How To Tell If Your Cat Is A Maine Coon

Is Your Maine Coon Playful

Apart from fetch, Maine Coons are open to all sorts of games. After all, they have a playful nature that does not quite dissipate with age.

Maine Coons are mad about playing. Plastic bags, boxes, feathers, and ropes can quickly transform into an exciting play object. Theyre not reluctant to chase, pounce and jump.

Thats why Maine Coon owners are highly encouraged to buy or create toys and keep their kitties entertained by playing with them daily.

The Physical Traits Of Maine Coon Cats

If you look at photos of purebred Maine Coons you will see no two are the same. It is virtually impossible to establish a cats breed on looks alone.

Lets play a little game. Look at the photos and descriptions that follow and see how many Maine Coon features your cat possesses.

Maine Coon Ears

A Maine Coons ears are usually taller than they are wide, but there are always exceptions to this rule. They are often tufty with lynx-like tips.

If you measure the width of the base of a Maine Coons ear this is about the;same as the distance;between;each ear.

Look inside a Maine Coons ears and you will notice fine hairs sprouting. The tips will also have sprouts of hair, some much longer than others, which give them a lynx-like appearance.

A Maine Coons ears are designed to cope with extremely cold weather, though as most Maine Coons are pampered, indoor cats these days this feature could possibly start to fade with each generation.

Here are a few examples of the variations in appearance of a Maine Coons ears:

Are your cats ears like any of those above? If the answers yes then thats one point scored.;If not, dont give up move on to the next feature.

Maine Coon Eyes

AMaine Coons eyes are large, expressive, wide-set, and oval-shaped. They have a slightly oblique setting and;slant towards the outer base of each;ear.

Here are some examples:

Maine Coon Head Shape

Is your cats face a similar shape to this? Yes? Then score another point. Carry on to the next feature.

Is My Cat Happy Alone From The Perspective From A Maine Coon Owner

You only have 1 cat at home and maybe you are at work all day.

FYI I have a full post on Maine Coons being house cats, check that out if youre interested in that subject too!

After getting home, you are busy with life and not able to give your Maine Coon the attention they deserve.

Is my cat happy alone?

You end up doing something else and notice your cat looking outside the window.

Is she depressed?

I know this dialogue 100%. Theres a deep well of guilt if I wish to tap in to it LOL.

But the answer, dear reader, is no, probably not.

Your cat is not depressed nor are they sad.

Not if they are displaying the behaviors we talked about above!

The truth is, they might be a bit bored.

And the simple solution lies with you. You have the ability to change it, and you have the power to get them engaged and interested.

• Buy them some new toys.
• Maybe some catnip

They will be grateful.

If they get bored of those, then the ultimate Maine Coon cat play mate is another cat. Of course, not everyone is in a position to do that.

So do what you can on your own to stop this thought pattern!

Final point on this topic this question is framed the wrong way. Your Maine Coon NOT alone. They have you!

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How To Tell If A Cat Is A Maine Coon

When you dont go to a breeder to purchase your kitten or full grown cat, it can be very difficult to tell if your cat is a Maine Coon or not. Many cats with long, shaggy fur are mistaken for Maine Coons, simply because many people do not know that physical attribute of Maine Coons. Do keep in mind that even if your cat does have some of the traits, they may not be a pure bred Maine Coon, and can be a mixture of a few different breeds. Of course, this does not make your kitten or cat any less special, and no matter what your cat turns out to be, he or she will still be a furry friend that you can love and adore. This article will cover some of the basic traits that Maine Coons have, and how to tell if your cat is a Maine Coon, or a mixture of this breed and another breed

Physical Traits of the Maine Coon Breed

Maine Coons are a very distinguishable breed when the cat has a variety of different traits that all match the normal physical attributes of other cats that are Maine Coons.

1. Most of the time, cats that are pure Maine Coons will have a rectangular body, meaning that the size and shape of the muscles throughout the body gives them a strong, rectangular shape, rather than an oblong or very sleek build. This can be different if your cat is a mixture, but most of the time a cat with Maine Coon in the heritage will have a very strong build.

Mix Breeds

Ears: A Purebreed Ears Resembles A Bobcat

You should look at their ears closely. Notice the ear tips as well as the big puffs inside their ears. It resembles a bobcat. Though not all of Maine coon cats have ear tufts, majority of them do. Another common physical trait of a Maine Coon cat is having lots of hair coming out of their ears, allowing them to survive the harsh weather.

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Does Your Maine Coon Have Ruffs On Its Chest

A magnificent frontal ruff extends out of a Maine Coons broad chest. Just like a scarf youd put around your neck, this ruff is an adaptation of the breed to keep itself warm in cold weather conditions.

