Maine Coon

By 1000 Ventures · Last reviewed

The gentle giant of cats: big, shaggy, with tufted ears and a long, bushy tail.

A Maine Coon cat sitting, full body
Size
Large
Weight
10 to 25 lb (4.5 to 11 kg)
Lifespan
12 to 15 years
Coat
Long, shaggy and water-resistant
Colors
Many, brown tabby is the classic
Origin
United States (Maine), one of the oldest American breeds
99% of the time, our scanner puts a Maine Coon in its top three. It names it first 81% of the time. How we tested

What does a Maine Coon look like?

Maine Coons are among the largest domestic cats. They have long, rectangular bodies, big tufted ears often tipped with lynx-like hairs, and a squarish muzzle. The shaggy coat is longer on the belly and britches, with a ruff on the chest, and the bushy tail is as long as the body. Large, tufted paws work like snowshoes.

Maine Coon personality

Despite their size, Maine Coons are gentle, playful and sociable. Many chirp and trill rather than meow, and they often follow their people around.

How to care for a Maine Coon

Comb two or three times a week to keep the coat free of mats. They grow slowly and may not reach full size until three to five years old.

How do I know if my cat is a Maine Coon?

Size, ear tufts, a squarish muzzle and a shaggy coat point to a Maine Coon. A Norwegian Forest Cat has a straight profile and a triangular head. Many long-haired house cats get called Maine Coons, but they are usually smaller and lack the tufts.

A photo can only tell you what your cat looks like. Pedigree papers from a breeder, or a cat DNA test, are the only ways to prove a breed. For a quick first answer, upload a photo to our free cat breed identifier. It compares your cat with 31 breeds and the ordinary house cat and shows the three closest matches.

Curious which breed your own cat looks like? Upload one photo to the free cat breed identifier and see the three closest matches in seconds.

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Breeds that look like the Maine Coon

Norwegian Forest Cat Norwegian Forest CatA big, sturdy longhair with a triangular face, a straight profile and a thick winter coat. Siberian SiberianA powerful, rounded forest cat from Russia with a thick triple coat. House cat House catA mixed-breed cat, called a domestic shorthair or longhair. Most pet cats in the world are house cats, not purebreds.

Or browse all 31 cat breeds side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Is my long-haired cat a Maine Coon?
Maybe a mix, but most long-haired cats are domestic longhairs. Maine Coons are very large, with ear tufts, a square muzzle and a long, bushy tail.
What is the difference between a Maine Coon and a Norwegian Forest Cat?
The Maine Coon has a squarer muzzle and a gentle curve in its profile. The Norwegian Forest Cat has a triangular head and a straight line from forehead to nose.

What breed is your cat?

Upload one photo and the free cat breed identifier shows the three closest breeds in seconds, or tells you it is a classic house cat.

Identify my cat