Interpreting the …
MAINE COON STANDARD
By MARY M. (CONNIE) CONDIT
A MAINE WHAT?
The name. «Maine Coon Cat» has led to some amusing misunderstandings. One of the most hilarious is that this cat is a hybrid product of cat and raccoon Several years ago. a popular pet column carried a cry for help from a lady who had tried to promote this cross breeding. The only result was a whale of a scrap and at lot of fiving fur. I once had a call from a man who wanted to know if my coon hounds would hunt rabbits: and Heaven help the poor breeder who advertises «Maine Coons» and forgets to add the word cats!
The Maine Coon Cat is probably a «hybrid». but only Mother Nature knows what went into the mix There was probably a strong dose of whatever type of long haired cats the Maine seafarers brought home with them Whether these were Marie Antoinette’s Angoras or Norwegian Forest Cats doesn’t matter. The Maine. Coon is a perfect example of survival of the fittest. If you were to take all the cats in a typical show, transport them to Maine, turn them loose to earn their livelihood in the barns and forests and then come back 20 years later, you would probably find the survivors looking very much like today’s Maine Coon.
L. Roethig
The standard for the Maine Coon describes a working cat: one capable of surviving the rigors of the New England climate without much help from anyone Let’s look at it point by point.
«GENERAL: Solid. firm. muscular: presented well groomed.
Pick up a mature Maine Coon stud and you’ll be very grateful for the breed’s amiable disposition You’ll have an armful of solid muscle. For the record, the Maine Coon is slow to mature: he really shouldn’t be shown until he is at least two years old, and actually doesn’t reach his prime until he is three or four By then, he intimidates judges by his appearance which belies his pussycat personality. Females. while considerably smaller than males, are also solid citizens Neuters and spays tend to be a paunchy, but often the paunchy appearance is due to the heavier coat they carry.
«HEAD SHAPE: Medium in width and medium long in length with a squareness to the muzzle. Allowance should be made for broadening in older studs. Cheek bones high Chin firm and in line with nose and upper lip Nose medium long in length.
This is the head of a hunter That medium head is correctly proportioned to provide jaws that can crush the spine of a bog barn rat. Those jaws are strong! A well intentioned vet once surprised my Seth Parker (and me) with the business end of a tube of Panalog ointment. It hurt and Seth chomped-right through my leather jacket, flannel shirt and the under side of my upper arm Older studs have broad heads, muscular necks and rock hard stud pads. They are built for battle and armored against assault.
By medium long. we mean a halfway point between Siamese and Persian A good rule of thumb measure ment is that the distance between the base of the ear and the bridge of the nose should appear equal to the length of the nose from bridge to tip. The muzzle is square when viewed from almost any angle. not snippy or pointed. By firm chin, we mean one that is full enough to be seen below the upper lip when viewed in profile. No «Andy Gump» chins allowed. «EARS: Large, well-tufted. wide at base, tapering to a hunter needs to hear his prey: large ears are a necessity. The tufting protects them from freezing. Not only do they have inner tufting. but many have tufted tips like a bobcat, which could be the basis for theory of origin which maintains are cross between domestic cat and Bay Lynx. While they are set high on the head (to better catch sound), they should be spaced at least one ear width apart On studs this distance will increase as the head broadens
«EYES: Large, wide set Slightly oblique setting Maine Coon eyes are large and round, giving them an almost owl-like expression Their oblique setting in noway gives them an oriental look
«NECK: medium long»
This cat has a neck that is long enough to be obvious. even when he is carrying a full chin ruff. On studs. it is very muscular, providing protection to vital arteries and veins in event of a bite
«BODY SHAPE: Muscular, broad-chested Sized medium to large Females may be smaller than males The body should be long with all parts in proportion to create a rectangular appearance.
There is some controversy over which is more important type or size. The answer is neither White there are very few verified 30 lb Maine Coons, Males. weighing from 15 to more than 20 pounds are not rare At maturity, males should weigh close to 15 pounds females 8 to 10 pounds or more This applies to whole: cats Neuters and spavs will be heavier Regardless of weight. the cat should feel firm and muscular, not fat. and flabby.
«LEGS AND FEET LEgs substantial. wide seT of medium length, and in proportion to the body Paws large, round. well tufted Five toes in front, four in back
The skeletal structure of the Coon Cat is heavy in contrast to the fine boned Angora. This is especially true of the males. Females are more feminine in build. but should not be «dainty». The feet are large inappear pointed. Set high and well apart.
