Maine Coon

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.

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 with 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 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 should be shades of green, gold, green-gold, or copper. Blue-eyes or odd-eyes are also allowed for white or bi-color (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, patched): 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.

All Other Tabby Colors Class

SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, patched): ground color pale, clear silver. Markings dense black. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather: brick red desirable. Paw pads: black desirable.

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.

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.

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.

CREAMSILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color off-white. 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 AND WHITE (classic, mackerel, patched): color as defined for brown tabby with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly and all four paws.

BROWN VAN TABBY AND WHITE (classic, mackerel, patched): white with color confined to the extremities: head, tails, legs. One or two small colord patches on body allowable. Tabby pattern to be present in teh colroed markings.