| General |
The Maine Coon is a working cat, muscular,
solid, medium to large in size with the look of
the wild. This cat is a result of natural evolution,
capable of surviving a harsh climate with little or
no human assistance. Thus, this cat may be reserved
initially toward strange people and new situations,
yet the Maine Coon does have an amiable disposition.
Males may be larger, females are usually smaller.
Females should not be penalized because of this size
difference. Allowance should be made for slow maturation,
as a Maine Coon does not achieve ultimate type until three
to four years of age. Type must not be sacrificed for size, or size for type. |
| Head |
Shape |
The head is medium in width and slightly longer
than wide with allowance for broadening and jowls in males.
Muzzle is square when viewed from any angle. Cheek bones are
high. Chin must be firm and in line with nose and upper lip. |
| Profile |
The nose is slightly concave with no break. |
| Ears |
Large, tall, wide at base, tapering to appear pointed,
with lynx-like tipping and inner tufts extending beyond
the outer edge of the ears. They are set high on the head,
the distance between them being equal to the width of an ear
at its base. |
| Eyes |
Large, round, wide-set, with a slightly oblique
setting. Eye color may be shades of green, gold or copper.
Clarity of color is desired. There is no relationship
between eye color and coat color, except in solid white
cats, which may be blue-eyed, copper-eyed, green-eyed or
odd-eyed. |
| Body and Tail |
Body |
Medium to large in size, muscular and broad chested.
The body should be long with all parts proportioned to create
a rectangular appearance. Neck medium to long; may be thick
and muscular in older males. The body should feel solid,
with firm muscle and no flabbiness. When viewed from the
rear, there is a definite squareness to the rump. |
| Legs/Feet |
Sturdily boned, wide-set, medium in length,
in proportion to the body. Feet large,
round and well tufted underneath and between the pads. |
| Tail |
Long, at least the length of the body, wide at the base and tapering to the tip. |
| Coat |
Length |
Coat is uneven in length and markedly subject to seasonal variation.
Fur on head, neck and shoulders is short, becoming gradually longer along
the back toward the tail and down the sides toward the belly. Britches
and belly fur are full and shaggy. The coat flows smoothly down the
body, continuing in the same manner on the tail. There is a frontal
ruff, generally heavier on males than females. The tail is heavy
furred, long and flowing, but it is not bushy as is a fox’s brush. |
| Texture |
More or less self maintaining, the coat is warm with a light density undercoat covered by a
water proof outer coat. The coat is not fluffy. Coat texture may vary with coat color. |
| Color |
White trim around the chin and lip line allowed except in solid color cats. |
| Condition |
There is no point score for condition as such.
Flabbiness, obesity, emaciation, dull coat,
evidence of illness, or any other indication
that the cat is not in good physical condition
or has not had proper grooming are faults and
should be penalized under the appropriate heading
constituting the point score. |
| Solid Colors |
White |
Pure clear white. Eyes blue, green, copper or odd eyed with equal color depth. Nose leather and paw pads pink. |
| Blue |
One level shade of blue, lighter shades preferred; free from shading, markings
or ticking and sound to the roots. Nose leather and paw pads blue. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Black |
Lustrous jet black, with sound color from roots
to tip of fur. Nose leather and paw pads black or charcoal. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Cream |
One level shade of cream, lighter shades preferred; free from shading, markings,
or ticking and sound to the roots. Nose leather and paw pads pink. Eye shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Red |
Deep rich red, free from shading, markings or ticking,
and sound to the roots. Nose leather and paw pads brick red. Eye shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Tabby Patterns |
Classic Tabby Pattern |
Markings dense, clearly defined and broad,
showing good contrast between the pale ground color
and the deep, heavy markings. Legs evenly barred with
bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail
evenly ringed. At least one unbroken necklace on
neck or upper chest. Frown marks on the forehead
extending between the ears and down the neck to meet
the ‘butterfly’ on the shoulders. An unbroken line
runs back from the outer corner of the eye. Swirls
on cheeks. Back markings consist of a vertical line
down the spine from the butterfly to tail with a
vertical stripe paralleling it on each side. The
three stripes are well separated by stripes of the
ground color. The dark swirls on the sides of the
body shall be centered by a dark blotch surrounded
by ground color. The underside of the body should
have a double row of vertical buttons in the color
of the dense markings. |
| Mc Tabby Pattern |
Markings dense, clearly defined and all narrow
penciling showing good contrast between the pale ground
color and the dense markings. Legs evenly barred with
bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail
evenly ringed. At least one unbroken necklace on neck
or upper chest. Frown marks on the forehead extending
between the ears and down the neck to meet the shoulders.
