Physical characteristics of the Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon Cats Physical Characteristics


One of the more memorable doggerals (pardon the reference to the canine world) about cats is from the ever delightful Dr. Suess's book, Cat in the Hat where we come to know that a "Cat is a Cat and that is that!" Well as lovable as that may be, it's really not true when applied to the Maine Coon cat. This grand fellow is more than a cat, and if you are owned by one, you will know instantly what we mean. The Maine Coon is a bit like a smaller lion in cat's clothing and of course is noted for its superb hunting skills as well.
Maine Coon cats are much larger than the "usual" sized puss and seem to have simply unlimited energy. Would that we could bottle that for ourselves! Your average Maine Coon can weigh up to 25 pounds. Of course there are variations on that rule of thumb. For instance males usually tip the scales at about 13 to 20 pounds, with females between 7 and 11 pounds. Large you say? Just how large are you talking about? Would you believe males can stretch to over 40 inches long? Actually, there are some even longer, with the longest cat in the record books being measured at a whopping 48 inches. Fancy that would you – 48 inches long! Just because they happen to be big cats does not mean they are fully mature. Maine Coon cats really don't come into their own until they're about 4 or 5 years old. Until then, they're kind of like a big kid in a fur coat.
Coonies, a shortened term of affection for the Maine Coon cat, are often brown with tabby markings. However they do come in other colors, and those are officially recognized by the various cat registries and associations. You'll find just about every color including tortoiseshell. You won't however find chocolate, ticked tabby, lavender or anything remotely resembling the Siamese patterns. As for eye color, look for green, gold or green-gold for most of the Maine Coon cats, except in those with white coats. In those with white coats expect to find blue eyes, or china eyes (one blue and one gold eye).
This is a lovely story that brings a smile to your face. The distinctive "M" shaped marking on their forehead is one of the first things people recognize, after they've noticed their eyes. That "M" is said to have its origins in the stable birthplace of baby Jesus. Mary was so thankful to the cat who helped her and kept her company in the barn, that she inscribed her initial "M" on its forehead, and that mark has remained until this day.


Maine Coon cats have dense fur and a lovely ruff on their chests, and one of the things you will notice as well is their stately, yet mischevious attitudes. Their fur is two layered with an undercoat and the additional layer being guard hairs. Of course this not only makes their coat distinctive but ensures soft fur. Like horses (who have feathers down their legs), the Coonies have long hair on the backs of their legs called pantaloons or britches. If you take a look between their toes, you'll also note long hair to help them keep warm in the winter.

Those appealing tufted ears (known as lynx-tips) are so striking, they just set off the whole face and give it an abundance of character. Right, just what they need, more character! J The ears are quite the focal point of the squared-off muzzles set jauntily on angular heads. And you certainly must know all about their famous tails – bushy and plumed and almost twice the size of what would be considered a normal tail on any other cat. They use this wicked tail to wrap around their faces and noses to keep warm.

No matter what you choose to call this very special cat, the Maine Coon cat is a very popular addition to any home. And even though they have a lot of fur, their grooming is minimal since they take care of that themselves.

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