How to Tell If Your Cat is a Maine Coon mix or a purebred Maine Coon?
There are some cat owners without any paperwork, but having large cats look like Maine Coons. This mostly happens when you adopt from a shelter or giving a stray cat a home. Have you also got a cat with a long coat and not sure about the breed, do you think it is Maine Coon? Let’s see how to tell if your cat is a Maine coon mix?
Since there are a few long hair breed cats, it is hard to tell if a cat is a purebred Maine Coon. However, there are a few distinct characters of Maine Coons, if you need to know if your cat is a Maine Coon mix. Here’s what you need to know about mix Maine Coons and their difference from other Maine Coons. Again it is impossible to say the cat’s breed just by looking at physical traits. What’s important is the love you get from your cat and giving a home filled with love for your cat.
Physical Characteristics of a Maine Coon Cat
This large cat breed is a prevalent cat breed due to its solid colours and majestic look. But there are another few large-breed cats in the world with the same size and some of the features. So let’s see what the unique characteristics of a Maine Coon cat are and how they differ from a Maine Coon Mix cat.
Maine Coon Eyes
When you are looking at a Maine Coon, the most prominent feature is its eyes. They have large, oval-shaped wide-set eyes slanting towards each ear’s outer base. But it doesn’t make any difference from other large cat breeds. So then you need to move into the eye colour. Usually, they have all eye colour variations such as amber, copper, yellow, brown, and blue. However, if your cat has blue eyes, it must have white fur, at least only around the chin. As only purebred cats with white hair get the blue eyes. Now you know if it is Maine Coon mix or not by checking blue eyes. And note to yourself; there are some purebred Maine Coons with two-toned eyes, one in blue and one in gold as well.
Still no idea? Then let’s move into ears!
Maine Coon Ears
Lynx like ear tufts are a common feature for Maine Coons. Since they are inherited with wild cats, some still get the ears similar to wisps of hair that Lynx has along with the tufts. Also, if you look close, they get most of the hair coming out of the ears. That is an adaptation to survive in the cold weather in Northern USA. The sprouts of hair on the tip of ears give them the lynx tips looks, the most Maine Coon Mix breeds don’t get these lynx tips in their lineage. But within the generations, it might fade away as they are breeding as indoor cats.
What about the size of a Maine Coon?
The size of this cat plays a significant role when identifying purebred cats. Since these cats are giant than usual domestic cats, there are some differences when they get their genes mixed with another breed. But it is not a valid point if they breed with large cat breeds such as ragdolls. The mix of Ragdolls and Maine Coon can be very huge as a purebred Maine Coon. So in that case, you may have to check the coat as well to confirm if your cat is a Maine Coon mix.
Coat of a Maine Coon can be different when it is a mix?
If you look close, you may see a difference in the coat of most Maine Coon mix cats. Maine Coons have a long, thick, and silky coat with various colours. In all variations, have three coats of fur, two of which are shorter undercoats, while their third coat is much longer and lies above the two undercoats. The purebred Maine Coons fur is semi-water repellent, so you might find that sitting under a leaking tap, or in the shower, is not the least bit disturbed by your pet.
And don’t forget about Maine, the neck ruff which gives their majestic look of mini lions. The fur around the neck is always much longer than the rest of the coat on the body. This neck fur is referred to as the mane of Maine Coons, making this unique cat breed look exceptionally regal and impressive.
What if my cat has a single colour coat?
If your cat has a single colour coat, it is way easier to say if it is a Maine Coon mix or a purebred cat. For the Smoky cats and tabby cats, it is not possible to go with these data, yet you might need to know the difference. Mainly the colour of the nose leather and paw pads are similar in purebred cats. Let’s see what are the primary colours of this fantastic breed get as purebred cats.
There are five solid Maine Coons namely pure white, Red, Cream, Grey (Blue) and Black cats. For the white cats, pink pads and the pink nose is a unique feature in purebreds.
Same with red cats, please note that they are not entire red, somewhat similar to a colour of bricks. But if it doesn’t have any shades, just bright red colour fur all over the body, you need to check their nose leather and paw pads. Both must have the same brick-red colour if it is a purebred Maine Coon.
It’s the same goes with the Cream, Gray and Black cats as well, For Cream cats, if they have no markings on the body, pink nose leather and paw pads have to be a purebred cat. For Grey ones, if the entire body is grey, nose leather and paw pads are also grey with no exception. Some may call this colour as blue Maine Coons, which is the same as they get a blue tint which is not visible well.
