This standard became effective in May 2007 and includes new colour reference numbers for Tabby & Shaded Pattern Maine Coons.
The Maine Coon is a semi-longhaired cat of medium Foreign type and is distinguished by its large size, bone structure, rectangular appearance and flowing coat.
The Maine Coon evolved as a working domesticated cat in a rural environment; this role is reflected in a muscular cat of rugged outdoor appearance with a characteristic weatherproof coat and the demeanour of an alert capable hunter.
Head - 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.
The muzzle should be square with firm chin: chin, upper lip and nose leather should fall in a perpendicular line. Cheeks fairly full, with high cheekbones. Bite level. Nose of uniform width with shallow concave curve at the nasal bridge when viewed in profile, and without a sharp break or stop.
Ears - Large, tall ears, wide at base and tapering to appear pointed at the tip; set high but well apart.
Eyes - Full and round, spaced wide apart with a slightly oblique aperture and set. Shades of green, gold or copper; coat and eye colour may be unrelated. Odd or blue eyes are permissible in white cats.
Body and Neck - 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. Neck moderately long; particularly thick and muscular in mature males.
Legs and Paws - Substantial legs with large round paws; toes carried close, five in front, four behind.
Tail - Long, at least the length of the back, wide at the base and tapering towards the tip.
Coat: 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.
Coat Colour and Pattern - 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).
Notes:
1. 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.
2. The cat loses coat during the summer months.
3. Different coat colours may have different textured coats
SCALE OF POINTS:
Head: Including general shape and proportions: shape, size and ear set; shape, size, set and colour of eyes; nose length and profile; cheeks, muzzle and chin ……...................................……..……..........................35 points
Body: 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……………...........………….................................... 30 points
Coat: Including length and texture; frontal ruff; ear feathering and tufting; tail furnishings; paw furnishings…..................20 points
Colour and Pattern: .................................................. 15 points
Total: .........................................................................100 points
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:
1. Cobby body shape and/or fine bone structure
2. Bi-Colour or Parti-colour cats that exhibit more than one third white or do not exhibit some white on all four paws, belly and chest
3. Definite nose break or stop
4. Straight profile or pronounced nose bump
5. Untufted paws
6. White markings (including buttons, lockets or spots) anywhere other than those referred to in the SOP
7. Overall even coat length
8. Persian like coat texture
9. Serious colour or pattern faults
10. Any defect as listed in the preface to this SOP booklet
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 cats
6. Heavily brindled coat in Tabby cats
COAT COLOURS
Chocolate, Lilac and Siamese Points are not allowed.
SOLID COLOURS
The fur should be sound to the roots in colour and free from any shadings, markings and patches of white hairs, except that red series solid cats may well show tabby markings. Nose leather, Paw pads and eye rims to tone with the bodv colour.
64/14 White - Blue Eye 64/14a White - Orange Eye
64/14b White - Odd Eye 64/14c White - Green Eye
64/15 Black 64/15d Red
64/16 Blue 64/17 Cream
TORTOISESHELLS:
The patterning should extend throughout the coat including the limbs, tail and face; blaze desirable. Base colour should be sound to the roots.
64/21 Tortoiseshell - Black and shades of red. Nose leather, paw pads and eye rims pink and/or black depending on the distribution of the red.
64/28 Blue Tortie - Blue and shades of cream. Nose leather, paw pads and eye rims pink and/or blue depending on the distribution of the cream.
SMOKE COLOURS
Any solid or tortoiseshell colour accepted. The undercoat should be silvery white with deep tips shading to the basic colour. The cat appears darkest on the back, head and feet. In a smoke cat the silvery white undercoat, which is next to the skin, should not be clearly visible when the cat is in repose. However, this can be seen when fur is parted or when the cat is moving.
This is a genetically silver non-tabby variety of Maine Coon. The appearance of clear tabby markings in the coat is undesirable. However, it is accepted that Red Series Smoke colours may exhibit some faint markings which should not be unduly penalised in an otherwise good example of the breed. It should also be noted that kittens of all Smoke colours may well show ghost tabby markings on the body for which they should not be too heavily penalised. The presence of tabby markings in adults is undesirable.
64/36 Black Smoke. Silvery white undercoat deeply tipped with black, and free from tabby markings. In motion, the silvery white undercoat is apparent; cat in repose appears black with no other markings. Extremities and face black, narrow band of silvery white at base of hair, next to skin, which may only be seen when the fur is parted. Nose leather and paw pads black.
64/36a Blue Smoke. The above is also the Standard for blue smoke except that, where the word 'black' occurs, "blue' should be substituted. Nose leather and paw pads blue.
