Have you ever noticed that some cats have curly belly fur, whereas, others don’t? If so, you might be wondering do Maine Coons have curly belly hair, or not?
Maine Coons are a large natural cat breed known for their fluffy fur. Whilst the majority of Maine Coons have long straight silky hair, this does not mean you will never see a Maine Coon cat with curly fur. Curly hair on a Maine Coon is usually located on their neck and belly.
If you are thinking of owning a Maine Coon, keep reading to discover more on how to groom their long thick (and sometimes curly) belly fur.
Do Maine Coons Have Curly Belly Hair?
The Maine Coon is one of the most popular cat breeds to own, because of its unique looks, huge size, and gentle temperament.
Their dog-like personality and friendly nature also make them a great fit with families, especially those with young children.
Maine Coons are the largest domesticated cat breed in the world, with visibly noticeable larger physiques.
The following features make them appear far larger than other cat breeds:
- Long Bushy Tails
- Big heads
- Tall Pointed Ears Tapering Off To A Point
- Long Bodies
- Muscular Build
Individuals who have never seen a Maine Coon cat before might initially be concerned that these large cats look scary.
This fear would not last long though, since Maine Coons have an exceptionally friendly and loving personalities.
In fact, the Maine Coons gentle temperament is so well known that they were given the title ‘gentle giants’, because of their big size, and friendly non-aggressive nature.
Some other key characteristics associated with the Maine Coon cat breed is that they are:
- Loyal
- Affectionate
- Intelligent
- Playful
If we take a closer look at the Maine Coon cat’s fur, we can see that the majority of the breed have dense fur that is also:
- Long
- Straight
- Smooth
- Thick
The Maine Coon cat’s fur is made up of three important layers to keep them warm, including two short dense, and thick undercoats, and then a longer outer guard coat.
Their fur is also semi-water repellent, which possibly helps to explain why Maine Coons love water so much.
Some cats from this breed even enjoy going for a swim! Read more about this quirky cat feature in my article Why Do Maine Coon Cats Love Water?.
Having originated from the cold frigid climate of Maine, in the United States, it is not the least bit surprising that they have such thick dense fur to keep them warm.
Without this physical advantage, it is unlikely this regal cat breed would have been able to survive the harsh winter conditions where they spent many years living in the wild, before becoming domesticated.
Maine Coon cats tend to have long thick straight hair, but, as mentioned above this is not a consistent feature across the breed.
Thus, it is also not uncommon to find Maine Coons with curly belly or neck hair.
During the winter months, you might notice that some of your cat’s long straight hair becomes slightly wavy due to the moisture in the air.
In general, long-haired cats usually form curls on various parts of their bodies. It is very important that owners groom their cat’s curly belly fur on a regular basis, to avoid the curls becoming knotted and matted.
These are the 5 best grooming tools to use on Maine Coon cats.
These tools will not only make grooming your large cat far easier but will also ensure your cat’s thick fur stays in great condition.
Why Does My Cat Have Curly Belly Hair?
Whilst the majority of the Maine Coon cat breed might have straight hair, owners with Maine Coons that have curly belly hair should not be concerned.
If you are concerned that your Maine Coon has curly belly hair, then make sure you keep reading to put your mind at ease.
Here are two of the most common reasons why your cat has curly belly hair:
1. Rex Mutation
Cats with curly coats are the result of an unusual genetic variation known as the rex mutation.
This genetic variation causes changes in the cat’s hair structure.
Some cat breeds identified with this genetic variation, include:
- Cornish Rex
- LaPerm
- Devon Rex
Therefore, if your cat has curly hair on a particular body part like their belly, their curly hair might simply be part of their lineage.
Alternatively, if you own a purebred Maine Coon then the curly belly hair might simply be a result of the cold weather.
This is because most long-haired cats like the Maine Coon are prone to getting wavy fur during winter or cold seasons.
So, stop stressing that your Maine Coon cat has curly belly hair! (source 1).
Should I Brush my Cat’s Belly?
Whilst Maine Coon cats groom themselves a great deal, it is still important that their owners regularly groom their Maine Coons to ensure knots and mats do not form, especially on their cat’s belly.
When you first bring a Maine Coon into your home, make sure you introduce a regular grooming schedule immediately, ideally whilst your Maine Coon is still a kitten.
Generally speaking, these large cats are easy to groom, since they have soft and silky hairs. They are also relatively independent groomers, which helps to minimize the grooming required.
You should, however, make sure that you do not rush the process, and only groom your kitten very slowly to ensure that you do not scare them.
Read my key Maine Coon grooming tips to make the process run more smoothly.
If you own a curly-haired Maine Coon, you may find that your cat’s belly hair can become more tangled, especially during the damp winter months.
Owners should therefore pay particular attention to their cat’s belly hair, as a higher level of grooming will be required to ensure mats do not form around the cat’s belly region.
How Often Should I Brush My Cat’s Hair?
In general, it is best to groom your Maine Coon using these key grooming tips for a minimum of 2-3 times a week, and more during the cold damp winter months when their fur is prone to more tangles.
Brushing your cat’s belly can be challenging as some of these furry animals do not like being touched around this more sensitive area.
To ensure a smooth Maine Coon grooming routine, only groom your cat with these long-haired cat grooming tools.
The ideal Maine Coon grooming tool to use to start with, whilst brushing your cat’s thick dense fur, is either a slicker brush or wire-bristle brush.
How Do You Brush a Cat’s Belly?
Brushing your cat’s belly is as important as grooming any other part of its body.
Grooming your cat’s belly on a regular basis will help to lessen shedding and matting in this region of the cat’s body.
