Maine Coon Vs Oriental

When comparing the Maine Coon vs Oriental, these breeds have a lot more differences than they have in common. While both breeds are quite athletic and loving, they are wildly different in personality and appearance.

Both the Maine Coon and the Oriental are beautiful cats, but the Maine Coon looks more noble and wild while the Oriental appears more slender and regal. Maine Coons have long, thick fur, but the Oriental can be either shorthaired or longhaired. Maine Coons are quieter and more independent, while Oriental cats are louder and more athletic.

The Maine Coon and the Oriental cat are both highly sought-after breeds, but since they are so different most cat lovers find they are more drawn to one breed over the other.

Maine Coon Vs Oriental

The Maine Coon is the enormous state cat of Maine, prized for its long, luxurious coat, superior hunting instincts, and gentle personality.

These cats look as stocky and wild as a lion, but they have a patient, loving personality. They are also highly intelligent and active.

The Oriental cat can be either shorthaired or longhaired. Descended from the Siamese, the Oriental breed has a slender body and a wedge-shaped head with a long nose and big ears.

These cats are also intelligent and active, but they tend to be more high-strung than the Maine Coon, as well as more vocal.

Origins

The Oriental cat was developed after World War II.

The war devastated catteries, and many breeds nearly went extinct. To preserve the Siamese breed, cat fanciers began to breed Siamese cats with other breeds such as the Russian Blue and Abyssinian to expand the gene pool.

The resulting pointed cats were bred back into the Siamese, while non-pointed cats became the foundation for a new breed: The Oriental.

The Maine Coon originated in the state of Maine.

These large cats are believed to be the descendants of Viking cats that mated with local domestic and feral cats to produce a new breed that was perfectly adapted to the cold, snowy climate.

Farmers and sailors began to keep Maine Coons because of their superior hunting abilities.

When the cat was named the official state cat of Maine in the late 1900s, their popularity skyrocketed.

Size

The Maine Coon is the largest non-hybrid domesticated cat in the entire world! Here are some of the only cat breeds that can compete with the Maine Coon’s size.

Maine Coon cats range from 8 to 22 pounds and measure between 8 and 16 inches tall and 19 to 40 inches long.

By comparison, the Oriental cat, meanwhile, only weighs between 9 and 14 pounds on average. They typically measure 9 to 11 inches tall and 11 to 14 inches long (source 1).

Build

Like the Siamese, the Oriental cat has a slim, tubular build with slender limbs and a wedge-shaped face. Their paws are small and oval. They have almond-shaped eyes and large ears with a wide base.

Their nose is very long and wide, which results in a distinctive face shape.

By comparison, the Maine Coon has a thicker, more rectangular appearance. Their limbs are stocky and powerful, and their paws are large and wide. 

Their head has a powerful, square muzzle that looks more like a lion’s than a domestic cat’s (source 1).

Fur Length

Maine Coons have medium to long fur throughout their bodies. Their fur is usually longest on the tips of their ears and toes, around their shoulders and chest, and on their haunches. Their fur is also semi-water-repellant.

Oriental cats come with two different coat lengths. There are both Oriental Shorthairs and Oriental Longhairs. The Oriental Shorthair’s fur is much finer and shorter, and it usually appears silky or glossy.

The Oriental Longhair has medium-length fur with only two coats.

Since they are missing one of the down undercoats, their fur lies closer to the body and often appears shorter (source 1).

Fur Colors and Patterns

Sometimes called the “rainbow cat” for its dazzling array of colors, the Oriental cat can come in every single possible color and pattern known to cats except the colorpoint pattern.

Maine Coons also come in a diverse range of colors and patterns, but they cannot have colorpoint patterns and they cannot come in rare dilute colors such as (source 1):

• Cinnamon
• Fawn
• Lilac
• Chocolate

Learn about the Maine Coon color codes, by clicking on the picture below:

Personality And Temperament

Maine Coons are gentle, easygoing cats while Oriental cats are more energetic and playful. Both breeds are known to be highly loving and intelligent.

The Maine Coon is a softspoken creature that is famously devoted and loving. They tend to follow their owners around from room to room, although they are also relatively independent.

Most Maine Coon cats love to snuggle and do not mind being picked up.

Maine Coons are incredible hunters who love to run, jump, climb, and catch things. However, if they do not get enough enrichment they can become destructive, so it is vitally important to provide tall cat trees and plenty of interactive toys.

By comparison, the Oriental cat is a ball of energy! These clownish cats love to entertain their owners with acrobatic feats or jokes. They have a mischievous sense of humor, but they are also incredibly loving.

They can be a bit demanding of your attention, but if you are looking for a cat that is open about its love for you, then the Oriental is a great option!

Family Friendly

Oriental cats and Maine Coons are considered family-friendly breeds, as they are highly social and loving, and they get along great with kids.

The easygoing Maine Coon is more likely to tolerate playing dress up, while the Oriental cat is more likely to keep up with little ones’ energy.

Is it ok to dress up your Maine Coon? Read this guide to find out the recommended guidance.

Price

As beautiful as they are, neither the Maine Coon nor the Oriental are known for being cheap. If you are looking for an Oriental cat, you should expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $3,000 for one kitten.

Maine Coons are also quite expensive, ranging between $1,000 and $3,000, to begin with, but they can easily cost more if you are looking for a rare color or pattern.

While many people think the combination of an Oriental cat and a Maine Coon would be gorgeous, finding an Oriental short hair Maine Coon mix is next to impossible.

