If you are deciding between a Maine Coon vs Russian Blue, it might be hard to choose between such gorgeous breeds.
The Maine Coon and the Russian Blue are known to be devoted, loving pets with charming personalities, though they have very different personalities.
The Maine Coon is a longhaired cat that loves to climb, jump, and play hard. Russian Blues are more sensitive cats that are moderately playful. Both breeds are known to be sweet, gentle, and devoted, and they tend to follow their owners around the house. The Maine Coon is more social and energetic, while Russian Blues are calmer and quieter.
The Russian Blue and the Maine Coon both captivate cat fanciers with their elegant appearance and sweet personality.
Both breeds have very different household needs, so read on to find out which breed is best suited to your lifestyle!
Maine Coon Vs Russian Blue
The Maine Coon is the second most popular breed in the world, and for the last few decades, it has shone in the spotlight.
These cats are famous for being the biggest domesticated cats in the entire world, but they are also beloved for their gentle and devoted personalities.
The Russian Blue is a quieter breed.
These cats are not as well known as the Maine Coon, which matches their sensitive, shy personality.
The Russian Blue is a sweet and loving cat that forms close bonds with its owners and makes a wonderful pet for first-time cat parents.
Origins
The Russian Blue’s first appearance in the public eye was in 1875 at the Crystal Palace in London, where fascinating specimens were displayed to the public.
While the cat’s origins are murky before this point, it is believed they originated in the Archangel Isles in Russia and were eventually brought by ship to Europe.
The Maine Coon also has a mysterious origin. This is what we know so far…
These cats were first discovered in Maine by farmers and sailors who kept them for their superior hunting abilities.
Before this, it is believed the Maine Coon’s distant ancestors were once the cats of Vikings.
The Norwegian Forest cat, the Maine Coon’s closest relative, was likely brought by ship to North America, where they then mated with local cats until a new breed was formed (source 1).
If you are wondering if the Norwegian Forest Cat is bigger than a Maine Coon, take a look at this!
Size
Maine Coons are the biggest domesticated cats in the entire world.
These enormous creatures weigh, on average, between 8 and 25 pounds. They measure between 8 and 16 inches tall and 19 to 40 inches long!
Russian Blues often appear bigger than they are since they have such thick fur.
These cats are average-sized, typically weighing between 8 and 15 pounds. Russian Blues usually measure between 8 and 10 inches tall and 15 to 18 inches long (source 1).
Body Shape
Maine Coons have thick, rectangular bodies.
Their limbs are thick, and their paws are unusually large and wide. Read why this is, in this article.
The Maine Coon’s head is large with a powerful muzzle. Their overall appearance is muscular and stocky.
Russian Blues have a slender, tubular body shape. These cats have a delicate, fine-boned appearance.
Their heads are broad and wedge-shaped.
They have a distinctive “smile” due to the ends of their lips naturally curling up.
Their eyes are round and wideset, giving them an open, sweet facial expression (source 1).
Fur Length
Maine Coons have long to medium fur. Their fur is longest on their haunches, shoulders, chest, and paws.
These cats have one outer layer of fur, also called a guard layer, and two dense, fine undercoats that keep them insulated against cold weather.
Maine Coons shed a lot, and need to be groomed frequently.
By comparison, Russian Blues have short fur.
They have two layers of fur, but they are particularly dense and plush, possibly due to their origins in the north of Russia.
These cats shed minimally, however, which makes them much easier to clean up after than the Maine Coon.
Colors and Patterns
The Maine Coon comes in almost every possible color and pattern found in domestic cats.
The only pattern these cats do not come in is colorpoint, and the only colors they cannot be are rare dilutes like:
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon
- Lilac
- Fawn
Interestingly though, the Maine Coon can be found in blue! Yes, you heard that correctly. Take a sneak peek at the fabulous blue Maine Coon cat, here.
