Maine Coon Cat: Breed Profile, Characteristics & Care

The Maine Coon cat has existed in the U.S. since the 1800s and is considered the oldest native cat breed in the U.S. Rugged and solidly built, the Maine Coon cat is known for its massive size, shaggy coat, and large tufted ears reminiscent of a bobcat. While the Maine Coon might appear intimidating to some, this breed is a gentle giant with a sweet, laid-back personality. Learn more about the beloved Maine Coon.

Breed Overview

OTHER NAMES: Gentle Giant

PERSONALITY: Amiable, gentle and dog-like

WEIGHT: Average of 9 to 18 pounds; males can weigh 20 pounds or more

LENGTH: About 19 to 30 inches

COAT LENGTH: Heavy and shaggy; silky with coat falling smoothly

COAT COLOR: Solid (white, black, blue, red and cream), tabby (classic, mackerel and ticked), bi-color (black and white, blue and white, red and white, cream and white), parti-color (tortoiseshell and blue-cream), parti-color and white (calico, tortoiseshell and white, blue-cream and white), shaded and smoke, and shaded/smoke and white

EYE COLOR: Varies according to coat color, but may be green, gold, green-gold, copper, blue or odd-eyed

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 15 years

HYPOALLERGENIC: No

ORIGIN: United States

Characteristics of the Maine Coon Cat

Said to be dog-like in disposition, the Maine Coon cat is intelligent, friendly, and gentle. Laid-back and self-assured, these cats tend to take everything in stride and are great playmates for gentle children. They can usually coexist peacefully with other household pets, including other cats and cat-friendly dogs.

Maine Coons are sociable and inquisitive, and can usually be found wherever the action is in the house, inserting themselves into every interesting situation. Talkative but not overly loud, they express themselves through a variety of soft and melodious meows, chirps, and trills. They are quite trainable cats and enjoy learning tricks, responding well to positive training methods and tasty food treats. Despite the old stereotype, Maine Coons often love water and may play in it, bathe in it, dip their food in it, and even swim. 

Appearance

The Maine Coon is a solid, rugged cat that is well-proportioned and balanced despite their massive size. They have muscular, long, rectangular bodies with broad chests. Their large, round paws have tufts of hair sticking up from the toes. The head is slightly longer in length than width, with high cheekbones, a distinctive square muzzle, and large, well-tufted ears. The Maine Coon cat coat is heavy and shaggy with a ruff on the chest. The breed comes in many different colors and patterns except for chocolate, lavender, and the Himalayan (pointed) pattern.

History of the Maine Coon Cat

The Maine Coon is believed to have developed naturally in the Northeastern United States. Though many legends persist about the Maine Coons having been bred from bobcats or raccoons, they are 100% housecat, descending from cats brought to America by settlers. The breed evolved to be quite large and hardy, with a thick, shaggy coat. These traits were necessary for the cats to survive and thrive in the harsh winters of the region.

Although Maine Coon-type cats were likely known throughout New England, they were especially popular in the state of Maine. Beginning around the 1860s, some farmers began exhibiting their prized “coon cats” at the Skowhegan Fair, which is the nation’s oldest consecutively held agricultural fair, dating back to 1818. Here, the predecessors to today’s modern Maine Coon breed competed for the title of Maine State Champion Coon Cat.

A female brown tabby Maine Coon named Cosey won what is regarded as the first American cat show, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 8, 1895.1 The Cat Fanciers’ Association’s first stud book and breed registry from 1908 lists the Maine Coon as a foundation breed (listed as “Maine Cats”). The breed is also recognized by the International Cat Association. The Maine Coon was designated as the state cat of Maine in 1985.

Maine Coon Cat Care 

The Maine Coon cat’s long, shaggy coat is silky and slightly oily, a helpful feature that makes the coat water-resistant, allowing it to repel rain and snow, keeping the cat warmer and drier in inclement weather. Though long, the coat doesn’t shed excessively as long as you thoroughly brush and comb the cat regularly, at least once weekly. You may wish to bathe your cat occasionally to help the coat look and feel clean. Your Maine Coon probably won’t mind getting scrubbed down since most enjoy playing in water. Trim your cat’s nails regularly and look inside their ears once a week, cleaning them with a cat-safe ear cleanser if they seem dirty. Any redness or excessive dirt in the ears is an indication that it’s time to schedule a veterinary visit.

Maine Coons are typically active without being hyper. They enjoy playing and are even reported to love games of fetch, just like a dog. To keep your Maine Coon physically and mentally stimulated, engage him with playful toys like feather teasers or other favorite toys. Scratching is a natural behavior that is also mentally and physically enriching. To make sure your cat scratches in the right places (not the couch), set up approved scratching areas in your house with vertical scratchers (like tall posts or cat trees) as well as horizontal scratchers that lie flat on the ground (like cardboard or sisal scratchers).

Common Health Problems

Some purebred cats are more prone to developing genetically linked health issues. Maine Coons may be affected by certain medical conditions, but responsible breeders take steps to prevent these through selective breeding.

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Hip dysplasia

• Spinal muscular atrophy (a genetic disease that causes degeneration of the spinal cord and atrophy of the muscles in the hind limbs)

A genetic test is available for spinal muscular atrophy so breeders can avoid breeding affected cats or carriers. Responsible Maine Coon breeders have their adult cats screened for these and other health concerns prior to breeding them.

Diet and Nutrition

As with other heavily built breeds, it’s important to keep Maine Coon cats from becoming overweight, something that can easily happen if the cat is free-fed (food kept in the bowl at all times) rather than fed measured meals twice a day. Maintaining a lean body weight is important for all cats to support overall health. For Maine Coons, which are prone to hip dysplasia, keeping lean can prevent the development or worsening of joint issues related to their size. For advice about what to feed or how much to feed daily, talk to your veterinarian or breeder.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Maine Coon Cat

The Maine Coon is one of the most popular pedigreed cat breed in the United States, and there are many excellent breeders from whom you can purchase a kitten. If you are rescue-minded, you might also be able to find adult Maine Coon cats or Maine Coon mixes in animal shelters and breed-specific cat rescue groups. 

• Fanciers Breeder Referral List

• International Cat Association

• American Cat Fanciers Association

Breed Overview

The Maine Coon cat is friendly, kind, and steady in temperament, which makes them wonderful companions. These cats are also quite trainable and sociable, and many have been certified as therapy cats, visiting with people in hospitals and senior care facilities. Maine Coons are affectionate and want to be close to you, but they are not overly clingy and generally aren’t lap cats. They can be entertaining to watch as they engage in silly antics, and they tend to get into everything. The Maine Coon is slow to mature, with most not reaching their full growth until about 4 years of age.

Pros

• Gentle and laid-back

• Affectionate and entertaining

• Gets along well with kids and other pets, including dogs

Cons

• Not big on cuddling/not a lap cat

• Coat requires weekly brushing and combing

• Doesn’t do well when left alone for long periods of time

More Cat Breeds and Further Research

If you like the Maine Coon cat, you might also like these cat breeds: 

• Norwegian Forest Cat

• Siberian

• Turkish Van

• Nebelung