Breed Standards Main Coon Breed Standard
Main Coon Breed Standard
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General: The Maine Coon is a working cat, muscular, solid, medium to large in size with the look of the wild. Males may be larger, females are usually smaller. Females should not be penalized because of this size difference. Allowance should be made for slow maturation, as a Maine Coon does not achieve ultimate type until three to four years of age. Type must not be sacrificed for size, or size for type.
Head:
Shape: The head is medium in width and slightly longer than wide with allowance for broadening and jowls in males. Muzzle is square when viewed from any angle. Cheek bones are high. Chin must be firm and in line with nose and upper lip.
Profile: The Nose is slightly concave with no break.
Ears: Ears are large, tall, wide at base, tapering to appear pointed, with lynx-like tipping and inner tufts extending beyond the outer edge of the ears. They are set high on the head, the distance between them being equal to the width of an ear at its base.
Eyes: Eyes are large, round, wide-set, with a slightly oblique setting. Eye color may be shades of green, gold or copper. Clarity of color is desired. There is no relationship between eye color and coat color, except in white cats, which may be blue-eyed, copper-eyed or odd-eyed.
Body:
Shape: Medium to large in size, muscular and broad chested. The body should be long with all parts proportioned to create a rectangular appearance. Neck medium to long; may be thick and muscular in older males. The body should feel solid, with firm muscle and no flabbiness. When viewed from the rear, there is a definite squareness to the rump.
Legs and Paws: The legs are sturdily boned, wide-set, medium in length, in proportion to the body. Paws are large, round and well tufted underneath and between the pads. Five toes in front and four in rear.
Tail: The tail is long, at least the length of the body, wide at the base and tapering to the tip.
Coat:
Length: The coat is uneven in length and markedly subject to seasonal variation. Fur on head, neck and shoulders is short, becoming gradually longer along the back toward the tail and down the sides toward the belly. Britches and belly fur are full and shaggy. The coat flows smoothly down the body, continuing in the same manner on the tail. There is a frontal ruff, generally heavier on males than females. The tail is heavily furred, long and flowing, but it is not bushy as is a fox's brush.
Texture: More or less self maintaining, the coat is warm with a light density undercoat covered by a water proof outer coat. The coat is not fluffy. Coat texture may vary with coat color.
Coat Color: White strip around the chin and lip line allowed except in solid color cats.
Condition: There is no point score for condition as such. Flabbiness, Obesity, emaciation, dull coat, evidence of illness, or any other indication that the cat is not in good physical condition or has not had proper grooming are faults, and, should be penalized under the appropriate heading constituting the point score.
Penalize: Untufted paws, Persian-like break to nose, Persian-like undercoat, short tail, short rounded muzzle.
NFA: Delicate bone structure, overall even coat, undershot chin, short cobby body and legs, kinked tail, crossed eyes. polydactylism, buttons, lockets or spots.
Accepted Colors:
Solid
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Tabby
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Particolor
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