The Maine Coon guide · Kats Kits
What Is a Maine Coon Cat?
A Maine Coon is a large, long-haired domestic cat breed from the state of Maine, in the northeastern United States. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America and one of the biggest domestic cats, known for its tufted ears, thick ruff, long bushy tail and easy, sociable nature.
People often call Maine Coons the gentle giants of the cat world. They are big and slow to mature, but rarely difficult: most are friendly with their family, visitors, children and other pets, and they like to be near their people without demanding constant attention.
What Kind of Cat Is a Maine Coon?
The Maine Coon is a pedigree breed recognized by the major cat registries, including the CFA, TICA and ACFA. It developed naturally as a working farm cat in New England, which explains a lot about it: the size, the weatherproof coat and the steady temperament.
- Size: grown males usually weigh 13 to 18 pounds and females 8 to 12 pounds, and many measure 30 to 40 inches from nose to tail tip.
- Growth: slow. Maine Coons keep filling out until they are 3 to 5 years old.
- Coat: long, shaggy and water-resistant, in almost every color and pattern.
- Temperament: friendly, playful and sociable, with a habit of chirping and trilling rather than meowing.
- Lifespan: typically 10 to 13 years.
Where Do Maine Coon Cats Come From?
The breed comes from Maine and the rest of New England, where it was a familiar farm and barn cat by the 1800s. Nobody recorded exactly how it began, and the gap has been filled with stories:
- The raccoon legend. The name led to the idea that Maine Coons are part raccoon. That is biologically impossible. The "coon" more likely comes from the bushy, ringed tail and brown tabby coat of many early cats.
- Marie Antoinette's cats. One story says the French queen sent her long-haired cats to Maine ahead of an escape from France that never happened. There is no evidence for it.
- Captain Coon. Another credits a sea captain named Coon whose long-haired ship's cats came ashore in New England ports. Again, a good story with no records behind it.
- Viking cats. Some suggest Norse sailors brought cats to North America centuries earlier, linking the breed to the Norwegian Forest Cat. The two breeds look alike, but the link is unproven.
The likely history is plainer. Long-haired cats arriving on ships from Europe bred with the short-haired cats already living in New England, and long, harsh winters did the rest. Over generations, the cats that thrived were big, sturdy hunters with heavy, water-resistant coats, tufted ears and wide, furry feet that work like snowshoes.
How Did the Maine Coon Become a Show Breed?
Maine farmers were showing their big coon cats at local fairs in the 1800s, and the breed soon made its name on a bigger stage. At the 1895 cat show at Madison Square Garden in New York, one of the first major cat shows in the United States, a brown tabby Maine Coon female named Cosey won the top prize.
The success did not last. In the early 1900s Persians and other imported long-haired breeds became fashionable, and Maine Coons all but disappeared from the show hall. By the middle of the century the breed was so rarely seen at shows that it was sometimes reported to be extinct. It was not: cats were still living on farms and in homes across New England, and a small group of breeders and clubs worked to preserve them.
Their work paid off. The Cat Fanciers' Association granted the Maine Coon championship status in 1976, and in 1985 the State of Maine made it the official state cat. Today it is one of the most popular pedigree breeds in the United States.
What Does a Maine Coon Look Like?
A Maine Coon is built big and solid: a long, rectangular body, a broad chest, heavy bone and plenty of muscle. Its size comes on slowly, and the full adult look takes years to arrive (see how big Maine Coons get). Look for:
- Large, tall ears, wide at the base and set high on the head, often with lynx tips: tufts of fur at the point of the ear. Long tufts inside the ear, called furnishings, help shield it from the cold.
- A ruff, the thick frill of fur around the neck and chest, which gives many males a lion-like mane.
- A long, bushy tail, wide at the base and tapering, which a Maine Coon will wrap around itself when it curls up.
- Big, round paws with tufts of fur between the toes, which act like snowshoes. Extra toes run in some lines; see polydactyl Maine Coons.
- A shaggy, water-resistant coat, shorter on the shoulders and longer on the belly and back legs, with a silky top coat over a softer undercoat.
- Large, expressive eyes in green, gold or copper. Blue or odd eyes occur only in white cats or cats with a lot of white.
A squarish muzzle and high cheekbones complete the look. Plenty of large long-haired cats share some of these features, which is why only pedigree papers can confirm that a cat is a Maine Coon.
What Colors Do Maine Coon Cats Come In?
