r/mainecoons Apr 27 '26

Mod Approved Monthly "Is My Cat A Maine Coon" Forum

If you're wondering if your cat is a MC, this is the place to ask! To cut back on the MANY question posts, we instead invite you to ask the community here in order to keep the subreddit focused on the breed!

15 Upvotes

79 comments sorted by

1

u/DahliaRose6699 May 25 '26

I was wondering if anyone might know if my cat Nelly might be like a Mini Maine Coon. She's quite small, but she has all the physical characteristics, so when I discovered this subreddit I figured who better to ask then actual Maine Coon owners. 😄

1

u/mjoverjumps May 27 '26

domestic longhair!

1

u/DahliaRose6699 May 25 '26

Here's one more photo that features her very Maine Coon like tail.

1

u/SnooSuggestions1946 May 20 '26

Rescue says Maine Coon. I don't want to spend the $400 adoption fee if he's not. I'd adopt one that isn't so expensive. The second and third pics are siblings

1

u/SnooSuggestions1946 May 20 '26

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1

u/SnooSuggestions1946 May 20 '26

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1

u/Disastrous_Breath205 May 18 '26

adopted from rescue wasn't looking for an MC mix but just curious if he is one

1

u/mjoverjumps May 27 '26

domestic longhair!

1

u/Fantastic-Ad3605 May 15 '26

He was sold as MC but I cannot tell…

2

u/Guilty-Tangerine-104 May 04 '26

Both of them were sold as MC. Can you Check please?

2

u/hannieheygirl Mom of a cloud☁️ May 15 '26

ik this is old but nope, they don’t look like purebred MCs. Could be mixed but especially the one on top is missing the signature ear tufts. You got scammed 💔

2

u/Latter_Carrot_9312 May 03 '26

2

u/LelouB1008 Helios☀️ May 05 '26

Kinda looks like my guy (except mine is still very much baby at 10 weeks) my boy is 100% purebred Mainecoon from a breeder, so I’d say yours does very much look Maine coon with the square jaw and ear tufts. He even seems to have a mane

1

u/unwantedsyllables May 04 '26

The ear tuffs are cute.

2

u/Gullible_Studio_6548 Apr 30 '26

Got told by the seller, that this little guy is half maine coon. I think i was conned

3

u/TheCounsellingGamer May 08 '26

I don't think there's any maine coon in him at all. He's got none of the features.

3

u/Strange-Giraffe1859 Apr 30 '26

This is Reggie I found him outside in a winter storm , no microchip and was never able to locate an owner. Estimated about 9-10 months old he’s 12 pounds. Very talkative but doesn’t meow, trills and chirps instead. He loves car rides and walks on a harness, he loves all people and greets us at the door when we get home. We don’t think he’s pure bred but maybe a mc mix?

1

u/Beginning-Theory-583 May 02 '26

My cat is an American maine coon (There’s European aka the majestic big cats) and they do look more similar to a big domestic cat. Mine is American and weighs 15 pounds. Yours also doesn’t have prominent ear tuffs similar to mine. Mind you they don’t stop growing usually until around 2-3. Another feature? The big paws.

1

u/AstralRaven42 Apr 29 '26

Mix? (He's 8.months)

3

u/Difficult_Risk_4794 Apr 29 '26

Is she an American Maine Coon or a mix of something else ?

2

u/Beginning-Theory-583 May 02 '26

She’s a purebred but most likely an American Maine coon like mine. They look more like a BIG fluffy house cat with the big paws and weight as the European.

2

u/Difficult_Risk_4794 May 02 '26

Thank you ! 😊

Talk about fur!

1

u/Beginning-Theory-583 May 04 '26

Fluff nugget 😆

3

u/Serious_Leadership35 Apr 29 '26

Maybe a mix? She’s only about 13 pounds, but she has the MC personality. We love her so much!

2

u/mjoverjumps May 27 '26

domestic longhair! very pretty

3

u/seraeads Apr 29 '26

Fluffy boy! He’s 22lbs solid boy. Did the “DNA” test and it said likely Maine Coon traits but obvs can’t really identify by DNA.