For Black Maine Coons, nose leather has to be solid black, and paw leathers are also black. For some cats, it is a bit paler, goes as dark brown with a solid black coat. If you want to know more about the black Maine Coons, you can read our previous article here.
Can you tell the difference from the Personality traits?
Well, purebred Maine Coons are known as very gentle cats, they enjoy human company very often. Even for strangers, they don’t take time to settle. So when comparing a mix Maine Coon, you can see a bit of different personality than the purebred Maine Coons.
Maine Coons are very gentle and loving
Maine Coon can express love for you in several ways. Your cat wants to be near you or on your lap while you’re relaxing. Mostly they are good with kids that make them a great family pet. They have a very dog-like behavior; will follow you anywhere like a dog. They are loyal to owners, and some may even greet you when you are back at home after work. That is an extraordinary thing breaking the stereotypes of all the cat breeds.
Maine Coons are talkative
Maine Coons are not very silent, and they seek attention! It’s a unique trait in Maine Coons, talkative with the owners all the time. Other than a meow, they have different vocals, trying to communicate back. Maine Coons can communicate when they are hungry, or when they need to be cuddled. It’s more like a high-pitched tuneful trill, mostly trying to rub the head against you. And then in danger also they use high pitch meows until you come and rescue them. These behaviors are not familiar with Maine Coon mix cats, so you know what to look at their personality to identify a purebred cat.
What are the most popular Maine Coon Mix cat breeds?
Since cat breeding is a popular business, most people came up with mixed breeds in the early 1990s. However, it’s not very demanding such as purebred cats. Two main mix breeds in the world have a bit of demand due to the gorgeous colours and the considerable size. There are two primary Maine Coon mix cats that mixed with Bengali cats and Ragdoll cats. But there can be any of the other random mix breeds as well. First, we’ll talk about the gorgeous toy leopard AKA Maine Coon Bengal mix breed!
Maine Coon Bengal Mix cats
The Bengal cats are also having a unique history as they inherit in wild Asian leopard cats. The leopard cats have the same rosettes pattern as a leopard, so the Bengal cats get the same spot pattern. Due to this gorgeous leopard print, they are known as Toy leopards in the market. A mini leopard, with some sharp hunting skills that have been transferred through generations.
However, there is a demand for Bengal cats more than usual domestic cats with short hair, when it comes to the United States. So the breeders tried to have a crossed breed with a larger breed from the Bengal cats. The Maine Coon purebred and Bengal cats made an excellent combination for a Maine Coon Bengal Mix.
Characteristics of a Maine Coon Bengal Mix
Bengal mixed Maine Coons are somewhat giant as they assumed, looks bulky with a slimmer body. But still, they got the athletic and muscular build, which makes them more of Maine Coon traits are visible. Since the Bengal also having a history of wild cats, they still have more muscular paws and legs. It’s hard to say if it is a Maine Coon Mix as a kitten.
The coat is also similar to Maine Coons, with an unusual exotic appearance. Most people think these are Maine Coon Tabbies, as they sometimes get different fur patterns. Not all Maine Coon Bengal Mix cats get the leopard rosettes, and some get marbling and other marks of spots. Also, the colours, they rarely get the same brownish-yellow as leopards. Silver, Blue, Red, and charcoal colours are common, yet have various each with different shades. The coat has short hair than a purebred, especially in the tail. Eyes are also having different shades of blue, copper, amber, and yellowish-brown.
The only difference you can notice is the ears of Maine Coon Bengal Mix cats. Compared to purebred cats, they have short, less pointed ears. The lynx tip is missing from the appearance when they grow older.
The personality of a Maine Coon Bengal Mix cats
Trust me. Maine Coon Bengal Mix cats are much more talkative than a purebred Maine Coon! There are no much differences in the purebred and a Bengal mix Maine Coon as both breeds are very affectionate if they are raised properly. There is a part of their souls filled with aggression as a wild cat. So you may have to pay attention to your Bengal mix Maine Coon than a purebred one. In general, the Maine Coons are very attention-seeking, so they will always vocalize their love to play or socialize with you.
Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix Cats
Ragdoll cats were originated in Riverdale in the 1960s by a breeder named Ann Baker. But she never exposed the real identity of Ragdolls. All we know is that was a white long-haired domestic female cat got into an unknown male Birman or Burmese-like Cat. And there are rumors over years, several stories about the bizarre history of Ragdolls.
