Norwegian Forest Cat
A large, calm, semi-longhaired natural breed that evolved for Scandinavian winters.…
Maine Coon
The largest domestic cat breed and one of the friendliest. Big, shaggy, chirruping and famously tolerant - with a specific heart mutation and a hip dysplasia risk that both need screening.
Lifespan12-15 years
Typical priceSee guide
Weight5-11 kg
Height25-40 cm
Breed groupSemi-longhair
Kennel Club recognisedYes
Also calledGentle Giant, Coonie
We do not have enough Maine Coon adverts yet to publish a price range from our own data. The figures in the price section below are an editorial estimate.
Pros
- Exceptionally sociable and good-natured
- Excellent with children, dogs and other cats
- Playful well into adulthood
- Coat lacks a heavy undercoat, so mats less than expected
Cons
- A specific HCM mutation runs in the breed
- Hip dysplasia occurs - unusual in cats
- Large: everything costs more
- Needs weekly-plus grooming, especially the trousers and ruff
Maine Coon characteristics
Scores are editorial, and describe the breed in general. Individual animals vary, and how a dog is bred and raised matters more than its breed.
Health tests to ask for
Ask to see the certificates, with the parents' registered names on them. "Parents health tested" in an advert means nothing on its own.
- DNA test - HCM (MYBPC3 A31P)
- DNA test - SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy)
- DNA test - PK Deficiency
- Hip dysplasia screening
- Echocardiogram screening
What is a Maine Coon?
A large, semi-longhaired working cat from the north-eastern United States, 5-11kg, with tufted ears, a shaggy weather-resistant coat and a very long bushy tail. Males routinely reach 8-10kg. They are the most sociable of the large breeds and are frequently described as dog-like.
History and origins
A natural breed that developed on New England farms, adapting to hard winters - hence the dense coat, the tufted feet and the ear furnishings. It was America's first show cat and nearly died out in the early twentieth century before being revived in the 1950s. The GCCF recognised it in 1988.
Appearance and size
25-40cm at the shoulder and up to a metre long including the tail. Rectangular body, heavy boning, square muzzle, large tufted ears. The coat is uneven by design: short over the shoulders, long on the belly, trousers and ruff. All colours and patterns except colourpoint and chocolate; brown tabby is the classic.
They mature slowly - full size at three to five years.
Temperament and personality
Friendly, easy-going and constantly involved. They chirp and trill rather than meow. They are not lap cats as a rule but they will sit next to you for hours. They cope well with change, visitors and household noise.
Intelligence and trainability
Bright and cooperative. Fetch, harness walking and puzzle feeders all work. Many are fascinated by running water and will play in a sink.
Children and other pets
Outstanding. Their size makes them robust with children, and they are habitually sociable with dogs and other cats.
Health problems
- HCM - the breed carries a specific mutation, MYBPC3 A31P, with a definitive DNA test. Both parents should be tested; heterozygotes have raised risk. As with the Ragdoll, DNA clear does not exclude HCM from other causes, so echo screening as well.
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) - DNA test, both parents.
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency - DNA test.
- Hip dysplasia - genuinely present in this breed, unusually for a cat. Ask whether the parents have been hip-scored.
- Polycystic kidney disease at a low rate.
Daily care routine
A play session or two, a cat tree that can take 9kg, and a very large litter tray. Comb through the ruff, trousers and armpits two or three times a week.
Grooming and coat care
Two to three times weekly with a wide-toothed comb and a slicker for the trousers. The armpits and behind the ears mat first. Increase to daily during the spring moult. Trim the fur between the toe pads if it clumps.
Exercise needs
Moderate. They enjoy climbing more than sprinting. Vertical space matters more than floor space.
Feeding and diet
They eat a lot - £35-£55 a month. Growth continues for years, so do not restrict a young cat, but watch an adult. Large, shallow bowls; whiskers are wide.
Price
£800-£1,800 from a registered breeder with the HCM and SMA DNA clears. Setup £250-£450; ongoing £50-£90 a month.
Buying advice
Ask for MYBPC3 A31P and SMA DNA certificates by name, plus the echo date and hip score if available. Ask about the parents' adult weights - "giant" Maine Coons advertised at extreme sizes are often overfed rather than well bred. Kittens at 13 weeks, vaccinated, registered.
Maine Coons available now
No Maine Coons are advertised at the moment. Save this search and an email goes out when one is listed.
Breeds like the Maine Coon
All cat breedsA shortlist rarely has one name on it. These sit closest to the Maine Coon on size, coat and temperament, and each one has a full guide.
Worth reading before you buy
All adviceGoing to see a Maine Coon? Take the kitten and cat checklist with you. It is the questions worth asking while you are stood in somebody's kitchen, rather than on the drive home.