64/36d Red Smoke. The above is also the Standard for red smoke except that, where the word 'black' occurs, 'red' should be substituted. Nose leather and paw pads pink.
64/36e Tortie Smoke. Silvery white undercoat, deeply tipped with black and shades of red, which are clearly visible on both body and extremities. Cat in repose appears tortoiseshell. Extremities and face black and shades of red with narrow band of silvery white at base of hair next to skin, which may only be seen when the fur is parted. Red markings on the face are desirable. Nose leather and paw pads to conform to requirements for coat colour.
64/36f Cream Smoke. The Standard for Black Smoke is also the standard for cream smoke except that, where the word 'black' occurs, ‘cream' should be substituted. Nose leather and paw pads pink.
64/36g Blue Tortie Smoke. The Standard for Tortie Smoke is also the Standard for Blue Tortie Smoke except that, where the words 'black and shades of red' occur, 'blue and cream' should be substituted and, where the word 'red' appears, 'cream' should be substituted. Nose leather and paw pads blue or pink to conform to requirements for coat colour.
TABBY PATTERNS:
Allowances to be made for diffusion of tabby markings in cats showing long or full flowing coats. Recognised coat patterns are Classic and Mackerel pattern.
There is a tendency for tabbies to show white around the immediate area of the lips and lower jaw area. It is a serious fault if this extends to the throat in non-silver tabbies or tabbies registered without white. Silver-white colour on the throat and muzzle of silver tabbies/silver tortie tabbies is not a fault and the base colour may be diluted by the gene producing silver.
Classic Pattern:
All markings to be clearly defined and dense. On the forehead there should be a letter 'M' giving the impression of a frown. There should be an unbroken stripe running back from the outer comer of the eye and narrow lines on the cheeks. On the neck and upper chest there should be unbroken necklaces, the more the better. The edges of the ears to be the same colour as the markings with a central patch of ground colour resembling a thumb print. A series of lines run from above the 'M' marking, over the top of the head and extend to the shoulder markings. The shoulder markings form the outline of a butterfly, when viewed from above. On the back there should be an unbroken line running down the spine from the butterfly to the tail, and there should be a stripe on either side of this running parallel to it. These stripes should be separated from each other by stripes of ground colour. On each flank there should be an 'oyster" shaped patch which should have complete rings, as numerous as possible. The tip of the tail should be the same colour as the markings. The legs should be barred evenly with bracelets from the body markings to the toes which should be spotted. The back of the leg from the sole to the hock should be solid colour. The abdominal area should be spotted.
Mackerel Pattern:
All markings to be clearly defined and dense. On the forehead, there should be a letter 'M' giving the impression of a frown. There should be an unbroken stripe running from the outer comer of the eye and narrow lines on the cheeks. On the neck and upper chest there should be unbroken necklaces, the more the better. The edges of the ears to be the same colour as the markings with a central patch of colour resembling a thumb print. A series of lines run from above the 'M' marking, over the top of the head and extend to the shoulder markings. There should be one narrow, unbroken central spine line on either side of which is a broken spine line from which the narrow lines which form the Mackerel pattern run vertically down the body. These lines should be unbroken and as narrow and numerous as possible. The tip of the tail should be the same colour as the markings.
64 41 Brown Classic Tabby Black markings on a warm copper agouti
ground colour. Nose leather brick red, paw pads and eye rims black or brown.
64 44 Brown Mackerel Tabby
64/41a Blue Classic Tabby
Blue markings on a cool beige agouti ground colour. Nose leather solid blue
or pink edged with blue, paw pads and eye rims blue.
64/44a Blue Mackerel Tabby
64/41d Red Classic Tabby
Rich red markings on a bright apricot agouti ground colour. Nose leather,
paw pads and eye rims deep pink.
64/44d Red Mackerel Tabby
64/41f Cream Classic Tabby
Rich cream markings on a cooler cream agouti ground colour. Nose leather,
paw pads and eye rims pink.
64/44f Cream Mackerel Tabby
64/41e Tortie Classic Tabby
Black markings on a warm copper agouti ground which has been overlaid with
shades of red. Nose leather brick red and/or pink, paw pads and eye rims black
and/or pink depending on the distribution of the red.
64/44e Tortie Mackerel Tabby
64/41g Blue Tortie Classic Tabby
Blue markings on a cool beige agouti ground which has been overlaid with shades
of cream. Nose leather blue and/or pink, paw pads blue and/or pink depending
on the distribution of the cream
64/44g Blue Tortie Mackerel Tabby
64/41s Silver Classic Tabby Colour and markings as above on a silver agouti
ground. Nose leather, paw pads and eye rims as above.
