Are Maine Coons illegal in some countries, states or territories?

One Maine Coon website asks if Maine Coons are legal? My initial response was that it is a bizarre question (second thoughts below), but I'll answer it in my way. I say that it is a bizarre question because the Maine Coon is an entirely domestic cat by which I mean NOT a wild cat hybrid and therefore there is no reason whatsoever to declare it illegal in any jurisdiction unless that there is some other fanciful reason to ban the cat (there might be - see below).

Are Maine Coons illegal in some countries, states or territories?
Are Maine Coons illegal in some countries, states or territories? No, to the best of my knowledge. Image: MikeB

I know of no jurisdiction anywhere in the world that bans Maine Coons which makes sense. Conversely a similar sized domestic cat, the F1-F2 Savannah, is illegal in many jurisdictions (states, territories and countries) because it is a wildcat hybrid. The cat has some wild cat DNA which some legislatures consider to be detrimental to human health and welfare and to the conservation of wildlife (if the cat escapes the home and becomes feral).

The bottom-line point is that the Maine Coon is a full-blown domestic cat created by humans for humans. For their companionship and entertainment. For a country or state to declare the breed illegal would fly in the face of common sense. It would be bizarre and idiotic, frankly.

That said the question is worth asking as many people make wild cats their pets, in addition to the wild cat hybrids. Under these circumstances there is a legitimate claim to ban them, to make them illegal both in the interests of both cat and human welfare.

Another reason why the question arguably some validity has is because some pure domestic cat breeds are inherently unhealthy due to the genes that they inherit. These breeds are supported by the cat fancy, but their existence is a breach of the health and welfare policies of cat associations. 

You know which breeds I am referring to. The best examples are the Scottish Fold, which is popular with Ed Sheer and Taylor Swift, two powerful influencers and the flat-faced (peke) Persian which is bred to extreme and has been for decades although it was not always this extreme in appearance,

The Germans ban these breeds. They are illegal in Germany. However, the Maine Coon (MC) does not fall foul of the German rule on 'torture breeding' but it is not far short. 

The MC inherits genetic diseases which cause lameness and HCM which is a common heart condition. The breeders are fully aware of these inherited health issues which individual Maine Coons are almost guaranteed to get earlier or later in life. Is that not a form of torture breeding (Qualzucht)? 

Perhaps Germany might one day make the Maine Coon illegal? That would be a turn up for the books.

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