Maine Coon

Coat length	Semi-longhair
Weight	Male: Ø 5.5-9 kg Female: Ø 4-6.5 kg
Coat colours:	Epistatic White W-; black series B- black/brown(dilution dd: blue) Red series O- red(dilution dd: cream) Also with Silver I- or white spotting:White S-
Coat patterns:	Solid, without markings (solid, non-agouti) Blotched (blotched, classic) Mackerel (mackerel) Ticked (ticked)
Activity / playfulness
Grooming needs

The Maine Coon originated as a domestic working cat in the north-eastern United States. In 1985, Maine designated it the official state cat. It has since become an established pedigree breed. Together with the Norwegian Forest Cat and Siberian, it is often grouped among the natural or forest-cat breeds. It has a semi-long coat and a substantial build. Its affectionate nature has earned it the nickname “dog-like cat”; other names include Maine Cat and Maine Shag. Its combination of size and temperament is captured by “gentle giant”.

Appearance

Maine Coons have a large frame and a long, bushy tail. The head is slightly longer than it is wide, with a broad muzzle and widely spaced eyes. The ears are large and broad at the base. Lynx-like tips are desirable but not essential, while inner-ear furnishings provide insulation. The coat is long, dense and water-repellent, and tufts between the toes are often called “snowshoes”.

A Maine Coon may not be fully grown until around four years of age. Alongside the Norwegian Forest Cat and Ragdoll, it is among the largest domestic cat breeds. Exceptional males can measure more than 1.20 metres from nose to tail tip and weigh over 12 kilograms, but these are not typical target weights. The ranges given in this profile are 5.5–9 kilograms for males and 4–6.5 kilograms for females.

Temperament and behaviour

With its working-cat background, the Maine Coon is an able hunter and is generally intelligent and playful. Many use their paws skilfully to pick up objects, investigate taps or open doors. Some enjoy retrieving toys, and some lift food with a paw rather than eating directly from the bowl. An interest in playing with water is also common.

The voice is often surprisingly soft and high for such a large cat. Maine Coons can be very communicative with people and other cats, using chirps and trills to make their wishes clear. Many are sociable and can live comfortably with compatible household pets, including animals other than cats.

Legends and origins

Several stories surround the breed’s origins. The bushy tails of early Maine cats reminded New England residents of raccoons, sometimes called “coons”. This gave rise to the claim that the breed resulted from cats mating with raccoons, which is biologically impossible.

Another story describes a trading captain named Coon whose longhaired ship’s cats accompanied him ashore in New England. While he traded, his cats supposedly met local harbour cats. Whenever a longhaired kitten appeared nine weeks later, people would call it another “Coon cat”.

A third tale links the breed to longhaired cats belonging to Marie Antoinette. The French queen was fond of fluffy animals, and some of her possessions were shipped to America. The story proposes that her cats bred with local cats in Maine.

A fourth legend makes Maine Coons descendants of Norwegian Forest Cats brought to New England as ship’s cats by Leif Eriksson around the year 1000. The forest-cat breeds do share some outward similarities, but this does not establish the story as fact.

A more plausible general explanation is that natural selection favoured large, robust cats with coats suited to New England’s cold, harsh winters.

America’s early show cat

Maine cats were already popular by the middle of the nineteenth century. Agricultural events such as the Skowhegan Fair selected the finest Maine cat, which could receive the title Maine State Champion Cat.

Mrs E. R. Pierce, co-owner of a black-and-white male called Captain Jenks of the Horse Marines, documented the early history of domestic cats in the United States, including the Maine Coon. Cats then known as Maine Cats appeared at shows west of Chicago as early as 1870.

Around 1900, enthusiasm for cat shows spread across the country. The Cat Fanciers’ Association was founded in 1906. Its first studbook included 28 Maine cats, among them registration number five, Molly Bond.

Breeding history

After this early popularity, the breed received relatively little attention until the early 1950s. Enthusiasts worked to restore recognition by exhibiting Maine Coons wherever possible. With few established pedigree lines available, they used foundation cats selected from the local population for the desired characteristics.

Several influential breeders established their programmes in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In May 1976, the CFA granted full recognition. FIFe recognition followed in 1983 after earlier attempts had failed.

The Maine Coon Breeders & Fanciers Association was founded in the United States in 1968 to support recognition and development of the breed. Breed-specific groups also developed in European countries including Italy, the Netherlands, Finland and Germany. In Germany, the IG Maine Coon within the 1. DEKZV played an important role until 2002 and contributed to work on the FIFe standard. These are historical details, not a current directory of active clubs.

Some breeders have sought to broaden the gene pool by introducing new foundation cats. This can increase genetic diversity, but cats with less documented ancestry may also introduce unexpected traits, appearance or health risks.

The Top Five and the “Clones”

Five influential foundation cats from three early lines are often called the “Top Five”. Historical pedigree estimates for traditionally bred Maine Coons without newer foundation ancestry attribute approximately:

• 70% of ancestry to the Top Five;
• 55% to the Top Three;
• 40% to the Top Two.

These figures describe historical pedigree contributions, not a measurement that applies identically to every Maine Coon.

The offspring of Heidi Ho Sonkey Bill, born in 1978, and Tanstaafl Polly Adeline were nicknamed the “Clones” because they looked so similar. Their show quality led to extensive use in breeding. Older pedigree estimates place their contribution at around 35% in traditional lines without new foundation ancestry.

Polydactyl Maine Coons

Historical accounts estimate that around 40% of cats in the early foundation population had extra toes, a trait known as polydactyly. Early breeders deferred recognition of this variety while seeking acceptance of the Maine Coon itself.

TICA accepted the Maine Coon Polydactyl for championship competition in 2015. Other associations have their own rules. Registration rules and animal-welfare law are separate matters. Source: TICA breed-group documentation.

Breed standard

Breeders follow the standard of the organisation to which their club belongs. CFA, FIFe, TICA and WCF standards share many core features, with differences in detail. The original article also refers to an educational Maine Coon seminar prepared by an international judge and long-standing breeder as a discussion of the standard.

Health

The Maine Coon’s natural-breed image is often associated with strength and robustness, but it does not make the breed free from inherited disease. Conditions discussed in the original profile include the following.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, can be present without obvious outward signs. Its course varies: some cats remain symptom-free for years, while others develop serious complications. Sudden death is a possible outcome, not an inevitable or uniformly likely one. Heart ultrasound is central to diagnosis, and treatment and monitoring depend on the individual findings. Source: Cornell Feline Health Center.

Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation

Joint problems can occur in large, heavy cats. Veterinary examination and, where appropriate, X-rays help establish the diagnosis. An orthopaedic specialist may be involved. Whether surgery or another approach is appropriate depends on the individual cat rather than the breed name alone.

Spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, affects motor nerve cells and can cause muscle wasting and an abnormal gait. A genetic test can identify the relevant inherited variant and support breeding decisions that avoid affected kittens. Source: UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory.

Polycystic kidney disease

Polycystic kidney disease, or PKD, involves cysts that can progressively impair kidney function. The PKD1 variant is particularly associated with Persians and cats of Persian ancestry; testing is also offered for Maine Coons. A result for one variant does not exclude every possible kidney disorder. Veterinary assessment, including ultrasound when indicated, remains important. Source: UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory.