Maine Coon — breed standard (CFA & TICA: size, coat, temperament, type)

Maine Coon — breed standard (CFA & TICA: size, coat, temperament, type)

Claims

• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* A large cat native to the northeastern United States (above all Maine); it is built on heavy bone, a broad chest and a long, hard-muscled, rectangular frame, with a lengthy flowing tail.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The coat is dense and shaggy, shorter across the shoulders and longer on the belly and breeches, with a frontal ruff; the texture is silky and falls smoothly.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The breed matures slowly, not reaching full adulthood until 4 to 5 years, and males are typically bigger than females.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Eyes may be green, gold, green-gold or copper; white cats and those with white may show blue or odd eyes.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* CFA disqualifies: frail bone structure; undershot chin; crossed eyes; a kinked or otherwise abnormal tail; a wrong toe count; white buttons, lockets or spots; and any colour showing chocolate, lavender or the Himalayan (hybrid) pattern.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* TICA disqualifies: forbidden colours; blue or odd eyes in a coloured cat other than white/with-white; fine bone; a cobby body; a tail fault or a tail clearly out of balance with the body; and a size far too small for age or sex. A cat that shows definite aggression is also disqualified.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* By temperament it is fundamentally friendly and easygoing, having arisen as a self-reliant working cat suited to a harsh climate.