Maine Coon breed standard points score tells us which are the more important aspects of appearance

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Here is a visual representation of the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) Maine Coon breed standard points score. It shows you how the various parts of the body are weighted in terms of their importance in the cat fancy.

Maine Coon breed standard points score (CFA)
Maine Coon breed standard points score (CFA). Infographic: MikeB. Click on the image to see it a little sharper and larger.

We know the head shape is important because the muzzle is a major feature of this breed. The ear shape and lynx tips are also important as they help to define the breed and distinguish it from all the others.

Judges will award points for each component of anatomy up to the maximum as shown in the infographic.

FYI: "This is Jill. She’s my 7mo old Maine Coon tortie who has a glorious tail". The words are from the caregiver: u/mmkaytheniguess on Reddit.com. It was the best picture I could find this afternoon to showcase all the parts of anatomy. She is a glorious tortoiseshell as the owner states.

Here is a CFA show cat winner on the left. A cat that would have scored well using this points system. The cat in the right by comparison is an extreme bred Maine Coon. I don't believe that he is a show cat. He is not competing at cat shows. I think he'd lose points for not being in 'balance' as the muzzle is exaggerated. It is overemphasized. The head shape would probably be assessed as not ideal.


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