Breed Standard: Maine Coon
 Black line denotes updated section.
Updated: Sunday, April 22, 2007
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POINT SCORE
HEAD (30)
15 .. Shape
10 .. Ears
5 .. Eyes
BODY (30)
15 .. Shape
5 .. Neck
5 .. Legs and Feet
5 .. Tail
COAT .. 20
COLOR (15)
10 .. Body color
5 .. Eye color
BALANCE .. 5
GENERAL: originally a working cat, the Maine Coon is solid, rugged, and can endure a harsh climate. A distinctive characteristic is its smooth, shaggy coat. A well proportioned and balanced appearance with no part of the cat being exaggerated. Quality should never be sacrificed for size. With an essentially amiable disposition, it has adapted to varied environments.
HEAD SHAPE: medium in width and slightly longer in length than width with a squareness to the muzzle. Allowance should be made for broadening in older studs. Cheekbones high.
MUZZLE/CHIN: is visibly square, medium in length and blunt ended when viewed in profile. It may give the appearance of being a rectangle but should not appear to be tapering or pointed. Length and width of the muzzle should be proportionate to the rest of the head and present a pleasant, balanced appearance. The chin should be strong, firm and in line with the upper lip and nose. When viewed in profile the chin depth should be observable and give the impression of a square, 90-degree angle. A chin lacking in depth, i.e. one that tapers from the jaw line to the lip, is not considered strong, firm or desirable.
PROFILE: should be proportionate to the overall length of the head and should exhibit a slight concavity when viewed in profile. The profile should be relatively smooth and free of pronounced bumps and/or humps. A profile that is straight from the brow line to the tip of the nose is not acceptable, nor should the profile show signs of having a "break" or "stop."
EARS: Shape: large, well-tufted, wide at base, tapering to appear pointed. Set: approximately one ear's width apart at the base; not flared.
EYES: large, expressive, wide set. Slightly oblique setting with slant toward outer base of ear.
NECK: medium long.
BODY SHAPE: muscular, broad-chested. Size medium to large. Females generally are smaller than males. The body should be long with all parts in proportion to create a well-balanced rectangular appearance with no part of the anatomy being so exaggerated as to foster weakness. Allowance should be made for slow maturation.
LEGS and FEET: legs substantial, wide set, of medium length, and in proportion to the body. Forelegs are straight. Back legs are straight when viewed from behind. 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, i.e. the front teeth (incisors) of the lower jaw overlapping or projecting beyond the front teeth of the upper jaw when the mouth is closed. Crossed eyes. Kinked tail. Incorrect number of toes. White buttons, white lockets, or white spots. Cats showing evidence of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern; or unpatterned agouti on the body (i.e. Abyssinian type ticked tabby).
MAINE COON CAT COLORS
EYE COLOR: eye color can be shades of green, gold, green-gold
or copper. Blue-eyes or odd-eyes are also allowed for white or bicolor
(including vans) patterned cats.
Solid Color Class
WHITE: pure glistening white. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.
BLACK: dense coal black, sound from roots to tip of fur. Free
from any tinge of rust on tips or smoke undercoat. Nose leather:
black. Paw pads: black or brown.
BLUE: one level tone from nose to tip of tail. Sound to the roots.
Nose leather and paw pads: blue.
RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red; without shading, markings, or
ticking. Lips and chin the same color as coat. Nose leather and
paw pads: brick red.
CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Sound
to the roots. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.
Tabby Patterns
CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined,
and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet
the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several unbroken necklaces
on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Frown marks
on forehead form an intricate letter “M.” Unbroken line runs back
from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over
back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape
of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined
and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a
vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical
stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated
by stripes of the ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to
be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings
should be the same on both sides. Double vertical rows of buttons
on chest and stomach.
MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined,
and all narrow pencillings. Legs evenly barred with narrow
bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail barred.
Necklaces on neck and chest distinct, like so many chains. Head
barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back
from the eyes. Lines running down the head to meet the shoulders.
Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow
pencillings run around body.
PATCHED TABBY PATTERN: a patched tabby (torbie) is an
established silver, brown, blue or blue-silver tabby with patches of
red or cream.
Brown Tabby Color Class
BROWN TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color brilliant coppery
brown. Markings dense black. Back of leg black from paw to
heel. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather and
paw pads: black or brown desirable.
Brown Patched Tabby Color Class
BROWN PATCHED TABBY: ground color brilliant coppery
brown. Markings dense black with patches of red.
Silver Tabby Color Class
SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color pale, clear silver.
Markings dense black. White trim around lip and chin allowed.