An unbroken line runs back from the outer corner of the
eye to the ear. There are three distinct spine lines but
they are all very narrow and often meld into what looks
like one wide stripe without fault. Narrow penciling
lines in the dense marking color runs around the body
in vertical fashion in the unbroken lines. The underside
of the body should have a double row of vertical buttons
in the color of the dense markings |
| Patched Tabby Pattern |
Markings to conform to either the Classic
Tabby or Mackerel Tabby pattern. The Patched
Tabby is an established blue, brown, silver,
blue silver or golden tabby with patches of
red and/or cream. |
| Tabby Colors |
Blue Tabby |
The ground color should be pale bluish ivory.
Markings are very deep blue, providing
good contrast to the lighter ground color.
Warm fawn patina over the whole. Nose leather
and paw pads rose. Eyes shades of green, gold
or copper. White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Blue Silver Tabby |
The ground color should be pure,
clear silver. Markings are deep blue,
affording good contrast to the light ground
color. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper.
White lip/chin trim allowed. Nose leather
and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat colors. |
| Red Tabby |
The ground color should be red.
Markings a dense, darker red providing good
contrast with the lighter red ground color.
Nose leather and paw pads brick red. Eyes
shades of green, gold or copper. White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Cream Tabby |
The ground color should be very pale cream.
Markings of cream are sufficiently darker than the
ground color to provide good contrast, but remain
within the dilute color range. Nose leather and paw
pads pink. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper.
White lip/chin trim allowed |
| Brown Tabby |
The ground color should be a rich,
tawny brown. Markings dense black.
Nose leather brick red. Paw pads slate
or black. Eyes shades of green, gold
or copper. White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Silver Tabby |
The ground color should be pale,
pure silver. Markings dense black.
Rims of eyes, nose and lips outlined
in black. Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads black. Eyes shades of green,
bold or copper. White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Golden Tabby |
The ground color should be rich warm gold
to apricot, apricot preferred.
Markings dark brown to black. Rims
of eyes and nose outlined with dark brown
or black. Nose leather brick red. Paw
pads dark brown or black. Clarity of markings
takes precedence over depth of tipping. Eyes
shades of green, gold or copper. White lip/chin
trim allowed. |
| Cameo Tabby |
The ground color should be pale ivory.
Markings are red, diminishing in intensity
of color approaching the roots of the hairs.
Clarity of markings takes precedence over
depth of tipping. Nose leather and paw pads rose.
Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Cream Cameo Tabby |
The ground color should be pale ivory.
Markings are cream diminishing in intensity
of color approaching the roots of the hairs.
Clarity of markings takes precedence over
depth of tipping. Nose leather and paw pads pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold, or copper. White
lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Blue Patched Tabby |
The ground color should be pale bluish ivory.
Markings a very deep blue providing good contrast
with the pale ground color. Patches of cream clearly
defined on both body and extremities. Cream markings
on the face are desirable. Warm fawn overtones or
patina over the whole. Nose leather and paw pads to
conform to requirements for coat colors. Eyes shades
of green, gold or copper. White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Blue Silver Patched Tabby |
The ground color should be pure, clear silver.
