The perfect Maine Coon Cat

The perfect maine Coon Cat

Below is the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers’ Association (MCBFA) details of the ideal Maine Coon Cat. The standards set by the MCBFA are the bench mark standard for the Maine Coons of today.

The following is the MCBFA standard for the Maine Coon Cat;

General Statement:

The Maine Coon is a solid, rugged cat and is America’s oldest natural long haired breed. Type must not be sacrificed for size, nor size for type, the optimum being a large typey cat. Females are somewhat smaller that males and allowance should be made for the slow maturation of the breed.

Head

The head is medium in length and width, with a squareness to the muzzle. Allowance should be made for broadening in males. Cheekbones should be high. The nose is medium in length and gentle, concave curve and no break or bump. The chin is firm and in line with the upper lip and nose.

Eyes

The eyes should be large, wide set and slightly oblique in setting. Eye colour can be shades of green, gold or copper, although white cats may be blue or odd eyed. There is no relationship between eye colour and coat colour. Clarity of eye colour is desirable.

Ears

Large, wide at the base, moderately pointed and well tufted, the ears should be set high on the head approximately as ear’s width apart. Lynx like tipping is desirable.

Body

Muscular, medium to large in size and broad chested, the body is long, with all parts in proportion, creating a rectangular appearance. When viewed from the rear, there is a definite squareness to the rump. The neck is medium to long.

Legs and paws

The legs should be substantial, wide set and medium in length, contributing to a rectangular appearance. The paws should be large, round and well tufted (five toes in front, four in back).

Tail

The tail is long, equal to the body in length (measuring the distance from the end of the rump to the shoulders), wide at the base and tapering. The fur is full, long and flowing.

Coat

The fur on the shoulders is short, gradually increasing in length along the back and sides, ending in full britches and long shaggy belly fur. The fur is soft but has body, falls smoothly and lies close to the body. A slight undercoat is carried. A full ruff is not expected; however, there should be a frontal ruff beginning at the base of the ears.

Coat colour

All recognised colours. White trim around the chin and lip is permitted, except in solid colour cats.

Disqualifications

Markings such as buttons, lockets or spots, overall even coat, short cobby body, crossed eyes, kinked tail and incorrect number of toes are disqualifications.

Penalties

Delicate bone structures, untufted paws, poor condition, a nose break or bump, an undershot chin and a short rounded muzzle.

Conclusion

All the above points are vital to a show cat and to breeders, however, all the points above are open to personal interpretation.

For most owners the most important aspect of your Maine Coon is that he is big, strong and healthy with a great temperament.