Responsible breeders are focused on producing high-quality cats of a single breed, rather than randomly crossing cats together since this can lead to genetic problems.

Instead of getting a mix, you are better off choosing one of the two breeds, or getting one of each! (source 1).

Health

Maine Coons are much healthier than Oriental cats. Since they developed naturally in the state of Maine, they are less prone to genetic conditions that crop up as a result of inbreeding.

Maine Coons can be prone to:

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
• Hip Dysplasia

Thankfully, many of these problems can be genetically tested for, so most breeders only breed cats that have tested fully negative for all genetic conditions.

Sadly, both the Oriental Shorthair and Longhair are prone to many health conditions, mostly due to their Siamese ancestry.

They are prone to having crossed eyes as well as progressive retinal atrophy, which can lead to low vision or blindness.

They are also more susceptible to kidney and liver diseases, as well as bladder stones.

Intelligence

Both Maine Coons and Oriental cats are highly intelligent.

Maine Coons are often called the dogs of the cat world because they easily learn to play fetch, walk on a leash, or respond to commands.

These easygoing cats are much more mellow than some of the more stubborn breeds, which makes them easier to train, as well.

Oriental cats are also extremely intelligent. These clownish cats love to perform all sorts of tricks for their owners, so they pick up on training pretty easily.

Since they are so energetic and athletic, training is a great way to provide enrichment and prevent boredom-induced destructive tendencies.

Like Maine Coons, Oriental cats can also learn to play fetch or walk on a leash.

Vocality

Like its Siamese ancestors, the Oriental cat is very vocal. They have a loud meow that they use to communicate anything from hunger to boredom. Another unique trait of the Oriental cat is its tendency to “honk.”

Oriental cats are not afraid to use their loud voice to demand attention and snuggles, but sometimes they like to vocalize just for the fun of it.

If you are easily upset by lots of noise, the Oriental cat may not be the best breed for you!

By comparison, Maine Coons are much quieter than Oriental cats. Instead of meowing, they usually trill, chirp, warble, or squeak, kind of like a bird.

Their voice is soft, and they usually only vocalize when they want something, although they sometimes like to “chat” back and forth with their owners, as well.

The Maine Coon makes some weird noises though, click on the picture below to find out more!

Grooming

Maine Coons have relatively high grooming requirements. Their long, thick fur is prone to mats and tangles, particularly on their paws and haunches.

Many owners opt to trim longer fur to prevent the buildup of dirt and debris.

Maine Coons shed a lot, especially during the spring and fall. When it is not shedding season, you should brush your Maine Coon once or twice a week.

During shedding season, you will need to brush your cat more often, possibly even daily if you allow your cat outside in the wet and cold weather.

From my experience, our male Maine Coon cat needs brushing most days during the winter season, since his fur is prone to tangles and knots.

He loves laying in the garden bushes, and consequently, his fur needs brushing to remove the bark chippings, leaves, etc.

If you are worried that your Maine Coon cat is shedding too much, read this article to find out what’s going on.

When comparing the Maine Coon and Oriental Shorthair grooming requirements, Oriental Shorthairs are much lower maintenance.

Their fur is both short and fine, so they only need a brush every week or so.

Oriental Longhairs are also easier to groom than Maine Coons, because they only have two layers of fur. Their fur is much finer, sheds less than the Maine Coon, and only needs to be brushed once or twice a week.

Both Maine Coons and Oriental cats need to have their claws trimmed every few weeks. However, if you allow your cat outside, and buy a cat scratching post then you will not need to trim your Maine Coons claws.

It is also important to brush their teeth or, at the very least, provide dental gels or treats to reduce the buildup of plaque and tartar.

Finally, it is a good idea to clean out your cat’s ears with a damp cotton ball every so often (source 1).

Hypoallergenic

Maine Coons are not considered hypoallergenic. Their long, double-coated fur sheds often, especially during the spring and fall, which can wreak havoc on anyone with cat allergies.

While Oriental cats are not completely hypoallergenic, they produce less dander than many cat breeds.

Oriental Shorthair cats are much more hypoallergenic than Oriental Longhairs, and their short, fine coat is easy to groom.

Good With Other Pets

Maine Coons and Oriental cats are both highly social, and they tend to become lonely if they do not receive enough companionship. Both breeds are incredible with other pets.

They tend to make fast friends with other cats, and can even become close companions with dogs!

Diet

The Maine Coon and the Oriental cat both require diets with a large amount of protein, a moderate amount of fat, and a small amount of carbohydrates.

Many cheap cat foods contain lots of filler grains and carbs, so you should invest in high-quality wet and dry food to ensure your cat is getting enough nutrients.

It is a good idea to provide your cat with wet food once every day or two, as well as dry food twice a day.

Oriental cats are less prone to obesity than Maine Coons because they are so active, so many owners can free-feed their dry food.

Lifespan

Both Maine Coons and Oriental cats have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

However, Maine Coons are considered much healthier than Oriental cats and are more likely to reach their senior years than Oriental cats.

Bite Force

Most cats, including the Oriental, have a bite force of about 70 PSI.

The Maine Coon, however, can have a bite force of up to 75 PSI! (source 1).

Conclusion

The Maine Coon and Oriental Shorthair and Longhair are very different breeds in both appearance and personality.

The Maine Coon is well suited to families of all sizes, and their easygoing nature makes them ideal companions for children.

Oriental cats are much more active and demanding, so they do better in households that can provide them with lots of attention.

Overall, both breeds are incredibly loving and devoted, but the Maine Coon is more laid back than the Oriental cat.