Markings deep blue, providing good contrast with the
pale ground color. Patches of red and/or cream
clearly defined on both body and extremities.
Red and/or cream markings on the face are desirable.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements
for coat colors. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper.
White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Brown Patched Tabby |
The ground color should be rich, tawny brown.
Markings of dense black with patches of red and/or
cream clearly defined on both body and extremities.
Markings of red and/or cream on the face are desirable.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for
coat colors. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper.
White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Silver Patched Tabby |
The ground color is pure pale silver.
Markings dense black. Patches of red and/or
cream clearly defined on both body and extremities.
Markings of red and/or cream on the face are desirable.
Rims of eyes, nose and lips are outlined in black.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements
for coat colors. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper.
White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Golden Patched Tabby |
The ground color should be rich warm gold to apricot,
apricot preferred. Markings dark brown to black. Patches
of red and/or cream clearly defined on both body and extremities.
Markings of red and/or cream on the face are desirable. Rims of
eyes, nose and lips outlined in dark brown or black. Nose leather
brick red. Paw pads dark brown or black. Nose leather and paw pads
to conform to requirements for coat colors. Eyes shades of green,
gold or copper. White lip/chin trim allowed. |
| Tortoiseshell Colors |
Blue Cream |
Blue and cream, lighter shades preferred,
clearly visible on both body and extremities.
Patching or brindling equally acceptable. Cream
markings on the face are desirable. Nose leather
and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat colors.
Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Tortoiseshell |
Black, red and/or cream clearly visible on
both body and extremities. Patching or brindling
equally acceptable. Red and/or cream markings on
the face are desirable. Nose leather and paw pads
to conform to requirements for coat colors. Eye
shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Smoke Colors |
Blue Smoke |
White undercoat deeply tipped with blue.
Cat in repose appears blue. In motion the white
undercoat is apparent. Extremities and face blue
with narrow band of white at base of hair next to
the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
White ruff and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw
pads blue. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Black Smoke |
White undercoat deeply tipped with black.
Cat in repose appears black. In motion, the white
undercoat is apparent. Extremities and face black
and narrow band of white at base of hair next to the
skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
White ruff and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads
black. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Smoke Cameo |
White undercoat deeply tipped with red.
Cat in repose appears red. In motion, the white
undercoat is apparent. Extremities and face red
with narrow band of white at base of hair next to
the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
White ruff and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads
rose. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper |
| Cream Smoke Cameo |
White undercoat deeply tipped with cream.
Cat in repose appears cream. In motion the white
undercoat is apparent. Extremities and face cream
with narrow band of white at base of hair next to the
skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. White
ruff and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold or copper |
| Golden Smoke |
Rich warm gold to apricot undercoat,
apricot preferred, deeply tipped with black.
Cat in repose appears black. In motion, the
golden undercoat is apparent. Extremities and
face black with narrow band of golden at base
of hair next to the skin which may be seen only
when fur is parted. Golden ruff and ear tufts.
Nose leather brick red. Paw pads dark brown or
black. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Blue Cream Smoke |
White undercoat deeply tipped with blue and
cream which are clearly visible on both body and
extremities. Cat in repose appears blue cream.
In motion, the white undercoat is apparent.
Extremities and face blue cream with narrow band
of white at base of hair next to the skin which may
be seen only when fur is parted. White ruff and ear
tufts. Cream markings on the face are desirable.
Patching or brindling equally acceptable. Nose leather
an paw pads to conform to requirements for coat color.
Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Black Smoke Tortoiseshell |
White undercoat deeply tipped with black, red and/or
cream which are clearly visible on both body and extremities.
Cat in repose appears tortoiseshell. In motion, the white
undercoat is apparent. Extremities and face black, red and/or
cream with narrow band of white at base of hair next to the
skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. White ruff
and ear tufts. Red and/or cream markings on the face are desirable.
Patching or brindling equally acceptable. Nose leather and paw pads
to conform to requirements for coat color. Eyes shades of green,
gold or copper. |
| Shaded Colors |
Chinchilla |
Undercoat a pale silver or silvery white.
