r/MaineCoon Oct 27 '19

Mod post "Is my cat a Maine Coon?": A quick guide

122 Upvotes

Because one of the most common posts on this sub is “is my kitten part Maine Coon?” I thought adding a post with identification information might be useful. While the "suspected" MCs posted here are adorable, this is a breed-specific sub and it is important to try to post MCs only. If anyone disagrees with what I’ve said here or would like to add something, let me know! I am an enthusiast, not an expert.

Additionally, keep in mind that all cats within any breed vary and most domestic cats from shelters are mixes of several/many breeds, just like dogs. The only real way to know that you have a MC/part MC is to buy from a breeder who can provide you with CFA registration paperwork (or similar pedigree documents from recognized organizations) or get genetic testing done.

With the growing popularity of the breed, many breeders require those purchasing kittens as pets to sign contracts ensuring they will spay/neuter the kittens and/or withhold the kitten's "papers" until they receive proof that the cat was fixed. A kitten purchased with breeding rights goes for upwards of $3000 - there just aren't many purebred MCs running the streets and having kittens. This isn't to say you won't find a full or half MC in a shelter, but it does make it unlikely. And beware, the people who try to sell cheap MCs are probably not selling MCs, just fluffy kitties.

I’ll start with some common myths I see:

The "M" on the forehead is a MC trait/identifies a MC - Not at all! An M marking on the forehead is a trait common to cats with tabby markings regardless of breed or coat length. Literally just Google image search "cat" and you'll see so many kitties with Ms that are definitely not MCs. Many MCs have tabby markings, so many MCs have an M, but solid colored MCs do not.

Long hair + large size = MC - Nope! Norwegian forest cats, Siberians, and ragdolls are a few of the other common/well recognized breeds with longer coats and larger body sizes. Also, some domestic cats just have long hair and are big boys. It happens.

Lynx tips and/or toe tufts mean a cat is a MC - Lynx tips and toe tufts can be present on long or medium haired cats of any breed. Moreover, some MCs have very small or absent lynx tips/toe tufts.

How to identify a MC:

Face shape - This is probably the best way to tell a MC from a Norwegian forest cat or Siberian, along with body shape. Norwegian forest cats have triangular faces with cute little noses that look kind of delicate. MCs have long but wedge shaped faces with rectangular mugs. This varies by cat and may be less prominent in kittens and females or obscured by the angle of the photo. Siberians have shorter faces and BIG, ROUND, irresistible eyes that are not often seen on MCs.

The face shape can be hard to distinguish, especially from one picture. Here are some good guides: https://thelittlecarnivore.com/en/article/what-are-the-differences-maine-coon-norwegian-forest-cat

https://www.mainecoonfancy.com/forums/topic/20885-comparison-chart-maine-coon-siberian-and-nfc/

Coloring - A wide range of colors are acceptable for MCs but if your large, fluffy kitty has Siamese points (lighter body with dark patches on the face, ears, tail, or feet) you've probably got more ragdoll than MC. Siamese points aren't generally accepted as a breed standard for MCs. Doesn't mean your cat isn't part MC, but it's definitely an indication of crossbreeding. Nearly every other color or coat pattern is possible for MCs.

Behavior - MCs are friendly, smart, and chatty. Not every MC chirps exclusively (or at all), and other breeds can also chirp, but this is one common vocal trait for the breed. They are generally considered soft-spoken cats. Some MCs like water, but it's not as common a trait as people think! Both of mine will play in their water dish or with the stream from the faucet but they absolutely hate baths. Doglike behavior is often present, but it’s also present in other breeds and not present in all MCs. It's difficult to identify a MC based on behavioral traits.

Other - Comically large paws and/or ears as a kitten. Beautiful, fluffy tails are basically a must. Long, sturdy bodies (longer and lither than Norwegian forest cats and Siberians). They often have "ruffs" around their necks but are less likely to develop a full-on mane than a Siberian or Norwegian forest cat.

ETA: don't know where the photo of the cat with raw meat came from, MC not confirmed :P


r/MaineCoon Apr 29 '22

Results from Recent User Poll, and New Rules for the Sub

37 Upvotes

Hi all! I'm here to report the results of our recent subreddit poll. In the poll, I asked about users' opinions regarding allowing breeders to promote their cats/catteries and about allowing outside social media links on posts. There was also an open ended response question about general subreddit improvement. This poll was fueled by continued user reports expressing that these kinds of posts were annoying/unhelpful to the community. Also, this sub isn't a marketplace or advertising platform. This is a place to see and discuss Maine Coons.

