Maine Coon: size, temperament and care of the breed

Quick answer

The Maine Coon is a natural breed from New England with documented history back to the 1850s. The CFA calls it the largest pedigreed cat: mature males often weigh 20 pounds or more, females are usually smaller, and the breed can take up to three years to reach full size. It has a heavy, shaggy coat and a long, plumed tail. The temperament is described as sociable, gentle and active. Breeders screen for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia.

Written byVeterinário Raiz TeamUpdated onNovember 6, 2026

The Maine Coon is the “gentle giant” of the cat world. This profile draws on the breed page and standard of the CFA, the largest registry of pedigreed cats.

Origin

The CFA calls it perhaps the most popular breed to have been “born” in America, with documented history back to the 1850s. Its roots are in New England, where shorthaired ship cats arrived with early settlers. Several legends try to explain the long coat, including one involving Marie Antoinette’s Turkish Angoras; the CFA treats them as just that, legends.

A brown tabby named Cosey was named Best Cat at the first U.S. cat show in 1895. The breed then faded from the show hall and earned CFA championship status only in 1976. FIFe recognizes it in category 2.

Size and weight

Trait	According to the CFA
Mature males	Often 20 pounds or more
Females	Usually smaller
Maturity	Slow: up to three years for full size

The standard disqualifies cats with delicate bone structure; substance is part of the breed.

Coat and colors

The coat is heavy and shaggy: shorter on the shoulders, longer on the stomach and hind legs, with a silky texture. The tail is long and plumed; the ears large and tufted. The standard penalizes a short or overly even coat.

Colors include solids, tabbies (classic, mackerel and ticked), bi-color, parti-color, shaded, smoke and calico. Eyes can be green, gold or copper; white cats and cats with white may have blue or odd eyes.

Temperament

The CFA describes the Maine Coon as sociable, loyal and intelligent, gentle and easygoing yet active:

It tends to move between laps rather than pick one favorite person.
It is fond of water, from running faucets to the shower.
It is fairly independent but asks for attention when people are around.
It gets along with children and other animals.
It chirps, trills and purrs softly without being talkative.

Grooming and care

Comb two or three times a week in short sessions.
Bathe only occasionally; ask the breeder which products suit the coat.
Room to climb: cat trees and shelves sturdy enough for a big cat.

Health

The CFA lists two screening tests used in the breed:

Hip dysplasia, checked by X-ray.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease of the heart muscle, screened with DNA tests and echocardiograms. In 2005, researchers identified a mutation in the MYBPC3 gene linked to familial HCM in Maine Coons (Meurs et al., 2005).

Carrying or not carrying the mutation is not the whole story: HCM is also monitored by imaging, and your vet decides the follow-up. This content is informational and does not replace a veterinary visit.

Who the breed suits

Families who want a big, sociable, playful cat and have space for it to climb and move. Compare breeds in the cat breeds guide.

Frequently asked questions

How big does a Maine Coon get?

The CFA says mature males often weigh 20 pounds or more, while females are usually smaller. The breed matures slowly and may take up to three years to reach full size. Your vet should judge an individual cat's ideal weight by body condition, not a chart.

Is the Maine Coon part raccoon?

No. The "Coon" in the name comes from an old theory, which the CFA calls discredited, that the breed descended from matings with raccoons, inspired by the ringed tails of brown tabbies.

Do Maine Coons need a lot of grooming?

Less than you might expect. The CFA passes on breeders' advice to comb two or three times a week, in sessions of about five to ten minutes, to reduce shedding, hairballs and mats. Regular bathing is not needed.

What health tests should a breeder show me?

According to the CFA, breeders X-ray for hip dysplasia and test for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using DNA tests and echocardiograms. Ask for the parents' results; a DNA test does not replace lifelong heart monitoring.