Birman vs Bengal - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

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

History

birman - historyThere 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.

bengal - historyWhat an exquisite coat the Bengal cat has. It looks like the coat of a wild cat and can have spots, marbling, and rosettes, but it is domesticated, developed from hybrids – the spotted Egyptian Mau and the Asian Leopard cat.

It is the only domestic breed of cat that has rosette markings. It is Jean Mill of California that you associate the Bengal cat with, and she conducted a number of graduate classes in genetics.

Basic Information

Origin:
France
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
12 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
The Sacred Cat of Burma
Miniature Leopard
Colors Available:
White, cream, chocolate
ticked or rosetted., red, clouded, Wide variety of colors and patterns. The cat can be brown,black, grey,spotted
Coat:
Medium-long, silky and shiny
Short and a little rough
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
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, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

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.

bengal kitten - descriptionThe Bengal looks like a wild cat and it can weigh up to 7kg. It can reach a height of 70cm with long, muscular legs and almond-shaped eyes which are green or blue.

When it comes to the coat of the Bengal cat, it has a wide variety of colors and patterns. The cat can be brown, black, red, grey, spotted, clouded, ticked or rosette.

There are Bengal breeders that claim that their Bengals are hypoallergenic so that they won’t cause an allergic reaction with their owers. This is something that hasn’t been scientifically proved and in fact many will say that there isn’t such as thing as a hypoallergenic cat.

The Bengal is a medium to large-sized cat, being long and lean and muscular. As a low shedder, it is believed the Bengal is a hypoallergenic cat breed – a cat less likely to cause an allergy with its human owners.

The cat's tail is thick, while the ears are medium-sized with rounded tops.

Temperament:

When you bring a Bengal cat into your home, you’ll find they are energetic, smart, and playful and they love cavorting around in water.

People who have owned a Bengal say that the cat is friendly and that it enjoys interacting with humans. They’re cats capable of forming strong bonds with their human family, becoming affectionate and loyal. They in turn want to receive lots of loving attention.

They’re intelligent too and are quick to learn. You have to remember that these are part wild cat and that they are only classed as tame from the 4th generation (T4).

The cat has wild traits so it is only natural that it likes to hunt so don’t be alarmed when your Bengal presents you with dead mice, moles, and birds.

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.

bengal cat - characteristicsBengal cats are intelligent and just like a dog he is clever at learning tricks and can even be taught things such as ‘sit’, ‘fetch’ or ‘lie down’. They actually make great companions as they are sensitive to their owner's moods and can even recognize human gestures and adapt their behavior to their owner's mood.

They’re vocal cats too and they like to communicate about their needs, being able to meow in different tones. They’re active cats and they want active owners – those who can spend time with them playing and even going on walks and hikes.

The Bengal certainly is a wonderfully companionable cat.

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.

bengal kittens - health problemsHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a concern with the Bengal cat breed and this is a disease where the heart muscle becomes thick and unable to pump blood properly.

It’s a common genetic disease in Bengal cats. Cats used for breeding need to be screened each year to ensure no hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is present.

Another problem with the Bengal cat is Progressive retinal atrophy or PRA. Anyone wanting to breed Bengals should have their cat tested for this eye disease as the disease can lead to blindness.

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.

bengal cats - caringYou will need a secured outdoor area for your Bengal cat where he can play and climb. He will need these for his activity levels as well as stimulating toys.

Provide feeding and water bowls and also make sure that you provide your Bengal with a shallow swimming pool as this cat loves water.

Diet:

The Bengal is a healthy cat breed so it is important to provide your pet cat with the best food there is and to ensure he gets checked out at the vet every year.

Most hybrid breed owners provide raw food as these cats are often sensitive to commercially manufactured food. Having said that, there are high-quality prepared cat foods that will provide your Bengal with everything needed for a healthy life.

Look at providing your pet with a good supplement to ensure your furry friend has every chance to be healthy and happy.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Bengal vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Bengal vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Bengal vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Bengal vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Bengal vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Bengal vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Bengal vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Bengal vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Bengal vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Bengal vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Bengal vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Bengal vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Bengal vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Bengal vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Bengal vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Bengal vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Bengal vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Bicolor vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Birman vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  20. Blue Russian vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  21. Bombay vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  22. Brazilian Shorthair vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  23. Bristol vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  24. British Longhair vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  25. British Shorthair vs Bengal - 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 Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  44. Blue Russian vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  45. Bombay vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Brazilian Shorthair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  47. Bristol vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  48. British Longhair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  49. British Shorthair vs Birman - Breed Comparison

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