This ruff tapers down as it reaches the Maine Coons front legs.

This is a Maine Coon Strong paws, strong snout, lynx tips, and look at that chest/neck fur!

They Can Be Your Best Friend

Did you know Maine Coons are called the dogs of the cat world? We all know that dogs are mans best friends, but so are Maine Coons.

Once you have that special bond established with your Coon, theyre ready to follow you anywhere. They are extremely inquisitive much like a dog and enjoy lending a helping paw whenever they can.

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Your Maine Coon Will Walk With Its Tail Up

If you see your Maine Coon walking around you with their tail up, usually rubbing themselves against you it is a sure sign that they are very happy and comfortable.

They may also be rubbing their pheromones on you to mark you as theirs. Sometimes their tail will be stuck up so high that it will almost loop all the way forward and touch their heads!

Your Maine Coon Will Roll Onto Its Back

When a Maine Coon rolls onto their back it is not a sign for you to tickle them! By all means, try it but if you want to use your fingers again then I would recommend against it.

About a tenth of a second after you touch their belly-fur, their claws will extend and they will wrap all four legs somehow around your hand, before biting you. Thatll teach you. I have a post all about this behavior if youd like to check it out .

So, why do they do it? A Maine Coon will roll onto its back to show you that they feel extremely comfortable in your presence. They are demonstrating a submissive posture that indicates they feel no threat when they are in your company.

Whats strange is that out of our two current Maine Coons, only one of them does this. I have no idea why as we treat them the same but dont worry if you dont see this behavior as some obviously just dont want to do it.

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Registrations With Cat Clubs

The Two biggest cat clubs in the United States are TICA and CFA . Every breeder should be registered with a cat club. All of the breeding cats get registered into the database, along with their certified Pedigrees. When a litter is born, the breeder identifies the parents and registers the litter of kittens. Then the registration papers can be sent to the new owners of the kitten at the breeders discretion. At that time, the new owner can register themselves as the owner of their Pedigree Maine Coon and receive official documentation from the appropriate cat club.

If the kitten arrives to you intact, the breeder will typically wait until proof of spay/neuter is performed before you receive the registration papers. Otherwise, you should receive them at the time you get your kitten.

Every kitten that leaves the Sassy Koonz Maine Coon Cattery is registered with TICA, and a Pedigree provided to all new Guardians! Before you leave, be sure to see our Maine Coon Kittens for sale. Also, check out how to avoid being scammed on a Maine Coon website.

Love To Play And Fool Around

Maine Coons are the class clowns of the cat world. They love to play either with you or by themselves.

However, we guarantee you that your pet Coon will appreciate your company while playing and will go as far as sharing their toys.

They love using their paws more than necessary while fooling around. Although, they will not harm you or anyone else. But, beware! Some of your things are prone to damage with these giants around.

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Is There An Extra Toe

This breed has a very specific trait thats pretty rare in the rest of the feline world. Many Maine Coons have a polydactyl gene. This means that they have a sixth toe on their paws. Granted, not every Maine Coon has this feature, but if your cat does, its most likely due to their pure Coon genetics.

Origin Of The Norwegian Forest Cat Breed

Interestingly, the Norwegian breed almost went extinct in the early 20th century. It only survived due to a breeding program to save it in the 1930s.

The Skogkatt as it is sometimes known in Scandinavia may actually have been originally imported from the Middle East. It has a storied history in Norse mythology, though.

The myth tells us that the goddess Freya has a chariot drawn by long-haired cats. Some believe it is a reference to Norwegian Forest cats. There are also theories that the ancestors of the Norwegian Forest Cat could be Siberian Cats from Russia or Turkish Angoras from Turkey.

Today it is the official cat of Norway, as designated by King Olaf V.

Norwegian Forest cats probably found their way to the US with early Viking explorations. They were allegedly tasked with protecting food stores from vermin on ships. So they have their sea legs. In Norway, they are lovingly called Wegies today.

The breed adapted to its cold climate by developing long glossy fur and a woolen undercoat.

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Look At Your Cats Ears

To check if your cat is part Maine Coon or purebred, look at her ears closely. Most Maine Coons have ear tufts or lynx tips similar to the wisps and tufts of a Lynx. They also have hair coming out of their ears as a way to protect themselves from harsh and cold climates. Also, their ears are tall instead of wide and the width of the base of their ears is almost the same as the distance between the ears.;

What To Watch For

;An abnormal symptom in your pet could be just a minor or temporary issue, but it could also be the sign of serious illness or disease. Knowing when to seek veterinary help, and how urgently, is essential to taking care of your cat. Many diseases can cause cats to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your Maine Coon needs help.

