Lynx Tips vs. Ear Furnishings: What’s the Difference?#

When people envision a Maine Coon, they picture a wild, feral beast with tufts of hair sprouting from the tips of its ears like a Bobcat. These are Lynx Tips.

But when a judge looks at a Maine Coon, they are looking for something else: Ear Furnishings.

These two terms are often confused, but they refer to different parts of the ear anatomy. One is a “Bonus” (style); the other is a “Requirement” (survival).

1. Ear Furnishings (The Streamers)#

Look inside your cat’s ear. Do you see long, wispy hairs growing from the inner leather, curling outward like a horizontal mustache? Those are Furnishings.

The Purpose: Maine Coons evolved in snow. Without furnishings, snow and ice would pack into the ear canal, causing frostbite and infection. [cite_start]The furnishings act as a filter, keeping the snow out while letting sound in[cite: 2422].
The Standard: A Maine Coon must have heavy furnishings. If the ears are naked inside, it is likely a mix.

2. Lynx Tips (The Point)#

Look at the very top of the ear (the pinna). Is there a vertical tuft of hair extending upward? That is a Lynx Tip.

The Purpose: In the wild (Bobcats/Lynx), these tips act like antennae to channel sound into the ear. In Maine Coons, they are largely aesthetic but highly prized.
The Standard: Tips are “desirable” but not mandatory in all associations. [cite_start]A cat can be a Grand Champion without them, though breeders select heavily for them to get that “feral” expression[cite: 2438].

Genetics: Why Some Have Them and Some Don’t#

Why does your purebred Maine Coon have small tips? Polygenes. There is no single “Lynx Tip Gene.” [cite_start]It is a cumulative trait controlled by many minor genes (polygenes)[cite: 2860].

European Lines: Tend to have massive, exaggerated tips because European breeders selected aggressively for them.
American Lines: Tend to have moderate tips, focusing more on head structure.

Grooming Scissors (Blunt Tip)

Never cut the ear tips! But you might need to trim the furnishings if they get waxy or matted.

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Conclusion#

If your cat has massive streamers pouring out of his ears, he has the true “Snow Ear” of the Maine Coon. If he has Lynx Tips too, that is the cherry on top.

References#

Walsh, L.G. (2013). The Maine Coon Cat. “Physical Characteristics,” p. [cite_start]13. [cite: 2438]
Vella, C. et al. (1999). Robinson’s Genetics. “Polygenic Inheritance,” p. [cite_start]67. [cite: 2860]
CFA Breed Standard. Maine Coon: Ears.
TICA Breed Standard. Maine Coon: Head and Ears.