Your Maine Coon Guide

I  don't live with a Maine Coon 😢😒 but I live with a regular, tabby moggie (good-looker) with a short coat and I use a metal comb on him. In fact, I use a flea comb when combing him top to bottom daily. Flea combs have very tightly spaced metal teeth and nicely rounded ends to the teeth. He loves it and asks for a session. He has his own personal way to ask. Here are some thoughts on combs for the Maine Coon (MC). Cat lovers know that the Maine Coon coat needs maintenance to avoid matts and tangles. My research from cat groomers and Maine Coon owners indicate that it is wise to buy a good or high-quality metal comb for your Maine Coon. In addition you can also buy a special detangler comb.  High-quality products for a high-quality cat, right!? 😎 If you have splashed the cash on a great MC don't skimp on combs. Also it is important that the comb is kind on the skin. In fact you want the combing to massage the skin and thereby feel nice. Don't assume that your MC will enjo...

This domestic cat is not so much a Maine Coon as a hairy monster from another planet. An extraordinary cat right up there will the other rare and amazing Maine Coons that we see on social media. Screenshot from video below. It is almost as if there is a competition going on with breeders. The prize? The weirdest Maine Coon and the biggest. On a more serious note that can lead to problems as breeders try to out-compete each other. What do you think about this cat? Please comment. There are two versions of the same video as one is uploaded and the other embedded. The latter is a little better quality but embedded videos from social media sites tend to disappear after a while which is why I have the uploaded one as well. That will not disappear. @anakin_and_arya Giga Cat 🗿😼 #catsoftiktok #mainecoonsoftiktok #gattiditiktok #mainecoon #catlover #kittenlove #mainecooncat #expensivecat #mainecoonlovers #cattok #gatti #gigacat #gigachad ♬ original sound - Logan Chitwood He...

If you love cats living with a Maine Coon cat is great. They have an impressive appearance and an attractive personality. Please read on... If you asked a hundred different people living with a Maine Coon cat what it's like you will probably receive a hundred different answers because each of those individual cats will have their own character. And this is the point: Maine Coon cats are like any other domestic cat in many respects.  You could say that 90% of a Maine Coon cat's character is the character of the domestic cat while the remaining 10% will be the character selectively bred into Maine Coon cats by breeders. And the overarching factor is, as mentioned, each individual cat's character. Image copyright Helmi Flick. I'm not going to describe the general domestic cat character because this page really is about the Maine Coons cat character; at least partly because another aspect of living with a Maine Coon cat is their size. A third major aspect is their shaggy co...

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 CFA breed standard guides breeders on the appearance of the breeds registered with that association. It is the same with the other breeds and associations. They award points for each aspect of the appearance with the overall total being 100. This allows judges to give an overall figure which is a percentage. The MC has a double coat of downy undercoat and a top coat but the coat is made up of three types of hair strand: down hairs (wool hairs), bristle or awn hairs and guard hairs . Technically there is a fourth type of hair: the whiskers. Maine Coon coat is the single most important part of the cat's appearance. Image: MikeB The aspect of the Maine Coon appearance (anatomy) to which is attached the most points in the coat. A show cat can be awarded a maximum of 20 points (20% of the total) for their coat in comparison to 15 for the head shape and 15 for the body shape. This 20% figure does NOT include body colour and pattern. The coat is therefore the most important single as...

 This fluffy Maine Coon's reaction to being brushed and combed is described as funny. Funny peculiar. But is it? His name is Barny and he is on TikTok. Maine Coon resists being brushed. Image: MikeB based on screenshot. If you look at the video a couple of times, you'll see three types of body language which gives the game away as to his attitude to being brushed. He flicks his hind leg He pushes himself away slightly He places his paw on the brush to stop it moving and approaching him What does that tell us? What does it hint at? P.S. He also vocalises slight irritation. That Barny does not want to be brushed by his caregiver. Why? I think because it is over-stimulating. It irritates him which is going to be a little irritating to his caregiver because Maine Coons do need human intervention on coat maintenance. Or he may find it uncomfortable based on previous sessions. @mainecoon.barny Comb number 3 and my mainecoon cat🖤 #mainecooncat #blackmainecoon #mainskamyvalikocka...

This is a discussion about choosing a Maine Coon cat breeder and whether the first-time purchaser should select a cat from a TICA (The International Cat Association) registered breeder or a CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association) registered breeder. There will, I believe, be a subtle difference in the appearance of Maine Coon cats registered with these two top cat associations in America.  TICA and CFA Maine Coon comparison. Photo: Helmi Flick. This might interest first-time buyers of this breed particularly if they are researching the breed carefully and have specific requirements. Initially I look at the breed standards regarding the coat from these two cat associations and then I discuss how it might impact the purchase. TICA breed standard for Maine Coon coat "Length: uneven; shorter on shoulders, gradually lengthening down the back and sides. Long, full, shaggy belly fur and britches. Tail fur long, full, flowing. Frontal ruff becomes more develop with age. Texture: all-weather c...

