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General: The Maine Coon is a working cat, muscular, solid, medium to large in size with the look of the wild. This cat is a result of natural evolution, capable of surviving a harsh climate with little or no human assistance. Thus, this cat may be reserved initially toward strange people and new situations, yet the Maine Coon does have an amiable disposition. Males may be larger, females are usually smaller. Females should not be penalized because of this size difference. Allowance should be made for slow maturation, as a Maine Coon does not achieve ultimate type until three to four years of age. Type must not be sacrificed for size, or size for type. |
Head:
Shape:
The head is medium in width and slightly longer than wide with
allowance for broadening and jowls in males.
Muzzle is square when viewed from any angle.
Cheek bones are high.
Chin must be firm and in line with nose and upper lip.
Profile: The
nose is slightly concave with no break.
Ears: Large,
tall, wide at base, tapering to appear pointed, with lynx-like tipping
and inner tufts extending beyond the outer edge of the ears.
They are set high on the head, the distance between them being
equal to the width of an ear at its base.
Body and Tail:
Body:
Medium to large in size, muscular and broad chested.
The body should be long with all parts proportioned to create a
rectangular appearance. Neck
medium to long; may be thick and muscular in older males.
The body should feel solid, with firm muscle and no flabbiness.
When viewed from the rear, there is a definite squareness to the
rump. Legs/Feet:
Sturdily boned, wide-set, medium in length, in proportion to the
body. Feet large, round and
well tufted underneath and between the pads.
Tail: Long, at
least the length of the body, wide at the base and tapering to the tip.
Coat:
Length:
Coat is uneven in length and markedly subject to seasonal
variation. Fur on head, neck
and shoulders is short, becoming gradually longer along the back toward
the tail and down the sides toward the belly.
Britches and belly fur are full and shaggy.
The coat flows smoothly down the body, continuing in the same
manner on the tail. There is
a frontal ruff, generally heavier on males than females.
The tail is heavy furred, long and flowing, but it is not bushy
as is a fox’s brush.
Texture: More or less
self maintaining, the coat is warm with a light density undercoat
covered by a water proof outer coat.
The coat is not fluffy.
Coat texture may vary with coat color.
Color:
White trim around the chin and lip line allowed
except in solid color cats.
There is no point score
for condition as such.
Flabbiness, obesity, emaciation, dull coat, evidence of illness, or any
other indication that the cat is not in good physical condition or has
not had proper grooming are faults and should be penalized under the
appropriate heading constituting the point score.
Accepted Colors:
PATTERN/COLOR DESCRIPTIONS:
Solid Colors:
White:
Pure clear white.
Eyes blue, green, amber or odd eyed with equal color depth.
Nose leather and paw pads pink.
Blue:
One level shade of blue, lighter shades preferred; free from
shading, markings or ticking and sound to the roots.
Nose leather and paw pads blue.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Black:
Lustrous jet black, with sound color from roots to tip of fur.
Nose leather and paw pads black or charcoal.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Cream:
One level shade of cream, lighter shades preferred; free from
shading, markings, or ticking and sound to the roots.
Nose leather and paw pads pink.
Eye shades of green, gold or amber.
Red:
Deep rich red, free from shading, markings or ticking, and sound
to the roots. Nose leather
and paw pads brick red. Eye
shades of green, gold or amber.
Tabby Patterns:
Classic Tabby Pattern:
Markings dense, clearly defined and broad, showing good contrast
between the pale ground color and the deep, heavy markings.
Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body
markings. Tail evenly
ringed. At least one
unbroken necklace on neck or upper chest.
Frown marks on the forehead extending between the ears and down
the neck to meet the ‘butterfly’ on the shoulders.
An unbroken line runs back from the outer corner of the eye.
Swirls on cheeks.
Back markings consist of a vertical line down the spine from the
butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side.
The three stripes are well separated by stripes of the ground
color. The dark swirls on
the sides of the body shall be centered by a dark blotch surrounded by
ground color. The underside
of the body should have a double row of vertical buttons in the color of
the dense markings.
Mc Tabby Pattern:
Markings dense, clearly defined and all narrow penciling showing
good contrast between the pale ground color and the dense markings.
Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body
markings. Tail evenly
ringed. At least one
unbroken necklace on neck or upper chest.
Frown marks on the forehead extending between the ears and down
the neck to meet the shoulders.
An unbroken line runs back from the outer corner of the eye to
the ear. There are three
distinct spine lines but they are all very narrow and often meld into
what looks like one wide stripe without fault.
Narrow penciling lines in the dense marking color runs around the
body in vertical fashion in the unbroken lines.
The underside of the body should have a double row of vertical
buttons in the color of the dense markings.
Patched Tabby Pattern:
Markings to conform to either the Classic Tabby or Mackerel Tabby
pattern. The Patched Tabby
is an established blue, brown, silver, blue silver or golden tabby with
patches of red and/or cream.
Tabby Colors:
Blue Tabby: The
ground color should be pale bluish ivory.
Markings are very deep blue, providing good contrast to the
lighter ground color. Warm
fawn patina over the whole.
