Maine Coon Eye Facts
Purebred Maine Coons have large, gold or green wide-set eyes that are slightly oblique shaped. White Maine Coon eyes can be blue, or odd-eye (blue, with gold or green).
Maine Coon kittens are born with blue eyes that change color as they age. Maine Coon eye problems include strabismus, astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia.
Maine Coon Eye Shape
According to the Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF), the Maine Coon has large, wide-set eyes. Their eyes should not be perfectly round but partially slanted due to their slightly oblique shape.
They advise that Maine Coons with very narrow, or very slanted eyes are less desirable. Additionally, dull eyes are not preferred (source 1).
The International Cat Association, otherwise known as TICA states in their show rules that Maine Coons are awarded points if they have “large, slightly oval, appear round when wide open” eyes.
Their breed standards also state that the “outer corner of the eye points toward the outer base of the ear”.
Blue and odd eyes are accepted in whites and particolors.
Since a picture tends to tell a thousand words, take a look at the stunning Maine Coon below. This cat’s eyes are golden:
Maine Coon Eye Colors
Purebred Maine Coon cats have the following eye colors:
- Gold (often called Maine Coon yellow eyes)
- Green
All shades of green eyes are permitted, in purebred Maine Coon cats. It is important to note, however, that the white Maine Coon is unique since their eyes can also be:
- Blue
- Odd-eyes
Have you heard about the yellow-eyed Maine Coon cat too? Take a closer look at this Maine Coon eye coloring.
Odd Eyed Maine Coon
According to the CFF, an odd-eyed Maine Coon refers to a cat that has blue with gold or green eyes (source 1).
Eye Color Change
Maine Coon kittens are born with blue eyes. A kitten’s eye color will change though when the pigmentation in their eyes settles in their iris.
Eye Problems
For those of you wondering do Maine Coon cats have eye problems, you might be relieved to hear that Maine Coons are not usually prone to issues with their eyes.
Be alert to the following Maine Coon eye problems:
- Strabismus
- Astigmatism
- Hyperopia
- Myopia
- Conjunctivitis
- Eye Infections
- Weeping Eyes
- Eye Discharge
Thankfully the Maine Coon cat is not prone to developing either strabismus or astigmatism, since this eye problem is usually linked to cats originating from the Siamese cat breed.
1. Strabismus
This eye problem can develop anytime during a cat’s life and occurs when the cat’s eyes are fixed in the wrong position, or crossed.
A cat with this condition will have difficulty with depth perception and may stumble into things i.e. furniture.
Cats suffering from strabismus might appear fearful to move.
Causes of strabismus include:
- A genetic defect in the eye
- Eye Injury
- Brain Injury
- Cancer
- Feline Leukemia Virus
- Encephalitis
A cat’s strabismus can be either convergent or divergent. In the former, the cat’s pupils are fixed close to the nose, in a cross-eyed position.
Whereas in the latter, the cat’s eyes will appear turned abnormally, either looking up, down, or sideways.
2. Astigmatism
A cat suffering from astigmatism cannot see the world exactly as it is.
This vision problem does not necessarily mean that the cat also suffers from strabismus.
3. Hyperopia
Also known as hypermetropia. Hyperopia in cats is where they suffer from farsightedness because their eyes cannot focus the light coming into their eyes, correctly.
This cat-eye problem is thought to be a refractive eye defect, that occurs when the cat’s eye lens lacks elasticity.
In basic terms, it means that the cat can only see objects clearly, that are a long way away. The cat will struggle to focus clearly on objects that are close to them (source 1).
4. Myopia
A cat suffering from myopia is short-sighted. This is a common condition in all cat breeds (source 1).
I was surprised to learn that cat contact lenses have been tested, on some cats in America! Could this be the solution for cats suffering from myopia or hyperopia?
5. Conjunctivitis
Cat conjunctivitis is “the inflammation of the moist tissues in a cat’s eye, which are the portions of the eye located near the globe and up to the edge of the cornea” (source 1).
Symptoms of cat conjunctivitis include:
- Discharge of fluid from cat’s eye
- Eye discomfort
6. Eye Infections
Cats can develop eye infections at any time during their lifetime. Owners, therefore, need to be vigilant about Maine Coon eye issues that their treasured feline pet is suffering from.
If you notice your Maine Coon suffering from any of the following issues, ask a veterinary professional to assess your cat as soon as possible.
This is important, to rule out Maine Coon eye problems:
- Dilated pupils
- Cats’ pupils are of different sizes
- Ocular discharge from cat’s eye
- Squinting
- Unusual spots on cats’ iris, or cornea
- Eye color changes
- Pawing at eye
7. Weeping Eyes
Have you noticed your Maine Coons eye weeping? If yes, seek immediate veterinary professional advice.
Your cat might be suffering from a range of medical issues, including conjunctivitis.
A veterinary professional will be able to rule out any possible underlying health issues.
8. Eye Discharge
If you notice a discharge coming out of your Maine Coon cat’s eye, it may be suffering from a condition such as cat conjunctivitis.
Alternatively, they might be suffering from an underlying medical condition. Please seek immediate veterinary professional assistance.
Conclusion
There is more to the Maine Coon eye than I first realized! Not only can this breed of feline have gold, green, and yellow eyes, but they can also on occasion have blue eyes, or even odd eyes.
Whilst this particular breed of cat might not be prone to Maine Coon eye problems, owners should never just assume there never will be any problems in their cat’s future.
Instead, it is recommended that owners keep watching for changes in their cat’s eyes, or behavior i.e. eye infections, or cat stumbling over.
This is particularly important since conditions detected earlier are usually easier to fix.
If you would like to learn about the top 7 Maine Coon health issues, click here to take a look at my informative article.
Before you go, take a look at these AWESOME Maine Coon cat names. Which name will you choose?
