Maine Coon Cat ears are like that of a wild “Lynx Cat” with tufts of fur located on the ends. They have ears that are built for maximum warmth in the harsh winters of Maine. Maine Coon Ears are often covered in thick tufts of fur. Ear Tips and ear tufts are interchangeable terms used to describe the fur found located on the ear’s ends.

Ear Tufts: Maine Coons have Ear tufts which is the fur that grows from the tips of the ears (often dubbed lynx tipping). The overall size of ear tufts varies from cat to cat. Maine Coon ear tufts can be any shade of any color, even multiple colors. The growth of ear tufts varies from line to line. The total length of Maine Coon ear tips is impacted by genetics, diet, and grooming. As shown below we see what a difference in-ear tip fullness in less than a month’s time. Ear Tips, Ear Tufts, Ear Fluff, Lynx Tips, and Ear Tassels refer to the hair at the tip of the ear. Theories about the function of Lynx Ear Tufts range from improved ability to camouflage, aiding in finding a suitable mate to giving a more threatening appearance to discourage predators.

Ear Furnishings: All breeds of cats have fur in the ear, however, Maine Coon furnishings are longer and more pronounced. This adds to the breed’s wild appearance.

Often a Maine Coon is compared to a lynx or bobcat, in fact they are mistaken as one or being a hybrid of either. Maine Coons have no wild ancestor, ancestors of the Maine Coon Cat were long-haired coats brought in to the State of Maine, in America, by seafarers in the 1850s. First recorded in cat literature in 1861 with a mention of a black and white cat named "Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines," Maine Coons
were popular competitors at early cat shows in Boston and New York. A brown tabby female named "Cosie" won Best Cat at the 1895 Madison Square Garden Show.

Question: Do all Maine Coons have large ear tufts?

Answer: No. Thicker and longer ear tips are still very hard to find. CFA show breeders avoid thick ear tips, see the CFA Maine Coon Breed Standard that calls for no "extreme" features. However this not a show disqualification.

CFA Maine Coon Breed Standard: “originally a working cat, the Maine Coon is solid, rugged, and can endure a harsh climate. A distinctive characteristic is its smooth, shaggy coat. A well proportioned and balanced appearance with no part of the cat being exaggerated. ……”