Maine Coon Body Shape
Maine Coons are large, muscular cats with a rectangular body shape and a broad chest. Males typically weigh between 18-22 pounds, while females are lighter at 12-15 pounds.
Their bodies are long and solidly built, often giving them a sturdy yet elegant appearance.
Maine Coons have long, well-proportioned legs with large, tufted paws designed for walking in snowy or rough terrain. Their legs are muscular and slightly longer in the back, which adds to their powerful build and agility.
They also boast a long, bushy tail that tapers slightly and is often as long as their body, aiding in balance and insulation.
In terms of height, they stand about 10-16 inches tall at the shoulders, while their body length (excluding the tail) can range from 18 to 40 inches, making them one of the largest domestic cat breeds.
This impressive size, combined with their thick, water-repellent coat and lion-like ruff around the neck, gives Maine Coons their signature majestic and rugged appearance.
Body
Their body shape is rectangular and long with all parts proportioned to provide a well-balanced rectangular appearance. No part of the anatomy is exaggerated to promote weakness.
Maine Coons have broad chests and a rather flat back. The width of the cat’s body is also equal from shoulder to hip.
They are medium to large, with females slightly smaller than males, and have significant boning and a dense muscular structure overall.
They measure between 19 and 40 inches in length.
The average Maine Coon will range between 10-16 inches in height. But, how tall can a Maine Coon get? Read my article to find out!
Face Shape
The Maine Coon’s face shape is distinct and contributes to its regal and expressive appearance. It features a slightly longer, rectangular muzzle that is square and well-defined, setting it apart from many other cat breeds with rounder faces.
The cheekbones are high and prominent, adding to their chiseled look.
Their large, wide-set ears are one of their most striking features, often adorned with lynx-like tufts at the tips and additional fur inside, enhancing their wild and majestic appearance.
The eyes are large, slightly oval, and slanted, giving them an alert and intelligent expression. Maine Coons’ eyes can come in a variety of colors, including green, gold, or copper, and white-coated Maine Coons can also have blue or odd-colored eyes.
Altogether, the Maine Coon’s face combines strength, refinement, and a hint of wildness, perfectly complementing its impressive size and luxurious coat.
Nose Shape
The Maine Coon’s nose is medium in length and has a gentle concave curve when viewed in profile, giving it a smooth and balanced appearance.
Unlike some breeds with flat or overly pronounced noses, the Maine Coon’s nose sits harmoniously within its rectangular face shape, contributing to its refined yet natural look.
The nose is broad, particularly at the base, complementing the breed’s large, expressive features.
The nostrils are well-defined and open, supporting their active and robust lifestyle. This subtle yet distinctive nose shape is a key characteristic of the Maine Coon’s majestic and slightly wild aesthetic.
Ear Shape
Maine Coon ears are one of their most striking and recognizable features. They are large, upright, and set high on the head, with a slightly outward tilt that enhances their alert and wild appearance.
The ear base is broad and tapers to a pointed tip, often adorned with prominent lynx-like tufts that extend beyond the tip, giving them a majestic and rugged look.
Inside the ears, you’ll find additional long fur, known as furnishings, which provides protection against cold weather and adds to their luxurious appearance.
The combination of their size, tufted tips, and furry interiors makes Maine Coon ears both functional and a standout feature of their breed.
Chin
The Maine Coon’s chin is strong, well-developed, and aligns vertically with the nose and upper lip, creating a balanced and square facial profile.
This prominent chin enhances the breed’s characteristic rectangular face shape and contributes to its overall robust and regal appearance.
It is neither overly pronounced nor weak, striking a perfect balance that complements the Maine Coon’s high cheekbones and wide muzzle.
This feature adds to the breed’s distinctive and confident expression, making them easily recognizable among other cat breeds.
Eye Shape
Maine Coon eyes are large, expressive, and slightly oval, with a gentle upward slant toward the outer edge. When fully open, their eyes can appear rounder, giving them an alert and curious expression.
The wide-set positioning of the eyes enhances their intelligent and watchful demeanor.
Their eye color ranges from shades of green, gold, and copper to blue or odd-colored (two different colors) in white-coated Maine Coons.
This captivating eye shape and variety of colors add to the Maine Coon’s regal and striking appearance, making their gaze one of their most enchanting features.
Head Shape
The Maine Coon’s head is medium in size and slightly longer than it is wide, creating a distinctive rectangular profile. This shape is accentuated by a square and well-defined muzzle, prominent cheekbones, and a strong chin that aligns with the nose.
The top of the head is gently contoured, with no flat planes, blending seamlessly into the large, upright ears that sit high and slightly tilted outward.
The overall head shape is balanced and proportional to the cat’s large body, giving the Maine Coon a refined yet powerful appearance.
This unique head structure is a hallmark of the breed, contributing to their regal and slightly wild look.
Tail
The Maine Coon’s tail is long, bushy, and one of the breed’s most iconic features.
It is well-proportioned to their large body, often reaching up to or beyond the cat’s shoulders when extended along the back.
The tail tapers slightly toward the tip but remains full and covered in thick, flowing fur, giving it a plume-like appearance.
The dense, semi-water-repellent fur on the tail helps keep the cat warm in cold climates, as it can wrap their tail around themselves for insulation.
The Maine Coon’s tail is not just functional but also adds to its majestic and wild aesthetic, swishing gracefully as they move and often carried upright to show confidence and alertness.
For more information, read my article, why do Maine Coons have long tails?
Legs
The legs of a Maine Coon are medium in length and are spaced wide apart.
The legs of the Maine Coon appear to be rectangular in shape.
Front limbs are straight, but hind limbs appear straight only when viewed from behind (source 1,2).
Can a Maine Coon have short legs? Read this article, to find out!
Whiskers
Maine Coons have the longest whiskers of any domesticated cat.
On average a Maine Coon has 8 to 12 whiskers on either side of its face.
It is not advised to trim the whiskers of a Maine Coon since it gives the cat an undesirable appearance and can be painful for the cat (source 1)
Learn more about the Maine Coon whiskers, here.
Fur
Maine Coon fur has two layers of insulation to keep it warm during the cold winter months.
Aside from that, the fur of a Maine Coon is uneven in length, usually shorter on the shoulders and progressively lengthening along the back and sides of the body.
Long, dense, shaggy fur covers the belly.
The front fur ruff develops as the cat ages. If your Maine Coon hasn’t developed a mane ‘ruff’, read this article.
The fur of the Maine Coon can be a variety of colors and patterns. However, particolors must have white fur on all four limbs (source 1).
Paws
Maine Coon cats have one of the most unique paws in the cat world. When comparing a Maine Coon paw Vs normal cat, you will find that Maine Coons have extra toes on their paws!
Whereas normal cats have 18 toes, a Maine Coon cat has up to 7 toes on each paw!
A Maine Coon’s paws are rather large compared to other cats, and they are also heavily tufted to help them move better in the snow.
The Maine Coon’s paws should be symmetrical in appearance (source 1).
Maine Coons with extra toes are known as polydactyl Maine Coon cats. Read about them here.
Chins
The scientific explanation for having huge chins is that Maine Coon’s ancestors were working cats who hunted prey to survive.
Their mouths and chins grew larger over time, allowing them to swallow huge prey such as large rats and other wild creatures, and this characteristic is still present in current Maine Coons.
Mouth
Maine Coons have large mouths in comparison to other cats because they are huge and heavily built, and require more food than other cats to meet their nutritional needs.
They have enormous mouths, as well as the ability to swallow large prey.