Maine winters The state of Maine in the United States has a cold winter climate. I'm told that the cold season lasts for 3.3 months from late November to early March with an average daily high temperature below 34°F which is just above freezing point. The coldest month of the year in Maine is January with an average low of 8°F and a high of 23°F which is well below freezing. In the snow! Image: MikeB. Adaptations over 400 years in Maine The point of the introduction is that if we agree that the Maine Coon cat originates in the state of Maine which it almost certainly does, we can suggest that this cat breed developed physical adaptations in its coat primarily for survival in harsh winter climates. Maine in the late 1800s. Image in public domain. Coat The coat is shaggy and has a water-resistant top layer of fur. The downy undercoat is like a duck down filling for a duvet. Shaggy coat! Image in public domain. Hind legs The hind legs have thick fur down to their hocks. This gives the...

Yes, the Cat Fanciers' Association Maine Coon breed standard is quite clearly contradictory in respect of the GENERAL standard and in reference to the breed's coat. I will explain what I mean. Now, that's shaggy 😎👍✔️ but it is not SMOOTH. I hope this cat is not registered with the CFA! Image in public domain. Under "GENERAL" the breed standard states "A distinctive characteristic is its smooth, shaggy coat". The word "smooth" is contradictory to the word "shaggy". We all know what the word smooth means, but I will be more precise and say that it means something which has a regular surface and is free from perceptible projections and lumps. The surface should be flat. The word shaggy needs to be defined. It means unkempt, thick and long. It normally applies to hair and in which case it means unkempt hair or fur. The word "unkempt" means having an untidy or dishevelled appearance. It is impossible to reconcile a coat with a ...

84% of all homes in the United States have some kind of air conditioning. Almost all Texans have air conditioning with 80% using a central air conditioning unit. They need to as Texas can get damned hot. The hottest states are, in descending order: Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Texas and Georgia. Maine Coon keeps cool by resting in a cool hand basin. Image in the public domain. The Maine Coon (MC) is known for its shaggy, medium-longhaired coat. This is beneficial to the MC if it goes outside in cold climates. The coat is made for a temperate climate with cold winters and living in barns. They are essentially outdoor-living cats. People like longhaired cats. That's the reason why there are lots of them, not because they need warm coats. But in Texas the long coat would be a disadvantage because it left unattended it would become matted in hot weather which can lead to infection or infestation of the skin. The point is that the MC is ill-suited to the hot climates of these states and ...

Here is Richie, the Maine Coon, on TikTok. It gives his admirers the chance to see his amazing fur as his owner plays with it. It looks like a very enjoyable (for both) experience and very tactile. It is nice to see him moving. As usual he looks stunning. He's a lemur-Maine Coon hybrid! 😉.  In this video his caregiver messes around with his extraordinary fur. It is by some miracle of genetics that Richie was created because his appearance always astounds me. It is as if he was created on another planet. I'd love to know a bit more about how Richie came into the world.  RELATED:  Black smoke Maine Coon Richie with a black face and diamond eyes . Was he some freak of genetics or a strange genetic mutation? I think I need Sarah Hartwell to explain the genetics behind Richie. And the coat; this is shaggy plus, plus. What are his litter mates like? That would be interesting to know. @richiethemainecoon Zoubisou bisou 😽 #mainecoonkitten #funnymainecoon #cutecat #catsoft...

The CFA breed standard for the Maine Coon states: COAT: heavy and shaggy; shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches. Frontal ruff desirable. Texture silky with coat falling smoothly. Anyone who is involved with purebred cats knows the requirement for shaggy fur when breeding Maine Coons.  This picture illustrates the concept of 'shaggy coat! 👌 I am kidding a bit because perhaps the breeder overdid it! This fur is a handful for the cat to keep in order. Too much. The human will be called upon to assist. Maine Coon gets 10/10 for the shaggy coat requirement of the breed standard. Photo: Reddit. I wonder if this cat would lose marks for an 'unruly coat' rather than a shaggy one. The breed standard does no specify an unruly coat. He also has those old-fashioned facial human whiskers sticking our of the side of his face. His expression is priceless. Astonishment at the photographer. He is perplexed but cooperative (just).

She reminds me of a slightly dishevelled man. That's probably an unkind analogy. It is also incorrect as tortoiseshell cats are almost invariably female! And I'm anthropomorphising cats but what the heck. The broken tortoiseshell coat combined with the shagginess of it gives us this dishevelled appearance. I think this is a super-looking cat.  Picture of a shaggy, 'dishevelled' yet attractive Maine Coon. Photo in public domain. I think the impression of a moustache due to the tortoiseshell pattern leads me to anthropomorphize the cat and change the gender! This is a 50-year-old man with ginger hair! My imagination is running riot. SOME MORE ON TORTIES: All Tortoiseshell Cats Are Feminine Tortoiseshell Cats

Absolutely not; a purebred, pedigree Maine Coon cannot have short hair because the cat associations' breed standards always insist that the coat is "heavy and shaggy". I'm referring to the Cat Fanciers' Association's breed standard in this instance but they'll all be very similar. The CFA standard goes on to state that the coat should be "shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches. Frontal ruff desirable. Texture silky with coat falling smoothly." Decent-looking Maine Coon complying more or less with the breed standard. Although the ruff could be more prominent. The coat is very shaggy which is desired. It is like a shag pile carpet! Photo in public domain. In the 'general section' of the breed standard it states that a distinctive characteristic of this cat breed is its "smooth, shaggy coat". A shorthaired cat cannot have a heavy, shaggy coat. The two are incompatible. Therefore, Maine Coons can't h...