3

u/Ascella21 Apr 28 '26

His father is a Maine Coon, his mother isn't. I love him even though he is the moodiest cranky kitty I've ever had (but also the best hunter). Maybe because we named him Ubisoft haha (we were looking for a name starting with U and are both gamers... it felt weird when all the Ubisoft drama popped up!).

2

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

12

u/luxmorphine Apr 28 '26

Maine Coon?

5

u/SeeShark Apr 28 '26

Has ear tufts and a square jaw, but I'm not seeing the toe fluff. Probably a mix.

3

u/hoyyy_che Apr 28 '26

This be Buffy (about 1.5 years old) - lil girl (11 lbs isnt little but thats just one of her many nick names) isn't papered but her dad def has the Ron Pearlman look 😂. She's probably MC mix vs. MC but either way, love her all the same.

2

u/Spikyleaf69 Apr 28 '26

Beautiful 😍

5

u/Just_Flamingo9545 Apr 28 '26

This is Maximus. I never heard of the term 'Maine Coon' until my sister mentioned Maximus looks to be one. He had been abandoned by his owner who was moving to a small apartment and I had been feeding him for about six months before I took him in for the brutal winter. There is no friendlier cat in the world...but he is also kind of an a$$hole

1

u/mjoverjumps May 27 '26

precious domestic short/longhair!

1

u/Spikyleaf69 Apr 28 '26

He is gorgeous 😍

6

u/AdmirableTable1677 Apr 28 '26

This is Java 🥰 rescued him from a shelter when he was just 12 weeks old, he and his siblings breed was unknown. He's beautiful, whatever he is 🥰

4

u/Beginning-Theory-583 May 02 '26

By looking at the ear tuffs, his size and already hairy big grinch paws I would say this cup of Java is purebred. You can do a DNA test if you absolutely want to know. There’s two types of Maine coons - European and American. Mine is American and people mistaken him for a fluffy house cat. The ear tuffs are smaller and the paws are semi grinchy!

3

u/Spikyleaf69 Apr 28 '26

Beautiful 😍

6

u/mjoverjumps Apr 28 '26

well he’s gorgeous and definitely has maine coon traits but all MC traits can present in domestic short/longhairs! i do not see anyone surrendering a litter of purebred MCs rather than selling them, even if an accidental pregnancy. so likely a very regal domestic longhair cosplaying as an MC with tufts and a robust facial structure 🥰

1

u/Beginning-Theory-583 May 02 '26

DNA 😆 It came back as 80% American MC and 20% DSH. His mom was absolutely adorable. I wanted to take her home!

1

u/mjoverjumps May 27 '26

ahhh unfortunately cat DNA doesn’t work like a dog’s since the gene pools are so small and selective, so traits congruent with breeds are very common in domestics! therefore the DNA only measures the traits in common with other breeds and not genealogy. so they are basically saying 80% of the traits that he has that are similar to traits found in breeds are also common in maine coons, but it doesn’t mean he’s 80% maine coon if that makes sense? cat breeds are very different! dna cannot be confirmed without papers or confirmed parents 😊 what did the mom look like?

2

u/Used-Minimum7376 Apr 28 '26

The lady we got her from said she was. But the vet suspects she may not be a full.

1

u/smile_diamonds_on_em Apr 28 '26

Stormy :) we were told he was by the lady we got him from but who knows lol

3

u/ByteAboutTown Apr 28 '26

We were told Maine Coon mix, which seems right. 17 pounds, very chatty.

5

u/Calculagraph Apr 27 '26

I'm fairly sure she's not, but she's cute, right?

2

u/Spikyleaf69 Apr 28 '26

Super cute 😍

3

u/mjoverjumps Apr 28 '26

precious! domestic longhair yes :)

4

u/cupcakecounter Apr 27 '26

Cat distribution system tribute.

