The Maine Coon cat, known for its impressive size and amiable nature, is a breed steeped in history and admired worldwide. Originally a working cat, the Maine Coon is robust, resilient, and perfectly adapted to harsh climates. A hallmark of this breed is its distinctive, flowing shaggy coat. When judging Maine Coons, balance and proportion are key, ensuring no single feature is exaggerated at the expense of overall harmony. Quality is paramount and should always take precedence over mere size. Renowned for their gentle disposition, Maine Coons effortlessly adapt to various environments, making them cherished companions.
To understand what makes a Maine Coon a true representation of its breed, it’s essential to delve into the specifics of the Maine Coon breed standard. This standard acts as a blueprint, guiding breeders and judges alike in evaluating these magnificent felines.
Understanding the Maine Coon Standard: A Detailed Breakdown
The Maine Coon standard is meticulously detailed, covering various aspects of the cat’s physical attributes. Points are allocated to different features, ensuring a balanced assessment. Here’s a breakdown of the point scoring system:
Maine Coon Point Score
| Point Score | HEAD (30 Points) |
|---|---|
| 15 Points | Shape |
| 10 Points | Ears |
| 5 Points | Eyes |
| Point Score | BODY (30 Points) |
| 15 Points | Shape |
| 5 Points | Neck |
| 5 Points | Legs and Feet |
| 5 Points | Tail |
| 20 Points | COAT |
| 15 Points | COLOR (Body color and pattern) |
| 5 Points | BALANCE |
This point system highlights the importance of the head and body structure, each contributing 30 points, followed by the coat (20 points), color (15 points), and overall balance (5 points). Let’s explore each of these areas in detail.
General Appearance: Rugged and Balanced
The Maine Coon cat standard emphasizes a general impression of a working cat – solid, rugged, and built to withstand tough conditions. The breed is characterized by a well-proportioned and balanced appearance. No single part of the Maine Coon should appear exaggerated, ensuring a harmonious and natural look. It’s crucial to remember that quality should always be prioritized over size. These cats possess an essentially amiable disposition, allowing them to thrive in diverse living situations.
Head Shape: Distinctive and Square Muzzle
The head shape of a Maine Coon is medium in width and slightly longer than it is wide. A defining feature is the squareness of the muzzle. Judges should allow for broader heads in older male cats (studs), which is a natural development with maturity. The cheekbones are high and prominent, contributing to the breed’s distinctive facial structure.
Muzzle and Chin: Strong and Firm
The muzzle of the Maine Coon is visibly square, appearing medium in length and blunt-ended when viewed from the side profile. While it may resemble a rectangle, it should not taper or appear pointed. The muzzle’s length and width should be in proportion to the rest of the head, creating a pleasant and balanced aesthetic.
The chin must be strong and firm, aligning vertically with the upper lip and nose. In profile, the chin depth should be noticeable, giving the impression of a 90-degree angle or a square shape. A weak chin, one that recedes or tapers from the jawline to the lip, is considered undesirable as it detracts from the breed’s robust appearance.
Profile: Gentle Concavity
The profile of the Maine Coon should be proportionate to the overall length of the head. A subtle concavity, a gentle inward curve, is a key characteristic when viewed from the side. The profile should be relatively smooth, free from pronounced bumps or humps. A straight profile from the brow line to the nose tip is not acceptable, nor should it exhibit a distinct “break” or “stop,” which are features seen in some other breeds.
Ears: Large, Tufted, and Well-Placed
Ears are a prominent feature of the Maine Coon. They are large, well-tufted with fur both inside and on the tips (lynx tips), and wide at the base, tapering to give a pointed appearance. The shape contributes to their alert and expressive look. In terms of set, the ears should be positioned approximately one ear’s width apart at the base, sitting upright and not flared outwards.
