Himalayan Maine Coon Mix

Maine Coons and Himalayan cats are known for their long, beautiful coats, but what would a Himalayan Maine Coon mix be like? Read on to find out!

While the Maine Coon and Himalayan cats can produce offspring, mixed kittens have unreliable traits and often suffer from more health problems. If a Maine Coon and a Himalayan had kittens, they would likely be long-haired, laidback, and very cuddly.

The Maine Coon and Himalayan cat are two very different feline breeds, but many cat fanciers wonder what would happen if the two breeds were combined.

What Is A Himalayan Maine Coon Mix?

A Himalayan Maine Coon mix is a cross between a Maine Coon and a Himalayan cat. This is not an official hybrid.

Responsible breeders do not randomly combine different cat breeds because the focus of breeding is to create strong bloodlines with standardized traits.

The Maine Coon is a huge cat breed with long fur and a strong, muscular body. They are known for being:

• Cuddly
• Affectionate
• Highly Intelligent
• Incredibly Playful
• Energetic
• Prone to destructive behavior if bored or lonely

The Himalayan is another long-haired cat breed that is closely related to Persian cats but has a pointed coat like a Siamese or Ragdoll, and striking blue eyes.

Himalayans are also highly affectionate and snuggly, but they are more relaxed and less energetic than Maine Coons. Due to their Persian ancestry, they are also less intelligent than Maine Coons.

Maine Coons come in almost every color and pattern found in cats, except colorpoint patterns and rare dilute colors like:

• Lilac
• Cinnamon

Funnily enough, the Ragdoll is the exact opposite of the Maine Coon in this way, as they only come in colorpoint patterns and may have rare colors like:

• Chocolate
• Lilac
• Fawn

If a Maine Coon and a Himalayan had offspring, it would almost certainly share both parents’ long, shaggy coats.

Since colorpoint patterns and dilute colors are recessive, however, any Himalayan Maine Coon mix with only one Himalayan ancestor will not come in dilute colors or a colorpoint pattern.

Because Maine Coons are so huge and Himalayans tend to be on the larger side, a Himalayan Maine Coon mix would probably be a gentle giant, as well (source 1).

Is This Cat Breed Mix Well Known?

Katrina Stewardson, the Director of Maine Coon Central, conducted an independent research study relating to the Himalayan Maine Coon mix.

The results of 242 votes showed that 85% of Maine Coon cat lovers have NOT heard of this unusual Maine Coon mix.

The study was conducted on Maine Coon Central’s YouTube Community Channel.

An Official Cat Breed?

The Himalayan Maine Coon mix is not a true breed.

While it is possible that some Himalayan and Maine Coon cats have produced kittens, true cat breeds take years to refine and standardize.

Simply breeding two different cats will result in a huge variety of traits, including different:

• Temperaments
• Appearance
• Health Conditions

Personality And Temperament

Combining two vastly different breeds often results in a mix of traits. However, we can still guess what a Himalayan Maine Coon mix might act like based on the parent breeds’ temperaments.

Himalayan cat characteristics you might expect this mixed cat breed to have:

• Laidback Disposition
• Highly Snuggly
• Affectionate Nature
• Average Or Below-Average Intelligence

Himalayan cats are known to lounge around and snuggle most of the day, but they experience short bursts of playful energy even when they are adults.

This, combined with the Maine Coon’s tendency to play like a kitten even in their senior years means that a mix between both breeds is likely to be quite playful.

Below are some traits of a Maine Coon mix cat:

• Athleticism
• Loyalty
• Extreme Intelligence

Maine Coons often behave more like dogs than cats, and they need lots of exercise and playtime to keep from getting bored. Their high intelligence means they are quite easy to train, as well.

One highly sought-after Maine Coon cat characteristic is their easygoing, friendly nature. They are open and affectionate towards strangers, and even more loving to their family members!

Maine Coons are quite gentle with children and other pets and form very close bonds with their owners.

Overall, a Himalayan Maine Coon mix is likely to be:

• Highly Social
• Loving
• Relatively Playful

This cat mix may have some of the traits of a Maine Coon mix cat like high intelligence and trainability, but since Himalayan cats are less intelligent a mix between both breeds may have average intelligence (source 1).

