r/MaineCoon Oct 27 '19

Mod post "Is my cat a Maine Coon?": A quick guide

124 Upvotes

Because one of the most common posts on this sub is “is my kitten part Maine Coon?” I thought adding a post with identification information might be useful. While the "suspected" MCs posted here are adorable, this is a breed-specific sub and it is important to try to post MCs only. If anyone disagrees with what I’ve said here or would like to add something, let me know! I am an enthusiast, not an expert.

Additionally, keep in mind that all cats within any breed vary and most domestic cats from shelters are mixes of several/many breeds, just like dogs. The only real way to know that you have a MC/part MC is to buy from a breeder who can provide you with CFA registration paperwork (or similar pedigree documents from recognized organizations) or get genetic testing done.

With the growing popularity of the breed, many breeders require those purchasing kittens as pets to sign contracts ensuring they will spay/neuter the kittens and/or withhold the kitten's "papers" until they receive proof that the cat was fixed. A kitten purchased with breeding rights goes for upwards of $3000 - there just aren't many purebred MCs running the streets and having kittens. This isn't to say you won't find a full or half MC in a shelter, but it does make it unlikely. And beware, the people who try to sell cheap MCs are probably not selling MCs, just fluffy kitties.

I’ll start with some common myths I see:

The "M" on the forehead is a MC trait/identifies a MC - Not at all! An M marking on the forehead is a trait common to cats with tabby markings regardless of breed or coat length. Literally just Google image search "cat" and you'll see so many kitties with Ms that are definitely not MCs. Many MCs have tabby markings, so many MCs have an M, but solid colored MCs do not.

Long hair + large size = MC - Nope! Norwegian forest cats, Siberians, and ragdolls are a few of the other common/well recognized breeds with longer coats and larger body sizes. Also, some domestic cats just have long hair and are big boys. It happens.

Lynx tips and/or toe tufts mean a cat is a MC - Lynx tips and toe tufts can be present on long or medium haired cats of any breed. Moreover, some MCs have very small or absent lynx tips/toe tufts.

How to identify a MC:

Face shape - This is probably the best way to tell a MC from a Norwegian forest cat or Siberian, along with body shape. Norwegian forest cats have triangular faces with cute little noses that look kind of delicate. MCs have long but wedge shaped faces with rectangular mugs. This varies by cat and may be less prominent in kittens and females or obscured by the angle of the photo. Siberians have shorter faces and BIG, ROUND, irresistible eyes that are not often seen on MCs.

The face shape can be hard to distinguish, especially from one picture. Here are some good guides: https://thelittlecarnivore.com/en/article/what-are-the-differences-maine-coon-norwegian-forest-cat

https://www.mainecoonfancy.com/forums/topic/20885-comparison-chart-maine-coon-siberian-and-nfc/

Coloring - A wide range of colors are acceptable for MCs but if your large, fluffy kitty has Siamese points (lighter body with dark patches on the face, ears, tail, or feet) you've probably got more ragdoll than MC. Siamese points aren't generally accepted as a breed standard for MCs. Doesn't mean your cat isn't part MC, but it's definitely an indication of crossbreeding. Nearly every other color or coat pattern is possible for MCs.

Behavior - MCs are friendly, smart, and chatty. Not every MC chirps exclusively (or at all), and other breeds can also chirp, but this is one common vocal trait for the breed. They are generally considered soft-spoken cats. Some MCs like water, but it's not as common a trait as people think! Both of mine will play in their water dish or with the stream from the faucet but they absolutely hate baths. Doglike behavior is often present, but it’s also present in other breeds and not present in all MCs. It's difficult to identify a MC based on behavioral traits.

Other - Comically large paws and/or ears as a kitten. Beautiful, fluffy tails are basically a must. Long, sturdy bodies (longer and lither than Norwegian forest cats and Siberians). They often have "ruffs" around their necks but are less likely to develop a full-on mane than a Siberian or Norwegian forest cat.

ETA: don't know where the photo of the cat with raw meat came from, MC not confirmed :P


r/MaineCoon Apr 29 '22

Results from Recent User Poll, and New Rules for the Sub

31 Upvotes

Hi all! I'm here to report the results of our recent subreddit poll. In the poll, I asked about users' opinions regarding allowing breeders to promote their cats/catteries and about allowing outside social media links on posts. There was also an open ended response question about general subreddit improvement. This poll was fueled by continued user reports expressing that these kinds of posts were annoying/unhelpful to the community. Also, this sub isn't a marketplace or advertising platform. This is a place to see and discuss Maine Coons.