Eyes: Expressive and Wide-Set
The eyes of a Maine Coon are large, expressive, and wide-set, contributing to their gentle and intelligent appearance. They are described as having an opened oval shape, neither perfectly round nor almond-shaped. The eye-setting is slightly oblique, slanting gently towards the outer base of the ear, which enhances their characteristic expression. Eye color is also important, discussed further in the color section.
Neck: Medium Length and Sturdy
The neck of a Maine Coon is described as medium long, supporting their large head and contributing to their overall balanced proportions. It should be muscular and in proportion to the body, neither too short nor excessively elongated.
Body Shape: Muscular and Rectangular
The body shape of the Maine Coon is muscular and broad-chested, reflecting their working cat heritage. They are a medium to large sized breed; females are generally smaller than males. The body should be long, with all parts in proportion to create a well-balanced, rectangular appearance. Similar to the head, no part of the anatomy should be so exaggerated as to create weakness or imbalance. It’s important to note that Maine Coons are slow to mature, reaching their full size and physique around three to five years of age. Allowance should be made for this gradual development, especially in younger cats presented for judging.
Legs and Feet: Substantial and Well-Tufted Paws
Legs and feet are substantial, supporting their robust bodies. Legs are wide-set, of medium length, and in proportion to the body, contributing to their overall balance. The forelegs should be straight when viewed from the front. The back legs are also straight when viewed from behind. Paws are large, round, and well-tufted with fur between the toes, aiding in traction, especially in snowy environments, reflecting their origin. Maine Coons have five toes in front and four toes in back, which is normal for cats.
Tail: Long and Flowing
The tail of a Maine Coon is long, wide at the base, and tapers towards the tip. The fur on the tail is long and flowing, adding to the breed’s majestic appearance. The tail should be at least as long as the body from shoulder to base of tail. A full, bushy tail is a hallmark of the breed.
Coat: Heavy, Shaggy, and Silky
The coat is one of the most distinctive features of the Maine Coon. It is described as heavy and shaggy, providing excellent insulation. The coat is shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches (the upper part of the hind legs), creating a characteristic “ruff” around the neck and chest, which is highly desirable (frontal ruff). The texture of the coat should be silky and smooth, with the coat falling smoothly and gracefully.
Penalties: A coat that is too short or overall even in length is considered a fault and will be penalized in judging.
Maine Coon Cat Colors and Patterns
The Maine Coon breed boasts a wide array of stunning colors and patterns, adding to their allure. Eye color in Maine Coons can be shades of green, gold, green-gold, or copper. White Maine Coons and those with white markings may also have blue or odd eyes (one blue and one other color).
Maine Coon colors are categorized into various classes, including Solid Colors, Tabby Patterns, and more complex color combinations.
Solid Color Class
Solid colors in Maine Coons are pure and even throughout the coat.
- WHITE: A pure, glistening white. Nose leather and paw pads are pink.
- BLACK: A dense, coal black, sound from roots to tip, free from any rust tinge or smoke undercoat. Nose leather is black, and paw pads are black or brown.
- BLUE: One level tone of blue from nose to tail tip, sound to the roots. Nose leather and paw pads are blue.
- RED: A deep, rich, clear, brilliant red without shading, markings, or ticking. Lips and chin are the same color as the coat. Nose leather and paw pads are brick red.
- CREAM: One level shade of buff cream, without markings, sound to the roots. Nose leather and paw pads are pink.
Tabby Patterns
Tabby patterns are classic feline markings and are prevalent in Maine Coons. There are different tabby patterns:
-
CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: Markings are dense, clearly defined, and broad. Legs are evenly barred, and the tail is evenly ringed. Distinct necklaces (lines) are present on the neck and upper chest, the more the better. The forehead features frown marks forming a distinct “M.” An unbroken line extends from the outer corner of each eye. Swirls are visible on the cheeks. Vertical lines on the back of the head extend to shoulder markings shaped like a butterfly, with both upper and lower wings outlined and marked with dots. Back markings include a vertical line down the spine from the butterfly to the tail, with parallel vertical stripes on each side, separated by stripes of the ground color. Large solid blotches on each side are encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be symmetrical on both sides. Double vertical rows of “buttons” are present on the chest and stomach.
