If you are the proud owner of a Maine Coon kitten you might have noticed that your playful feline is bigger than a normal kitten.
For those of you wondering how big will my Maine Coon get, make sure to read on to learn more about the average Maine Coon size compared to normal cat breeds.
The average male Maine Coon weighs between 15-25 lbs. By comparison, female Maine Coons grow to 8-12 lbs. Maine Coons have long bodies ranging from 19-40 inches in length. A Maine Coon’s size is dependent upon the cat’s genetics, diet, and health. Maine Coons range between 8 – 16 inches in height. Female Maine Coons are usually smaller than males.
Maine Coons are one of the most loved cat breeds in the United States, increasing in popularity as every year goes by.
Many pet parents are in awe of the Maine Coon size and dream of the day their own Maine Coon kitten grows into one of the giant Maine Coon cats that have become famous on the internet.
Whilst we cannot predict the size that a Maine Coon will grow, it is highly likely that your Maine Coon will grow bigger than a normal cat’s size.
How Big Will My Maine Coon Get?
Maine Coons are one of the oldest natural cat breeds in the United States, thought to have originated in Maine.
Weighing up to 25 lbs in weight and 40 inches long, this cat breed quickly became famous for its size.
Although these big-boned, muscular cats have slower Maine Coon growth stages, ultimately they grow bigger than most other cat breeds.
Only large cat breeds like the Norwegian Forest Cat or Ragdoll come close to the Maine Coon dimensions!
So, are Maine Coons bigger than the Norwegian Forest Cat? Read this guide to find out!
The slow growth rate of the Maine Coon cat breed means that these large cats continue to grow until they reach 3-5 years old. This may account for their large-than-average sizing.
Maine Coon cats thus cannot be considered fully grown until they reach their 5th year. Normal cats by comparison tend to physically mature around the 2-year mark.
If you are wondering how big will my Maine Coon cat grow, the answers are in the table below which details the average size of a Maine Coon cat (male and female).
Maine Coon Size Chart
Below is a table showing the average Maine Coon size.
Please note that these figures can vary substantially, and are very much dependent upon your cat’s genetics, health, and specific diet plan:
| Average Maine Coon Sizes | Male | Female |
| Length (inches) | 19-40 | 19-40 |
| Length (cm) | 48-101 | 48-101 |
| Height (inches) | 10-16 | 8-14 |
| Height (cm) | 25-40 | 20-35 |
| Weight (lbs) | 15-25 | 8-12 |
| Weight (kg) | 6.8-11.3 | 3.6-5.4 |
These average Maine Coon weights give a good reference point to the likely size that your Maine Coon kitten will grow.
However, these Maine Coon sizes should not be fully relied upon as fact, since a cat’s adult weight varies depending upon the following factors:
- Genetics
- Diet
- Health
- Size of Parents
As with all animals in this world, there will always be exceptions to the rule.
For example, a Maine Coon cat named Stewie won the title of the ‘Longest Domestic Cat In The World’, in the Guinness Book Of Records, having reached 48.5 inches long. Meet him here.
There have also been claims that some pet owners have owned Maine Coons weighing as much as 35 lb (15.9 kg).
Since this is significantly larger than the breed’s average of 15-25 lbs (6.8-11.3 kg) for male Maine Coon cats, and the weights have not been officially recorded, it is not possible to know if this Maine Coon weight is accurate.
What we do know, however, is that some Maine Coon cats are bigger than average.
Here’s an awesome cat guide that introduces you to the biggest Maine Coon cats in the world.
But, why are Maine Coon cats so big? This article covers the facts you need to know!
Biggest Maine Coon Record
One Maine Coon cat named Stewie made it into the 2010 Guinness World Records, achieving the title of ‘the longest cat of his breed’.
He measured an incredible 48.5 inches (123.19 cm), which is calculated by measuring from the tip of a cat’s nose to the tip of its tail.
According to the records, his tail alone measured a gigantic 16 inches.
Stewie also weighed a massive 33 lbs (15 kg)!
According to his owners, no special diet was followed, and no unusual breeding methods were taken to influence the size of his growth. He literally just did not stop growing!
If you are hungry for more information, make sure you take a look at my article on the BIGGEST Maine Coon cat in the WORLD!
Why Do Maine Coons Grow So Big?
These gentle giants often referred to as the dogs of the cat world, have a history of mystery.
Despite many myths doing the rounds over the years, the Maine Coons heritage still remains unclear.
This lack of clarity makes it somewhat difficult to conclude exactly why this particular breed grows to be so big.
