Decoding the Breed Standard: What Judges Actually Look For#

I once watched a judge lift a massive Red Tabby Maine Coon onto the table. The cat was huge, fluffy, and impressive. The audience gasped. But the judge frowned. She ran her fingers over his muzzle, checked his profile, and put him back in the cage without a ribbon.

Why? Because while he was a beautiful cat, he wasn’t a Maine Coon according to the Standard.

The Breed Standard is the blueprint. It is a written description of the “Perfect Maine Coon.” In the show ring, your cat isn’t competing against the other cats; he is competing against this written ideal.

If you have ever wondered if your cat is “Show Quality,” you need to stop looking at the fur and start looking at the bones.

The Points System: It’s Not Just About Size#

In the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), a Maine Coon is judged on a 100-point scale. Surprisingly, “Size” is not the biggest factor.

Head (Head, Ears, Eyes): ~30-40 Points.
Body (Torso, Legs, Tail, Boning): ~35-40 Points.
Coat & Color: ~20-25 Points.

You can have a 25lb giant, but if his head is narrow or his chin is weak, he will lose to a 15lb male with perfect “Type.”

1. The Head: The “Box” on a Box#

The single most defining feature of a Maine Coon is the muzzle.

The Square Muzzle: The standard calls for a square muzzle that looks like a matchbox glued to the face. It should not be tapered (like a fox) or rounded (like a domestic shorthair).
The Chin: When you view the cat from the side, the chin must be deep and strong. It should align vertically with the nose and upper lip. [cite_start]A weak, receding chin is a major fault[cite: 52, 493].
[cite_start]The Profile: The nose should have a gentle concave curve (a ski-jump slope), not a straight line (like a Norwegian Forest Cat) and not a “break” or stop (like a Persian)[cite: 134, 488].

2. The Ears: Height and Set#

We all love the “Lynx Tips,” but judges look at the Ear Set.

Placement: Ears should be set high on the head, but not touching. They should be about one ear-width apart.
The “11 O’Clock and 1 O’Clock” Rule: The outer base of the ear should point slightly outward, not straight up like a rabbit.
Furnishings: The hair growing inside the ear must be profuse. [cite_start]This is a survival trait for snow[cite: 109, 495].

3. The Body: The Rectangular Rug#

A Maine Coon should not look like a square (Cobby) cat. It should look like a rectangle.

The “Substantial” Bone: Judges will run their hands down the cat’s legs. They are feeling for heavy, thick bone. A cat with “fine boning” (chicken legs) will be penalized, no matter how big he is.
The Tail: It must be at least as long as the body. To test this, a judge will gently pull the tail back towards the shoulder blades. [cite_start]It should reach the neck[cite: 125, 469].

Conclusion#

A “Show Quality” Maine Coon is a masterpiece of geometry: a rectangular body, a square muzzle, and triangular ears. It is this rugged balance, not just the fluff, that makes them champions.

References#

Walsh, L.G. (2013). The Maine Coon Cat. [cite_start]Down East Books. [cite: 52]
CFA Breed Standard: Maine Coon Cat.
TICA Breed Standard: Maine Coon.
[cite_start]Robinson, R. Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians. [cite: 2981]
Helgren, J.A. Barron’s Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds.