Maine Coon Vs Sphynx
At first, you might think that the Maine Coon vs Sphynx cats are very different, but these breeds do have some surprising similarities!
Read on to find out if the Maine Coon or the Sphynx cat is a better fit for you.
Maine Coon cats have strong, muscular builds and long, thick fur. Sphynx cats have more slender frames and are hairless or almost completely hairless. When it comes to personality, both Maine Coons and Sphynx cats love to play and spend time with their owners. Maine Coons are a bit calmer, while Sphynx cats are silly and attention-seeking.
Maine Coons and Sphynxes are both famous cat breeds, but for wildly different reasons.
Both of these cat breeds need lots of playtime and attention, but they ae also very rewarding affectionate pets.
Do you think you have what it takes to care for a Sphynx or Maine Coon? Read on to find out!
Maine Coon Vs. Sphynx
The Maine Coon is an enormous cat breed that initially rose to fame for its incredible hunting abilities.
This is a hardy cat breed with long, thick fur and a powerful, muscular frame.
Maine Coons are known for their incredible intelligence and trainability, as well as their gentle, loving nature.
The most prominent feature of the Sphynx cat is its hairlessness. These bald cats have no fur except for a hardly visible and very fine layer.
There is a whole lot more to this cat than meets the eye, though!
While Maine Coons are known to be energetic, Sphynx cats are even more playful!
Sphynx cats are often called clowns or acrobats because they love doing all sorts of silly performances to delight their owners. They also love being the center of attention!
If you are looking for an energetic, affectionate companion, both Maine Coons and Sphynx cats are compelling options.
For those of you looking for a playful, fun-loving cat, then you might just have a difficult time choosing between these two cat breeds.
Of course, since it can be difficult to decide between such adorable breeds, here is a more comprehensive rundown of their differences and similarities (source 1).
Origins
The Maine Coon has a mysterious history.
We do not know exactly how the Maine Coon came to be, but back in the day, they could be found all over the American state of Maine.
In the early 1800s, farmers and sailors were able to identify Maine Coons based on their long, thick fur, enormous size, and wide, often polydactyl paws.
Before long, people were bringing these cats to their ships and houses to keep out mice, rats, and other pests.
The Maine Coon cats proved themselves to be dedicated hunters as well as loyal companions.
They became increasingly popular until the early 1900s when the combination of two world wars and the rising popularity of the Persian nearly eradicated the breed entirely.
In the 1970s, however, Maine Coons rose to stardom once again, and they have become increasingly popular over the years for their size and affectionate nature.
By comparison, the Sphynx cat may look like a creature out of an ancient fairy tale, but their history cannot be traced back as far as the Maine Coon’s.
In 1966, a Canadian cat gave birth to a litter of hairless kittens.
Like many distinctive cat breeds, the Sphynx’s main characteristic was the result of a genetic mutation.
Breeders crossed these hairless kittens with other cats, then continued to breed them with their offspring to preserve the mutation (source 1).
Physical Looks And Build
Although the Maine Coon and Sphynx share many characteristics when it comes to personality, these two breeds really could not look more different from each other!
The Maine Coon is a large, muscular breed that weighs, on average, between 12 and 25 pounds.
These cats have a square appearance with thick, rectangular bodies and powerful limbs.
Their heads are large with a powerful chin and muzzle that almost resembles a lion.
Maine Coons have medium to long fur with a dense triple coat.
They can come in virtually any color and pattern, aside from:
- Colorpoint
- Lilac
- Chocolate
Maine Coons usually have long tufts of fur on their ears and paws, as well as a shaggy mane around their necks.
Sphynx cats are medium in size, but weighing just between 6 and 12 pounds on average, they are much smaller than the Maine Coon.
Their bodies are also dense and muscular, but they are more slender and lithe than the Maine Coon.
Their heads have a triangular shape with big eyes and huge, batlike ears.
While their fur is so fine and downy that you can barely see it, the pigmentation of their skin can come in every color and pattern!
Their skin is wrinkly in most places, and it is much more delicate than human skin (source 1,2).
Personality And Temperament
When it comes to Maine Coon personality traits, this breed is equal parts loving and playful.
These cats are extremely affectionate and loyal to their owners, usually following them around from room to room. Here’s why!
While they do love attention, though, they are rarely clingy.
Instead, they tend to be pretty independent, resting nearby or perching up high while their owners work.
Maine Coon cats also need lots of exercise and playtime. Here are some great toys for them.
If you get a Maine Coon, you should expect to play with your cat for at least thirty minutes to an hour every day.
Since these cats are such excellent hunters and also quite intelligent, they need a lot of interesting, durable toys to stay entertained.
Sphynx cats are also quite affectionate and have the same tendency to follow their owners around.
However, they are a bit more vocal than Maine Coons, and tend to demand attention rather than waiting patiently for it.
One of the most adorable Sphynx personality traits is their clownlike behavior!
They love to perform feats of agility for the sole purpose of entertaining their owners.
While they can be a bit mischievous, these cats are known to have a good sense of humor and are more focused on delighting their owners than getting into trouble.
Sphynx cats also require a lot of playtime and exercise, or else they may become bored and destructive. However, they are also extremely cuddly.
Since they do not have much fur, they like to burrow under blankets and snuggle with their owners whenever they are not playing.
Intelligence
Maine Coons and Sphynx cats are both known for being very intelligent. However, Maine Coons are slightly more intelligent than Sphynx cats.
Many Maine Coons are known for learning how to open doors or turn on faucets!
A lot of intelligent cat breeds, like Siamese cats, tend to be stubborn. The combination of the Maine Coon’s gentle nature and extreme intelligence, however, makes them one of the most trainable cat breeds out there!
It is easy to train most Maine Coons to:
These cats are very food motivated, so training with a clicker and treats is the fastest way to teach them new tricks.
Sphynx cats are also intelligent, but they tend to be more playful and mischievous.
These little acrobats love learning new tricks, though!
Their love of attention and performing for their owners means they are often eager to please, and always happy to learn an exciting new trick (source 1).
Family Friendly
Sphynxes and Maine Coons both make great family companions, but the Maine Coon is slightly better at fitting in with families than Sphynxes.
Maine Coons are famously gentle and easygoing and do not mind being picked up or cuddled by kids.
They are also highly affectionate creatures that crave companionship, so they tend to make friends very quickly with other cats and dogs.
Even though Sphynx cats have been known to get along well with children and other pets, their high-maintenance grooming requirements and delicate skin can pose a bit of a challenge.
For example, Sphynx cats do not like being groomed by other cats, even though most cats lick each other as a sign of affection.
Since cats have naturally rough tongues, another cat licking them feels an awful lot like sandpaper!
They also cannot withstand quite as much roughhousing from a dog or child as a Maine Coon can.
Still, so long as all of your family members can take care of your Sphynx’s delicate skin, these cats can be just as happy and friendly in a big household as a Maine Coon!
Grooming
Maine Coons require medium maintenance when it comes to grooming.
Their long fur needs to be brushed at least once or twice a week, or even more during shedding season.
They do not usually require baths unless their fur is dirty or clumped, but since these cats love exploring and playing in the water, they probably need to bathe more regularly than the average cat.
Maine Coons tend to have longer tufts of fur on their paws, which can become tangled, matted, or dirty.
If your Maine Coon’s paw fur has become a problem, though, you can easily trim them.
Here’s how to trim your Maine Coons paw tufts.
Some Maine Coons have a difficult time washing their backside after they have done their business, so poop can sometimes get entangled in the long fur near their bottoms.
This too can be trimmed to prevent “dingleberries,” as they are sometimes called.
While Maine Coons do require regular maintenance and grooming to keep their coats in tip-top shape, they are quite easy in comparison to caring for a Sphynx.
Many owners are surprised to learn that, despite their hairless coat, the Sphynx cat requires a lot more grooming than even a Maine Coon!
Their lack of fur means that oils and debris build up on their skin, especially in their wrinkles.
Sphynx cats need to be bathed once every week or two with gentle shampoo specifically for cats. This will keep them from getting too oily or too dry.
They do not have the ear hair necessary to block out dust and dirt, so they need to have their ears cleaned regularly.
Diet
Both Sphynxes and Maine Coons require diets that are rich in protein, with a moderate amount of fat and a small number of carbohydrates.
However, since Maine Coons are so big and active, they need more food than Sphynx cats.
With both breeds, though, it is important to provide high-quality food that contains small amounts of fillers like corn or grains.
A mix of dry food and wet food is usually considered best for both breeds.
This is the best Maine Coon cat food.
Since Sphynx cats are prone to tooth and gum disease, dry food is essential to keeping their teeth healthy.
Lifespan
Maine Coons generally live between 12 and 15 years.
