Breed History & The Standard

The Maine Coon is one of North America's oldest natural breeds. It developed in the harsh winters of New England, shaped by natural selection long before anyone thought to write a standard for it. Early Maine Coons appeared in cat literature as far back as 1861 and competed in the earliest American cat shows in Boston and New York. Maine named it the official state cat in 1985.

The breed standard is the written description that defines the Maine Coon — the blueprint responsible breeders work toward. In broad strokes, it describes a large, rectangular cat with substantial boning, a broad modified-wedge head with high cheekbones, large well-tufted ears, large oval eyes, and a long, flowing, water-resistant coat that is shorter on the shoulders and longer on the ruff, stomach, and britches. The tail is long and bushy, carried like a plume.

Size is real, but it is often exaggerated online. Mature males typically weigh roughly 18–22 pounds and females roughly 12–15 pounds, and Maine Coons are famously slow to mature — they can take three to five years to reach their full size and substance.

Temperament is part of the breed's identity, not an afterthought. Maine Coons are gentle, social, and playful well into adulthood, often following their people from room to room. Many rarely meow in the usual sense, instead using a soft chirp or trill. A true Maine Coon should look imposing and behave like a gentle giant.