-
MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: Markings are dense, clearly defined, and consist of narrow pencillings. Legs are evenly barred with narrow bracelets meeting the body markings. The tail is barred. Necklaces on the neck and chest are distinct, resembling chains. The head is barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines extend back from the eyes, running down the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines merge to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings encircle the body.
-
TICKED TABBY PATTERN: This pattern exhibits pronounced ticking on the body, showing darkening at the dorsal crest when viewed from above, but otherwise free from distinct spots, stripes, or blotches on the body. Body hairs are ticked with various shades of the marking color and ground color. Full tabby markings are present on the face and legs, and the lighter underside may also show tabby markings.
Maine Coon Color Classes with Tabby Patterns
Maine Coons are further categorized into color classes based on the ground color and tabby markings.
-
Brown Tabby Color Class:
- BROWN TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is a brilliant coppery brown. Markings are dense black. The back of the leg is black from paw to heel. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather and paw pads are black or brown.
- BROWN PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is brilliant coppery brown. Markings are dense black with patches of red. Nose leather and paw pads are brown, black, or brick red.
-
Silver Tabby Color Class:
- SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is pale, clear silver. Markings are dense black. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather is brick red. Paw pads are black.
- SILVER PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is pale, clear silver. Markings are dense black with patches of red and/or cream. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather is brick red. Paw pads are black and/or pink.
-
Red Tabby Color Class:
- RED TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is red. Markings are deep, rich red. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather and paw pads are brick red.
-
All Other Tabby Colors Class: This class includes a variety of tabby colors:
- BLUE-SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is pale, clear silver. Markings are a deep blue contrasting well with the ground color. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather is old rose. Paw pads are rose.
- BLUE-SILVER PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is pale, clear silver. Markings are a deep blue with patches of cream. Undercoat is white. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather is old rose. Paw pads are rose and/or pink.
- BLUE TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is pale bluish Ivory. Markings are a very deep blue contrasting well with the ground color. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather is old rose. Paw pads are rose.
- BLUE PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is pale bluish Ivory. Markings are a very deep blue with patches of cream. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather is old rose. Paw pads are rose and/or pink.
- CREAM TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is very pale cream. Markings are buff or cream, sufficiently darker than the ground color for good contrast but within the dilute range. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather and paw pads are pink.
- CREAM SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is off-white. Markings are cream. Undercoat is white. Lips and chin are the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather and paw pads are pink.
- CAMEO TABBY (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is off-white. Markings are red. White trim around the lip and chin is allowed. Nose leather and paw pads are rose.
Maine Coon Color Classes with White
The presence of white markings adds another dimension to Maine Coon colors.
-
Brown Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans):
- BROWN TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel, ticked): Color as defined for brown tabby, with or without white on the face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws.
-
Brown Patched Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans):
- BROWN PATCHED TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel, ticked): Ground color is coppery brown. Markings are dense black with white markings as described in brown tabby and white. Color as described for patched tabby (torbie) with or without white on the face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws.
-
Silver Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans):
- SILVER TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel, ticked): Color is defined for silver tabby, with or without white on the face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four feet.
-
Silver Patched Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans):
- SILVER PATCHED TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel, ticked): Color as described for silver patched tabby (torbie) with or without white on the face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four feet.
-
Red Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans):
- RED TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel, ticked): Color as defined for red tabby, with or without white on the face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four feet.
-
All Other Tabby & White Colors Color Class (including Vans):
- TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel, ticked): Color as defined for tabby, with or without white on the face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws. Colors accepted are blue, blue-silver, cream, cream-silver, cameo.
- PATCHED TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel, ticked): Color as described for patched tabby (torbie) with or without white on the face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws. Colors accepted are blue patched or blue-silver patched.
-
Bi-Color Color Class (including Vans):
- BLACK & WHITE: A combination of black and white, with or without white on face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws.