Sphynx cats also have a relatively long lifespan, but it is slightly shorter than the Maine Coon’s, averaging between 8 and 14 years.
Health
The Maine Coon is one of the healthiest cat breeds out there, but there are still a few conditions they can suffer from.
The most deadly is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes the walls of a cat’s heart to thicken until they are so thick that blood can no longer flow through the heart.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is incurable, but it is also avoidable.
This is a genetic condition that kittens can only get if they inherit it from their parents.
As a result, responsible Maine Coon breeders will test all of their breeding cats for this condition.
Other conditions that Maine Coons are prone to include:
Overall, the Sphynx is about as hardy as the Maine Coon when it comes to health problems.
Like Maine Coons, Sphynxes are prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but as this genetic condition can be tested for, a responsible breeder will not sell kittens with this condition.
However, Sphynx cats are also prone to tooth and gum diseases, as well as a hereditary skin condition called urticaria pigmentosa.
Their delicate skin also requires more caution than the Maine Coon.
Since they do not have fur to protect them, Sphynx cats are more susceptible to sunburn and frostbite, and more likely to get cuts or scrapes (source 1).
Price
Purebred cats do not come cheap, and this is especially true for Sphynxes and Maine Coons.
The average Maine Coon price is between $2,000 and $4,000, depending on lineage and coloration.
The Sphynx cat price is even more expensive in many scenarios.
These cats can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 from normal breeders, but high-quality breeders usually charge between $3,500 to $6,000! (source 1).
Maine Coon Sphynx Mix
While it is possible for a Maine Coon and a Sphynx to have kittens, this is a rare combination.
Crossing breeds is unpredictable and expensive.
Cat breeders already put a lot of time and money into their fancy, but since there is no way to know what a Sphynx Maine Coon cross breed will look like, it can be difficult to sell them.
Furthermore, many cat fanciers and breeders are more concerned with preserving and refining the features of an existing breed, rather than experimenting with unexpected and volatile new breed combinations.
The Maine Coon x Sphynx combination could result in all sorts of characteristics. You may end up with a hairless Maine Coon cat, or a Sphynx that is extra big and muscular!
If you want to find a Maine Coon Sphynx mix for sale, it is important to be cautious.
Since most breeders registered with governing cat bodies do not crossbreed their cats, this particular combination is more likely to be sold by irresponsible breeders.
How Do You Know If Your Cat Is A Maine Coon Mix?
If you have been reading Maine Coon descriptions and they seem familiar, you are probably wondering how do you know if your cat has Maine Coon in it?
The most reliable way to know if your cat is part Maine Coon is to get a genetic test.
These can be expensive, though, so here are some other traits that may indicate your cat is part Maine Coon:
1. Size
Maine Coons are the biggest cat breed in the entire world, averaging between 12 and 25 pounds.
They tend to have rectangular, muscular frames, as well as very large, wide paws.
If your cat is extra large or proportioned like a Maine Coon, this could be an indicator that it is a mix.
2. Fur
Maine Coon fur has three separate layers.
The outer layer is semi-water-repellent, while the other two layers are softer and denser.
Maine Coons tend to have extra tufts of fur on their paws and the tips of their ears, as well.
3. Personality
The Maine Coon personality is fiercely loyal, affectionate, and playful.
They are especially gentle with children, but they also love to run, jump and climb.
One unique trait many Maine Coons share is their love of water.
4. Voice
Rather than meowing, Maine Coons tend to chirp or trill with a sweet, quiet voice.
They tend to be chatty with their owners, but not loud or demanding.
Overall, the only way to truly know if your cat is part Maine Coon is through a genetic test.
However, considering only a small percentage of cats are purebred, chances are any cat you find in the wild or get at a shelter will be a domestic shorthair or long hair rather than a mixed or pure breed.
Conclusion
When comparing the Maine Coon vs Sphynx, both cats have a lot to offer.
Sphynx cats tend to be more playful, silly, and energetic than Maine Coons, while Maine Coons are slightly more laid back and independent.
If you are looking for the best of both worlds, you may want to consider getting a Sphynx x Maine Coon mix.
This is a rare combination, though, so it is better to choose one or the other.
Or, since they are both so friendly and affectionate, why not get one of each? They are sure to become close friends!
Related Questions
Lykoi Maine Coon Mix
The Lykoi, often called the werewolf cat for its bizarre appearance, is not known to be crossed with Maine Coons, though it’s not impossible.
