🐱 Understanding Maine Coon Breed Standards

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If you're new to the Maine Coon world—or simply curious about showing—it's helpful to know that there are several major cat registry organizations, each with their own breed standards. These include TICA (The International Cat Association), GCCFI/GCCF (Ireland/UK), FIFe (Europe), CFA (U.S.-based), and WCF, among others.

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At Pandora’s Paws, we are proudly TICA-registered breeders, but we also show regularly with GCCFI/GCCF here in Ireland and the UK. Because of that, we often get questions about the differences between standards—especially from kitten families who might want to attend a show or consider breeding one day.

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This brief comparison is designed to give you a simple, side-by-side look at how TICA and GCCFI view the Maine Coon, what qualities they prioritize, and how that may affect what you see in the show hall or in your own lovely companion cat.

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• Overall Type & Impression:
  Both emphasize a large, muscular, rectangular body with substantial boning. TICA describes the Maine Coon as a "gentle giant" with a rugged, natural look, while GCCFI focuses on a balanced, impressive appearance—not coarse but strong.

• Head Shape & Features:
  Both call for a slightly longer-than-wide head with high cheekbones and a square muzzle. TICA allows for a slightly more varied eye color and more emphasis on the lynx-like ear tips, while GCCFI prefers traditional eye colors related to coat color and a firm, squared muzzle.

• Body & Legs:
  Both standards want a long, muscular body with large, round paws and tufted toes. A key difference: TICA accepts polydactyly (extra toes) in a separate show class, whereas GCCFI does not allow polydactyly in the show ring.

• Tail:
  Both require a long, well-furnished, flowing tail that ideally matches or exceeds body length.

• Coat:
  Both describe a silky, flowing coat with shorter hair on the shoulders and longer “britches” on the belly and flanks.
  Color acceptance differs—TICA allows all colors and patterns, including rare ones like shaded or smoke, while GCCFI restricts some colors such as chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, and fawn.

• Disqualifications & Faults:
  Polydactyly is allowed by TICA but disqualified by GCCFI. Both disqualify crossed eyes and serious tail defects.

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⚠️ A Word of Caution: Avoid Breeding for Extreme Traits

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While Maine Coons are beloved for their distinctive look, it’s important to prioritize health, temperament, and breed type over extreme or unusual features. Some trends in breeding have unfortunately encouraged traits that are not true to the classic Maine Coon standard and can cause health or welfare issues, such as:

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• “Rabbit ears” — overly large, narrow, or upright ears that lack the natural wide base and lynx tips typical of Maine Coons. This look is considered a fault and detracts from the breed’s balanced appearance.

• Dominant blue eyes — especially in non-white cats, blue eyes can be linked to genetic issues like deafness or other health problems. True Maine Coons typically have eye colors matched to their coat.

• Out-of-proportion body or head — such as extremely small heads on large bodies, excessively long legs, or exaggerated muzzle shapes. These extremes can affect the cat’s movement, balance, and overall wellbeing.

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Responsible breeders focus on maintaining the breed’s classic traits: a well-balanced, muscular body; a strong square muzzle; expressive eyes; and a friendly, sturdy temperament. Avoiding extremes helps ensure healthy, happy cats that embody the true spirit of the Maine Coon.

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REFERENCES: 

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• TICA Maine Coon Breed Standard:
  https://tica.org/phocadownload/mc.pdf

• GCCF/GCCFI Maine Coon Standard of Points:
  https://www.gccfcats.org/Portals/0/MaineCoon.SOP.Template.pdf

• PawPeds Maine Coon Education:
  https://www.pawpeds.com/pawacademy

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