- BLUE & WHITE: A combination of blue and white, with or without white on face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws.
- RED & WHITE: A combination of red and white, with or without white on face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws.
- CREAM & WHITE: A combination of cream and white, with or without white on face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws.
-
Parti-Color Class:
- TORTOISESHELL: Black with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both the body and extremities. Presence of several shades of red is acceptable.
- BLUE-CREAM: Blue with patches of cream or softly intermingled areas of cream on both the body and extremities.
-
Parti-Color & White Color Class:
- CALICO (including vans): White with unbrindled patches of black and red. White is predominant on the underparts.
- DILUTE CALICO (including vans): White with unbrindled patches of blue and cream. White is predominant on the underparts.
- TORTOISESHELL & WHITE: Color as defined for tortoiseshell with or without white on the face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws.
- BLUE-CREAM & WHITE: Color as defined for blue-cream with or without white on the face. Must have white on the bib, belly, and all four paws.
-
Shaded & Smoke Color Class: These colors involve a white undercoat with tipped or shaded outer coats.
- CHINCHILLA SILVER: Undercoat is pure white. The coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail is sufficiently tipped with black to create a sparkling silver appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest are pure white. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose are outlined with black. Nose leather is brick red. Paw pads are black.
- SHADED SILVER: Undercoat is white with a mantle of black tipping shading down from the sides, face, and tail, from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs should be the same tone as the face. The overall effect is much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose are outlined with black. Nose leather is brick red. Paw pads are black.
- CHINCHILLA BLUE SILVER: Undercoat is white. The coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail is sufficiently tipped with blue to create a sparkling silver appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest are pure white. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose are outlined with blue. Nose leather and paw pads are rose.
- SHADED BLUE SILVER: Undercoat is white with a mantle of blue tipping shading down from the sides, face, and tail, from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs should be the same tone as the face. The overall effect is much darker than a blue chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose are outlined with blue. Nose leather and paw pads are rose.
- SHELL CAMEO (red chinchilla): Undercoat is white. The coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail is sufficiently tipped with red to create a sparkling appearance. Face and legs may be very slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest are white. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are rose.
- SHADED CAMEO (red shaded): Undercoat is white with a mantle of red tipping shading down the sides, face, and tail. Face and legs may have deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach, and chest (ruff) are white. The overall effect is much redder than the shell cameo. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are rose.
- SHELL CREAM (cream chinchilla): Undercoat is white. The coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail is lightly tipped with cream. Face and legs may be very slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach, and chest (ruff) are white. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are rose.
- SHADED CREAM: Undercoat is white with a mantle of cream shading down the sides, face, and tail. Face and legs may have deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach, and chest (ruff) are white. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are rose.
- SHELL TORTOISESHELL: Undercoat is white. The coat on the back, flanks, and tail are lightly tipped with black and shades of red. Face and legs may be lightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach, and chest (ruff) may be white to very lightly tipped with shading. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are rose to black, possibly patched.
- SHADED TORTOISESHELL: Undercoat is white. Mantle of black and red shading down the sides, face, and tail. Face and legs may have deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach, and chest (ruff) may be white to lightly tipped. The overall effect is much darker than the shell tortoiseshell. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are rose to black, possibly patched.
- SHELL BLUE-CREAM: Undercoat is white. The coat on the back, flanks, and tail are lightly tipped with blue and shades of cream. Face and legs may be lightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach, and chest (ruff) may be white to very lightly tipped with shading. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are rose to blue, possibly patched.
- SHADED BLUE-CREAM: Undercoat is white. Mantle of blue and cream shading down the sides, face, and tail. Face and legs may have deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach, and chest (ruff) may be white to lightly tipped. The overall effect is much darker than the shell blue-cream. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are rose to blue, possibly patched.
