The 2005 Maine Coon Seminar

Organised by the Maine Coon Breed Advisory Committee

This presentation is based on an original photo seminar which has been used successfully in both TICA and CFA, as well as in other organisations worldwide.

CFA or TICA Standards have been replaced by the GCCF but comments and photos are relevant to all associations catering for Maine Coons.

Coonsboro Calvin Coonidge

(at 9 months) Born October

1991 The first Maine

Coon one show Grand Champion in both CFA and TICA

B/O: Jill & Dave Burrows

Original Seminar Prepared by:

Beth Hicks, January 2004 TICA Judge since 1979 TICA Instructor – School & Ring Tanstaafl Cattery – Est. 1972

A quote from the original author…

This photographic seminar on the Maine Coon would not have been possible without the fantastic support received from Maine Coon breeders worldwide. The cats pictured in these pages are from the United States, Europe, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. These Maine Coons are beloved pets, breeding cats, and award winners that have been shown in many different associations around the world.

After more than thirty years of breeding, I still find that the community of Maine Coon breeders and fanciers is a very special group of people.

The response to my frequent requests for photos to illustrate specific features was fabulous!

This started as a project to develop a photo seminar for TICA judges but quickly became much more than that.

Maine Coon breeders, owners, and clubs worldwide have my permission to use this seminar as a teaching and training tool.

Copyrights in the photographs contained in this document belong to their photographer, including without restriction Chanan, Jim Childs, Carmelynn Cole, Jim Brown, Feline Fotos by Helmi, and all other photographers (professional or otherwise). No photograph used in the photo seminar is to be used for any other purpose without the express written permission of the photographer.

The original seminar can be found on the web at http://home.midsouth.rr.com/mcseminar

MAINE COON SEMINAR - GCCF Standard

HEAD SHAPE (per GCCF standard –35 points,

includes shape, size and ear set; shape, size, set and colour of eyes;

nose length and profile; cheeks, muzzle and chin)

“Medium in length, the nasal bridge being equidistant from the ear line and the tip of the nose, with the width being slightly less than the length of the head. Allowance should be made for additional breadth or jowls in mature males.”

Maine Coons with different looks shown in different associations

worldwide -all lovely cats that fit the standard.

THE MUZZLE“The muzzle should be square with firm

chin.” The muzzle/chin is visibly square,

medium in length and blunt ended when viewed in profile. It may give the appearance of being a rectangle but should not appear to be tapering or pointed.”

“Length and width of the muzzle should be proportionate to the rest of the head and present a pleasant, balanced appearance.”

Prominent Whisker Pads - detract from squareness of muzzle and

strength of chin

Triangular Snippy & Narrow

Short Muzzle

Rounded

This young girl has a good

square muzzle but her head is narrow across the eyes and

cheeks, making her look long in the face. The

head will broaden as she

matures

Square muzzles. White on the face can be visually distracting, look for actual shape.

THE CHIN“chin, upper lip and nose leather should fall in a perpendicular line. Bite level.”

Three chins with the width and depth to complete the square look of the muzzle, also in line with the upper lip.

“A chin lacking in depth, i.e. one that tapers from the jaw line to the lip, is not

consideredstrong, firm or desirable.”

Chin - Lacks depth

Chin - Receding

“The chin should be strong, firm, and in line with upper lip and nose. When

viewed in profile the chin depth should be observable and give the impression

of a square, 90 degree angle.”

The female’s chin (left) needs to be stronger and have more depth. The male’s chin (right) has the depth to look balanced with the muzzle.

The female’s chin (left) is strong and deep but a little narrow.

Male’s chin (right) is receding and needs more depth.

THE PROFILE

“Nose of uniform width with shallow concave curve at the nasal bridge when viewed in profile, and without a sharp break or stop.”

Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for:

Definite nose break or stop

Straight profile or pronounced nose bump

“A profile that is straight from the brow line to the tip of the nose is not acceptable, nor should the profile show signs of having a break or stop.”“The profile should be proportionate to the overall length of the head and should exhibit a slight concavity when viewed in profile. The profile should be relatively smooth and free of pronounced bumps and/or humps.”

Straight

Suggestion of a Roman Nose

Pronounced Nose Bump

Unusual Nose Bump Slight Nose Bump

Three perfect profiles

THE EARS

“Large, tall ears, wide at base and tapering to appear pointed at the tip; set high but well apart.”

Same female pictured at 8 months and 5 years old

One year old neuter – the head doesn’t widen as it does with an

entire male.

Comment: Age plays a factor in position of ears

on head!• On kittens and younger adults (particularly females) the ears will often be set more closely together.

•A whole male’s heads will broaden with age and ears may appear smaller and set further apart.

•“Set: approximately one ear’s width apart at the base; not flared.“

Pictures of the Same Male at ages 7 months, 2 years and 12 years –

Ear size did not change! The head broadened

Comment: Adult males, as they mature, will get broader across the top of the head causing the ear set to look wider, but the ears at attention should never flare or point outward.

Ears less than perfect:

Set straight up and narrow

Ear bases are too narrow

Set too low

Out of balance - so tall that ears are the first thing you

notice!

Ear FlareEar flare is largely determined by the relationship between the set of the inner and outer base of the ear. If the outer base is set way back from the inner base, the ears will be flared out.

Nice size and set but tilted and flared

Two whole males: one on left is 6 years old, one on right is 5

years old.

Ears that are set correctly should not “go south”.

Too small & too wide set

Good ears on a 3 year old female

Same boy pictured at 6 months and one year - you can see the

difference in width of head, but size and set of ears is still good.

Lynx Tips add dramatically to the MC look!