Nose leather: brick red desirable. Paw pads: black desirable.
Silver Patched Tabby Color Class
SILVER PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color
pale, clear silver. Markings dense black with patches of red and/or
cream. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather:
brick red desirable. Paw pads: black and/or pink desirable.
Red Tabby Color Class
RED TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color red. Markings
deep, rich red. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose
leather and paw pads: brick red desirable.
All Other Tabby Colors Class
BLUE-SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, patched): ground color
pale, clear silver. Markings a deep blue affording a good contrast
with ground color. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose
leather: old rose desirable. Paw pads: rose desirable.
BLUE TABBY (classic, mackerel, patched): ground color pale
bluish Ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast
with ground color. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole.
White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather: old rose
desirable. Paw pads: rose desirable.
CREAM TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color very pale
cream. Markings of buff or cream sufficiently darker than the
ground color to afford good contrast but remaining within the dilute
range. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather and
paw pads: pink desirable.
CREAM SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color offwhite.
Markings cream. Undercoat white. Lips and chin the same
shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather and paw pads:
pink desirable.
CAMEO TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color off-white.
Markings red. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose
leather and paw pads: rose desirable.
Brown Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans)
BROWN TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel): color as defined
for brown tabby with or without white on the face. Must have white
on bib, belly, and all four paws.
Brown Patched Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans)
BROWN PATCHED TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel):
ground color coppery brown. Markings dense black but with distribution
of white markings as descirbed in brown tabby with white.
Color as described for patched tabby (torbie) with or without white
on face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws.
Silver Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans)
SILVER TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel): color s defined for
the silver tabby with or without white on the face. Must have white
on bib, belly, and all four feet.
Silver Patched Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans)
SILVER PATCHED TABBY AND WHITE (classic, mackerel):
color as described for silver patched tabby (torbie) with or without
white on face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four feet.
Red Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans)
RED TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel): color as defined for
the red tabby with or without white on the face. Must have white
on bib, belly, and all four feet.
All Other Tabby & White Colors Color Class (including Vans)
TABBY & WHITE (classic, mackerel): color as defined for tabby
with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly,
and all four paws. Colors accepted are blue, blue-silver, cream,
cream-silver, cameo.
PATCHED TABBY AND WHITE (torbie with white): color as
described for patched tabby (torbie) but with distribution of white
markings as described in tabby with white and van tabby. Color as
described for patched tabby (torbie) with or without white on face.
Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws. Colors accepted
are blue or blue-silver.
Bi-Color Color Class (including Vans)
BLACK AND WHITE: a combination of black and white, with or
without white on face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four
paws.
BLUE AND WHITE: a combination of blue and white, with or without
white on face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws.
RED AND WHITE: a combination of red and white, with or without
white on face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws.
CREAM AND WHITE: a combination of cream and white, with or
without white on face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four
paws.
Parti-Color Color Class
TORTOISESHELL: black with patches of red or softly intermingled
areas of red on both the body and the extremities. Presence
of several shades of red acceptable.
BLUE-CREAM: blue with patches of cream or softly intermingled
areas of cream on both the body and the extremities.
Parti-Color & White Color Class
CALICO (including vans): white with unbrindled patches of black
and red. White predominant on underparts.
DILUTE CALICO (including vans): white with unbrindled patches
of blue and cream. White predominant on underparts.
TORTOISESHELL AND WHITE: color as defined for tortoiseshell
with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly,
and all four paws.
BLUE-CREAM AND WHITE: color as defined for blue-cream with
or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all
four paws.
Shaded & Smoke Color Class
CHINCHILLA SILVER: undercoat pure white. Coat on back.
flanks, head, and tail sufficiently tipped with black to give the characteristic
sparkling silver appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded
with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, pure white.
Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather:
brick red. Paw pads: black.
SHADED SILVER: undercoat white with a mantle of black tipping
shading down from sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to
white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs to be
the same tone as the face. The general effect to be much darker
than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black.
Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.
CHINCHILLA BLUE SILVER: undercoat white. Coat on back,
flanks, head, and tail sufficiently tipped with blue to give the characteristic
sparkling silver appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded
with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, pure white.
Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with blue. Nose leather and
paw pads: rose desirable.
SHADED BLUE SILVER: undercoat white with a mantle of blue
tipping shading down from sides, face, and tail from dark on the
ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs
to be the same tone as the face. The general effect to be much
darker than a blue chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined
with blue. Nose leather and paw pads: rose desirable.
SHELL CAMEO (red chinchilla): undercoat white, the coat on the
back, flanks, head, and tail to be sufficiently tipped with red to give
the characteristic sparkling appearance. Face and legs may be
very slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and
chest white. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.