It is important not to ignore the Maine Coon cat’s belly when you groom them, since some cats need help with grooming this area, especially older cats or those with a mobility issue.
Here is a guide on how to brush your cat’s belly hair, successfully:
1. Make Your Cat Comfortable
Make sure your cat feels comfortable and relaxed before you start brushing them.
To achieve calm vibes, start by petting them or gently stroking their fur to get them in the mood for grooming.
When brushing your cat’s fur, it is vital that you do not rush straight to brushing their belly region immediately.
2. Brush Accessible Areas First
When you feel that your cat is comfortable and ready to be groomed, take one of these Maine Coon grooming brushes and start gently brushing on areas they like to be touched.
Whilst doing this, you might also wish to gently stroke under their chin or on their back to keep them feeling calm.
3. Start Brushing Their Belly
If you think your Maine Coon cat is getting used to the sensation of the brush, you should slowly move to their belly region.
Be aware that this area is a bit sensitive for them, so your cat might try to resist being brushed. They might even attempt to scratch or bite you.
If this happens, never force your cat to be brushed on its belly. Sometimes, your pet just needs some time to adjust to the routine.
Therefore, always be patient and try brushing them on their belly during their next grooming session.
4. Offer Special Treats
After the Maine Coon grooming session, it is important that you offer a special treat to your cat so that they associate grooming with earning tasty treats.
This is effective, as they will want to be groomed to have more food.
You could also end the brushing session with a bit of playtime.
How Do You Brush a Cat that Doesn’t Want to Be Brushed?
A common struggle for new cat owners relates to brushing their cats.
In fact, quite a few Maine Coon owners have contacted me to say that their cat won’t let me brush him.
If you are experiencing a similar problem, here are some tips to get your Maine Coon to love being brushed:
Never Force Them
Forcing your cat to lay down and have its tummy brushed is not a good idea, since it can stress your cat.
Instead, let your furry feline move around freely whilst you groom them. This will help them become accustomed to the brushing sensation.
Build Positive Association
When you are brushing your Maine Coon for the first time, give them time to become associated with the brush and the feeling of the bristles on the brush.
Be aware that your cat might refuse to be groomed.
If this happens, it is essential to build a positive association so that your Maine Coon begins to accept being groomed.
You can do this by allowing your cat to play with the brush. You should also give your cat treats whenever they interact with the brush
Help Your Cat Relax
When a cat does not want to be brushed, it can often be because they are feeling stressed and agitated.
If you suspect stress is the root cause behind your cat’s desire not to be groomed, help your cat to destress by having a bit of playtime before starting a grooming session.
You can also give your cat a few treats to build a positive association with grooming.
Grooming Long-Haired Cats With Mats on Their Belly
Long-haired cats are prone to matting or clumping hairs, especially around their belly.
The most common reasons why matting occurs are as follows:
- Dirt
- Dead Skin Cells
- Dead Hairs Entangled In The Fur
Matting can be painful and uncomfortable for your cat.
To limit your cat’s discomfort whilst they have their matted fur removed, make sure you follow these tips on the best way to groom long-haired cats with mats:
1. Use A Brush With Teeth
Most mats can be removed using a wide-toothed brush.
2. Gently Hold Your Cats Fur
When de-matting a Maine Coon cat, remember that the process might be painful for your cat.
Therefore, before you pull any mats out of your cat’s fur coat, ensure that you are holding some of the furs within your fingers to avoid the comb pulling the cat’s skin.
3. Start At The End
To remove your Maine Coons matted fur more easily, start by grooming at the end of the mat.
This is important as it will prevent the comb from becoming stuck in the mat, causing it to pull against the cat’s skin.
4. Long Curly-Haired Cat Breeds
If you are hoping to add a curly-haired pet to your family, here are some of the best cat breeds with curly hair (source 1):
- LaPerm: True to its name, the LaPerm appears to have naturally permanent wavy hair. However, the types of waves on this breed may vary.
- Skookum: If you want a small yet curly feline, the Skookum breed would be a good fit for you. These cats have wavy fur all over their body, even their eyebrows, and whiskers.
- Maine Coon: Although Maine Coon cats usually have straight long hair, some cats of this breed have fuzzy fur, especially if they have very long hair.
- Chantilly-Tifanny: Another long-haired curly cat is the Chantilly-tiffany, a known cross between the Havana Brown and Abyssinian Longhair.
- Selkirk Rex – If you love cats with thick curly coats, the Selkirk Rex is your best option. This cat breed is known to have extremely curly hair.
Conclusion
Owning a Maine Coon cat can be both fun and fulfilling as they offer companionship and friendship whilst also helping you to relax.
If you are concerned about caring for their thick dense fur, you may have already asked other owners do Maine coons have curly belly hair?
In short, Maine Coon cats usually have long straight silky hair, however, this does not mean that you will never find curly belly hair on a Maine Coon cat.
This is because some Maine Coons are genetically predisposed to curly belly hair than others.
It is worth noting though that even straight-haired Maine Coons can experience fuzzy wavy fur during the cold damp winter weather.
Related Questions
Maine Coon Mix Short Hair
Purebred Maine Coons are not short-haired, instead, they have long, silky, and soft hair. But, there are mixed Maine Coons that have short to medium-length fur.
Do Maine Coons Have A Lot of Hair?
Yes, Maine Coons have lots of hair as they have a triple-layered coat. They also have a longer body than other breeds.
Maine Coon Paw Tufts
Maine Coon tufts are fur located beneath the paws of a Maine Coon cat. These tufts help protect their paws from snow or cold floors.