The Russian Blue, true to its name, only comes with a blue coat. Their fur appears almost silver in some lighting, but their coat is solid.
Some Russian Blue kittens have faint stripes when they are born, but as they mature, all cats of this breed have a solid blue coat.
Personality and Temperament
Maine Coons are known to have big personalities. These cats love hard and play even harder!
They are incredibly athletic with a strong hunting drive, and they can easily become bored with regular cat toys.
They need lots of space to climb, run, and jump, as well as plenty of interactive toys to keep them entertained.
The Maine Coon is also a devoted and loving pet. They form very close bonds with their owners.
Maine Coons are also quite sociable, and they are generally friendly towards strangers.
By comparison, Russian Blues are more reserved than Maine Coons. They are quieter and prefer to live in calm, quiet households.
These cats tend to shy away from strangers, and will usually hide under the couch or bed when company comes over.
The Russian Blue is also an agile and playful cat that needs climbable furniture to stay fit, but they are not nearly as active as the Maine Coon.
Instead, they prefer to follow their owners around from room to room, either curling up on your lap or watching you from afar.
They tend to form a very close bond with one particular owner, but they are typically loving to all of their family members.
Family Friendly
Maine Coons are among the most family-friendly cat breeds out there. Their sociable and patient nature means they get along great with kids and adults alike.
They hate being left alone for long periods of time, so they tend to do best in households with lots of family members or people who can give them plenty of attention.
These docile cats also do not mind being carried around, and they will even put up with playing dress up or being treated like a baby.
Russian Blues are not considered family-friendly pets.
These cats are sensitive and shy and they tend to retreat to a private hiding space when things get too rowdy.
Russian Blues do best in a quiet household with adults.
Rarity
Due to their widespread popularity, the Maine Coon is a relatively common cat breed.
More and more cat fanciers are choosing to breed Maine Coons since they are so highly sought after.
Russian Blues are considered rarer than the Maine Coon, but not as rare as many other cat breeds.
They have a medium population size, but they are much harder to find in the US than Maine Coons, since there are fewer Russian Blue breeders (source 1).
Price
Maine Coons may be relatively common as far as cat breeds go, but they certainly are not cheap!
These cats start at $1,000 to $1,500 but they can easily cost $3,000 or more if you are looking for a specific coat color or pattern.
However, if you are looking for Russian Blue kittens for sale, you can expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,000 for a high-quality kitten from a reputable breeder.
It is possible to find Russian Blues in the $600 to $800 range, but they are less likely to come from breeders who are registered with a governing cat body like TICA or the CFA.
Some people cannot help but wonder what a Maine Coon and Russian Blue mix might look like.
If you are looking for a Russian Blue Maine Coon mix price, however, it is nearly impossible to find one!
Cat fanciers only crossbreed if they are trying to preserve a breed or particular traits.
Simply breeding two cats of a different breed will result in a very inconsistent litter which may have more health problems.
As a result, most responsible breeders focus on refining existing breeds and producing cats that are an impeccable standard of that breed, instead of trying to combine cat breeds randomly (source 1).
Health
When comparing Russian Blue cats vs Maine Coon cats, both breeds are considered very healthy, with few known health problems.
Maine Coons are susceptible to:
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
- Hip Dysplasia
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Many of these conditions are genetic, which means they can be tested for, here.
Most reputable breeders only breed cats that have tested fully negative for those genetic conditions.
The Russian Blue is more susceptible to kidney and bladder problems, and like Maine Coons they can suffer from Polycystic Kidney Disease.
They are also more susceptible to progressive retinal atrophy.
Russian Blues love to eat, and they are more prone to obesity than the Maine Coon (source 1).
Intelligence
The Maine Coon is a highly intelligent cat breed that easily picks up on its name, words, and household rules.
These laidback and eager-to-please cats are also easy to train. They readily learn tricks, tasks, and even how to play fetch or walk on a leash!
The Maine Coon’s intelligence does have its drawbacks, though.
