MAINE COON

The World’s Longest Domestic Cat Breed

Maine Coon Cats are a domestic breed was registered in 1861. Considered the oldest natural cat breed in North America. Possessing a long lifespan of 12-20 years. Originally developed to hunt rats and mice on ships.

Maine Coon Cats are registered with CFA, ACFA, FIFe, and TICA. Although initially bred for valuable hunting skills, today’s breed is a slow-paced hunter that is more likely to lick and cuddle your mouse than hunt it.

Lifespan: 12-20 years
Weight: 12-25 pounds
Exercise: Low
Hypoallergenic: No
Nicknames: Gentle giants, Coon Cat, Maine Cat, Maine Shag, American Longhair, American Forest Cat

Personality of Maine Coons is notable for being affectionate, relaxed, and easy-going. They are also patient with children and can be good pets for families. The Maine Coon has a notable gentle disposition, loves to cuddle, loves everyone, has low energy needs, and can adapt to any home.

Unique traits of the Maine Coon include a thick shaggy lions mane, ear tips, easy going temperament and laid back personality.

Exercise level is low making them ideal for apartment dwellers. They are couch potatoes, foot warmers and over all lazy cats. As kittens they are generally playful and adventurous.

Lifespan of a Maine Coon can vary from 10 up to 20 years.

Health of you Maine Coon in particular are susceptible to certain health conditions. So it is important to pick a breeder who performs proper health tests. Maine Coons can suffer from heart disease and hip dysplasia. They also require regular grooming

Grooming a Maine Coon is the ultimate downside of the breed, daily brushing is a requirement. The Maine Coon cat breed has a reputation for being one of the easiest breeds ever to keep but it’s downside is grooming. Long hair cats require daily brush with a carding comb. Knowing how to mainetain a long hair coat is essential to avoid painful matting. Matting can cause extreme pain resulting in poor temperament from pain.

What should a Maine Coon look like?

The Maine Coon is a solid, rugged cat and is America's oldest natural longhaired breed. Type must not be sacrificed for size, nor size for type, the optimum being a large, type cat. Females are somewhat smaller than males, and allowance should be made for the slow maturation of the breed.

Tail: Maine Coons have long, bushy tails that they can wrap around themselves for warmth.
Muzzle: The Maine Coons muzzle (mouth/chin) is visibly square, medium in length and blunt ended when viewed in profile. It may give the appearance of being a rectangle but should not appear to be tapering or pointed. Length and width of the muzzle should be proportionate to the rest of the head and present a pleasant, balanced appearance. The chin should be strong, firm and in line with the upper lip and nose. When viewed in profile the chin depth should be observable and give the impression of a square, 90-degree angle. A chin lacking in depth, i.e. one that tapers from the jaw line to the lip, is not considered strong, firm or desirable.

Coat: Maine Coons have a long, thick, waterproof coat that's shorter on the neck and back and longer on the stomach, britches, and ruff. Their coat can come in many colors, including white, tortoiseshell, tabby, and smoke. Fur is soft but has body, falls smoothly, and lies close to the body. A slight undercoat is carried. A full ruff is not expected; however, there should be a frontal ruff beginning at the base of the ears.”
- Lions Mane: Maine Coons are most noted by their “Lions Mane”. As the breed standard states; “Fur on shoulders is short, gradually increasing in length along back and sides, ending in full britches and long, shaggy belly fur.
Ears: Maine Coons have large, pointed ears with tufts of fur that help them hear and protect them from the cold.
Feet: Maine Coons have large, round, tufted feet that help them walk on snow.

Maine Coons are available in a variety of 75 different color combinations with the exception of pointed patterns and colors. Common colors for Maine Coons include blue, red, black, white, silver, and brown. Maine Coons can be with white patches of varying degrees or a completely solid color with no white. Maine Coons Patterns are separate from the coat’s color, the accepted patterns are classic, mackerel, spotted/ticked, solid, and torbie. The most common variation is a lush brown color with white or without any white.

Brown Spotted Tabby = Aguoti Cat (A-)
Silver Spotted Tabby = Aguoti Cat (A-) + Inhibitor gene
Black = Non-Aguoti Cat (AA)
Smoke = Non-Aguoti Cat (AA) + Inhibitor gene

Maine Coons are the largest domestic cat breed and can reach up to 38 inches long, including their tail. They can weigh up to 22 pounds for males and 15 pounds for females. Maine Coons hold the record for The World’s Longest Domestic Cat. The longest Maine Coon Cat living measures 120 cm (3 ft 11.2 in) and was achieved by Barivel (Italy), as verified on 22 May 2018 by Guinness Book Of World Records. To put that in context, that’s longer than a baseball bat or equivalent to seven iPads laid out in a row!

They can weigh up to 25 lbs not because they are overweight, but because their body mass is spread evenly throughout their body. Their tails can measure up to 16 inches in length.