British Maine Coon Does Not Need To Have Ear Tufts

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One of the defining physical characteristics of the Maine Coon are the ear tufts, the long hair that grows out from the tip of each ear to make the ears look larger and give then a more triangular appearance. Ear tufts are enshrined in the American cat association breed standards. There is actual mention of ear tufts - EARS: Shape: large, well-tufted.

Surprisingly (for me at least!) there is no mention in the British "standard of points" which is the UK equivalent of the breed standard. This is what it states:

"Ears - Large, tall ears, wide at base and tapering to appear pointed at the tip; set high but well apart."

No mention of "tufts" but there is mention of the ears appearing pointed at the tip, which is an oblique reference to ear tufts so why can't the Brits be more precise and actually refer to the hair! It would have been better.

My recommendation to the GCCF (the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy - the premier cat association in the UK) is to slightly amend the standard to make it more precise. Ear tufts are an important feature of this very popular pedigree cat.


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