Is My Cat a Maine Coon? How to Tell if Your Rescue is a Mix#

It is the most common question on the internet: “Here is a picture of my big fluffy cat. Is he a Maine Coon?”

I get sent dozens of photos a week, usually of gorgeous, 15-pound Domestic Longhairs whose owners are convinced they have a secret royal lineage.

Here is the hard truth right upfront: Without registration papers (a pedigree) from a recognized cat registry (like TICA or CFA), your cat is technically a Domestic Longhair (DLH).

Even if both parents were Maine Coons, if the breeder didn’t register the litter, they are, on paper, DLHs.

However, that doesn’t mean your cat doesn’t have Maine Coon DNA floating around in their gene pool. Maine Coons were originally farm cats, and their genes are widespread in the general cat population, especially in North America.

So, how do you tell if your rescue cat is a “phenotypical” Maine Coon (looks like one)? You need to become a feline detective and look for the specific “breed traits.” It’s never just one thing; it’s a combination.

The Checklist: The “Big 5” Features#

You cannot just look at size or fluffy fur. Plenty of non-Maine Coons are big and fluffy (like Siberians or Norwegian Forest Cats). You need to look at the architecture of the cat.

1. The Muzzle (The “Box”)#

This is the single most defining feature.

• Normal Cat: Has a triangular or rounded muzzle that blends into the cheeks.
• Maine Coon: Has a distinct, square muzzle. It looks like a small matchbox has been glued to the front of their face. Their chin should be deep and strong, aligning vertically with the nose.

2. The Ears (Lynx Tips & Furnishings)#

• Lynx Tips: The little tufts of hair that grow from the very tip of the ear pinna. While desirable, not all purebred Maine Coons have huge ones.
• Ear Furnishings: This is more important. These are the long, wispy hairs that grow inside the ear, curling outwards. They were designed to keep snow out of the ear canal. Almost all Maine Coons have massive, bushy furnishings.

3. The Eye Shape#

Maine Coons do not have perfectly round eyes (like a Persian) or fully slanted oriental eyes (like a Siamese). Their eyes are large, wide-set, and slightly oblique (slanted) oval shape. They often have what breeders call a “wild” or “owl-like” stare.

4. The Coat Structure (The “Shag”)#

A Persian has a coat that is long all over. A Maine Coon has a “shag” coat that is uneven.

• Shorter on the shoulders.
• Longer on the stomach (“britches”) and the ruff (mane).
• The tail should be a flowing plume, long enough to reach their shoulder blades if you gently fold it back.

5. The Personality#

Genetics influence behavior. If your giant cat trills instead of meows (see our Vocalization Guide), follows you from room to room like a dog, plays fetch, and is obsessed with water, the likelihood of Maine Coon ancestry goes way up.

What About DNA Tests? (Wisdom Panel / Basepaws)#

Can’t you just swap them? Yes and no. Pet DNA tests compare your cat’s genetic markers against a database of known purebreds.

• High Confidence: If the test comes back saying “Your cat shares 85% genetic similarity with Maine Coon reference populations,” it’s highly likely you have a mix.
• Low Confidence: Sometimes they just come back as “Broad Western groupings,” which just means “It’s a cat from Europe/America.”

They are fun, but not definitive proof of purebred status.

Conclusion#

Does it matter? If your cat is a 18lb, trilling, fluffy goofy-ball who sleeps on your head, does it matter if he has papers? You have a magnificent animal. Call him a “Maine Coon Mix” if you like. Enjoy him for the giant, loving beast he is. The piece of paper won’t make him love you any more.

References#

1. TICA Breed Standard: Maine Coon.
2. CFA Breed Standard: Maine Coon Cat.
3. The International Cat Association. Seminars on Breed Structure and Head Type.