What physical characteristics are sought in Maine Coon cats?

The Maine Coon's look is so majestic and rich that it's hard to match. Of course, we all have our own preferences for our pets, and I'm certainly not objective, but the presence of a Maine Coon is one of the reasons why it's my favorite breed.

Koraline Maine coon Brown ticked tabby et blanc

So what are desirable qualities in a Maine Coon? What should one look for to appreciate the beauty of the breed?

There are many physical characteristics to note in the Maine Coon; we will detail each of these characteristics that make these cats so special!

The key shape of the Maine Coon: the square!

When talking about a Maine Coon, we want to describe a cat with a square shape, as close to the square as possible. From the side, you can clearly see its beautiful, straight angles. We don't want its muzzle to be pointed. Other long-haired cats can sometimes be confused with a Maine Coon, but the key point to remember is that Maine Coons are distinguished by their square shape.

Comparison of Siberian, Norvegian & Maine Coon Cats.

Here is a comparison of the front and profile views with two other cat breeds, the Siberian and the Norwegian Forest Cat. Siberians have a rounder shape, while Norwegian Forest Cats are usually more triangular. With the Maine Coon, it's the square shape that should be observed.

More specifically, what physical characteristics are being sought?

To determine these characteristics, we must rely on the criteria used by feline associations such as TICA. Since we register all our cats with this association, we will use these criteria to identify what is being sought.

mc_mcp tica.pdf

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1. The ears: They should be set high on the head, have beautiful tufts at the tips, and the distance between the two ears should correspond to the measurement of the base of one ear. In males, the ears are sometimes set slightly further apart. They should be slightly tilted outwards.

2. Eyes: Large, oval eyes are preferred. Their color can vary from all shades of gold to green. Blue or odd-colored eyes are only acceptable if the cat has a coat with 50% or more white. Slanted eyes are desirable.

3. The jaw: It should be square from the front and in profile. There should be no bumps on the nose, and the nose should be aligned with the chin.

4. The profile: There should be a gentle curve for the forehead and another curve for the nose, without a bump. A small bump is acceptable in kittens. The angles should be as close as possible to 90 °.

5. The ruff: It should be well-furnished and the neck muscular.

6. The body: We want it to have a rectangular shape as much as possible, and to be long and powerful.

7. The tail: It should be long and bushy. Furthermore, when curled over the cat's back, it should reach its shoulder blades.

8. The coat: Dense and short on the shoulders and thighs, it lengthens on the flanks and reaches its maximum length on the belly. The coat should vary in length depending on its distribution on the body, and there should be an undercoat.

9. The paws: they should be broad, round, and well-furred. In polydactyl cases, a maximum of 7 toes per foot is desired. All toes must touch the ground.

10. Size: Females are smaller than males. The width of the torso should be equal from the shoulders to the base of the tail.

11. The framework: It should be very robust.

Aslan Black Silver Mackerel Tabby Maine Coon

The key takeaway from this is that all these characteristics represent an ideal and a goal to be achieved by every ethical breeder. Remember that no cat is perfect, but it is these physical characteristics that give our Maine Coons such a distinguished presence and define the breed standard.

Normally, as breeders, our job is to get as close as possible to perfection in our bloodlines. We search for exceptional candidates and work on our lines to approach the ideal. It is our duty to work with breeding cats that are 100% registered Maine Coons and to work with breeding stock that comes as close to perfection as possible.

Elsa Black Silver Shaded Maine Coon

Why is it so important not to mix the races?

Because each breed has its own characteristics and temperament. This is what makes a Maine Coon a cat with a calm temperament and a reputation as a gentle giant, versus the Bengal, for example, which is a very playful and active cat. There is also the question of the health profiles associated with each breed. This allows us to perform health tests on our breeding cats to ensure healthy offspring for our future adopters.

When a cat breed is developed, several years of research are conducted beforehand, and this research is unavoidable. This research gives us an idea of the breed's physical standard, defines its temperament, and informs us about its health profile. Every new cat breed must be presented to feline associations, and normally, if all the research has been thorough and meets the associations' evaluation criteria, the breed will be accepted.

When mixing breeds, one exposes oneself to health problems and unpredictable temperaments, which calls into question the choice of buying a purebred cat versus adopting a domestic cat.