Your Maine Coon Guide

The Sun is reporting on another very large Maine Coon cat. The owner says that her cat is as big as a cheetah. This simply can't be true and I'll explain what I mean. She said that her Maine Coon cat who is six years old and who is named Xartrux, measures 4.2 feet in length and weighs just over 10 kg. This is 22 pounds. The National Zoo tells us that an adult cheetah weighs 75-140 pounds which is between 34 and 64 kg. Taking midpoint on that at about 50 kg and the cheetah is five times heavier than this woman's Maine Coon. If a cheetah is five times heavier it can't be the same size because there is five times the amount of mass in a cheetah. The woman argues that cheetahs are between 3'7" and 4'11" long. This is 43 inches and 59 inches respectively. Does this Maine Coon look as big as a cheetah? No, positively not. See image below for comparison. The zoo I mention tells me that cheetah are between 44 and 56 inches long. Therefore she is correct on the...

As a Maine Coon cat caregiver you almost certainly know that the breed is genetically predisposed to developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In my view, this disease, which can start early in life, is the reason why Maine coon cats have, on average, a shorter lifespan than they should otherwise have. One study says that their lifespan, on average, is 11 years .  It's a great shame that through suboptimal breeding, this majestic cat breed is so predisposed to this serious disease. Omar an overweight Maine Coon cat who's probably predisposed to HCM. Image: Screenshot from a YouTube video. Omar lives in Australia. The study that I'm referring to observed certain anatomical characteristics of Maine Coon cats that were predisposed to HCM. They decided this because the Maine Coon cats in their cohort (group) of 63 cats that had HCM commonly had these anatomical characteristics. They are as follows: Older: This is to be expected. Older Maine Coon cats are more likely to hav...

His name is Chas and I have exaggerated a little about his size but he is enormous and he is only a kitten. Let's say he is about the size of a bobcat! He is extraordinary. Here is a screenshot and you can see the video by clicking on this link . There are a gazillion super huge Maine Coons on the internet these days but this fella takes the biscuit. There are some MCs which are larger but not many. Size is not everything. Quality and compliance with the breed standard is more important for the breeders but size seems to be almost everything for people who want to purchase one of these cats.

On average, the Maine Coon cat is going to be bigger than any of the cats in the title except the F1 i.e. first filial Savannah cat. The first filial Savannah cat is the biggest domestic cat but it is not a formal cat breed. The largest domestic cat breeder is the Maine Coon cat. Caveat: please read on. F1 Savannah cat Titan. Photo: Kathrin Stucki. Compare the size of the F1 Savannah cat above with the huge Maine Coon below. But this an unfair comparison as the Maine Coon in the picture below is exceptional in their size. This is not a typical Maine Coon whereas the F1 Savannah (Titan) is a typical size for the F1 Savannah. The difficulty in comparing domestic cat sizes is brought home in this exercise. In this example the Savannah cat is smaller than the Maine Coon. Maine Coon as big as a child (almost). Image in public domain. There will be a lot of conditions to the statement that the Maine is the largest domestic cat breed. Let's take an example. You've got a smallish fema...

This is 'Floyd' a Heckin' Chonker Maine Coon cat at Alicia Pet Care Center. Image: screenshot. This is 'Floyd' a Heckin' Chonker Maine Coon cat at Alicia Pet Care Center. The funny phrase 'Heckin Chonker' was made up by someone at the vet clinic I believe. That's where the video comes from. Floyd weighs 28 pounds. He looks a little bit overweight which is why they described him as a Heckin' Chonker!  Above is a screenshot from the video which emphasis his enormous size. It is fun to see a domestic cat this big at the vets. It must be like treating a medium-sized dog.  One important point to make is that all the large Maine Coons I've seen in videos have behaved impeccably when handled. Not a murmur of dissent from them. They seem to accept it all and take it in their stride. We don't know why Floyd is at the vet but it is possibly to do with his hip joints but I am guessing as he might be entirely fit and well.  RELATED: Why do Maine C...