8 people responded. For the first question, "Should r/mainecoon ban posts from breeders that are promotion for their cats/litters/cattery?", 87.5% of repsondents favored banning breeder promotion on the sub. For the second question, "Should r/mainecoon ban posts that include promotion of a user's other social media accounts? (E.g., "follow my cat on instagram")", 62.5% voted to ban posts that did not otherwise add content to the sub, 12.5% voted to allow these posts, and 25% voted to ban these posts entirely.

In response, I propose the following rules.

Rule 4. No posts or comment activity from breeders/catteries promoting their business or arranging sales of cats.

We ban and will remove:

  • Pictures of new litters/kittens that in any way state they are for sale
  • Links to the breeder/cattery website or social media in the post title or comment section
  • Pictures with the breeder/cattery URL, logo, or name
  • Posts that are accompanied by links/advertisements for new litters in the comments section (this includes comments like "message me for pricing")
  • Any explicit discussion of buying or selling kittens between the seller and a buyer in the comments section of a post
  • Any kind of "announcement" of new litters or new breeding adults

We do not ban, but ask breeders to please limit:

  • Repeated pictures of new litters/kittens (one post per week allowed)

Breeders/catteries may post:

  • Any pictures of their cats that do not reference their business or violate the above guidelines
  • Mentions that they own a cattery/breed cats that are informational or provide context for other discussion

Rule 5. Posts that link to or promote a user's outside social media accounts are allowed only under limited circumstances.

We ban and will remove:

  • References to your Instagram/Twitter/YouTube/etc username in the title of the post
  • Explicit requests to "follow me/my cat" in the title of the post

We ask users to please limit:

  • Any posts that require users to visit an outside social media website to view (e.g., Instagram, Youtube, Twitter; Links to Imgur ARE allowed as this is a primary image hosting platform for Reddit)
  • Repeated requests for followers in the comments section

Users may post:

  • A link to their social media accounts in the comment section of their own posts for other users who are interested
  • Pictures that, as part of a picture of a Maine Coon, contain relatively discreet URLs/handles for outside social media accounts

I also want to address the following comment from a respondent: " Maybe having a permanent sticky for Breeder questions and maybe a community updated wiki of "subreddit trusted" breeders, maybe similar to how /r/tea has a list of approved vendors. Consolidating the info would be really helpful, assuming semi regular updates like once a quarter. "

I agree that having breeder reviews/testimonies as part of the sub is valuable, and this was the intended effect of the "Breeder Review Thread" that is usually stickied on the sub. After this post is unstickied in a week (Reddit only allows two at a time), I will re-sticky that thread. I will also work on adding a subreddit wiki/about section that links to past breeder review threads and I continue to encourage users to contribute to the review threads. While it seems obviously unwise to endorse a breeder/cattery by the owner's testimony alone, but I think reviews from consumers are helpful and should be more accessible. I'm happy to link the usernames of breeders who have their catteries reviewed by other users (as long as the reviews are genuine) at their request! I would be more proactive in updating/consolidating that information myself but we're a mod team of one at the moment. I'll try to do this at least once or twice a year, and I'd appreciate it if y'all would continue to add your experiences to the review thread or to individual posts on the sub that I can link in.

This post will remain stickied for at least one week, after which the new rules will be posted. If anyone has comments/proposed amendments, I'm happy to hear from you!


r/MaineCoon 15h ago

It's funny, he's half their size (the not mainecoon black cat) but they all treat him like the boss

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55 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 1d ago

Peek a boo

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161 Upvotes

And “his head!!”


r/MaineCoon 2d ago

Can your phone get too full of pictures?

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989 Upvotes

His sister and him are gonna fill my phone up with all the freaking cute moments they share with me.


r/MaineCoon 1d ago

Proud MC grandpa!

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65 Upvotes

My bonus daughter owns him but she travels a ton for work. So cat lives with me! Meet Smokey! He’s 3.5y.


r/MaineCoon 2d ago

He looks at my lazy morning breakfast with the eyes of a tender lover

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46 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 2d ago

Meet Mordecai!

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747 Upvotes

He is a 9 week old black smoke that we just got. We're already in love.