Pictures of the same female against different backgrounds - see how the visible lynx tips properly finish the pointed shape of the ear.

Adult Male with excellent set and size -

Well balanced ears

THE EYES “Full and round, spaced wide apart with a slightly oblique

aperture and set.”Too Slanted Too Round

Small

Almond Shaped

Flat topped Too Wide-Set

Three cats with good eye set, size and aperture.

BODY

(Per GCCF Standard – 30 points: Including shape and proportions; size, bone structure, muscularity and condition, height and thickness of legs; shape and size of paws; shape and length of tail)

Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: Cobby body shape and/or fine bone structure

Legs and Feet

“Substantial legs with large round paws; toes carried close, five in front, four behind”

Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for:

Untufted paws

- Not a problem for this cat!

Legs should not be overly long or

short - the appearance from the side when the

cat is standing naturally should

be a perfect rectangle with

the body positioned evenly

over the legs.

Comment: Imagine a shoebox sitting on top of another shoebox and you have the proportional shape

of the Maine Coon body as it sits over the legs - the legs shouldn’t be so long as to make the body look

short, nor should the body be so long as to make the back appear unsupported. Full belly ruff will make

legs look shorter.

Neck

“Neck moderately long; particularly thick and muscular in mature males.”

• “Body large to medium size, solid and muscular with breadth of chest. Long body with proportionate limbs to create the characteristic rectangular appearance; square rump.”

Body

BODY (SIZE) “Body Shape: Muscular, broad-chested. Size medium to large. Females

generally are smaller than males. The body should be long with all parts in

proportion to create a well balanced rectangular appearance with no part of the anatomy being so exaggerated as to foster weakness.

Allowance should be made for slow maturation.”

The GCCF Standard states

“Since the Maine Coon is slow to mature (taking up to 4 years),

allowance should be made as to their size when judging younger

cats. The balance of the cat is of uppermost importance.”

On the left is a SIX MONTH old male who already weighs 14 pounds. Next to him is his TWO YEAR old dam who weighs 11 pounds - that is not a small female, but in another six

months she will look “small” sitting next to her son.

Littermates at one year - two males and one female.

Littermates at 11 months. This is a big female (right) but notice the

difference in body build and boning in the leg.

“Quality should never be sacrificed for size.”

 

Comment: The size difference between males and females is more significant in Maine Coons than any other breed.

Males average 15-20 pounds. Females average 9-12 pounds.

TAIL

Long, at least the length of the back, wide at the base and tapering towards the tip.

COAT

“Per GCCF Standard – 20 points: including length and texture; frontal ruff; ear feathering and tufting; tail furnishings; paw furnishings”

“Waterproof and virtually self-maintaining, consisting of an undercoat covered by a more substantial glossy topcoat. Fur shorter on the head, neck and shoulders increasing in length down the back, flanks and tail. A fluffy appearance is undesirable.

Breeches and belly fur full and shaggy. Frontal ruff beginning at the base of the ears; heavier in males than females. Tail fur long, profuse and flowing; not bushy. Ears feathered and preferably tufted at the tips; the ear feathering should extend beyond the outer edges of the ear. Paws tufted, with long tufts emanating from under the paws, extending backwards to create a snowshoe effect.

Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: Overall even coat length or Persian like coat texture

Comment:

Age and hormonal status can impact development of coat - Many cats ‘blow’ coat at sexual maturity and may be 2 or 3 years old before coat comes back in fully.

Neuters may have fuller coat than entire cats.

Two similar looking girls illustrate the difference a slight frontal ruff makes in appearance. Age is a factor, as the girl on the right is now 2 years old and her

ruff is just starting to grow.

Two breeding males approximately the same age

Slightly more undercoat adds to shaggy appearance and overall balanced look of this boy

Coat lies too close to the body - this boy needs more undercoat, belly shag and ruff

Maine Coons with wonderful shaggy coats, frontal ruffs and long flowing

tails!

COLOUR (per GCCF standard - 15 points)

The Maine Coon is recognised in a variety of solid colours (including white in all eye colours); tortoiseshell; tabby colours (classic and mackerel patterns) with or without silver; shaded and smoke colours; bi-colour and parti-colour (e.g. solid/tabby/tortoiseshell/shaded/smoke colour and white).

Chocolate, Lilac and Siamese Points are not allowed.

Withhold all awards for:

1.Wrongly registered adults, kittens or neuters.

NOTE: These should be marked as wrong colour on judge's slips and disqualified.

2.Blue or odd eyes in cats of a colour other than white

3.Van Patterned Cats

Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes

for:

Bi-Colour or Parti-colour cats that do not exhibit some white on all four paws, belly and chest

White markings (including buttons, lockets or spots) anywhere other than those referred to in the SOP

Serious colour or pattern faults

Faults

1.Unsound base coat in Solid or Tortoiseshell coloured cats

2.Tabby markings in adult Smoke coloured cats

3.Heavy tabby markings in Shaded coloured cats

4.White extending beyond the throat in Non-Silver Tabby cats registered without white

5.Tarnishing in Silver Series cats6. Heavily brindled coat in Tabby cats

Comment: Colour is very subjective, involving

elements of clarity and density.

Tongue (per GCCF standard - no points are awarded

for tongue -)

Long enough to clean the nose...

Hope you enjoyed our show!

We would like to say a special thank you to Beth Hicks of the Tanstaafl

Cattery for allowing us to use her work

in our seminar today. Trivia Quiz… Tanstaafl was

one of the founder Maine Coon catteries in the USA, but did you know where the word Tanstaafl comes from?

There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch!!

Thank You!