SHADED CAMEO (red shaded): undercoat white with a mantle of
red tipping shading down the sides, face, and tail. Face and legs
may be a deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings,
stomach and chest (ruff) to be white. The general effect
to be much redder than the shell cameo. Nose leather, rims of
eyes and paw pads: rose.
SHELL CREAM (cream chinchilla): undercoat white, the coat on
the back, flanks, head and tail to be lightly tipped with cream.
Face and legs may be very slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear
furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff) to be white. Nose leather,
rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.
SHADED CREAM: undercoat white with a mantle of cream shading
down the sides, face and tail, face and legs may be a deeper
shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach
and chest (ruff) to be white. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw
pads: rose.
SHELL TORTOISESHELL: undercoat white. The coat on the
back, flanks and tail to be 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:
rose to black, may also be patched.
SHADED TORTOISESHELL: undercoat white. Mantle of black
and red shading down the sides, face and tail. Face and legs may
be a deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings,
stomach and chest (ruff) may be white to lightly tipped. The
general effect is to be much darker than the shell tortoiseshell.
Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose to black, may
also be patched.
SHELL BLUE-CREAM: undercoat white. The coat on the back,
flanks and tail to be 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:
rose to blue, may also be patched.
SHADED BLUE-CREAM: undercoat white. Mantle of blue and
cream shading down the sides, face and tail. Face and legs may
be a deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings,
stomach and chest (ruff) may be white to lightly tipped. The
general effect is to be much darker than the shell blue-cream.
Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose to blue, may
also be patched.
BLACK SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with black. Cat
in repose appears black. In motion the white undercoat is clearly
apparent. Points and mask black with narrow band of white at
base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is
parted. Light silver frill and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads:
black.
BLUE SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with blue. Cat in
repose appears blue. In motion the white undercoat is clearly
apparent. Points and mask blue with narrow band of white hairs
next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. White frill
and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads: blue.
CAMEO SMOKE (red smoke): white undercoat, deeply tipped
with red. Cat in repose appears red. In motion the white undercoat
is clearly apparent. Points and mask red with narrow band of white
at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is
parted. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.
CREAM SMOKE: undercoat white, deeply tipped with cream. Cat
in respose appears cream. In motion the white undercoat is clearly
apparent. Points and mask cream with narrow band of white at
base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is
parted. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: pink desirable.
TORTIE SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with black with
patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both the body
and the extremities. The presence of several shades of red is
acceptable. Cat in repose appears tortoiseshell. In motion the
white undercoat is clearly apparent. Face and ears tortoiseshell
pattern with narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to
the skin that may be seen only when fur is parted. White ruff and
ear tufts. Blaze of red or cream on face is desirable.
BLUE-CREAM SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with blue,
with clearly defined patches of cream as in the pattern of the bluecream.
Cat in repose appears blue-cream. In motion, the white
undercoat is clearly apparent. Face and ears blue-cream pattern
with narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to the skin
which may be seen only when the fur is parted. White ruff and ear
tufts. Blaze of cream on face is desirable.
Shaded/Smoke & White Color Class (including Vans)
Note: any tortie & white colors or blue-cream & white
colors will not have the van pattern
CHINCHILLA SILVER & WHITE: color as defined for chinchilla
silver with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib,
belly, and all four paws.
SHADED SILVER & WHITE: color as defined for shaded silver
with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly,
and all four paws.
CHINCHILLA BLUE SILVER & WHITE: color as defined for chinchilla
blue silver with or without white on the face. Must have white
on bib, belly, and all four paws.
SHADED BLUE SILVER & WHITE: color as defined for shaded
blue silver with or without white on the face. Must have white on
bib, belly, and all four paws.
SHELL CAMEO (red chinchilla) & WHITE: color as defined for
shell cameo with or without white on the face. Must have white on
bib, belly, and all four paws.
SHADED CAMEO (red shaded) & WHITE: color as defined for
shaded cameo with or without white on the face. Must have white
on bib, belly, and all four paws.
SHELL CREAM (cream chinchilla) & WHITE: color as defined for
shell cream with or without white on the face. Must have white on
bib, belly, and all four paws.
SHADED CREAM & WHITE: color as defined for shaded cream
with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly,
and all four paws.
SHELL TORTOISESHELL & WHITE: color as defined for shell
tortoiseshell with or without white on the face. Must have white on
bib, belly, and all four paws.
SHADED TORTOISESHELL & WHITE: color as defined for shaded
tortoiseshell with or without white on the face. Must have white
on bib, belly, and all four paws.
