MAINE COON / MAINE COON POLYDACTYL BREED GROUP (MC/MCP)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE BREED

This group consists of the Maine Coon (MC) and the Maine Coon Polydactyl (MCP).
Overall balance and proportion are essential, and no feature should dominate the cat's appearance.

The Maine Coon comes from the northeastern United States and is considered native to the state of Maine.
It developed through natural selection, keeping only the fittest individuals.

Historically, it is a "working cat" breed, able to survive in harsh, forested and cold environments.
It is a large breed, with substantial boning, a broad chest and a long, rectangular, muscular body.
The tail is long and full.
The feet, whether polydactyl or normal, are large and well tufted.
Full maturity is reached between four and five years of age.

HISTORY

The Maine Coon is believed to descend from domestic cats brought by merchant ships and settlers from Western Europe.
Over time, they adapted to the harsh New England winters, developing:

• Hunting ability
• A muscular body
• A long, dense coat
• Tufts on the ears and feet

Polydactyl feet were common in the original population.

POINT SCORE

HEAD: 35 points

• Shape: 10
• Eyes: 6
• Ears: 6
• Muzzle / Chin: 6
• Profile: 6
• Neck: 1

BODY: 35 points

• Torso: 10
• Legs / Feet: 4
• Tail: 6
• Boning and Musculature: 15

COAT / COLOR / PATTERN: 20 points

• Length and Texture: 12
• Color / Pattern: 8

BALANCE: 10 points

CLASSIFICATION

• Category: Traditional only (Sepia, Mink and Pointed not allowed)
• Division: All
• Colors: Dominant black base only (B/-), including sex-linked red (Xo)
• Not allowed: Chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, caramel
• Allowable Outcrosses: None

HEAD STANDARD

Shape

Slightly longer than it is wide.
Seen from the front, a square muzzle below high, broad cheekbones, forming a modified wedge.

Eyes

Large and oval, almost round when open.
Slightly oblique.
About one eye-width apart.
Color: Green and/or gold.
Blue and odd eyes only in whites or with white.

Ears

Large, well furnished, broad at the base, tapering to lynx tips.
Taller than they are wide.
Outer base above eye level.
Slight outward tilt (between 11 and 1 o'clock).
Tufts extend beyond the outer edge.

Chin

Broad and deep, in line with the upper lip.

Muzzle

Well defined, square, with a clear transition to the cheekbones.

Profile

Gently curved forehead, transitioning to a slight concavity of the nose.
Smooth nose line, without bumps.
Vertical line from the nose to the chin.

Neck

Medium-long, thicker in mature males.

BODY STANDARD

Torso

Large, substantial, muscular and rectangular.
Broad, deep chest.
Even width from the shoulders to the hips.
Females smaller.

Legs

Substantial, medium length, straight.

Feet

All toes touch the ground.
Visible tufts between the toes.

• MC: Large, rounded
• MCP: Polydactyls allowed (up to 7 toes per foot)

Tail

As long as the body.
Broad at the base, tapering to the tip.
Long, flowing hair.

Boning and Musculature

Substantial.
Firm musculature, without flabbiness.

COAT / COLOR / PATTERN

Length

Uneven: short on the shoulders, growing longer along the back.
Obvious ruff, belly fur and britches.
Full tail.

Texture

"All-weather" coat, slightly silky.
Subtle undercoat.

Color and Pattern

Clear pattern according to the UCD.
Accepted: ticked, classic, spotted, mackerel, shaded, chinchilla.
White allowed on the feet.

ALLOWANCES

• Difference in size between the sexes
• More closely set ears in kittens
• Lower ear set in mature males
• Variations of polydactyly
• Ghost markings in young solids and smokes

PENALTIES

Head

Round, narrow or unmodified wedge

Eyes

Excessively round, almond-shaped, small, deep-set, too slanted

Ears

Small, rounded, without tufts

Chin

Narrow, pointed, receding or excessive

Muzzle

Narrow, triangular

Profile

Straight, stop, Roman nose

Neck

Too short or too long

Torso

Tubular, narrow, short, obese, excessively long

Legs

Cow hocks or bowed hocks

Tail

Too short

Feet

Not touching the ground, without tufts

Coat

Even, short, close-lying, without shag
Woolly or cottony texture

Color

Lockets, excessive spotting, spotted silvers

MOST COMMON COLORS

The Maine Coon comes in many colors, except pointed.
Most typical:

• Brown, red or silver tabby
• Classic, mackerel or ticked
• Solids: black, white, blue

WITHHOLD AWARDS (WW)

Head

Excessively heavy muzzle
Heavy brow

Eyes

Small or deep-set

Ears

Narrow base, parallel setting

DISQUALIFICATIONS (DQ)

• Colors not allowed
• Blue or odd eyes outside of white
• Fine boning
• Cobby body
• Tail defects
• Disproportionate tail
• Incompatible size

TEMPERAMENT AND GENERAL DISQUALIFICATIONS

Temperament must be gentle.
Aggression results in disqualification.

These include:

• Biting
• Fraud
• Males without two testicles
• Unauthorized absence of tail
• Polydactyly outside the standard
• Hidden defects
• Strabismus
• Blindness
• Incompatible size
• Chest deformity