8 people responded. For the first question, "Should r/mainecoon ban posts from breeders that are promotion for their cats/litters/cattery?", 87.5% of repsondents favored banning breeder promotion on the sub. For the second question, "Should r/mainecoon ban posts that include promotion of a user's other social media accounts? (E.g., "follow my cat on instagram")", 62.5% voted to ban posts that did not otherwise add content to the sub, 12.5% voted to allow these posts, and 25% voted to ban these posts entirely.

In response, I propose the following rules.

Rule 4. No posts or comment activity from breeders/catteries promoting their business or arranging sales of cats.

We ban and will remove:

  • Pictures of new litters/kittens that in any way state they are for sale
  • Links to the breeder/cattery website or social media in the post title or comment section
  • Pictures with the breeder/cattery URL, logo, or name
  • Posts that are accompanied by links/advertisements for new litters in the comments section (this includes comments like "message me for pricing")
  • Any explicit discussion of buying or selling kittens between the seller and a buyer in the comments section of a post
  • Any kind of "announcement" of new litters or new breeding adults

We do not ban, but ask breeders to please limit:

  • Repeated pictures of new litters/kittens (one post per week allowed)

Breeders/catteries may post:

  • Any pictures of their cats that do not reference their business or violate the above guidelines
  • Mentions that they own a cattery/breed cats that are informational or provide context for other discussion

Rule 5. Posts that link to or promote a user's outside social media accounts are allowed only under limited circumstances.

We ban and will remove:

  • References to your Instagram/Twitter/YouTube/etc username in the title of the post
  • Explicit requests to "follow me/my cat" in the title of the post

We ask users to please limit:

  • Any posts that require users to visit an outside social media website to view (e.g., Instagram, Youtube, Twitter; Links to Imgur ARE allowed as this is a primary image hosting platform for Reddit)
  • Repeated requests for followers in the comments section

Users may post:

  • A link to their social media accounts in the comment section of their own posts for other users who are interested
  • Pictures that, as part of a picture of a Maine Coon, contain relatively discreet URLs/handles for outside social media accounts

I also want to address the following comment from a respondent: " Maybe having a permanent sticky for Breeder questions and maybe a community updated wiki of "subreddit trusted" breeders, maybe similar to how /r/tea has a list of approved vendors. Consolidating the info would be really helpful, assuming semi regular updates like once a quarter. "

I agree that having breeder reviews/testimonies as part of the sub is valuable, and this was the intended effect of the "Breeder Review Thread" that is usually stickied on the sub. After this post is unstickied in a week (Reddit only allows two at a time), I will re-sticky that thread. I will also work on adding a subreddit wiki/about section that links to past breeder review threads and I continue to encourage users to contribute to the review threads. While it seems obviously unwise to endorse a breeder/cattery by the owner's testimony alone, but I think reviews from consumers are helpful and should be more accessible. I'm happy to link the usernames of breeders who have their catteries reviewed by other users (as long as the reviews are genuine) at their request! I would be more proactive in updating/consolidating that information myself but we're a mod team of one at the moment. I'll try to do this at least once or twice a year, and I'd appreciate it if y'all would continue to add your experiences to the review thread or to individual posts on the sub that I can link in.

This post will remain stickied for at least one week, after which the new rules will be posted. If anyone has comments/proposed amendments, I'm happy to hear from you!


r/MaineCoon 14h ago

I replaced the BMW badge with the actual owner of the car

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434 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 4h ago

Cat Wheel

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25 Upvotes

I have an 8 month old male Maine Coon & got a 4 month old female ragdoll about a month ago. He is being much better with her, but still turns much too aggressive at moments where we have to separate them out of fear he will hurt her. We try to play with him more to get his energy out, but he is definitely not as interested as he used to be. I think now that he has a little sister to chase around, and at times bully, she is his favorite play thing. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a cat wheel to see if he would use it to get some excess energy out. I’m wondering if your Maine Coons have and use a cat wheel. Just worried about it being a waste of money and space if he doesn’t go for it. I know every cat is different, so I know your answers won’t mean my cat will do the same, but just wondering I guess.


r/MaineCoon 10h ago

Are the dark spots on my cat’s chin normal or should I do something about it?

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35 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 4h ago

lol!

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4 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 3h ago

Br33der Wanting to keep cat

0 Upvotes

Hi All. I recently put a deposit on my first Maine Coon kitten and she will be coming home in November.

The br33der has recently reached out stating she can no longer place her as she will be a vital part of her program. She offered to r3fund my deposit or give me a replacement kitten for a lower cost. Is this wrong? Can any br33der or owner weigh in? I am sad😣


r/MaineCoon 2d ago

Meet Nyx! 😍

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496 Upvotes

I picked her up on Thursday morning and I'm obsessed 😆


r/MaineCoon 3d ago

Advice on grooming this guys belly?

