Maine Coon ~ Black
Maine Coon ~ Blue-cream
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Maine Coon ~ Black
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Maine Coon ~ Blue-cream
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| An American giant and a gentle wild cat According to legend, the Maine Coon is the result of the mating of a wild cat and a raccoon, a genetic impossibility imagined because the coat and tail of the breed resemble those of the raccoon. The Maine Coon originated in the United States, in Maine. It is thought to have arisen from crosses between Angoras brought from the Middle East by sailors, English cats brought by the first colonists, Russian and Nordic cats, and shorthaired American farm cats. The harsh climate of this region of the United States produced this large, hardy cat which may be considered the first American feline breed. Captain Jenks, a black and white cat, was the first Maine Coon successfully shown at cat shows in Boston and New York in 1861. The breed also caused a stir in 1895 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Persians and Siamese stole the stage from the Maine Coon for half a century. Interest in the breed was renewed around 1950 and has been growing rapidly since 1980. A standard was published in 1960. The C.F.A. and the F.I.Fe. recognized the breed in 1976 and 1980, respectively. Although the Maine Coon is one of the world's most significant breeds, it is fairly uncommon in Europe and rare in France, where it was introduced in 1981.The Maine Coon Feline Association breed club was created in 1987. The breed has changed greatly in recent years. It is larger, taller, and wilder. |
| Amiable, hardy, and outgoing, with casual, easygoing attitude. Self-assured demeanor. In control of most situations. Adapts to other animals. Thrives in a family environment. Great hunter. Enjoys retrieval games. Tiny voice; squeaks, chirps, and trills. |
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Head
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Medium-sized, typically wedge-shaped. Slightly domed forehead. Slight concave curve in profile. High, prominent cheek bones. Angular muzzle. Broad nose, sometimes slightly domed at the tip. Firm chin. Powerful, fairly long jaws. |
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Eyes
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Large, well-spaced, slightly oval but appearing round when wide open. Set at a slight slant. All colors are allowed. |
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Neck
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Moderately long, powerful, slightly arched. |
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Ears:
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Large, well-tufted, wide at base, tapering to appear pointed, approximately one ear's with apart at the base, not flared. |
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Body
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Muscular, broad-chested. Size medium to large. Females generally are smaller than males. The body should be long with all parts in proportion to create a well-balanced rectangular appearance with no part of the anatomy being so exaggerated as to foster weakness. Allowance should be made for slow maturation. |
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Paw
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Paw : Moderately long, strong. Heavy-boned and muscular. Large, round paws. Well-furnished interdigital regions. |
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Tail
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Long, broad
at the base, tapering toward the tip with long, abundant, fluttering hair. Coat : Coat adapted to all seasons. Dense, silky, short on the head, shoulders, and legs, longer on the back and flanks, with considerable, well-furnished britches. Long hair on the belly. A ruff is desirable. The undercoat is soft, fine, and covered with smooth, waterproof, slightly oily hair. |
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Fault
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Small size, frail appearance. Round head. Straight or convex profile. Nose with a break. Round, pointed muzzle. Prominent flews. Receding chin. Ears too widely spaced, too flared. Eyes almond-shaped, too slanted. Body short, stocky. Fine, light bone structure. Short tail. Coat of equal length over entire body. |
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Disqualify
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Delicate bone structure. Undershot chin, i.e. the front teeth (incisors) of the lower jaw overlapping or projecting beyond the front teeth of the upper jaw when the mouth is closed. Crossed eyes. Kinked tail. Incorrect number of toes. White buttons, white lockets, or white spots. Cats showing evidence of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern; or unpatterned agouti on the body (i.e. Abyssinian type ticked tabby). |
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Character
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Well-balanced and calm, this "gentle giant" with quiet strength is sociable and non-aggressive, albeit dominant. He is affectionate and very attached to his owner. Playful, athletic, and good hunters, Maine Coons need space. A large yard is better than an apartment. These hardy cats can tolerate the harshest winters. Females enter puberty late. Kittens grow slowly and do not reach adulthood until three or four years old. They are easy to groom, as a good weekly brushing is sufficient. |
| Generally quite hardy. Certain lines have recently produced kittens with flattened chest structure; although fine as pets these should not be used for breeding. Kinked tails are a common genetic defect. |
Maine Coon