Maine snowshoes are a definite asset. The tufting is primarily on the soles of the feet: some have such long tufts that they protrude an inch or more behind the paw. In reality, the legs are rather long. compared to the average cat, but attached to the Coon Cat’s long body, they are medium length compared with a Siamese. Polydactylism is common in the «native» population in Maine, but has been weeded out in controlled breeding programs.
«TAIL: Long, wide at base and tapering. Fur long an flowing.
The Maine Coon’s tail is his pride and joy – and his sleeping bag on cold winter nights. By rule of thumb, it should be approximately as long as his body Tail. length at my cattery averages around 14 to 15 inches with a few stretching to 15 inches. The Maine Coon can curl up with his tail. cover not only his feet, but his ears as well. The tail is t bushy like a fox brush; it has undercoat with the outer guard draped over it. It appears bushy only when he carries it erect.
«COAT: Heavy and shaggy; shorter on the shoulders and longer on on the stomach and britches. Frontal ruff desireable. Texture silky with coat falling smoothly.»The Coon Cat’s coat is designed to be weatherproof and self-maintaining. On the head and shoulders it is short and thick-warm, but not likely to get caught when he pokes into holes and brambles. From the shoulders back, it gets longer and shaggier, protecting him from rain from above and snow from below. When he curls up in a ball with his long tail wrapped around his feet and ears, he has literally zipped himself into a fur sleeping bag. The undercoat is soft and fine, covered by a harsher, slicker outer guard coat which sheds water. His coat is also somewhat oilier than the average cat’s, especially the belly hair. The coat does not matt as a Persian’s does. It will, particularly in shedding season, form clumps which gradually work away from the skin and drop off on your rug or, in the woods, are «combed» out by bushes and brambles. Once a week combing keeps him in fine shape.
The coat is also very subject to seasonal changes. In warm weather or warm climates, many Maine coons shed to their «shorts» with only their tails retaining a longhaired appearance. Contrary to some legends, the Maine Coon does well in all climate,but being a practical Downeasterner, he dresses appropriately.
I should comment briefly on coat colors. As yet. very little long term color breeding has been done. The range of colors accepted in the CFA standard is only a partial listing of the rainbow of shades and patterns the Coon Cat can produce. Many of us like the interesting variety and do not seriously attempt to color breed Others are striving to perfect reds, silvers, etc. Most breeders agree that type, temperament and stamina should take priority over colors. We like our cat the way Mother Nature made him and we are trying to keep him that way.
In summary, the Maine Coon Cat is a robust, intelligent fellow who is capable of working for his board and room, but, being a cat, is quite willing to live a life of luxury with human slaves to do his bidding.
Mary M. (‘Connie’) Condit
GENERAL: Originally a working cat, the Maine Coon is solid, rugged and can endure a harsh climate. A distinctive characteristic is it’s smooth, shaggy coat.. With an essentially amiable disposition, it has adapted to varied environments.
HEAD SHAPE: Medium in width and medium long in length with a squareness to the muzzle. Allowance should be made for broadening in older studs. Cheek bones high. Chin firm and in line with nose and upper lip. Nose medium long in length: slight concavity when viewed in profile.
EARS: Large, well-tufted, wide at base. tapering to appear pointed Set high and well apart.
EYES: Large. wide set. Slightly oblique setting
NECK: Medium long.
BODY SHAPE: Muscular, broad-chested. Size medium to large. Females may be smaller than males. The body should be long with all parts in proportion to the body. Paws large, round, well-tufted. Five toes in front; four in back.
TAIL: Long. wide at base and tapering. Fur long and flowing.
COAT: Heavy and shaggy: shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches. Frontal ruff desirable. Texture silky with coat falling smoothly.
PENALIZE: A coat that is short or overall even.
DISQUALIFY: Delicate bone structure. Undershot chin, crossed eyes, kinked tail, incorrect number of toes, buttons, lockets, or spots.
EYE COLOR: Eye color should be shades of green.. gold, or copper, though white cats may also be either blue or odd-eyed. There is no relationship between eye color and coat color.
POINT SCORE
HEAD (30)
Shape……………………….15
Ears………………………….10
Eyes………………………….5
Neck…………………………..5
Legs and Feet………………5
Tail……………………………..5
COAT(20)
COLOR (15)
Body Color ………………….10
Eye Color……………………..5
BODY (35)
Shape ……………………….20
