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The
FIFe Maine Coon Standard
The
Maine Coon is a natural breed of amiable character that traces its
origin to the working cat found on the farms of Northeast America |
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General |
Appearance |
the breed of the Maine Coon is large framed with a square outline of
the head, large ears, broad chest, solid bone structure, a long,
hard muscled, rectangular body and a long flowing tail. Good muscle
tone and density give the cat the appearance of power and robustness |
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Size |
large |
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Head |
Shape |
medium in size; square outline. Profile with a gentle concave slope |
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Forehead |
gently curved |
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Cheeks |
cheekbones high and prominent |
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Face
Nose
Muzzle |
face and nose of medium length with a square outline of the muzzle
distinct transition can be felt between muzzle and cheekbones |
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Chin |
firm, in vertical alignment with nose and upper lip |
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Ears |
Shape |
large, wide at the base.
moderately pointed.
lynx-tufts are desirable, tufts of hair in the ears extend beyond
outer edges of ears |
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Placement |
set high on head with a very slight outward tilt.
ears should be placed one ear's width apart, the width extends
slightly in older cats
lower base set just slightly further back than upper base |
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Eyes |
Shape |
large and widely set.
slightly oval, but not almond shaped, appear round when wide open
set slightly slanted towards the outer base of the ear |
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Colour |
any colour is permitted, there is no relationship between eye- and
coat colour
clear eye colour is desirable |
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Neck |
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males have a very strong muscled neck |
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Body |
Structure |
the body should be long, substantial bone structure
hard muscled, powerful, broad chested
large framed, all parts of the body in proportion to create a
rectangular appearance |
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Legs |
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substantial, medium length to form a rectangle with the body |
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Paws |
large, round and well tufted between the toes |
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Tail |
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at least as long as the body from shoulder blade to base of tail
wide at the base tapering to the tip; with full, flowing hair
the hair on the tail is long and always remains flowing |
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Coat |
Structure |
all weather coat, dense
short on head, shoulders and legs, becoming gradually longer down
the back and sides, with long, full shaggy baggy trousers on the
hind legs and belly fur, a frill is expected
texture silky
coat has distinct body, falling smoothly
the undercoat is soft and fine, covered by the coarse smooth outer
coat |
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Colour |
all colour varieties are permitted, including all colour varieties
with white; except pointed patterns and chocolate and lilac,
cinnamon and fawn
any amount of white is allowed, i.e. a white blaze, white locket,
white chest, white on the belly, white on the paws, etc.
for colour varieties refer to tables below |
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Condition |
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the Maine Coon should always be in good balance, condition and
proportion |
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Remarks |
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type must always take preference over colour
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very slow maturing of the breed should be taken into account
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mature males may have larger and broader heads than females
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females are proportionally smaller than males. Allowance must be
made for this significant difference in size
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length of coat and density of undercoat vary with the seasons
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Faults |
General |
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unbalanced
proportions
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overall small
cat
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Head |
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round head
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straight or
convex profile
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Nose |
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Muzzle |
-
pronounced
whisker pads
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round or
pointed muzzle
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Chin |
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Ears |
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Eyes |
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slanted almond
shaped eyes
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Body |
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fine, light
bone structure
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short cobby
body
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Legs |
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Tail |
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Coat |
-
lack of belly
shag
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coat of
overall even length
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lack of any
undercoat
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