- BLACK SMOKE: White undercoat, deeply tipped with black. The cat appears black when at rest. In motion, the white undercoat is clearly visible. Points and mask are black with a narrow band of white at the base of hairs next to the skin, visible only when fur is parted. Light silver frill and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads are black.
- BLUE SMOKE: White undercoat, deeply tipped with blue. The cat appears blue when at rest. In motion, the white undercoat is clearly visible. Points and mask are blue with a narrow band of white hairs next to the skin, visible only when fur is parted. White frill and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads are blue.
- CAMEO SMOKE (red smoke): White undercoat, deeply tipped with red. The cat appears red when at rest. In motion, the white undercoat is clearly visible. Points and mask are red with a narrow band of white at the base of hairs next to the skin, visible only when fur is parted. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are rose.
- CREAM SMOKE: White undercoat, deeply tipped with cream. The cat appears cream when at rest. In motion, the white undercoat is clearly visible. Points and mask are cream with a narrow band of white at the base of hairs next to the skin, visible only when fur is parted. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads are pink.
- TORTIE SMOKE: White undercoat, deeply tipped with black with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both the body and extremities. Several shades of red are acceptable. The cat appears tortoiseshell when at rest. In motion, the white undercoat is clearly visible. Face and ears exhibit a tortoiseshell pattern with a narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to the skin, visible only when fur is parted. White ruff and ear tufts. A blaze of red or cream on the face is desirable.
- BLUE-CREAM SMOKE: White undercoat, deeply tipped with blue, with clearly defined patches of cream as in the blue-cream pattern. The cat appears blue-cream when at rest. In motion, the white undercoat is clearly visible. Face and ears exhibit a blue-cream pattern with a narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to the skin, visible only when fur is parted. White ruff and ear tufts. A blaze of cream on the face is desirable.
-
Shaded/Smoke & White Color Class (including Vans): Note: Tortie & white or blue-cream & white colors will not have the van pattern.
- This class includes combinations of shaded and smoke colors with white markings, following similar white distribution patterns as described in tabby and white and bi-color classes. Examples include: CHINCHILLA SILVER & WHITE, SHADED SILVER & WHITE, BLACK SMOKE & WHITE, etc. and also includes SHELL CALICO, SHADED CALICO, CALICO SMOKE, DILUTE CALICO SMOKE.
-
CALICO SMOKE: White with unbrindled patches of black and shades of red. Black and red patches have a white undercoat. White predominates on the underparts of the cat.
-
DILUTE CALICO SMOKE: White with unbrindled patches of blue and shades of cream. Blue and cream patches have a white undercoat. White predominates on the underparts of the cat.
-
Other Maine Coon Cat Color Class (OMCC): This category includes any other colors not specifically listed, except for those indicating hybridization, such as chocolate, lavender, Himalayan patterns, or these colors combined with white. Cats registered as AOV (Any Other Variety) are shown under the AOV color class.
Disqualifications
Certain traits are considered disqualifications in Maine Coons, meaning a cat exhibiting these features cannot be shown or considered a true representation of the breed standard. These include:
- Delicate bone structure: Maine Coons should have a substantial, robust build.
- Undershot chin: Where the lower jaw’s front teeth overlap or project beyond the upper jaw’s front teeth when the mouth is closed.
- Crossed eyes: Eyes must be straight and properly aligned.
- Kinked tail: The tail should be straight and flexible, not kinked or rigid.
- Incorrect number of toes: Polydactyl (extra toes) is not accepted in breed standards, while Maine Coons naturally have 5 toes in front and 4 in back.
- White buttons, white lockets, or white spots: Unless the color class specifically allows for white markings, solid-colored Maine Coons should not have random white spots.
- Cats showing evidence of hybridization: Resulting in colors like chocolate, lavender, or the Himalayan pattern, which are not naturally occurring in Maine Coons.
