The Gentle Giant: Maine Coon Cat Profile, Facts, and Care

Last Updated on March 18, 2022 by Holly Anne Dustin

Maine Coon cats are the oldest breed native to North America. They are the largest domestic cat. The Maine Coon is a sturdy, working cat, well suited to their role of mouser and vermin patrol in the cold northern climate. The winner of the first cat show in America in 1895 was a Maine Coon. They remained a popular breed until the Persian overtook them.

Like their fellow native longhair, the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Maine Coon breed almost disappeared.  Fortunately for us, the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association was founded in 1968 to protect and develop the breed. The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) accepted the Maine Coon for championship status in 1976. In 1985, Maine Coons became the official State Cat of Maine.

Development of the Maine Coon Cat.

How the breed developed has been the subject of many myths and legends. First of all, no, Maine Coons are not the product of breeding with racoons.They aren’t bobcat or lynx cross either. Most likely the Maine Coon results from breeding between local domestic short-haired cats and long-haired cats on visiting ships.

One legend has it that Marie Antoinette smuggled her beloved Angora cats out of France when she was trying to escape the French Revolution. The Vikings and New England seafarers might also have carried long-haired mouser cats aboard their ships that helped create the Maine Coon cat.

Maine Coon Cat Facts

Standards of Appearance:

The CFA standard states that the Maine Coon is a solid, rugged cat. Maine Coons are working cats that thrive in a harder climate with a smooth, shaggy coat.  Maine Coon Cats don’t get their full size until they are 3-5 years old. The standards say that judges aren’t to penalize young cats for lack of size.

The cat’s body is muscular, broad-chested, long and rectangular. Maine Coons can be as large as 18-20 pounds and 40 inches long.  It should be well-proportioned and balanced. Maine Coon’s have a long, bushy tail that should be able to wrap around their face for extra warmth in the cold.

There is a difference in interpreting that standard depending on breeder preferences, where you live, and where you show. European Maine Coons are much bigger and “wilder” looking than what you see from top cats in the US.

The International Cat Association (TICA) favors the larger, more “feral” look with larger boning while a CFA standard Maine Coon has a softer look with lighter boning. The difference in standards is something to keep in mind if you will show your Maine Coon cat. Find a breeder that has successful cats in the fanciers association you plan to show in.

Head

Maine Coons have a rectangular head with a square, blunt muzzle and a firm chin. Everything about the head should give you the impression of a square. It should not be pointed like the Norwegian Forest Cat, or rounded like the Siberian.

A Maine Coon’s profile should have a slightly concave slope. The straight, Roman nose style of the Norwegian Forest is not acceptable but there should not be a distinctive “break’ like a Persian.

Maine Coon’s have ears that sit higher on the head. They should be about one ear width apart. The cats have “well furnished” ears with lynx tips.

Coat

Maine Coons have a heavy and shaggy coat.  It should be shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches. A full “mane” or ruff is desirable. The coat should be shiny, silky, and fall smoothly.  The coat is semi-waterproof, which works for a breed that likes water.

Colors

As a natural breed, Maine Coon cats come in pretty much every cat color and pattern. There are 75 different options for Maine Coon cat colors. They exist in solids, bi-colors, parti-colors (torties, torbies, calicoes), tabbies, smokes, and shaded coats. A ticked, non-tabby pattern, like the Abyssinian, is nonstandard. The breed standard also declares pointed colors and hybrid colors like chocolate and lavender unacceptable.

Bi-color or parti-color Maine Coons, otherwise known as the “and white” cats, need to have a white bib, belly, and all four paws. White spots, lockets, and buttons disqualify a cat. Rules permit a van pattern with color only on the head and tail.

Eye color can be shades of green, gold, green-gold or copper. White cats and all cats with white may have blue or odd eyes.

Polydactylism in Maine Coon Cats

Maine Coons are prone to a genetic mutation called polydactylism. Polydactyl cats, also called “double pawed” or Hemingway cats, have more than the normal number of claws per paw. There is no health risk to polydactyl cats.

Maine Coon Polys are another area where the different associations have different rules. Polydactylism is a disqualifying feature in CFA and the American Cat Fanciers Association (AFCA). TICA has a separate championship class for Maine Coon Polys. The Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF) accepts them in the same class as non polydactyl Maine Coons.

What Health Issues Do Maine Coon Cats Have?

As a natural breed, the Maine Coon Cat is fairly healthy. Their lifespan is the same 12-15 years as a typical cat. Genetic testing is available to reduce the risk of breeding cats with genetic predispositions to disease.

There are certain diseases that are more common in Maine Coons. Like large-breed dogs, these large-breed cats are more prone to hip dysplasia. A Maine Coon over-bred for size is at more risk for hip dysplasia which can lead to lameness.

Another inherited health problem is a heart disease known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM). Any cat, even mixed breed domestics, can have HCM. But the Maine Coon is one breed most prone to it. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)’, renal failure, and spinal muscular atrophy are also common for these felines.

You will want to look for a breeder that does genetic testing and yearly scanning for HCM and PKD and shares that information.

Their size and slow maturation rate can cause them to become obese because they look underfed when they are in their growth face. Guardians unwittingly overfeed them.

Maine Coon Cat Personality

Maine Coons are easy-going and affectionate but not clingy. They are outgoing, very social, and love to hang out with their humans. They get along well with other people, children and dogs. Maine Coons are big and cuddly but are not lap cats.

Like his fellow forest cats, your Maine Coon will essentially be a 20 pound kitten. They remain playful for most of their life. Very intelligent, Maine Coon cats are easy to train. They can learn to respond to their names, do tricks, and play games.

A well-socialized Maine Coon makes an excellent adventure buddy. Maine Coon Cats take to novel experiences well if we raise them to be confident cats. Most Maine Coons enjoy the water. They have water-resistant fur and can be adept swimmers. They are good hikers. Many adventure cats that canoe or kayak with their people are Maine Coons.

Are Maine Coons Talkative?

Maine Coons want to tell you all about their day. They are vocal, but not loud and annoying. They can be persistent though. Maine Coons have a wide vocabulary of sounds. They meow, chirrup, trill and purr and chitter at the animals out the window. You’ll learn his language and soon know what he’s asking.

Maine Coon Cat Grooming

The Maine Coon’s grooming needs are not intensive like a Persian. Their fluffy, water-resistant coats are fairly easy to care for. A weekly brushing, regular nail trims and an occasional bathing when they get greasy will keep your Maine Coon in good shape.

Is a Maine Coon the Right Cat for You

The  average price for a Maine Coon Cat is $1,000. Beware the low cost “Maine Coon” with no papers. It may be a Maine Coon, or a mix of a domestic longhair, or a brown tabby longhair with no remarkable background at all.

If you’re looking for a pedigreed cat to show, you want to find a reputable preservation breeder registered with at least one of the major registries, a record of show success, good health screenings, and an available, documented, pedigree.

Maine Coon Cats are sociable, sturdy, low maintenance, cats. Some people call them “dog like” (I hate that concept.) If you’re looking for a loveable, furry sidekick, adaptable to just about any environment then one of these gentle giants might be perfect for you.

Looking for a different breed? Check our list of breed profiles here.