Category II |
MCO |
Maine Coon Standard |
General |
Appearance |
the breed of the Maine Coon is
large framed with a square outline of the head,
large ears, broad chest, solid bone structure, a
long, hard muscled, rectangular body and a long
flowing tail. Good muscle tone and density give the
cat the appearance of power and robustness |
Size |
large |
Head |
Shape |
medium in size; square outline.
Profile with a gentle concave slope |
Forehead |
gently
curved |
Cheeks |
cheekbones
high and prominent |
Face
Nose
Muzzle |
face and nose of medium length
with a square outline of the muzzle distinct
transition can be felt between muzzle and cheekbones |
Chin |
firm, in vertical alignment with
nose and upperlip |
Ears |
Shape |
large, wide at the base.
moderately pointed.
lynx-tufts are desirable, tufts of hair in the ears
extend beyond outer edges of ears |
Placement |
set high on head with a very
slight outward tilt.
ears should be placed one ear's width apart, the
width extends slightly in older cats
lower base set just slightly further back than upper
base |
Eyes |
Shape |
large and widely set.
slightly oval, but not almond shaped, appear round
when wide open
set slightly slanted towards the outer base of the
ear |
Colour |
any colour is permitted, there is
no relationship between eye- and coat colour
clear eye colour is desirable |
Neck |
|
males have a very strong muscled
neck |
Body |
Structure |
the body should be long,
substantial bone structure
hard muscled, powerful, broad chested
large framed, all parts of the body in proportion to
create a rectangular appearance |
Legs |
|
substantial, medium length to
form a rectangle with the body |
Paws |
large, round and well tufted
between the toes |
Tail |
|
at least as long as the body from
shoulderblade to base of tail
wide at the base tapering to the tip; with full,
flowing hair
the hair on the tail is long and always remains
flowing |
Coat |
Structure |
all weather coat, dense
short on head, shoulders and legs, becoming
gradually longer down the back and sides, with long,
full shaggy baggy trousers on the hind legs and
belly fur, a frill is expected
texture silky
coat has distinct body, falling smoothly
the undercoat is soft and fine, covered by the
coarse smooth outercoat |
Colour |
all colour varieties are
permitted, including all colour varieties with
white; except pointed patterns and chocolate and
lilac, cinnamon and fawn
any amount of white is allowed, i.e. a white blaze,
white locket, white chest, white on the belly, white
on the paws, etc.
for colour varieties refer to
tables below |
Condition |
|
the Maine Coon should always be
in good balance, condition and proportion |
Remarks |
|
-
type must always take
preference over colour
-
very slow maturing of the
breed should be taken into account
-
mature males may have larger
and broader heads than females
-
females are proportionally
smaller than males. Allowance must be made for
this significant difference in size
-
length of coat and density of
undercoat vary with the seasons
|
Faults |
General |
-
unbalanced
proportions
-
overall small cat
|
Head |
-
round head
-
straight or convex
profile
|
Nose |
|
Muzzle |
-
pronounced whisker
pads
-
round or pointed
muzzle
|
Chin |
|
Ears |
|
Eyes |
-
slanted almond
shaped eyes
|
Body |
-
fine, light bone
structure
-
short cobby body
|
Legs |
|
Tail |
|
Coat |
-
lack of belly shag
-
coat of overall
even length
-
lack of any
undercoat
|