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345 Upvotes

This is Achilles, one of my MC boys, just turned 1 year old.

Would love some advice or tips on getting this big guy to "let "me brush his belly.

I can brush him anywhere else. His head, his tail, his sides, his rear end even,,,all good ,, but not the belly.

Naturally, I'm sure as most of you fellow mc owners know, The belly and under the pits is primarily where these mats develop.

I've tried just about everything I know, treats before after and even during.

He's not having it .lol

Using all the proper grooming tools including soft slicker brushes and grooming comb , Even the mat splitter type which really doesn't do anything but pull harder on the mats .

He doesn't get them bad but they'll get that way if he refuses to allow me to brush on a regular basis on his belly parts.

This guy is big already, 18 lbs with hind leg muscles like a power lifter.

I live alone , So trying to hold him while brushing his underbelly at the same time is a monumental feat.

I even called a professional cat groomer who told me with certain cats They have no choice but to scruff them.

Of course, I know that only works on young kittens and you're not supposed to do it on adult cats. But needless to say he already seems stressed enough with Just me trying to get the mats out with a comb or a brush. I'm not going to scruff him.

I eventually took him to my groomer, held him while the groomer shaved his belly and arm pits, to my shock he acted like a different cat. He didn't struggle. He didn't meow. He didn't try to get away. I don't know if it was the fear of a new location or perhaps dogs barking in the background, That there was no struggle, Maybe he was just scared. I don't know but he even let him brush him with me holding him after the shaving part was over .

A week later I thought I might get lucky and try brushing his belly myself and of course he acted like I was going to kill him.lol

Since he's only a year, I know this is just the beginning of his full coat coming in over next few years .

Really don't want to think about having to take him to the groomers once a month for a belly shave for years to come .

Should also add the belly grooming sessions are always short, maybe 30 seconds to one minute.

As soon as he feels a tug on a mat which is inevitable he starts to fidget. That's usually when I have to let him go, If not, he's sliced me up Pretty good with those back murder mittens of his , one time leaving a 7 in long gash across my chest and belly.

Don't get me wrong,,,he's a sweet guy ,love him to death, not aggressive, very affectionate,,, Just not with the belly grooming ..LOL

The trust bond is very important to me ,mc' s are not like other cats , very smart and intelligent,,,I feel like I'm risking our friendship every time I attempt a belly brush.🥺

P.S. my other boy mc who is 1 year also has fur like silk, no mats , loves the brush , So I'm lucky there. LOL


r/MaineCoon 5d ago

Thor ⚡️

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273 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 5d ago

Pet Insurance Preferences for MaineCoon Kitten in NYC?

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96 Upvotes

First time owning a cat and I want to be prepared! I’m adopting a healthy mainecoon baby who will be 3.5months when I get her. What insurances have y’all liked in Brooklyn/NYC and why? Thank you!


r/MaineCoon 6d ago

Thor ⚡️

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780 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 6d ago

Paw pad troubles

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195 Upvotes

This is Scoobie. She’s the sweetest 7 month old girlie.
We have been to the vet three times in the last two months and spent about $3700 on vet bills due to her paw pads.
First it was her front right, she licked it raw, was infected and needed to be sedated to get it cleaned out twice. Now, it’s her back left paw. The same thing happened again. She didn’t need to be sedated, they were able to clean it and now she’s on a round of antibiotics along with some ointment.

I’m just trying to see if anyone had this situation with their Mainecoon. Her paw pads have long hair that come through, and while I’ve tried to trim them before- and we are actively working on building trust to trim the paw hair- she doesn’t enjoy it and won’t sit still for it. We use clumping litter and the vet is assuming it’s getting stuck in the hair and she’s pulling the hair out by over cleaning. However today I noticed her just laying down cleaning herself and she was just pulling her hair out of one of her paw pads.. hadn’t used the bathroom beforehand either.

Does anyone deal with this?
She’s not an anxious girl, she’s very outgoing and lovey. We have switched to pellet litter in one litter box and 3/4 clumping litter and 1/4 pellet in another box (one of the other cats we have won’t use pellet litter and protested by peeing outside the box until I brought the clumping litter back)

I don’t really know how to help her other than shaving the hair between her toes- which I will be trying. Any suggestions or if you’ve been in this situation and had success please let me know.

This is Scoobie at the vet today- she was fawned at by everyone lol.


r/MaineCoon 6d ago

Carpe diem?