It could be argued that a disadvantage in being the human caregiver of a magnificent Maine Coon cat is that you have to take steps to prevent the coat from matting. Such a dense, shaggy coat is great for outdoor cats in cold climates but in temperate climates it is not so much that the cat can become overheated but that the fur can become matted.   Thick Maine Coon coat can easily become matted if left unattended. Not for this stupendous Maine Coon, however. But proactive steps are easier, safer and more enjoyable for the cat. Photo: Pinterest. Matting is problematic and mats should be removed. If they aren't removed, they will become bigger as we've seen on the Internet with some incredible cases of extreme matting through neglect. Mats take up more and more hair and they start to pinch the skin which can cause irritation and even pain. They can also lead to infection an infestation of the skin. It is said that you rarely see long-haired cats in feral colonies. This, it is...

Proper Maine Coons i.e. Maine Coons with a pedigree and who are purebred cannot have short hair. This is because the breed standard insists that the coat of this popular cat breed is "heavy and shaggy; shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches. Frontal ruff desirable. Texture silky with coat falling smoothly" - Cat Fanciers' Association breed standard. Maine Coon showing the medium-longhaired coat. Photo copyright Helmi Flick This description of the desired coat precludes the possibility that the Maine Coon can have short hair. This is a medium-longhaired cat with a shaggy coat and perhaps the reason for these very clear guidelines by the cat associations is that the cat originates in the barn cats of the state of Maine in the USA. These cats were suited to the climate of that state during the winter months. Therefore, the breed standard is faithful to the original cat going back hundreds of years. The shorthaired coat is completely different to t...

The title might sound a little bit strange because Maine Coon cats are always under the attention and care of humans but a point needs to be made; a general point about cat coats. Long-haired cats are rarely seen in feral cat colonies. It is believed or speculated that the reason for this is that the long coat is a disadvantage to a free-living cat because it easily becomes matted. The only way to remove the matts is for a human to be involved. The cat herself cannot prevent this happening. Maine Coon. Photo: Image by  Joness  from  Pixabay   It isn't so much about the cat getting hot in warm conditions because their coat is long it is about the health concerns as it becomes matted. Although, of course, a long coat is beneficial to outdoor cats in cold climates. However, in temperate climate it is not for the reasons stated above and Maine Coon cats are found anywhere across the globe more or less. There are two reasons why the Maine Coon coat is medium-longhaired...

As you might expect the breed standards of the CFA and TICA for the Maine Coon (MC) coat are similar. There is a difference which perhaps helps to produce a difference in the appearance of these cats depending on which association the individual cat is registered with. The CFA MC coat should be 'silky'.  Jan Horlick's "Just Blue" Maine Coon, photographed against our "Charcoal" background at TICA's Evergreen Cat Fanciers cat show, Ferndale, WA, October 2015. Photo: copyright Helmi Flick. There is no mention of this refinement in TICA breed standard. I think that you'll find that CFA Maine Coons tend to be less shaggy than TICA ones. They are a bit prettier perhaps and less rooted to their origins which is as barn cats in the state of Maine.  I wrote about this years ago and if it interests you please click here  to read a sequence of several pages on the topic. Here is a comparison of the CFA and TICA breed standards for the coat of the Maine Coon...

The CFA breed standard makes the Maine Coon "ruff" desirable: COAT: heavy and shaggy; shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches. Frontal ruff desirable . Texture silky with coat falling smoothly. It is interesting that it should be a "frontal ruff" whatever that means! It must mean that the ruff is predominantly at the front. The word "ruff" comes from the human clothes of Western, Central and Northern Europe from the mid-sixteenth century to the mid-seventeenth century. The picture of the Maine Coon on this page illustrates the ruff for this breed. Picture in the public domain It is a bit shaggy but Maine Coons should have shaggy coats. The ruff develops gradually. The picture below is of a human ruff. You can see the similarity! Cat breeders also refer to the term "britches" to describe the longer hair around the upper part of the hind leg . Johannes Verspronck  -  Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem.

There is a high potential for matting in this superb Maine Coon. I know that the coat needs to be shaggy to meet the requirements of the breed standard so they look like genuine barn cats of the late 1800s but this guy needs ongoing maintenance of a serious kind: daily grooming by their human caretaker is probably a must to avoid mats forming. Once they form and take hold, they are hard to remove. Proactive action is far easier and more successful. Maine Coon's trademark shaggy coat. Needs human intervention of the grooming kind! Photo: Reddit. The important thing about grooming your cat is to be gentle. And the best care is proactive. Far easier. And commercial grooming parlours might not that good as they are unregulated and you don't know what is happening.  Will your cat be scared and traumatized? Is he safe? Are there dogs at the parlour as well? How do they dry cats? Are there safety controls? I would not use a grooming parlour as there have been some terrible stories ...