64/44s Silver Mackerel Tabby
64/41as Blue Silver Classic Tabby
64/44as Blue Silver Mackerel Tabby
64/41ds Red Silver Classic Tabby
64/44ds Red Silver Mackerel Tabby
64/41fs Cream Silver Classic Tabby
64/44fs Cream Silver Mackerel Tabby
64/41es Tortie Silver Classic Tabby
64/44es Tortie Silver Mackerel Tabby
64/41gs Blue Tortie Silver Classic Tabby
64/44gs Blue Tortie Silver Mackerel Tabby
Colour and markings as above on a silver agouti ground. Nose leather, paw pads and eye rims as above. (See Non-Silver Tabby Series for full description).
Silver-white colour on the throat and muzzle of silver tabbies/silver tortie tabbies is not a fault and the base colour may be diluted by the gene producing silver. Tarnishing is undesirable.
SHADED COLOURS:
Both Standard (non-silver) and Silver Shaded colours are accepted in any solid or tortoiseshell colour. Shaded cats are genetically agouti. In the shaded cat the coloured fur should give the overall appearance of a mantle on the back. The body should be as free from tabby markings as possible in adults. Kittens may well exhibit ghost tabby markings on the body for which allowance should be made.
In Standard Shaded, the undercoat should be as pale as possible with the shaft of each hair pale at the root and darkening to the base colour at the tip.
In Silver Shaded, the undercoat should as pale a silver as possible with shallow tips shading to the basic colour; the dark points being most clearly defined on the back, head and feet and the lighter points on the flanks and ear tufts. Any tarnishing of the coat is undesirable.
Nose leather, paw pads and eye rims in keeping with the basic colour.
64/43 Black shaded 64/43s Silver Shaded
64/43a Blue Shaded 64/43as Blue Silver Shaded
64/43d Red Shaded 64/43ds Red Silver Shaded
64/43e Tortie Shaded 64/43es Tortie Silver Shaded
64/43f Cream Shaded 64/43fs Cream Silver Shaded
64 43g Blue Tortie Shaded 64 43gs Blue Tortie Silver Shaded
BICOLOUR AND PARTICOLOUR
Any solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, shaded or smoke colour and white. The base colour should predominate. The minimum white permitted is some white to all four paws, underbelly and chest, with some colour allowed to these areas. The cat must not have more than one third white.
| SOLIDS | |
64/31 Black & White |
64/31a Blue & White |
| 64/31d Red & White | 64/31f Cream & White |
| 64/22 Tortoiseshell & White | 64/22a Blue Tortie & White |
| SMOKES | |
| 64/31s Black Smoke & White | 64/31as Blue Smoke & White |
| 64/31ds Red Smoke & White | 64/31fs Cream Smoke & White |
| 64/31es Tortie Smoke & White | 64/31gs Blue Tortie Smoke & White |
| TABBIES | |
| 64/41w Brown Classic Tabby & White | 64/44w Brown Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41aw Blue Classic Tabby & White | 64/44aw Blue Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41dw Red Tabby & White | 64/44dw Red Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41fw Cream Classic Tabby & White | 64/44fw Cream Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41ew Tortie Classic Tabby & White | 64/44ew Tortie Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41gw Blue Tortie Classic Tabby & White | 64/44gw Blue Tortie Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41sw Silver Classic Tabby & White | 64/44sw Silver Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41asw Blue Silver Classic Tabby & White | 64/44asw Blue Silver Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41dsw Red Silver Classic Tabby & White | 64/44dsw Red Silver Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41fsw Cream Silver Classic Tabby & White | 64/44fsw Cream Silver Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/4lesw Tortie Silver Classic Tabby & White | 64/44esw Tortie Silver Mackerel Tabby & White |
| 64/41gsw Blue Tortie Silver Classic Tabby & White | 64/44gsw Blue Tortie Silver Mackerel Tabby & White |
| SHADEDS | |
| 64/43w Black Shaded & White | 64/43sw Silver Shaded & White |
| 64/43aw Blue Shaded & White | 64/43asw Blue Silver Shaded & White |
| 64/43dw Red Shaded & White | 64/43dsw Red Silver Shaded & White |
| 64/43ew Tortie Shaded & White | 64/43esw Tortie Silver Shaded & White |
| 64/43fw Cream Shaded & White | 64/43fsw Cream Silver Shaded & White |
| 64/43gw Blue Tortie Shaded & White | 64/43gsw Blue Tortie Silver Shaded & White |
Refer to the appropriate section for
descriptions of coat markings |
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