Characteristics of a Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix cats
Ragdolls are also reasonably large cats with a silky coat and blue eyes. They have a small face with short pointy ears, but fur makes a face looks bigger. In most Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix cats, the ears are smaller than a purebred Maine Coon. The physical traits are much more similar to Maine Coons; fur is almost the same with different colours. And they are also mistaken as tabby purebred Maine Coons due to different colour patterns.
The personality of a Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix cats
However, personality is a significant point if you want to check if your cat is purebred or mixed. Ragdolls are naturally calm and gentle cats. When they picked up, they go limp like a ragdoll. That’s how they got their name, and Maine Coon mix Ragdolls sometimes shows the same personality as a purebred Ragdoll.
They have a very docile personality, not showing aggressive behaviors like some mix-breed cats. Loves kids and they are suitable for an apartment like living. But not very talkative as Maine Coons, they may nap a half of the day if you don’t play with them.
Are there any major Health Issues in Maine Coon Mix cats?
Maine Coon cats are known for having several health issues due to their heavy bodies. Even it is a mixed cat, you may have to give the all required regular checkups with the vet.
For larger cat breeds, they suffer from hip dysplasia due to the weight. So if your Maine Coon has a root in another larger breed, they always take that terrible gene from both sides. However, quite a few tests are available to identify the existence of a debilitating gene. That being said, often the presence of a problematic gene does not mean that the disease presents itself. So if you are very concerned about having a healthy cat, it’s always better to purchase your pet from a reputable breeder to reduce the chance of genetic abnormalities. Apart from those congenital abnormalities, a Mix Maine Coon could live much longer than a purebred Maine Coon.
What if my cat is a Maine Coon mix?
You really can’t tell if it’s not a purebred by going through the above-written information and pointing out the characteristics. So if you are concerned about the breed, you can choose the expensive option of doing DNA testing. Various companies do a DNA test of your cat for around 100$. You can read more about DNA testing from here.
I know it is a good feeling to know your cat’s history if it is purebred or not. However, if you took the cat thinking it’s a purebred Maine Coon, you can absolutely keep the cat the way a purebred Maine Coon deserved to be happy at your home. These gentle giants will always have their excellent affective behavior towards you. But if you feel like you have been fooled by a breeder, talk to them again. And require an appointment to see the parents if possible. In some states you can take legal actions against the breeder as well, you may see your lawyer for that. Even after you find that your cat is a Maine Coon mix cat, let’s hope you don’t really care what the roots of your cat are and enjoy it because it’s just your beautiful, special cat.
And if you are taking your Maine Coon Mix cat from a shelter, you are such a wonderful human being! Most mixed cats end up in shelters as the owners dump them after seeing that they are not purebred. So it’s a special feeling for your cat to be with you, living in a home filled with love and care as the way they love to live.
FAQs
A1: Differentiating between Maine Coon mixes and purebreds can be challenging. Look for distinctive characteristics like eye color, ear tufts, size, coat patterns, and personality traits.
A2: Purebred Maine Coons typically have large, oval-shaped eyes, lynx-like ear tufts, a distinct size larger than domestic cats, a multi-layered coat with neck ruff, and a gentle and loving personality.
A3: Maine Coon mixes may have blue eyes if they have white fur, particularly around the chin. Purebred Maine Coons can also have two-toned eyes, one blue and one gold.
A4: Purebred Maine Coons have lynx-like ear tufts and more hair coming out of the ears. Maine Coon mix cats may lack these distinct ear features over generations.
A5: Yes, the coat of Maine Coon mix cats might differ from purebreds. Purebred Maine Coons have a long, thick, and silky coat with a distinctive neck ruff, while mix breeds might lack these features.
A6: The color of nose leather and paw pads can provide clues. Different purebred Maine Coon colors have specific corresponding nose leather and paw pad colors, helping to identify their breed.
A7: Yes, purebred Maine Coons are known for being gentle, affectionate, and social cats. If your cat exhibits these traits, it might indicate a higher likelihood of being a purebred.
A8: Maine Coon Bengal Mix cats combine features of both breeds, with athletic build, exotic coat patterns, and talkative personalities. Ears might be less pointed than purebred Maine Coons.
A9: Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix cats have a blend of characteristics from both breeds, including a larger size, silky coat, and blue eyes. Their personality may be gentler, resembling purebred Ragdolls.
A10: Like purebred Maine Coons, mixes can experience health issues due to their large size. Hip dysplasia is a concern. Regular vet checkups are crucial for maintaining their well-being.
