17 Domestic Long Hair Maine Coon Mix Facts

If you love Maine Coons but can’t afford one, the domestic long-hair Maine Coon mix is probably the next best thing!

Whilst these large cats are not an officially recognized breed, this hybrid is quite common in shelters and means you can finally have the cat of your dreams for a fraction of the price!

1. Domestic Long Hair Maine Coon Mix

A domestic long hair Maine Coon mix is a cross between a purebred Maine Coon and a domestic longhair cat.

While most Maine Coon mixes are difficult or even impossible to find, the domestic longhair Maine Coon mix are beautiful cats that are relatively common.

Although the Maine Coon is an official breed, the domestic long hair cat, abbreviated as DLH, is not considered a breed at all. Instead, it is a term given to any long-haired cats that do not have a breed.

Consequently, domestic long-haired cats come in just about any:

• Size
• Shape
• Color
• Pattern

Whilst one in three dogs are purebred, only 2% of the entire cat population are purebred cats.

The other 98% is more likely to be domestic longhairs and shorthairs than mixed breeds because cats were not selectively bred to perform the following tasks:

• Guarding
• Hunting
• Herding

Selective breeding in cats is much more recent, so most cats in the world are not part of any breed at all.

A cross between a domestic longhair and a Maine Coon is typically medium to large with long fur and rectangular proportions.

They may have extra tufts of fur on their paws and the tips of their ears, and they are more likely to have a long, thick fluffy tail that resembles a raccoon’s tail.

However, the offspring of Maine Coons and domestic longhairs can vary greatly, so there is no guarantee their kittens will look or behave similarly to Maine Coons (source 1,2).

2. Personality And Temperament

While hybrid mixes often have unpredictable offspring, people can usually guess what these mixes might behave like based on their parent breeds.

Since domestic longhaired cats are not considered part of an actual breed, their personalities vary wildly.

Overall, domestic longhairs are less intelligent, athletic, and playful than Maine Coons, and they are also less likely to be highly affectionate and loyal.

Maine Coons are known for being incredibly open and friendly creatures. They are affectionate towards strangers but even more loving towards their family members.

As a result, however, they are more prone to loneliness and depression if their social needs are not being met. This also means that they are more friendly towards other pets such as cats and dogs.

Maine Coon cats are also very playful and energetic. Their high intelligence means they need a good challenge while playing, or else they can become bored and destructive.

A cross between a domestic longhair cat and a Maine Coon will likely need more exercise and affection than the average cat due to their Maine Coon ancestry.

These cats do better in households with other pets or family members who work from home.

They’ll also need at least thirty minutes of playtime a day if you want to keep up with their intelligence and athleticism.

3. Rarity

Domestic long hair Maine Coon mixes are rarer to find than purebred Maine Coon cats.

While responsible breeders do not go out of their way to create hybrids, particularly with cats that don’t have a breed to begin with, accidents happen!

You are much more likely to find a Maine Coon mix at a shelter than a purebred Maine Coon, and Maine Coons are most commonly mixed with domestic long hair and short hair cats than any other breed.

Many kitty mills and irresponsible breeders will intentionally breed domestic longhairs with Maine Coons so they do not have to pay a stud fee.

If you search for Maine Coon kittens on sites like Craigslist, chances are most of the kittens you see are mixes, if they have any Maine Coon ancestry at all.

4. Official Breed

Maine Coon cats mixed with domestic cats are not considered an official breed in the slightest.

Mixing Maine Coons with cats who don’t even have a breed to begin with is experimental and, for most breeders, a waste of time and money.

Official breeds take years to refine and develop. As a result, hybrids and mixed-breed Maine Coons are not official unless multiple fanciers spend a long time creating a breed with a particular look and temperament.

5. How Big Do They Get?

The Maine Coon is considered the gentle giant of cats, as they are both incredibly affectionate cats and also the largest domestic cat breed in the world!

The Maine Coon is famous for its large size and averages between 12 – 22 pounds, measuring 19 – 40 inches long and standing between 8 – 16 inches tall.

By comparison, the domestic long-haired cat averages 8 – 15 pounds, with females typically being smaller than males. Their average body length is 18 inches, and they generally stand about 12 inches tall.

A cross between the domestic longhair and the Maine Coon will likely weigh between 8 – 22 pounds, though it is probably more likely to be on the smaller side (source 1,2).

6. Hypoallergenic

Neither domestic long hairs nor Maine Coons are considered hypoallergenic.

Longhaired cats are heavy shedders, and the Maine Coon is even more notorious for its long, thick coat and constant shedding.

As a result, a cross between these two breeds would not be hypoallergenic, either.

7. Diet

Like all cats, a mix between a Maine Coon and domestic long hair needs both dry and wet food. They also need high-quality food with:

• High levels of protein
• Moderate amounts of fat
• Small amounts of carbohydrates

Protein is important in this mixed cat breed’s diet to fuel their muscular bodies.

8. History Of Breed

Let’s take a quick look at each cat breed history:

Maine Coon Cat History

The history of Maine Coon cats begins with the Vikings, who adored the Norwegian Forest Cat.

It is believed they sailed to what is now known as North America, and some of the cats were released or traded.

There, these cats mated with local cats until they adapted to the local climate and harsh winters, developing wide, snowshoe-like paws and thick tufts of fur.