How Big Do Himalayan Maine Coon Mix Get?

Himalayan Maine Coon mixes are likely to be large since both breeds are medium to large size. They are also more likely to have long tails like the Maine Coon.

Himalayan cats weigh, on average, between 7 – 12 pounds, while Maine Coons tend to weigh between 12 – 22 pounds. In both breeds, males are larger than females.

When it comes to height, Himalayan cats are about 10 – 12 inches tall, while Maine Coons are about 8 -16 inches.

Himalayan cats measure about 17 – 19 inches long, while the average Maine Coon is between 19 – 40 inches long (source 1).

Hypoallergenic

Neither Himalayan cats nor Maine Coons are hypoallergenic. They produce regular amounts of the protein Fel d 1, which is what causes cat allergies in humans.

Furthermore, their extra long, thick coats mean they shed more, making them especially difficult to keep if you are allergic (source 1).

Diet

A Himalayan cat mixed with Maine Coon ancestors will need about the same diet as any cat, though it is more important that they get enough protein.

Himalayan cats are prone to becoming overweight since they love to eat but do not exercise much. By comparison, Maine Coons are much more energetic, so are more prone to being underweight than overweight.

Overall, a Himalayan Maine Coon mix will need high-quality cat food with a:

• A high amount of protein
• Moderate amount of fat
• A small amount of carbohydrates

It is a good idea to provide dry food every day, and wet food every day or every other day.

Friendliness

Both Himalayan cats and Maine Coons are known for having a friendly disposition even towards strangers.

They tend to be open and affectionate rather than shy, though they are much closer to their owners than others.

Since both breeds are so loving and gentle, a mix between them is almost guaranteed to be just as friendly.

Rarity

The Himalayan Maine Coon mix is incredibly rare because responsible breeders do not combine such vastly different breeds.

Random hybrids like the Himalayan Maine Coon mix are more likely to be found in:

• Backyard Breeders
• Kitty Mills

Good breeders are very particular when it comes to mixing bloodlines.

A purebred Maine Coon cat costs a lot of money, and the original breeder often puts strict rules in place about how often they can breed.

As a result, responsible breeders prefer to produce high-quality cats of existing breeds instead of experimenting.

History Of The Breeds

The history of Maine Coon cats is long and mysterious, and while there are many wild theories little is known about how these cats came to be.

The Maine Coon cat breed history begins with the Vikings, who favored the Norwegian Forest cat breed. It is believed that Vikings sailed to North America, where some of their cats either escaped or were traded to locals.

Over time, the Norwegian Forest cats bred with local cats until the Maine Coon breed developed:

• Long Fur
• Thick Fur
• Wide, snowshoe-like paws

In the early 1800s, farmers and sailors in the United States were impressed by these cats’ hunting abilities, and they soon became a popular and established breed.

By comparison, the Himalayan cat breed history is much more recent.

For a long time, cat fanciers adored the appearance of the Persian and the pattern of Siamese cats, but did not know how to combine both traits.

Dedicated fanciers like Virginia Cobb and Dr. Clyde Keeler worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality, and by the 1930s they were partially successful.

Like many other breeds, the Himalayan cat history was threatened during World War II, when breeding programs were temporarily halted.

Once the war was over, however, breeding programs started back up again, and in the 1950s the Himalayan was finally becoming recognized as an official breed.

Coat Colorings

Himalayan cats can come in rare colors such as:

• Lilac
• Cinnamon
• Chocolate
• Fawn

However, the mix of these two cats will likely only come in the colors and patterns that a Maine Coon can come in.

This is because the Himalayan’s colorpoint pattern is recessive, and so are the many rare dilute colors Himalayan cats can be.

As a result, a cat can only display these colors and patterns if they inherit two copies of the gene.

Since Maine Coons do not have any copies of the colorpoint or rare dilute genes, a Himalayan Maine Coon mix can only have those rare colors and patterns if they have more than one Himalayan cat in their ancestry.

Health Issues

The Maine Coon is considered a rather healthy breed, while the Himalayan is more prone to serious health conditions.