Nose leather and paw pads rose.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
White lip/chin trim allowed.
Blue Silver Tabby:
The ground color should be pure, clear silver.
Markings are deep blue, affording good contrast to the light
ground color. Eyes shades of
green, gold or amber. White
lip/chin trim allowed. Nose
leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat colors.
Red Tabby:
The ground color should be red.
Markings a dense, darker red providing good contrast with the
lighter red ground color.
Nose leather and paw pads brick red.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
White lip/chin trim allowed.
Cream Tabby:
The ground color should be very pale cream.
Markings of cream are sufficiently darker than the ground color
to provide good contrast, but remain within the dilute color range.
Nose leather and paw pads pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
White lip/chin trim allowed.
Brown Tabby:
The ground color should be a rich, tawny brown.
Markings dense black.
Nose leather brick red. Paw
pads slate or black. Eyes
shades of green, gold or amber.
White lip/chin trim allowed.
Silver Tabby:
The ground color should be pale, pure silver.
Markings dense black.
Rims of eyes, nose and lips outlined in black.
Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads black. Eyes
shades of green, bold or amber.
White lip/chin trim allowed.
Golden Tabby:
The ground color should be rich warm gold to apricot, apricot
preferred. Markings dark
brown to black. Rims of eyes
and nose outlined with dark brown or black.
Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads dark brown or black.
Clarity of markings takes precedence over depth of tipping.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
White lip/chin trim allowed.
Cameo Tabby:
The ground color should be pale ivory.
Markings are red, diminishing in intensity of color approaching
the roots of the hairs.
Clarity of markings takes precedence over depth of tipping.
Nose leather and paw pads rose.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
White lip/chin trim allowed.
Cream Cameo Tabby:
The ground color should be pale ivory.
Markings are cream diminishing in intensity of color approaching
the roots of the hairs.
Clarity of markings takes precedence over depth of tipping. Nose leather
and paw pads pink. Eyes
shades of green, gold, or
amber.
White lip/chin trim allowed.
Blue Patched Tabby:
The ground color should be pale bluish ivory.
Markings a very deep blue providing good contrast with the pale
ground color. Patches of
cream clearly defined on both body and extremities.
Cream markings on the face are desirable.
Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat
colors. Eyes shades of
green, gold or amber. White
lip/chin trim allowed.
Blue Silver Patched Tabby:
The ground color should be pure, clear silver.
Markings deep blue, providing good contrast with the pale ground
color. Patches of red and/or
cream clearly defined on both body and extremities.
Red and/or cream markings on the face are desirable.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat
colors. Eyes shades of
green, gold or amber. White
lip/chin trim allowed.
Brown Patched Tabby:
The ground color should be rich, tawny brown.
Markings of dense black with patches of red and/or cream clearly
defined on both body and extremities.
Markings of red and/or cream on the face are desirable.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat
colors. Eyes shades of green,
gold or amber. White
lip/chin trim allowed.
Silver Patched Tabby:
The ground color is pure pale silver.
Markings dense black.
Patches of red and/or cream clearly defined on both body and
extremities. Markings of red
and/or cream on the face are desirable.
Rims of eyes, nose and lips are outlined in black.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat
colors. Eyes shades of
green, gold or amber. White
lip/chin trim allowed.
Golden Patched Tabby:
The ground color should be rich warm gold to apricot, apricot
preferred. Markings dark
brown to black. Patches of
red and/or cream clearly defined on both body and extremities.
Markings of red and/or cream on the face are desirable.
Rims of eyes, nose and lips outlined in dark brown or black.
Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads dark brown or black.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat
colors. Eyes shades of
green, gold or amber. White
lip/chin trim allowed.
Tortoiseshell Colors:
Blue
Cream: Blue
and cream, lighter shades preferred, clearly visible on both body and
extremities. Patching or
brindling equally acceptable.
Cream markings on the face are desirable.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat
colors. Eyes shades of
green, gold or amber.
Tortoiseshell: Black,
red and/or cream clearly visible on both body and extremities.
Patching or brindling equally acceptable.
Red and/or cream markings on the face are desirable.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat
colors. Eye shades of green,
gold or amber.
Smoke Colors:
Blue Smoke: White
undercoat deeply tipped with blue.
Cat in repose appears blue.
In motion the white undercoat is apparent.
Extremities and face blue with narrow band of white at base of
hair next to the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
White ruff and ear tufts.
Nose leather and paw pads blue.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Black Smoke: White
undercoat deeply tipped with black.
Cat in repose appears black.
In motion, the white undercoat is apparent.
Extremities and face black and narrow band of white at base of
hair next to the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
White ruff and ear tufts.
Nose leather and paw pads black.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Smoke Cameo: White
undercoat deeply tipped with red.
Cat in repose appears red.
In motion, the white undercoat is apparent.
Extremities and face red with narrow band of white at base of
hair next to the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
White ruff and ear tufts.
Nose leather and paw pads rose.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Cream Smoke Cameo:
White undercoat deeply tipped with cream.
Cat in repose appears cream.
In motion the white undercoat is apparent.
