese cat?
The Burmese cat has a higher energy level than other cat breeds.
The Birman cat has an average energy level.
The Tonkinese cat has a very high energy level.
Hypoallergenic
Which cat is hypoallergenic, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Yes
Burmese cats do well with allergy sufferers by causing fewer allergic reactions.
No
Birman cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction.
No
Tonkinese cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction.
Common Health Issues
Which cat is healthier, Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese?
High
Burmeses tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds.
High
Birmans tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds.
High
Tonkineses tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds.
Health Problems Diabetes Mellitus
Hypokalemia
Feline Orofacial Pain Syndrome (FOPS) 		Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Corneal Dermoid
Congenital Hypotrichosis 		Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Upper Respiratory Infections
Asthma
Climate Temperate Temperate Temperate
Cold Tolerance High Medium Medium
Heat Tolerance High Medium Medium
Breeding Difficulty Easy Medium Medium

Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese Characteristics and Personality Comparison

Common Vocalizations Talkative and loud Soft and quiet meows Social and playful meows
Interaction With Other Pets Excellent, very social and affectionate Excellent, very sociable Good, very social and friendly
Facial Expression People-oriented and energetic Gentle and affectionate Social and playful
Tail Behavior Energetic tail movements Soft tail movements Social and playful tail movements
Explorer Instincts Moderate Moderate Moderate
Attention Needs High Moderate High
Protectiveness Low Low Moderate
Territoriality Low Low Moderate
Independence Low Low High
Response To Commands High Moderate High
Adaptability To Indoor Life High High High
Hunting Drive High Low High
Play Style Active
Social
Playful 		Social
Playful
Gentle 		Curious
Social
Playful
Escape Tendencies High Low High
Curiosity High Moderate High
Hunting Skills Moderate ⏺️ Low ⬇️ Moderate ⏺️
Reaction To Strangers Friendly 😊 Friendly 😊 Friendly 😊
Stalking Behavior High Low High
Aggression Level Moderate Moderate Low
Training Difficulty Easy Easy Moderate
Agility High Moderate High
Travel Compatibility High High High
Activity
Highly Active
Moderately Active
Moderately Active
Compatibility With Other Animals High
Friendly
Tolerant 		Playful
Medium 		Playful
Medium
Household Noise Tolerance High Medium Medium
Playfulness
Active Adventurer. Burmese are quite playful and enjoy frequent play sessions.
Balanced Playmate. Birman have a balanced playfulness.
Active Adventurer. Tonkinese are quite playful and enjoy frequent play sessions.
Trainability
Average Trainability: Burmese cat breeds are less interested in training and obedience, but can still learn basic commands and routines with enough practice and rewards.
Moderately Trainable: Birman cat breeds require more patience, repetition, and reinforcement to learn new commands and behaviors, but can still be trained successfully with consistent efforts.
Highly Trainable: Tonkinese cat breeds are the most intelligent, responsive, and eager to learn, making them excellent candidates for training, obedience, and tricks.
Lap Cat
Which cat is lap type, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Yes
This cat loves to sit on his owner's lap.
Yes
This cat loves to sit on his owner's lap.
Yes
This cat loves to sit on his owner's lap.
Temperament
Which one has a better personality, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Curious Affectionate Curious
Adaptability
Which cat has a higher adaptability potential?
Burmese cats adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Birman cats adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tonkinese cats adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Affection Level
Which is the more affectionate cat breed: Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese?
High: Burmese cats are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate cats toward their handlers.
High: Birman cats are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate cats toward their handlers.
High: Tonkinese cats are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate cats toward their handlers.
Child Friendly
Which cat is more kid-friendly, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
The Burmese cat is a child-friendly breed.
The Birman cat is a child-friendly breed.
The Tonkinese cat is a child-friendly breed.
Dog Friendly
Which cat is more dog-friendly, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Very dog-friendly: Burmese owners often find that their cats get along very well with the family dog.
Very dog-friendly: Birman owners often find that their cats get along very well with the family dog.
Very dog-friendly: Tonkinese owners often find that their cats get along very well with the family dog.
Intelligence
Which cat is smarter, Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese?
Outstanding: Burmese is one of the brightest cat breeds.
Average: the Birman cat has an average level of intelligence.
Outstanding: Tonkinese is one of the brightest cat breeds.
Social Needs
Which cat is more social, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Lots: this cat breed needs lots of social interaction.
Above-average: they need more social interaction than average cats.
Lots: this cat breed needs lots of social interaction.
Stranger Friendly
Which cat is more stranger friendly, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Very: this cat breed gets on very well with strange people.
Average: this cat breed gets on relatively well with strangers.
Very: this cat breed gets on very well with strange people.
Vocalization
Which cat is the loudest, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Frequent
This cat breed meows very often.
Low
Low vocalization cats are a category of cats that typically make less noise than other cats.
Frequent
This cat breed meows very often.

Burmese vs Birman vs Tonkinese Grooming Comparison

Seasonal Shedding Low Moderate Low
Grooming Tools Needed Brush
Nail Clipper
Comb
Deshedding Tool 		Brush
Comb
Deshedding Tool 		Brush
Nail Clipper
Comb
Deshedding Tool
Dental CareHigh Moderate Moderate
Grooming
Which is easier to groom, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Low Maintenance
Occasional grooming is recommended to keep the Burmese coat in good condition.
Moderate Maintenance
Grooming your Birman cat is an essential part of caring for their health and well-being.
Low Maintenance
Occasional grooming is recommended to keep the Tonkinese coat in good condition.
Shedding
Which cat sheds less, Burmese or Birman or Tonkinese?
Minimal
This cat breed sheds much less than the average.
Moderate
This cat breed is of average shedding.
High
If you're looking for a cat that won't leave a trail of fur everywhere they go, you might want to rethink your choice of pet.

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