The main reasons why Maine Coon cats grow big, however, are likely to be as follows:
- Genetics
- Evolution
- Selective Breeding
- Health
- Diet
- Slow Growth Rate
Let’s take a close look at each of these individual aspects:
Genetics
The genetics of this cat breed play an important role in determining why the Maine Coon size is far larger than normal cats.
If the tales of a long-haired cat having mated with a Norwegian Forest Cat are true, that would mean the Maine Coon is a direct descendent of the Norwegian Forest Cat breed.
Since Norwegian Forest Cats are one of the largest cat breeds, this means their offspring would also be genetically predisposed to growing bigger than a normal cat.
Evolution
Whilst the history of the Maine Coon is not fully known, what we do know is that the early generations of this cat breed survived in the wildness, without any human intervention.
Maine Coon cats have a reputation in today’s world for being hardy healthy cats, and this is likely due to the fact that only the fittest, and strongest Maine Coons were about to survive the colder climate of Maine.
Before becoming domesticated, these cats had to physically evolve, developing the following attributes to survive:
- Wider Paws
- Fluffy tufts on their ears
- Tufts of fur on their paws
- Thicker fur
- Bushy Tails
They also had to become adept at hunting live prey.
Consequently, these stronger and more evolved Maine Coons bred and passed their more resilient genetics and DNA onto their kittens, whilst the weaker cats departed from this world.
Selective Breading
Although the Maine Coon is one of the oldest natural American cat breeds, this does not mean that they have not been selectively bred at some point.
Breeders will have selected the most desirable traits from their Maine Coons, and actively bred certain features in or out of the gene pool of this large cat breed.
Health
The health of the Maine Coon cat breed has played a huge role in ensuring the Maine Coon cat breed grows bigger than normal cats.
Natural breeding prior has led to a more hardy cat breed where the genetic gene pool is not diluted by the health issues of other cat breeds.
This is important, as healthy strong cats are able to grow bigger.
Diet
Maine Coon cats are obligate carnivores, so require high levels of protein in their diet.
High volumes of protein ensure that the Maine Coon cat’s muscular body frame develops correctly, and gives Maine Coons the energy they need to hunt and play.
A malnourished Maine Coon cat will not develop to its full Maine Coon size, as it is not eating enough protein to feed its body and grow big.
This is why some Maine Coon cats are labeled the runt of the cat litter.
With this in mind, can Maine Coon cats be small? Find out now, by reading this Maine Coon cat guide.
Here are some reasons why your Maine Coon is skinny:
Slow Growth Rate
Maine Coon kittens are slightly larger than the normal kitten size.
They grow quickly and are noticeably bigger than other kittens because the majority of their growth occurs before 10 months of age.
However, despite this, the Maine Coon growth stages are far slower than that of a normal cat.
Whilst the average normal cat size is reached at roughly two years of age, Maine Coons continue to grow until they reach their full size between 3-5 years of age.
Their slow rate of growth is highlighted as being one of the key reasons they grow so big.
This is because their slow growth rate (after the initial Maine Coon kitten growth spurts) enables their skeleton and muscles to grow bigger and stronger than normal cats in the long run.
If you are interested to learn why are Maine Coon cats so big, read this Maine Coon cat article.
Maine Coon Size Myths
The Maine Coon is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, and the official state cat of Maine.
Despite being so popular, however, this much-loved cat’s heritage remains a mystery! Learn more about their origins, here.
Many cat specialists question whether the Maine Coon cat’s origins hold the clue as to why this breed of cat is so large.
Below are three folktales that claim to explain where the Maine Coon cat originates:
1. Domestic Cat and Raccoon
For many years folk have claimed that the Maine Coon cat originates from the mating between a raccoon, and a semi-wild domestic cat.
This myth has been both widespread and popular, though is now deemed biologically impossible. Read more about it here.
It originally gained momentum due to the many physical similarities between the Maine Coon and the raccoon, for example, their brown tabby coloring, great hunting skills and love of water.
The Maine Coon’s bushy tail was also considered evidence of this unusual mating!
Maine Coon’s come in a range of over 74 colors, though historically only brown tabbies were given the title ‘Maine Coon Cats’, whereas the other colorings were classified as ‘Maine Shags’.
To this day, lilac and chocolate colorings are not considered for Pedigree status.
Here is a full list of the various Maine Coon cat colors and patterns.
2. Marie Antoinette
The second myth to gain in popularity over time relates to Marie Antoinette, the former Queen of France.
History tells of her desperate attempt to flee France during the French Revolution, on a ship headed to the United States led by Captain Samuel Clough.
Despite the captain’s help, she did not make it safely to the United States and was executed in 1793.