When idling away the time, I created this infographic. One of the most interesting things about the Maine Coon is its size. This led me to think about size comparison. I have compared the size of a Maine Coon with a standard domestic cat and a standard-sized dog . Now it is the turn of the human in a stark infographic. FYI - the tallest domestic cat to the shoulder has always been an F1 Savannah cat at about 2 inches taller than the typical big Maine Coons. Although some of the Maine Coons I have seen would probably beat the Savannah cat record. Why aren't they applying for the record!? This highlights the unreliability of Guinness World Records. They depend on voluntary reporting. A lot of people live with a record-breaking cat but are disinterested in records. Size comparison big Maine Coon versus American man. Infographic by MikeB

Kusa weighs less than you might think at 16.5 pounds. Image: TikTok. All Maine Coons are skinny under their shaggy coats. Perhaps the word 'skinny' is a bit strong but they are slender and athletic if they are in good condition. In technical language this is about their 'body conformation'. Maine Coon 'Kusa' looks enormous but weighs 16.5 pounds because he is skinny under his impressive coat. Or they should be.  "It's crazy he is only 16 pounds!" They give the impression that they are larger in terms of fat coverage than they are because their coat is very full. I am sure if all the huge Maine Coons were shaved of their fur, we'd be quite shocked at their slender frames. The breed standard describes the Maine Coon as 'rugged'. That comes from their barn cat background. They are a large cat but not stocky or cobby (the cat fancy's word for stocky) as is the case with some other breeds (the British SH for instance). There is a practi...

The Maine Coon is bigger . Many years ago, I did a lot of work on this and you can see the page if you wish by clicking on this link . The conclusion was that the Maine Coon is the largest domestic cat breed. The second largest breed is the Ragdoll.  Comparing Ragdoll and Maine Coon. Image: MikeB But the complication is that the above information concerns the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) which recognises both these breeds. However, TICA (The International Cat Association) recognises the Savannah cat and the Chausie. These are wildcat hybrids and the F1 Savannah is on average bigger than the Maine Coon. I stress 'on average'. Under TICA registered cats, the second largest breed is the Chausie and Maine Coon. Under GCCF (Governing Council of the Cat Fancy - based in the UK) and FiFe (Fédération Internationale Féline - based in Europe) the Maine Coon is the largest cat breed with the Ragdoll coming second with the cats registered with these associations. So, these organisa...

Maine Coon cats, like other domestic cats, lack the ability to roar due to differences in their larynx structure compared to big cats.  The larynx of domestic cats is not as specialized as that of big cats, and their vocal cords are shorter and less flexible. As a result, domestic cats are unable to produce the deep, low-frequency vibrations that create a roar. Maine Coon meowing loudly asking for food. Image: DALL-E. However, Maine Coon cats, like other domestic cats, are still capable of producing a variety of other vocalizations, such as meows, purrs, growls, and hisses, to communicate with their owners and other cats. These vocalizations are produced by other parts of the larynx and the mouth. The tiger roar is meant to be heard over 2-3 kilometers. It is a long-distance call . Domestic cats don't need to call that far and their anatomy is too small to produce a roar. A point worth mentioning is that a cat can either purr/meow or roar but they can't do both. The mountain li...

Discussion topic You could say that humankind has an obsession with big things. It doesn't apply to everybody but it does to a lot of people. And America seems to be the leader in the world of big things. That is not a criticism. Big is often good. Big and bold seems to be an American motto. This may account for the fact that their cat breed, the American Cat, the Maine Coon is the largest domestic cat breed on my estimation.  Big is attractive If you decide to adopt the Maine Coon cat you might be tempted to go for the biggest you can find. Part of the attractiveness of this breed is its size. Comparing size! People like big Maine Coon cats. On social media today there is a Maine Coon owner asking about the weight of other Maine Coon cats at six months of age. They say that they have always wanted a monster and are curious as to whether their cat is about average or bigger or smaller than usual at 6-months. It chimes with humans comparing their appearance on social media. I don...

