Cat breeds

Maine Coon

The gentle giant of the cat world

A brown tabby Maine Coon with a big ruff and tufted ears sitting on stone edging

A shaggy blue-grey Maine Coon with yellow eyes on a wooden fence rail

A smoky blue Maine Coon with tall tufted ears, its cheek resting in a hand

One of the largest domestic breeds, the Maine Coon has a shaggy, weather-resistant coat, tufted ears and toes, and a long plumed tail. Despite the size they are gentle and sociable, and many of them chirp and trill rather than meow.

Written with reference to The International Cat Association (TICA). Maine Coon on TICA

History

North America's oldest natural breed, developed without human planning in the harsh winters of Maine, where the long weatherproof coat, tufted ears and broad snowshoe paws were simply what survived. It is the official state cat of Maine.

Personality

Gentle, sociable and famously unbothered. Maine Coons follow their people about, involve themselves in whatever is happening, and are notably good with children and other animals. Many chirp and trill rather than meow.

Did you know?

Maine Coons hold the record for the longest domestic cat, and they are slow growers — a Maine Coon is not fully grown until somewhere between three and five years old.

At Pink Paws