Almost every color and pattern a cat can have. Brown tabby is the classic look and the one most people picture, but Maine Coons also come in black, blue (the cat world's word for gray), red, cream and white, in solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, smoke, shaded and with-white versions. The main exceptions are the pointed pattern of a Siamese and the chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn colors, which the breed standards do not accept.
The Maine Coon colors guide explains how color and pattern work. There are also pages on orange and red, black and smoke, blue and silver and tortoiseshell and calico Maine Coons.
What Is a Maine Coon's Personality Like?
Maine Coons are friendly, patient and playful, and they tend to stay kitten-like for years. They like to be where their people are, following you from room to room and joining in with whatever you are doing, but many prefer to sit beside you rather than on your lap.
They usually get along with considerate children, other cats and cat-friendly dogs, and they talk in chirps and trills more than loud meows. Many are fascinated by water and will pat at their bowl or a dripping faucet. There is more in Maine Coon personality.
How Do You Care for a Maine Coon?
A Maine Coon is not a high-maintenance cat, but its size and coat need some planning.
- Grooming. Brush two or three times a week, more in spring and fall when the coat sheds most. The belly, armpits and back legs are where knots form first. See shedding and grooming.
- Food. A good, high-protein diet, with portions measured to keep a big cat lean rather than heavy.
- Equipment. An extra-large litter box, a tall, heavy cat tree that will not tip, and a scratching post tall enough for a full stretch.
- Play. Two short play sessions a day keep a young Maine Coon busy and out of mischief.
Maine Coons are not hypoallergenic, so anyone at home with a cat allergy should spend time with one before committing.
Are Maine Coons Healthy Cats?
Generally, yes. They are a sturdy natural breed with a typical lifespan of 10 to 13 years. Like every pedigree breed, they have a few inherited conditions worth knowing about: chiefly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a thickening of the heart muscle; spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which weakens the back legs; and hip dysplasia, which is more common in Maine Coons than in most cats. DNA tests exist for some of these, which is why good breeders test their breeding cats.
The everyday problems to watch are dental disease and weight gain, both of which you can do a lot to prevent. The Maine Coon lifespan guide covers health and aging in more detail.
Is a Maine Coon the Right Cat for You?
A Maine Coon suits you if you want a sociable, interactive cat and have room for a big one. Think about:
- Space. They do well in apartments, but need climbing space and big equipment.
- Hair. They shed, and the coat needs regular brushing.
- Company. They like people around and can get bored if left alone all day with nothing to do.
- Cost. A big cat eats more and goes through more litter. See how much a Maine Coon costs.
- Time. With a typical lifespan of 10 to 13 years, a kitten is a long commitment.
How Do You Buy a Maine Coon Kitten?
Buy from a registered breeder, and check the registration yourself. A breeder who says they are registered with the CFA, TICA or ACFA should appear on that registry's own website, under the same name, town and contact details they gave you. Kats Kits, for example, is on the ACFA Maine Coon breeder list under Kat Doring in Farmington, Minnesota.
- Ask to see the kittens and their mother, in person or on a video call.
- Ask what the parents have been health tested for.
- Get a written contract and health guarantee before you pay a deposit.
- Expect a vaccination record and registration papers. For pet kittens, papers often follow once the spay or neuter is done.
- Be wary of very cheap kittens and of anyone who will not talk on the phone.
You can see Kat's current kittens on the available kittens page.
Quick Answers
Why is it called a Maine Coon?
Because it comes from Maine, and because its bushy, ringed tail and brown tabby coat reminded people of a raccoon. Despite the old legend, Maine Coons have no raccoon in them; the two species cannot interbreed.
Is the Maine Coon an American breed?
Yes. It developed naturally in New England, mainly in Maine, and is one of the oldest breeds native to North America. It has been Maine's official state cat since 1985.
Is a Maine Coon the biggest domestic cat breed?
It is one of the largest, with grown males usually weighing 13 to 18 pounds. A Maine Coon named Stewie was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2010 as the longest domestic cat.
Are Maine Coons rare?
No. They are one of the most popular pedigree breeds in the US, so registered breeders are not hard to find, though good ones often have waiting lists.
How long does a Maine Coon take to grow up?
Longer than most cats. Maine Coons grow fast in their first year, then keep filling out until they are 3 to 5 years old.
Can a Maine Coon live indoors?
Yes, and it is the safest life for one. With climbing space, daily play and company, an indoor Maine Coon is a contented cat.