While the Maine Coon cat breed history is surrounded by mystery, it is most likely these cats mated with domestic cats in the United States until a natural and entirely new breed was formed.

Domestic Long Hair Cat History

The domestic long-hair cat history begins even earlier than the Maine Coon’s. This is because the domestic long-hair cat breed history is entwined with domestic cat history in general.

It was over 10,000 years ago that humans developed agriculture and began storing excess grain after the harvest. This brought the very first pest, the house mouse, which also attracted the local wildcat, Felis silvestris.

Over time, humans and wild cats formed a mutual bond. Cats stayed near and ate mice, and humans no longer had to worry about pests eating all of their food.

This uneasy companionship grew until finally, humans began to see cats as more than ratters, and cats ventured into the home for warmth and affection.

It is believed the domestic long hair developed naturally from these shorthaired cats that were once wild.

As they were brought to cold places like Russia, they likely developed longer, thick coats to keep out the cold and snow (source 1).

9. Family Friendly?

If you have a cat with Maine Coon ancestry, it is likely going to get along well in families of any size!

Maine Coons are highly loving and loyal towards their owners, and they are so laid back that they often form close bonds with children and even babies.

Maine Coons do better in bigger households since they can easily become lonely and depressed if they are left alone for too long.

10. Colours

The Maine Coon domestic long-hair mix can come in:

• Red
• Black
• White
• Cream
• Blue

It is also possible they might come in the following rarer colors as it is unknown whether a cat needs one or two copies of the gene to express it:

• Gold
• Silver Smoke

Maine Coon domestic longhair mixes can also come in a great variety of patterns, including:

• Ticked
• Mackerel
• Spotted
• Classic Tabby
• Tortoiseshell
• Parti-Color
• Calico

11. Health Issues

Cats of any breed are often prone to different kinds of health issues.

Since domestic long hairs aren’t of any breed, there are no conditions they are more prone to than others.

Here are some of the health issues Maine Coons are known to have:

• Spinal Muscular Atrophy: This is a genetic condition that causes the muscles of a cat’s spine and hind legs to atrophy until their legs are too weak to jump or run.

• Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency: Pyruvate kinase deficiency is when a cat’s body is unable to produce enough of the enzyme pyruvate kinase, which provides energy to red blood cells. This results in anemia, which can lead to death in more serious cases.

Looking at the health conditions that both domestic longhairs and Maine Coons are prone to, here are some conditions that a mix of both types of cats may be more susceptible to:

• Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia occurs when a cat’s femur is not formed properly. It grinds abnormally against the ball-in-socket hip joint, which eventually wears down the joint until it is loose and uncomfortable.

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This is a genetic condition that causes the walls of the cat’s heart to slowly become thicker until blood can no longer flow through. Sadly, this condition has no cure and ultimately leads to death.

• Polycystic Kidney Disease: All cats tend to be more susceptible to kidney problems. One such condition is polycystic kidney disease, which causes cysts to grow within the kidneys as the cat ages. Some cats live long, healthy lives without complications but in more severe cases it can cause death.

12. Exercise

All cats need exercise, but any cat with Maine Coon ancestry is likely to need even more!

Maine Coons are highly energetic and athletic cats that need durable toys and challenging puzzles to stay entertained.

Most Maine Coons need at least 30 minutes of playtime each day, so you can expect your domestic long-hair Maine Coon mix to need 30 minutes or less.

13. Cost

Since registered and responsible breeders do not intentionally breed Maine Coons with domestic cats, Maine Coon mixes can be hard to find.

Backyard breeders and kitty mills often sell Maine Coons mixed with domestic longhairs and pass them off as purebred Maine Coons.

While they often cost less than $1,000, they are also less likely to be:

• Vaccinated
• Screened for health conditions
• Properly litter trained

If you want to find an adult Maine Coon domestic long-hair mix, your best bet will be to look at local shelters.

There, even purebred Maine Coons will not cost more than roughly $250.

14. Grooming

A mix between a Maine Coon and any long-haired cat breed will need to be groomed at least once or twice a week, plus more during the spring and fall when they shed the most.

Their long coats are more prone to tangles, and you might even need to trim the long fur on their paws, bellies, and hind legs to prevent matting.

15. Lifespan

The lifespan of the Maine Coon cat is between 12 and 15 years, while the average domestic long hair typically lives between 12 and 18 years old.

Overall, you can expect a domestic long hair Maine Coon mix to live somewhere between 12 and 18 years old.

16. Trainable

Maine Coons are highly intelligent, and even domestic cats can be smart enough to train.

Using treats and lots of praise, chances are you can train your domestic long hair Maine Coon mix to perform tricks, commands, or even how to play fetch!

17. Good With Other Pets

Cats that are part Maine Coon are more likely to get along well with other cats and dogs.

Maine Coons are affectionate cats that thrive on companionship, so they tend to make fast friends with just about any species!

Conclusion

The domestic long-hair Maine Coon mix is an affectionate hybrid with long, fluffy coats that can come in just about any color and pattern.

A mix between a domestic long hair and Maine Coon is likely to be playful, energetic, and incredibly intelligent.

They are typically easier to train than most domestic cats and are usually more friendly with strangers and other pets.