The coat on back, flanks, head and tail sufficiently
tipped with jet black to give the characteristic
sparkling silver appearance. The legs and feet may
be slightly shaded with tipping, but the chin, ear tufts,
stomach and chest should be silvery white with no tipping.
Rims of eyes, lips and nose leather outlined in black.
Nose leather brick red. Paw pads black or dark charcoal.
Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Shaded Silver |
Undercoat is pale silver or silvery white.
A mantle of black tipping shades gradually down
the sides, face and tail, from dark on the ridge to
silvery white on the chin, chest, belly and under the tail.
The legs to be the same tone as the face. The general effect
is much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, nose leather
and lips outlined in black. Nose leather brick red. Paw pads
black or dark charcoal. Eye shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Shell Cameo |
Undercoat is ivory white. The coat on back,
flanks, head and tail should be sufficiently tipped with
red to give the characteristic sparkling appearance. The
legs and face may be very slightly shaded with tipping, but
the ear tufts, stomach and chest should be ivory white with
no tipping. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Cream Shell Cameo |
Undercoat is ivory white. The coat on back,
flanks, head and tail should be sufficiently tipped
with cream to give the characteristic sparkling appearance.
The legs and face may be very slightly shaded with tipping,
but the ear tufts, stomach and chest should be ivory white
with no tipping. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads
pink. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Shaded Cameo |
Undercoat is ivory white. A mantle of red tipping
shades gradually down the sides, face and tail, from dark
on the ridge to ivory white on the chin, chest, belly and
under the tail. The legs to be the same tone as the face.
The general effect is much darker than a shell. Nose leather,
rims of eyes and paw pads pink. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Cream Cameo |
Undercoat is ivory white. A mantle of cream tipping shades gradually down the sides,
face and tail, from dark on the ridge to ivory white on chin,
chest, belly and under the tail. The legs to be the same tone
as the face. The general effect is much darker than a shell.
Nose leather, rings of eyes and paw pads pink. Eyes shades of green, gold, or copper. |
| Golden Chinchilla |
Undercoat should be rich, warm gold to apricot,
apricot preferred. The coat on back, flanks, head and
tail should be sufficiently tipped with dark brown to
black to give the characteristic sparkling appearance.
The legs and face may be slightly shaded with tipping,
but ear tufts, stomach and chest should be cream to
apricot with no tipping. Rims of eyes, lips and nose
outlined in dark brown to black. Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads dark brown to black. Eyes shades of green, gold
or copper. |
| Golden Shaded |
The undercoat should be rich warm gold to apricot,
apricot preferred. A mantle of dark brown to black tipping
shades gradually down the sides, face and tail, from dark on
the ridge to golden on the chest, belly and under the tail.
The legs to be the same tone as the face. The general effect
is much darker than a shell. Nose leather brick red. Paw pads
dark brown to black. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Blue Cream Shaded |
Undercoat is silvery white with blue and cream
tipping well distributed and clearly visible on both
body and extremities. The depth of tipping may range
from shell to shaded with evenness of tipping taking
precedence over depth. Cream markings on the face are
desirable. Patching or brindling equally acceptable.
Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |
| Shaded Silver Tortie |
White undercoat with black, red and/or cream
tipping clearly visible on both body and extremities.
The depth of tipping may range from shell to shaded
with evenness to tipping taking precedence over depth.
Cream or red markings on the face are desirable.
Patching or brindling equally acceptable. Nose leather
and paw pads black and/or pink. Eyes shades of green,
gold or copper. |
| And Whites |
Are cats which combine any of the recognized
colors/patterns of the breed with white in a pattern
that is pleasing to the eye. Having 1/4 white is desirable,
but not mandatory. All colors should be judged according
to the listed color descriptions preceding. White lip/chin
trim is allowed. Eyes shades of green, gold or copper. |