They tend to become bored with regular toys and need interactive toys and puzzles to stay challenged and entertained. Otherwise, they can become destructive.
These are my favorite sturdy Maine Coon cat toys.
The Russian Blue is a moderately intelligent cat breed that can also learn tricks or how to play fetch.
They are more content with regular toys, though, and do not need as much playtime as Maine Coons.
The Russian Blue is considered highly emotionally intelligent. Many Russian Blue owners find that their cat spends more time with them when they are sad or upset.
They are sensitive to the moods of the household and are more likely to hide if their family members are mad or arguing.
Vocality
The Maine Coon is a moderately vocal cat with a soft voice. Instead of meowing, they usually squeak, chirp, and trill like a bird.
They enjoy chatting with their owners from time to time, but they usually vocalize when they want playtime, attention, or food.
The Russian Blue is a quiet breed. They meow like regular cats, but typically only to communicate their needs, particularly when it comes to food.
Otherwise, these cats are often silent.
Grooming
The Maine Coon’s long, thick fur needs to be brushed two to three times a week, plus more during shedding season.
The long tufts of fur on their paws and haunches are more likely to become dirty, matted, or tangled, so you may want to trim their fur if your cat tends to get messy.
The Russian Blue’s plush, short coat sheds minimally and is very easy to brush.
When it comes to Russian Blue cat care, they usually do not need much more than a brush once a week.
Both Maine Coons and Russian Blues need their claws trimmed every few weeks, and it is a good idea to wipe out their ears with a damp cotton ball from time to time.
To avoid having to trim your cat’s claws, I recommend you buy a large scratching post or cat tree that your Maine Coon can scratch on, thereby keeping their claws in great condition.
Hypoallergenic
Russian Blues produce less of the protein Fel D 1, which is found in their saliva and sebaceous glands.
This protein is usually responsible for allergic reactions in humans, but since they produce less they are considered somewhat hypoallergenic.
Their short coat sheds minimally, which also contributes to their moderately hypoallergenic status.
Maine Coons are not considered hypoallergenic.
They also produce less Fel D 1 protein, but still enough to be an issue for some individuals.
Their long, triple-coated fur sheds much more than the average cat (source 1).
Diet
Maine Coons and Russian Blues need a lot of protein in their diets, specifically from animals. They require a moderate amount of fat but only a small amount of carbs.
Many cheap cat foods contain lots of filler grains, which can lead to obesity and malnutrition.
When it comes to Maine Coon cat care, it is even more important that these enormous, energetic cats get a proper amount of protein, as they are more likely to suffer from malnutrition otherwise.
Lifespan
The Russian Blue has a lifespan between 10 and 20 years, while the Maine Coon’s lifespan ranges from 12 to 15 years.
Both breeds are considered moderately healthy with a long lifespan.
Good With Other Pets
Maine Coons get along famously well with other pets.
These sociable cats crave companionship from both humans and animals, and they try to make friends with just about anyone they meet.
Maine Coons fit very well into households with cats or even dogs.
Russian Blues are not as good with other pets as Maine Coons. To a Russian Blue, privacy and quiet are incredibly important.
While they can get along with other cats, it can take a while for them to get used to another companion.
Usually, they do not do well with dogs.
Bite Force
Like most cats, the Russian Blue has a bite force of about 70 PSI.
The Maine Coon has a more powerful bite force of up to 75 PSI.
Both cats are considered gentle and sweet, however, and they are rarely prone to aggression (source 1).
Conclusion
If you are deciding between a Maine Coon vs Russian Blue, both breeds are known to be devoted and sweet.
The Maine Coon is a higher maintenance breed that requires more playtime, exercise, and grooming than the Russian Blue.
Russian Blues are quieter and more reserved, and they do better in smaller households without pets or children.
Overall, both breeds are loving and gentle, but the Maine Coon is more active while the Russian Blue is calmer.