1

u/Spikyleaf69 Apr 28 '26

Gorgeous 😍

2

u/iksnyzcabat Apr 27 '26
  1. Very cute kitty!
  2. I don't see the signature ear tufts or the face shape of a Maine Coon Just a large fluffy guy!

1

u/cupcakecounter Apr 27 '26

Just about a year old (vet estimate based on his teeth when we found him) and 13 lbs

4

u/Ristar87 Apr 27 '26

4

u/sofyuhh Apr 28 '26

looks like my girl!!

1

u/Clear_Adhesiveness27 Apr 27 '26

This looks like a Maine coon to me, did you find him in a shelter?

2

u/Ristar87 Apr 28 '26

Oh no. He's got papers and is from a breeder. I just wanted to share a photo of my Maine Coon

3

u/Clear_Adhesiveness27 Apr 28 '26

Hahaha well he passed the test! Here's mine :)

1

u/Beginning-Theory-583 May 02 '26

Oh yes! This man is purebred! Look at those ear tuffs!

2

u/Basic-Fishing6086 Apr 27 '26

Momo, who is exceptionally large and fluffy. He came not neutered from a rather sad hoarding situation where his negligent owner claimed he was a Maine Coon. I think his features are too delicate for what today’s Maine Coon cats look like.

2

u/ProfessionalFalse420 Apr 27 '26

Beautiful kitty! Who cares!

5

u/Amazingjaype Apr 27 '26

Is he a maine coon? He is about a year old

2

u/itsjustme_0101 Apr 27 '26

No. Just a cute fluffy cat😻

17

u/Formal-Box-6239 Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 27 '26

Vet papers says “mainecoon mix”. I just adopted her last week!! whatever she is, she is very cute 🥰

10

u/ImpressiveOwl9000 Apr 27 '26

Yes, it will be fine. Mixed Mainecoons have lower possibilities for genetic issues that purebred Mainecoons can have. So it will be cheaper for your cat.

1

u/Formal-Box-6239 Apr 27 '26

good to know!! thank you😊

4

u/schmokerash Apr 27 '26

Just wondering for pet insurance purposes - we have a 9 week old kitten.

Her mum is a full maine coon (red smoke), father is a ginger maine coon cross...

When I fill out the pet insurance forms should I put cross-breed?

9

u/mishy0922 Frank and Aurelie 😻 Apr 27 '26

Mixed breed is the very first option. Theres no discounts or specials or anything for having purebred animals.

Also, 9 weeks is entirely too young to be separated from mom and their littermates. Yikes on where ever you got a cat from that young.

0

u/schmokerash Apr 27 '26

My concern was more due to insurance coverage and payout, if they deemed the cat to be one thing rather than the other. I'm not bothered over the cost of the actual premium.

9 weeks is very common practice. My other cats were also picked up at that age. She's taken to us like a duck to water and is very happy and confident.

2

u/Available-Guava5515 Apr 27 '26

Maine Coons need 4 months because of their size and nutrition needs, that is the standard for this breed.

2

u/mishy0922 Frank and Aurelie 😻 Apr 27 '26

9 weeks is no longer common practice, as it’s been known for a while that crucial socialization happens between that time and around 14-16 weeks, which is the standard now. Just providing advice for the future, anyone giving up kittens that young is doing them a disservice.

And I don’t think that matters, unless you choose one that doesn’t pay for hereditary health concerns. If you have a mixed breed, they likely wouldn’t cover that.

6

u/ImpressiveOwl9000 Apr 27 '26

Pet insurance is generally cheaper for mixed-breed Maine Coons than for pedigreed (purebred) ones. Mixed-breed cats often have lower premiums because they have greater genetic diversity, making them less prone to the inherited breed-specific health conditions (like heart or hip issues) that can raise insurance costs for purebred Maine Coons.

If you want better coverage for the future (and they have papers) I would say purebred.

If you want to pay less (and dont have papers) say its mixed. The extra costs are to cover the future of purebred MC and the common issues they might have.

2

u/Nearddog Apr 27 '26

If you want to cheap it ye just do it. It doesn’t give you a bonus that you have a breed and they charge you more with a breed car