SHELL CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and
shades of red. The coat on the back, flanks and tail to be 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. White predominate
on the underparts of the cat.
SHADED CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and
shades of red. Mantle of black and red shading down the sides, face
and tail. Face and legs may be a deeper shading than the rest of the
body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff) may be white to
lightly tipped. The general effect is to be much darker than the shell
calico. White predominate on the underparts of the cat.
SHELL BLUE-CREAM & WHITE: color as defined for shell bluecream
with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib,
belly, and all four paws.
SHADED BLUE-CREAM & WHITE: color as defined for shaded
blue-cream with or without white on the face. Must have white on
bib, belly, and all four paws.
SHELL DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and
shades of cream. The coat on the back, flanks and tail to be 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. White predominate
on the underparts of the cat.
SHADED DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue
and shades of cream. Mantle of blue and cream shading down the
sides, face and tail. Face and legs may be a deeper shading than
the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff)
may be white to lightly tipped. The general effect is to be much darker
than the shell dilute calico. White predominate on the underparts
of the cat.
BLACK SMOKE & WHITE: color as defined for black smoke with or
without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four
paws.
BLUE SMOKE & WHITE: color as defined for blue smoke with or
without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four
paws.
CAMEO SMOKE (red smoke) & WHITE: color as defined for cameo
smoke with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib,
belly, and all four paws.
CREAM SMOKE & WHITE: color as defined for cream smoke with
or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all
four paws.
TORTIE SMOKE & WHITE: color as defined for tortie smoke with or
without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four
paws.
BLUE-CREAM SMOKE & WHITE: color as defined for blue cream
smoke with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib,
belly, and all four paws.
CALICO SMOKE: white with unbrindled patches of black and
shades of red. Black and red patches to have a white undercoat.
White predominate on the underparts of the cat.
DILUTE CALICO SMOKE: white with unbrindled patches of blue
and shades of cream. Blue and cream patches to have a white
undercoat. White predominate on the underparts of the cat.
Other Maine Coon Cat Color Class
OMCCC (Other Maine Coon Cat colors): any other color with the
exception of those showing hybridization resulting in the colors
chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern; the unpatterned agouti
on the body (i.e. Abyssinian type ticked tabby) or these combinations
with white.
The following information is for reference purposes only
and not an official part of the CFA Show Standard.
Maine Coon Cat Color Class Numbers
Solid Colors ...................................................... 1700 1701
( White, Black, Blue, Red, or Cream)
Brown Tabby (classic, mackerel)...................... 1744 1745
Brown Patched Tabby (classic, mackerel)....... – – 1787
Silver Tabby (classic, mackerel)....................... 1736 1737
Silver Patched Tabby (classic, mackerel)........ – – 1785
Red Tabby (classic, mackerel).......................... 1740 1741
All Other Tabby Colors .................................... 9792 9793
(Blue, Blue-Silver [classic, mackerel, patched],
Cream, Cameo, Cream-Silver [classic, mackerel])
Brown Tabby & White (including Vans)............ 1778 1779
(classic, mackerel)
Brown Patched Tabby & White (incl Vans) ..... – – 1769
(classic, mackerel)
Silver Tabby & White (including Vans) .............9736 9737
(classic, mackerel)
Silver Patched Tabby & White......................... – – 9785
(classic, mackerel)
Red Tabby & White (including Vans) ................9740 9741
(classic, mackerel)
All Other Tabby & White Colors (incl Vans) .... 1758 1759
(Blue, Blue-Silver [classic, mackerel, patched],
Cream, Cameo, Cream-Silver [classic, mackerel])
Bi-Color .............................................................1790 1791
(Black & White, Blue & White, Red & White,
Cream & White)
Parti-Color ......................................................... 1746 1747
(Tortoiseshell, Blue-Cream)
Parti-Color & White........................................... – – 1795
(Calico [including Vans], Dilute Calico [including
Vans], Tortoiseshell & White, Blue-Cream
& White)
Shaded & Smoke ............................................. 1730 1731
(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)
Shaded/Smoke & White (including Vans)......... 1774 1775
(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 Calco, Shaded Calico, Shell Blue-
Cream & White, Shaded Blue-Cream & White,
Shell Dilute Calco, 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)
OMCC (Other Maine Coon Colors).................. 1796 1797
(Any other color with the exception of those showing hybridization
resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the himalayan
pattern; the unpatterned agouti on the body [i.e., Abyssiniantype
ticked tabby] or these combinations with white.)
Maine Coon Cat allowable outcross breeds: none.
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