Below are the key health problems that Maine Coon cats experience:

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy causes the muscles of a cat’s lower back and hind legs to weaken, typically starting at a few months old.

This condition progresses until the cat no longer has use of its hind legs. Though not deadly, it can cause severe mobility problems. Read more about this condition.

Pyruvate Kinase deficiency

Cats with this condition cannot produce enough of the enzyme pyruvate kinase, which provides energy to red blood cells.

Without this enzyme, the cat’s red blood cells die prematurely, leading to anemia, weakness, and in severe cases, death. Read more about this health problem.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is caused by a malformed femur, which rubs awkwardly against the ball-and-socket joint of the hip.

Over time, this grinds away the joint, leading to looseness, pain, and mobility issues.

These are the most common health issues in Himalayan Cats:

Cherry Eye

Cats, along with other mammals like dogs, have a third eyelid also known as the nictitating membrane.

Cherry eye occurs when this third eyelid prolapses, which can cause permanent vision problems if you do not receive medical care soon enough.

Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome

This is a disorder of the nervous system that causes the cat to be hypersensitive to touch.

Even lightly rubbing a cat’s back can cause extreme pain and discomfort if the cat has this condition.

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome

Brachycephaly squashes the cat’s skull, resulting in the iconic flattened face of the Himalayan and Persian cat breeds. As cute as this may appear, it has a serious impact on the cat’s health.

Cats with brachycephaly typically have a shortened trachea and small nostrils, which makes breathing especially difficult.

Dental Malocclusions

Brachycephaly also tends to cause dental problems.

Their squashed skull means their teeth may become overcrowded, and your cat may need to have dental surgery or even teeth extractions to prevent more serious health problems down the line.

Both cat breeds are prone to the following health concerns:

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic Kidney Disease, also known as PKD, causes cysts to form within the affected cat’s kidneys.

Some cats with this condition live long, healthy lives without any complications or their owners even knowing something is wrong.

In more serious cases, however, these cysts can cause premature death.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Also known as HCM, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a tragic genetic condition that causes the walls of the affected cat’s heart to thicken over time.

Eventually, the walls become so thick that blood can no longer flow through, and the cat dies. Sadly, there is no cure or treatment for this condition.

Overall, a mix between a Himalayan and Maine Coon could have any of the above conditions, but is more likely to suffer from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and PKD, since both breeds may have these health issues (source 1,2,3).

Exercise Needs

Like all cats, a mix between a Maine Coon and Himalayan will need playtime and exercise.

Maine Coons are highly energetic and playful cats that need a lot of exercise. Most need at least 30 minutes of playtime a day, as well as plenty of tall furniture to climb.

They tend to play extremely hard and often need more durable cat toys or even dog toys to keep up with their rough play style.

Since Himalayan cats are related to Persians, they need significantly less exercise than the Maine Coon.

The flattened face that the Himalayan cat is known for is the result of brachycephaly, a condition that squashes the skull and constricts the nasal passages.

Himalayan cats often have breathing problems and become exercise intolerant if they are playing for too long.

Overall, a mix between a Maine Coon and a Himalayan will need less than 30 minutes of playtime each day, and you should avoid playing too hard or else your cat may have difficulty catching its breath.

Price

Since the Himalayan Maine Coon mix is not a true breed, it is nearly impossible to find one. There are no official price ranges for this cat breed.

Grooming Needs

A mix between Himalayan cats and Maine Coons would need to be groomed at least once or twice a week, plus more during shedding season.

Both Himalayans and Maine Coons have long, thick coats that shed heavily.

Lifespan

The Himalayan Maine Coon lifespan is likely between 8 and 15 years.

The average Himalayan cat lives between 8 and 11 years, while most Maine Coons live to be 12 to 15 years old.

Conclusion

Even though the Himalayan Maine Coon mix is not an official breed, many cat fanciers wonder what the offspring of these two breeds might be like.

A mix between a Maine Coon and a Himalayan is likely to be large with a long, fluffy coat.

Since both breeds are known to be affectionate, loving, and cuddly, you can expect a mix between them to be friendly and laidback too.