Before her death, however, it is thought that Marie Antoinette had loaded six of her treasured pet Turkish Angora cats onto Captain Samuel Clough’s ship.
Despite Marie’s poor fate, her precious cats arrived safely in Wiscasset, Maine.
It is thought that these six long-haired cats bred with the short-haired domestic cats resident in Maine, resulting in the Maine Coon cat breed we know and love today.
This myth would explain where the Maine Coon got its thick fur from.
However, it does not explain why Maine Coon cats grow to be so large, since the Turkish Angora cat breed is smaller than today’s Maine Coon.
3. Ship Cats
Historically, cats were often kept on ships, to help control the number of mice.
The most likely myth, therefore, is that these overseas long-haired ship cats mated with pre-existing short-haired domestic cats.
The long-haired cats are thought to possibly be Angora types, or Norwegian Forest Cats, brought to America by the Vikings.
Do Male Maine Coons Grow Larger Than Females?
Male Maine Coons tend to grow larger than their female counterparts, ranging between 15-25 lbs in weight, compared to the female Maine Coon cat’s 8-12 lbs weight range.
However, despite their weight difference both the male and female Maine Coon cats grow to between 19-40 inches so.
It is, therefore, possible to encounter a female Maine Coon that has grown longer than its male counterpart, rather than heavier.
It is important to note that there is a level of crossover between the average Maine Coon size, therefore it is possible that a large female Maine Coon might be bigger than a small male Maine Coon cat.
Below are the average Maine Coon measurements:
| Maine Coon Size | Male | Female |
| Length (inches) | 19-40 | 19-40 |
| Height (inches) | 10-16 | 8-14 |
| Weight (lbs) | 15-25 | 8-12 |
Can You Predict The Size Of Your Maine Coon?
It is not possible to predict how big a Maine Coon kitten will grow. However, a cat’s genetics are thought to play a huge role in how big a Maine Coon will grow.
It is important to remember though, that a cat’s genetics may contain hidden factors that are not immediately apparent.
For example, some Maine Coon carry recessive genes that result in them growing into far smaller (or bigger) Maine Coon cats than their parents are.
When you purchase a Maine Coon kitten, the only thing you can be sure of is that your new family member will almost certainly grow to be far larger than a standard cat.
To put this into perspective, a normal cat grows to between 9-10 inches in height, whereas the Maine Coon breed is more commonly 10-16 inches tall!
How Much Space Do Maine Coons Need?
Every Maine Coon cat grows differently and varies in physical proportions.
Consequently, there is no one set amount of space that you will require in your home should you wish to own a cat from this breed.
However, according to Purina the minimum space needed to house a cat is 20 square meters. They do not specify, however, if more space is required for larger cat breeds, such as Maine Coons.
The space required will ultimately depend upon your Maine Coons size, their energy levels, and how well pet owners are able to utilize the higher-up spaces within their home i.e. via tall cat trees.
The larger your cat, the larger the space required to house them.
It would be wise to consider the amount of space you have available in your home, before purchasing a Maine Coon cat.
These kittens may look tiny right now but quickly grow bigger than a normal kitten and cat.
Standard-sized cat trees and scratch posts simply will not suffice in the long run. Unfortunately, we learned this through personal experience!
We realized that even the largest standard cat trees barely stood the test of time. Our Maine Coon cat ‘Pippin’ quickly outgrew the platforms and hammocks within the first year!
We ended up buying this immense cat tower from Amazon because the platforms are large enough for our Maine Coon to curl up in.
I love how the pillars of this tower are designed as scratch posts, allowing large breed cats to stretch up fully whilst scratching.
Here are some other great Maine Coon cat trees.
How Long Do Maine Coon Cats Live?
The average lifespan of a Maine Coon cat is 12-15 years.
There are many factors that influence the ultimate lifespan of the Maine Coon cat breed though.
Read this guide to find out how to increase the lifespan of your Maine Coon.
Conclusion
In this article, we have researched the answer to the question – how big will my Maine Coon cat get?
Our research has uncovered that the average Maine Coon weighs between 8 – 25 lbs, and is 19-40 inches in length!
Despite the history of the Maine Coon cat being so unknown, these large cats have been massively adored and loved by so many.
Originally from Maine, United States, they are often referred to as gentle giants because of their:
- Extremely laid-back temperament
- Sociable nature
- Unconditional love
Their large physical presence makes them look majestic and bold.
This large cat breed is one of the softest, kindest breeds that you could ever invite into your home. They are also loyal and extremely sociable.
Maine Coon cats have a reputation for being great around young kids, and in our own personal experience, our Maine Coon isn’t phased by loud kid noises!