It is a useful question to ask because the answer might surprise you. I've mentioned it before, but the CFA, the leading cat association, do not insist through their breed standards that the Maine Coon cat should be big but TICA differ. The 'end product' is the choice of the breeders. The weight range of this popular breed reflects the cat association's breed standards. Dr. Bruce Fogle DVM in his book THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF THE CAT states that the weight range is 4-10 kg (9-22 lbs). The lower weight applies to females which as you might expect are generally smaller than males. And it is a weight which is not untypical for a large number of non-purebred cats. One website, 11pets, states that the average female weight is 11 pounds and the average male weight is 14.8 pounds. They also state that 25% of male Maine Coon cats weigh between 6 kg and 8 kg. And 30% of females way between 4 kg and 6 kg. Another website states that the average weight of a Maine Coon cat varies betwe...

This is another interesting photo which compares the size of the largest cat breed with a regular-sized cat breed, the American Shorthair. It is remarkable really. The difference is vast although this huge domestic cat is a tad overweight if I am not mistaken. I don't want to criticise, but do I see a little bit of excess weight on this beautiful Maine Coon tabby with all the usual features including plenty of hairy tufts sticking out between the toes. Perhaps of all the cat breeds the American Shorthair is the definitive 'normal' cat breed. Nothing extreme about the cat at all. All very normal. The breeders say that Americal SH cats feel like a sack of oats which means heavy but pliable. It is just a label. These breeds have at least one thing in common: a square muzzle. Although the Maine Coon's muzzle is of a different order in terms of size. The experts refer to the American Shorthair as 'ASH' and the Maine Coon as 'MC'. Gloria Stephens, a past cat s...

This is possibly an interesting philosophical point at least for some people. It's a brief discussion on whether the popularity of the Maine Coon cat is exclusively because they are the biggest domestic cat breed. Or is it a combination of reasons? And if being the biggest domestic cat breed is a major factor as to why this particular cat is very popular, what is behind that thought? Big Maine Coon family including the human. Image: Instagram. Bigger is better There is certainly a mentality in humankind (but not by all people) that bigger is better. And it probably comes from our origins, going back to when we were hunter gatherers and even before that when we were just emerging as bipedal, intelligent creatures at a time when the planet was entirely different and when lions inhabited Europe. Why is bigger better? When you're starving the more food that you have, the better. If there is a chance of you starving, then the more food you have stored in the pantry the better. And ...

This social media user asks the following: " Picked up this guy as a kitten and he never stopped growing, he just turned 1! I’m 6 foot 2 for reference. Any chance he’s got Maine coon or savannah in him? He’s 15 lbs!" Those were his words. Sorry for the lower-case spellings which are incorrect. It is natural to ask but if you have to ask, he isn't purebred. Any chance he’s got Maine coon or Savannah in him? He’s 15 lbs! No. Image: u/Bid325 on Reddit.com A lot of people ask if their cat is a purebred cat. Sometimes they ask if their cat is a purebred-mix cat. The latter is a moggie anyway so not much point in asking that question. This applies to this guy incidentally and in any case, he is holding up (in the wrong way 😒😉) a ginger tabby male cat of random bred origin which means a moggie to you and me.  No criticism intended. I feel that they have a good relationship. His cat looks like a moggie too. And I love moggies. They are the best cats in fact. Some random bred c...

One website author says that Maine Coon cats (MCs) are so popular because they have great personalities. True, but I believe that it is not the first reason for their popularity. All domestic cats, provided they are socialised to people and other pets and are treated nicely, have good personalities. Maine Coons are popular due mainly to their appearance and this photo tells you why! Image: in the public domain. In my experience of living to an advanced age, the MCs are popular because of their impressive appearance. The first thing most people are attracted to is appearance. This applies to almost any 'object' living or inanimate.  Humans mainly live visually. The dominant sense is vision. And humans love nice looking things.  They like to have attractive possessions. This observation is supported in all manner of contexts. Cars come to mind. For most people, particularly women, whether they buy a particular car or not is down to its appearance. And most people who make the de...