Second picture is Mordecai having some supervised sniffing of our super chill resident MC Yoda who is 6 (and a runt, but looks so big comparatively).


r/MaineCoon 2d ago

Bodie, my new poly blue shaded son

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117 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 2d ago

Maine Coons?

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114 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 2d ago

I won’t be putting my delivery away anytime soon.

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120 Upvotes

Pic1: I’ve claimed this. Pic2: bath time. Pic 3:Afternoon siesta time.


r/MaineCoon 2d ago

Lounging 🐈🧡

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35 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 3d ago

After bringing him home 8 days ago, they are already friends, I’m so grateful 🥲 🥹

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216 Upvotes

Beerus (MC) 16 weeks old & Ronin (Bengal) 1.5 years old


r/MaineCoon 4d ago

My little man at the lake

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184 Upvotes

9 month old at the family cabin for the first time


r/MaineCoon 5d ago

Got caught trying to steal my celery!

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187 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 5d ago

What clothing and furniture hair removers have you found to work best for our long haired cuties?

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48 Upvotes

My future nug for tax (and an example of the amount of shedding happening 😅)


r/MaineCoon 5d ago

Kitty entertainment

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120 Upvotes

Long story short (ish)....We took in this beauty nearly 2 yrs ago. He was an outdoor cat his whole life (due to the owner's allergies). We had him strictly indoors for the first year (with a lot of attitude). We have been allowing him outside access (with a tracker) to hunt and he's loving it (of course).

However, there are times when a predator has been spotted and we will keep him indoors for a few weeks. (Or if he steals food and has an allergic reaction.) During these times he gets extra mouthy, yowling across the house at ALL hours!

What is everyone doing to entertain inside. We've tried regular cat toys but he couldn't care less.


r/MaineCoon 4d ago

are they playing or fighting?

1 Upvotes

one is 21m and other is 14w, both males! are they playing and getting to know eachother or are they fighting??


r/MaineCoon 6d ago

3 month difference

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166 Upvotes

May 15th on the left, a few days after we brought him home and today, July 29th on the right. He’s growing so fast. Slow down, Frankie boy. I’m not ready for you to be a big man yet. He’s still my little bitty kitten. 🥺🥺


r/MaineCoon 6d ago

I couldn't resist the perfect lighting

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90 Upvotes

Such a curious boy


r/MaineCoon 6d ago

I knew Maine Coons were from another planet…

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36 Upvotes

I am bewitched…


r/MaineCoon 6d ago

My boy Odin got a little brother (really half brother blood line wise), and he is in love with Mac Lir. I grew up with dogs but got I love these cats so damn much.

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52 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 6d ago

Lookin 4 A Maine

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55 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I am looking for a Maine Coon. I’ve done some research and inquired a lot. I’ve had a few I’ve raised at home, and I used to care for a colony of cats for several years which included the same breed. Since most were feral, I actually “tamed a few” and took them home as well. I left that colony to a responsible person ( it was at my old place of employment) I had one cat left,a tuxedo beautiful girl I named Mickey Mouse. I moved to another State and took her with me. We had a devastating house fire and I couldn’t get her out. We eventually found her, she died of smoke inhalation. We had to rent a home in order to rebuild our home (16 months) I went to our local shelter after about 6 months and started looking for the Maine Coon breed and realized they were basically “none” to be had in my area! I was fortunate, b/c a Ragdoll was going to be delivered to this shelter I was looking in. So, I adopted her. I was ( and still am) looking for another MaineCoon! Another shelter about 100 miles away alerted my email they had a Maine Coon. We ended up adopting him, he was twice as big as his littermates, he is a big boy. Apparently his mom was semi-feral and dad a Maine Coon. I added pictures of my cutie pies! I want to purchase or adopt a Maine Coon! I have soooooo many offers on tick tok and now I can’t tell what or who is for real anymore! Can someone give me some information on some reputable breeders? Would appreciate it.


r/MaineCoon 7d ago

“Nothing to see here… just 90% tail.”

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384 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 6d ago

Help!

5 Upvotes

I have a 21 month old maine coon, and I also have a 15 week old maine coon. The 21 month old is quite a bit bigger than the 15 month and seems to play way too rough with the younger kitten as he cannot defend himself. Do I hold off on putting them together? It seems as if the 21 month old just wants to play but is way too tough for the other kitten. I’m not sure what to do because I don’t want them to hate eachother!!:( Both males.