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The Maine Coon Breed
Gradach Tara and her naughty baby, Firefly
So much has been written about Maine Coons that it seems unnecessary to write more!
This article by The Cat Fanciers Association gives a good overview of the breed’s history and stories attached to it.
What most people want to know can be picked up from looking at and interacting with them, so go out and meet some at a show or a Maine Coon breeder’s home.
The Maine Coon should have a sense of massiveness, broad chested with a long rectangular body and a lush flowing coat. Be aware that many people exaggerate their weight and size!
Even large males seldom go beyond 10 kilos, unless they are tending to fat, and good sized females are around 6-7 kilos.
People enjoy the broad look of the head and muzzle, which should be square and with a good deep chin. The nose is medium long with a slight concavity in the profile – these features are quite different from other large cats like the Norwegian Forest cat.
The Maine Coon's coat is shorter than a Persian coat, especially over the shoulders, but should have length and fullness in the ruff, belly and britches. The texture is silky with the coat falling smoothly.
The Maine Coon comes in most colours of solid and tabby, tabby with white, and parti-colour. The classic or mackeral tabby gives the ‘trademark’ look of the Maine Coon for many, and the silver undercoat is also popular. Colors or patterns showing hybridization, such as chocolate, lilac, pointed pattern or ticked pattern, are not acceptable