There are a lot of pics of huge Maine Coons (MC) on the internet. Rarely do we see an MC in direct comparison for size to a regular-sized cat. This iPhone snapshot is nice because the MC almost looks like a monster with a huge head; a fictional animal from a centuries' old legend. It was taken by "Jorbasa Fotografie" and uploaded to Flickr on August 2013.  Not all MCs are like this it should be added. The caption on Flickr in German is as follows (translated by Google): "Sabine Müller managed this incredible snapshot with her i-phone and made it available to me! Pasha, the giant Maine Coon, wants to visit Nala and Mats! - Sabine Müller takes this beautiful snapshot with her I-phone and provides it for me! Pascha, the Giant Maine Coon, wants to visit Nala and Mats! Thank you, Sabine!" Internet surfers are getting used to seeing monster Maine Coons. It distorts the truth as most are larger than the typical moggie but not huge. Some are not larger than regular cats...

One Maine Coon owner said on TikTok that if you have a bigger cat, you have bigger problems. As the Maine Coon (MC) is the biggest domestic cat you will have more problems. Bullocks 😎. She has to be wrong. The MC is pretty well like any other domestic cat except for their size and distinctive appearance. I guess they eat more but that is not a great hardship. There is one truth to the statement.  Screenshot from video. The MC is prone to hip dysplasia as you probably know (and patellar luxation - a knee problem). This is a loose hip joint . The biggest MCs are more prone. So size is an issue here. MCs are almost famous for having hip dysplasia. Not a good reputation and size plays a role in this disease. But I believe that she is not referring to the disease. She almost blames MCs for destroying furniture but all domestic cats will scratch furniture if there isn't a really solid scratching post to deter them. Even then they still might do it as it is entirely natural and necessary...

There is a strange, unique it seems to me, study about what I believe to be a very rare condition in cats namely "slipped capital femoral epiphysis" (SCFE). I did some research on it to figure out what it means. And my interpretation of what that difficult to understand medical and scientific language means is that the top of the femur (thigh bone) which is a ball-shaped section of the bone 'slips' in relation to the remainder of the bone as you can see in the picture. In more technical language it is a fracture through the growth plate which results in movement of the end of the femur. It seems that surgery is the fix as it holds that cap at the end of the femur in place and in alignment with the rest of the bone. SCFE on humans. Image: YouTube. The study which took place at the Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria, concluded that SCFE had only been reported occ...

There are two ways to answer the question in the title. You can answer the question while referencing the breed standard or you can answer the question as a layperson, in general terms. I'll do them separately and I refer to the breed standard in the first answer. CFA breed standard The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) breed standard for the Maine Coon tells the world exactly how the Maine Coon should look if they want to win competitions. These are the models for all Maine Coons. The breed standard covers all aspects of the anatomy of the cat but I will focus on body shape because this is where I can contextualise the answer. Standard-sized MC. Photo in public domain. The CFA is quite clear: the body should be muscular, broad chested and further, this cat should be medium-to-large in size. This cat should be solid and rugged being able to endure a harsh climate. The mood music of that description is that the Maine Coon should be a solid, large cat. Therefore, under the breed st...

You might be expecting me to tell you what a "delicate bone structure" means in relation to a Maine Coon show cat in competition at a cat show, but I don't think I can tell you. The phrase "delicate bone structure" is very elastic in its meaning. But the CFA breed standard makes it clear that if your Maine Coon has a delicate bone structure, he or she will be disqualified in competition at a cat show. Not a Maine Coon with a delicate bone structure. Photo: Instagram. Personally, I think that this criterion for qualification is too elastic and too vague. The interpretation of it is going to lead to injustices being perpetrated. Perhaps it never happens. Perhaps no judges have ever disqualified a Maine Coon for having a delicate bone structure. Perhaps this criterion is more academic than practical. What it is saying is the opposite: that Maine Coons should be substantial and quite big and solid. I have a feeling that the phrase is pushing Maine Coon breeders t...