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Are Maine Coons Kid Friendly

Sometimes weighing up to 25 pounds, the Maine Coon is considered one of the largest domestic cat breeds. Nevertheless, they are good natured and gentle. They thrive in families with children and other pets, even dogs. Additionally, they are known to be very tolerant and can easily adapt to the needs of children.

Maine Coon Characteristic Traits

When you are looking to identify if your Maine Coon cat is a purebred, or part Maine Coon, many people just assume that ticking off all the physical characteristics is enough.

However, this is not entirely the case because there are also a large number of characteristics that this particular breed has, which are almost entirely unique to them e.g. did you know that some Maine Coons are happy to swim in the water?!

Take a look at the table below of common Maine Coon characteristics, to establish if your cat shares any further similarities with the purebred Maine Coon.

If they do, you likely have a purebred Maine Coon, whereas if they do not, you probably have a completely loveable part Maine Coon that is just as worthy of your love and affection.

How to tell if your cat is a Maine Coon

I will now expand on each of the characteristics in more detail, to help you assess if you have a part Maine Coon, or not.;

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How Big Will A Maine Coon Mix Get

A purebred Maine coon is large even as kittens. They have this strong and muscular build in them. They usually weigh 18 pounds and 40 inches long including their bushy tail. Meanwhile, mixed lineage Maine Coons wonât surpass the size of a purebred. They would most likely have a smaller frame or torso.

Maine Coon Cats Breed Physical Characteristic

Physically, Maine Coons are above average in size. These felines have a double coat of fur to protect them against extreme cold weather.

The weight of these cats is between 8-12lbs female and more than 12lbs for males. They are prone to overeating so they needed to keep an eye on their diet.

These cats have a squarish face with high cheekbones and button noses. These features give them a friendly appearance. Their eyes are wide, oval, and expressive in the shades of Copper, Green, Gold, Odd-eyed.

They grow to their full size in about 3-4 years. And have a somewhat muscular rectangular body, with strong straight legs and a fluffy tail to compliment it.

Their ears are peculiar as they have tufts of fur on them which gifts these felines a majestic appearance.

Male Maine Coon

Males are generally bigger than females, more outgoing, and love the spotlight in general. Despite their size, they love to sleep on you or beside you. If you need a friendly and adventurous pet, adopt a male Maine Coon.

Female Maine Coon

Although females are a bit smaller in size, compared to other cat breeds they are still gigantic. They are a bit moody and tend to shower their love and affection on selective people.

However, they are playful and maintain the easy-going reputation of the breed. These females are very intelligent and observant.

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Your Maine Coon Will Nose

This means your Maine Coon will walk up to you slowly when youre at their level, or if they are on your lap, and head-butt you. Not aggressively, but gently. This is most certainly a sign of affection. It allows them to impart their pheromones onto you, claiming you as rightfully theirs.

This behavior isnt as common in the Maine Coon as perhaps others and indeed, one of my cats has never done this whilst the other has only done it occasionally, so dont be disappointed if you havent seen this yet!

Do Shelters Perform Dna Tests Before Adopting Cats Out

If youve browsed shelter animals, youve probably noticed they list the breed when they can. For example, they might say something along the lines of Maine Coon mix. But do they perform testing to determine if this is true?

Most of the time, the answer is no. They simply judge it based on their experience with certain breeds. Testing every cat that comes into a shelter to see the breed would rack up outlandish costs that most facilities couldnt afford.

So, if you have a shelter kitty and youre starting to wonder if they really do have a Maine Coon makeup, the label isnt for sure.

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Are There Any Major Health Issues In Maine Coon Mix Cats

Maine Coon cats are known for having several health issues due to their heavy bodies. Even it is a mixed cat, you may have to give the all required regular checkups with the vet.

For larger cat breeds, they suffer from hip dysplasia due to the weight. So if your Maine Coon has a root in another larger breed, they always take that terrible gene from both sides. However, quite a few tests are available to identify the existence of a debilitating gene. That being said, often the presence of a problematic gene does not mean that the disease presents itself. So if you are very concerned about having a healthy cat, its always better to purchase your pet from a reputable breeder to reduce the chance of genetic abnormalities. Apart from those congenital abnormalities, a Mix Maine Coon could live much longer than a purebred Maine Coon.

What if my cat is a Maine Coon mix?

You really cant tell if its not a purebred by going through the above-written information and pointing out the characteristics. So if you are concerned about the breed, you can choose the expensive option of doing DNA testing. Various companies do a DNA test of your cat for around 100$. You can read more about DNA testing from here.

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