Maine Coon Cat Class Numbers
The following class numbers are for reference within cat associations like the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and are not officially part of the breed standard but are used for show classification.
| Maine Coon Cat Class Numbers | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Colors (White, Black, Blue, Red, or Cream) | 1700 | 1701 |
| Brown Tabby (classic, mackerel, ticked) | 1744 | 1745 |
| Brown Patched Tabby (classic, mackerel, ticked) | — | 1787 |
| Silver Tabby (classic, mackerel, ticked) | 1736 | 1737 |
| Silver Patched Tabby (classic, mackerel, ticked) | — | 1785 |
| Red Tabby (classic, mackerel, ticked) | 1740 | 1741 |
| All Other Tabby Colors (Blue, Blue Patched, Blue-Silver, Blue-Silver Patched, Cream, Cameo, Cream-Silver [classic, mackerel, ticked]) | 9792 | 9793 |
| Brown Tabby & White (including Vans) (classic, mackerel, ticked) | 1778 | 1779 |
| Brown Patched Tabby & White (including Vans) (classic, mackerel, ticked) | — | 1769 |
| Silver Tabby & White (including Vans) (classic, mackerel, ticked) | 9736 | 9737 |
| Silver Patched Tabby & White (including Vans) (classic, mackerel, ticked) | — | 9785 |
| Red Tabby & White (including Vans) (classic, mackerel, ticked) | 9740 | 9741 |
| All Other Tabby & White Colors (incl Vans) (Blue, Blue Patched, Blue-Silver, Blue-Silver Patched, Cream, Cameo, Cream-Silver [classic, mackerel, ticked]) | 1758 | 1759 |
| Bi-Color (Black & White, Blue & White, Red & White, Cream & White) | 1790 | 1791 |
| Parti-Color (Tortoiseshell, Blue-Cream) | — | 1747 |
| Parti-Color & White (Calico [including Vans], Dilute Calico [including Vans], Tortoiseshell & White, Blue-Cream & White) | — | 1795 |
| Shaded & Smoke (Chinchilla Silver, Shaded Silver, Chinchilla Blue Silver, Shaded Blue Silver, Shell Cameo, Shaded Cameo, Shell Cream, Shaded Cream, Shell Tortoiseshell, Shaded Tortoiseshell, Shell Blue-Cream, Shaded Blue-Cream, Black Smoke, Blue smoke, Cameo Smoke, Cream Smoke, Tortie Smoke, Blue-Cream Smoke) | 1730 | 1731 |
| Shaded/Smoke & White (including Vans) (Note: any tortie & white colors or blue-cream & white colors will not have the van pattern. Chinchilla Silver & White, Shaded Silver & White, Chinchilla Blue Silver & White, Shaded Blue Silver & White, Shell Cameo & White, Shaded Cameo & White, Shell Cream & White, Shaded Cream & White, Shell Tortoiseshell & White, Shaded Tortoiseshell & White, Shell Calico, Shaded Calico, Shell Blue-Cream & White, Shaded Blue-Cream & White, Shell Dilute Calico, Shaded Dilute Calico, Black Smoke & White, Blue Smoke & White, Cameo Smoke & White, Cream Smoke & White, Tortie Smoke & White, Blue-Cream Smoke & White, Calico Smoke, Dilute Calico Smoke) | 1774 | 1775 |
| OMCC (Other Maine Coon Colors) (Any other color with the exception of those showing hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the himalayan pattern; or these combinations with white. Cats listed as AOV are to be registered and shown under AOV color class.) | 1796 | 1797 |
| AOV | 1798 | 1799 |
Conclusion: Appreciating the Maine Coon Breed Standard
The Maine Coon breed standard is a comprehensive guide that meticulously outlines the ideal characteristics of this beloved cat breed. From their rugged physique and distinctive head shape to their flowing coats and diverse color palette, every detail contributes to the unique identity of the Maine Coon. Understanding these standards is crucial for breeders dedicated to preserving the breed’s integrity and for enthusiasts who admire the majestic beauty of the “gentle giant.” Whether you are a breeder, a judge, or simply a Maine Coon lover, appreciating these standards enhances your understanding and admiration for this remarkable feline.