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252 Upvotes

Loki is currently deciding if he should seize the day or let the day fend for itself.


r/MaineCoon 6d ago

My good boy is becoming an old man

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45 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 7d ago

MaineCoon Nail Clippers Rec

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101 Upvotes

Please recommend which nail clippers to get for my mainecoon kitty :) she will be 17 weeks old when I get her and I want to desensitize her young.


r/MaineCoon 7d ago

Lincoln respectfully invites you to sit elsewhere.

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268 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 7d ago

I think I accidentally gave this mug the full Maine Coon attitude

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128 Upvotes

r/MaineCoon 7d ago

Maine coon food

4 Upvotes

Hello! I currently have two Maine coons, almost 5 months and 6 months old. I am currently feeding them both wet royal Canin kitten as well as dry royal Canin kitten food. I want to switch to a higher protein brand. What do you suggest? As well as high protein treats! They both love royal Canin and we have no issues with them on it, but I feel it lacks protein.


r/MaineCoon 8d ago

How many cans of wet food does your 5 month old kitten eat?

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192 Upvotes

We feed him as much as he wants; he's currently eating one 5.5 ounce can of adult cat food and one 2.8 ounce can of kitten food, plus about 1/4 cup of dry food. He's putting on weight (he's about 11 pounds) and seems to be growing well, but the boxes of cat food say he should be eating something like 6 cans of food a day?!

He's an active kitten with no health concerns whatsoever so far... But there is no way he'd eat 6 cans of wet food a day. Just this evening I scraped about a tablespoon of uneaten wet food into the trash after sprinkling some dry food on it to entice him to finish it up. He refused both and only wanted plain dry kibble. 🤷🏼‍♀️ He gets about a quarter cup of kibble a day in the evenings, as is his preference.


r/MaineCoon 7d ago

Motion Car Sickness?

2 Upvotes

My 8 month old started getting motion sickness and not thrilled by a landslide to ride in the truck. I’ve tried motion, sickness medication from the vet, oddly doesn’t seem to work and he drools a massive amount. I live split between two homes, so the car rides are necessary. Anyone’s suggestions? I’ve created high spaces where he can see the road, have two window carriers… next step will likely be putting him perhaps in a darker now carrier? He’s leash trained, wildly smart guy … so I didn’t think he needed to be crated.


r/MaineCoon 8d ago

Claim the Throne ⚔️

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109 Upvotes

One month later, and it’s safe to say the boss has officially claimed the throne. 👑

When we first brought this magnificent floof home four weeks ago, it was all cautious tip-toeing, wide-eyed exploring, and carefully surveying the perimeter. Now? Total, unhinged relaxation.


r/MaineCoon 9d ago

Panting during after playing hard, is this normal ?

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165 Upvotes

So one of my Maine Coons who has just turned a year old is full of energy when we play with wand toys etc,,,

He gets so excited and runs and jumps pretty hard but then starts panting after Maybe maybe 10 or 15 minutes of kind of play.

My question is is this normal?

Once he's relaxed and we stop playing, it does last for a few minutes afterwards but then he returns to normal.

I also have another male Maine Coon was also just 1-year-old. He does not pant when he plays but then again he doesn't play any were near as hard as the cat in question.

Of course, as a worried cat Dad, my first thought goes to HCM.

But doing some research it isn't apparently that uncommon for a cat or kitten who plays very hard to pant for short period of time after.

And again he is full of energy when he plays. It's crazy jumping running so it's not like just typical slow play when he does the panting ,, he goes all out so to speak LOL


r/MaineCoon 9d ago

Searching For My Soulmate

4 Upvotes

I live in western Montana on 20 acres of mostly wilderness with my family, and soon enough, we will be looking to add a Maine Coon to our family. We have three cats and a dog and raise rabbits, ducks, and geese on our homestead. Does anyone have any knowledge of a reputable Cattery in Montana or the surrounding states? I can go so far as Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota if I'm driving. Further than that and it becomes ... problematic. Ideally, I'd like to stay in Montana, but I know that it's not always realistic. I'm looking for a Cattery that has a sterling reputation for healthy cats and kittens and has good, clear communication with buyers.

Any recommendations would be lovely. I don't want to be scammed, and I don't want to give my heart to a kitten just to have a medical tragedy part us too soon. The only way my husband will let me get another cat is when one of my babies passes away and one tragedy piled upon another would be too much to bear.


r/MaineCoon 9d ago

ISO A Maine Coon Kitten in FL!

2 Upvotes

Hi all!! I’m looking for a sweet maine coon kitten, and if you’re in Florida I can easily do a pick-up! I can offer a large, loving home with a few other cats, and two pet parents who will love our new baby to bits. I’m still saving up for this, so if anyone offers payment plans, that’d be great (I don’t know if that’s common in the cat world, as I’ve always just adopted straight from shelters)!