Extremities and face cream with narrow band of white at base of
hair next to the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
White ruff and ear tufts.
Nose leather and paw pads pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold or
amber.
Golden Smoke: Rich
warm gold to apricot undercoat, apricot preferred, deeply tipped with
black. Cat in repose appears
black. In motion, the golden
undercoat is apparent.
Extremities and face black with narrow band of golden at base of hair
next to the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
Golden ruff and ear tufts.
Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads dark brown or black.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Blue Cream Smoke: White
undercoat deeply tipped with blue and cream which are clearly visible on
both body and extremities.
Cat in repose appears blue cream.
In motion, the white undercoat is apparent.
Extremities and face blue cream with narrow band of white at base
of hair next to the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.
White ruff and ear tufts.
Cream markings on the face are desirable.
Patching or brindling equally acceptable.
Nose leather an paw pads to conform to requirements for coat
color. Eyes shades of green,
gold or amber.
Black Smoke Tortoiseshell: White
undercoat deeply tipped with black, red and/or cream which are clearly
visible on both body and extremities.
Cat in repose appears tortoiseshell.
In motion, the white undercoat is apparent.
Extremities and face black, red and/or cream with narrow band of
white at base of hair next to the skin which may be seen only when fur
is parted. White ruff and
ear tufts. Red and/or cream
markings on the face are desirable.
Patching or brindling equally acceptable.
Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat
color. Eyes shades of green,
gold or amber.
Shaded Colors:
Chinchilla:
Undercoat a pale silver or silvery white.
The coat on back, flanks, head and tail sufficiently tipped with
jet black to give the characteristic sparkling silver appearance.
The legs and feet may be slightly shaded with tipping, but the
chin, ear tufts, stomach and chest should be silvery white with no
tipping. Rims of eyes, lips
and nose leather outlined in black.
Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads black or dark charcoal.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Shaded Silver:
Undercoat is pale silver or silvery white.
A mantle of black tipping shades gradually down the sides, face
and tail, from dark on the ridge to silvery white on the chin, chest,
belly and under the tail.
The legs to be the same tone as the face.
The general effect is much darker than a chinchilla.
Rims of eyes, nose leather and lips outlined in black.
Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads black or dark charcoal.
Eye shades of green, gold or amber.
Shell Cameo:
Undercoat is ivory white.
The coat on back, flanks, head and tail should be sufficiently tipped
with red to give the characteristic sparkling appearance.
The legs and face may be very slightly shaded with tipping, but
the ear tufts, stomach and chest should be ivory white with no tipping.
Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Cream Shell Cameo:
Undercoat is ivory white.
The coat on back, flanks, head and tail should be sufficiently tipped
with cream to give the characteristic sparkling appearance.
The legs and face may be very slightly shaded with tipping, but
the ear tufts, stomach and chest should be ivory white with no tipping.
Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold or
amber.
Shaded Cameo:
Undercoat is ivory white. A
mantle of red tipping shades gradually down the sides, face and tail,
from dark on the ridge to ivory white on the chin, chest, belly and
under the tail. The legs to
be the same tone as the face.
The general effect is much darker than a shell.
Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Cream Cameo:
Undercoat is ivory white.
A mantle of cream tipping shades gradually down the sides, face
and tail, from dark on the ridge to ivory white on chin, chest, belly
and under the tail. The legs
to be the same tone as the face.
The general effect is much darker than a shell.
Nose leather, rings of eyes and paw pads pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold, or
amber.
Golden Chinchilla:
Undercoat should be rich, warm gold to apricot, apricot preferred.
The coat on back, flanks, head and tail should be sufficiently
tipped with dark brown to black to give the characteristic sparkling
appearance. The legs and
face may be slightly shaded with tipping, but ear tufts, stomach and
chest should be cream to apricot with no tipping.
Rims of eyes, lips and nose outlined in dark brown to black.
Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads dark brown to black.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Golden Shaded: The
undercoat should be rich warm gold to apricot, apricot preferred.
A mantle of dark brown to black tipping shades gradually down the
sides, face and tail, from dark on the ridge to golden on the chest,
belly and under the tail.
The legs to be the same tone as the face.
The general effect is much darker than a shell.
Nose leather brick red.
Paw pads dark brown to black.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Blue Cream Shaded:
Undercoat is silvery white with blue and cream tipping well distributed
and clearly visible on both body and extremities.
The depth of tipping may range from shell to shaded with evenness
of tipping taking precedence over depth.
Cream markings on the face are desirable.
Patching or brindling equally acceptable.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
Shaded Silver Tortie: White
undercoat with black, red and/or cream tipping clearly visible on both
body and extremities. The
depth of tipping may range from shell to shaded with evenness to tipping
taking precedence over depth.
Cream or red markings on the face are desirable.
Patching or brindling equally acceptable.
Nose leather and paw pads black and/or pink.
Eyes shades of green, gold or amber.
And Whites:
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The Friendly Association
American Cat Fanciers Association © Copyright 1997-2005
P.O. Box 1949, Nixa, MO 65714-1949
Phone: (417) 725-1530 - Fax: (417) 725-1533 - Email