EXTREME TYPED MAINE COONS
The "European" Maine Coon
In the last decade, a trend has emerged in the Maine Coon breed, where certain breeders no longer adhere to the Maine Coon Breed Standard as their guideline, but instead are creating a whole new look. The characteristics of the Maine Coon are increasingly magnified to such an extreme that harmony and balance are completely lost. Consider the extremely large ears, thick ear tufts, pronounced muzzles, and heavily exaggerated physiques—I could go on for quite a while.
Many buyers like these looks, perhaps because they are unusual or because the extreme features turn heads. It might also be due to effective marketing strategies by breeders. Posting professional photos where the cat is presented as attractively as possible for an optimal WOW-effect, that helps them go viral and appeal to a wider audience. These extreme cats have established such a strong presence on social media that people believe a Maine Coon 'should' look like this. Consequently, the normal type is dismissed as the 'old type' and is becoming a minority destined for oblivion. After all, you have to move with the times and embrace the modern type, right?
Due to high global demand, a growing number of breeders are importing extreme-typed cats from overseas kitten factories, driving up prices and fueling this concerning trend.
Everyone has their own preference, right?
Yes, everyone is free to buy whatever they want or like. Similarly, breeders are free to breed for whatever they choose, even if it goes against international breed standards. Sadly, many make no attempt to adhere to the breed standard—not even some judges. Furthermore, each breeder holds sole responsibility for the kittens they produce, and no one other than market demand, regulates them. However, do they consider the long-term consequences for the breed?
In any case, the appearance of the Maine Coon is changing at a breakneck speed, and the "original look" may soon no longer exist. Many "kitten factories" "produce" these cats on an assembly line, often managing six litters simultaneously to ensure year-round availability. These "breeders" sell to anyone globally who meets their price, offering online ordering and worldwide shipping. To maximize profit, entire litters—regardless of quality—are sold with breeding rights, allowing these lines to spread rapidly across the world.
The inbreeding coefficient of the average Maine Coon has risen significantly over a short period. This trend incurs a high cost, resulting in a loss of genetic diversity that leaves the breed increasingly vulnerable as new health conditions emerge. Consequently, the breed, which in the past was known for its resilient health, is genetically weakened.
The changes to the skull and body are occurring so rapidly that their long-term consequences cannot be foretold. Internally, the cat cannot adapt fast enough to the massive shifts in structure brought about within only a few generations. Consequently, cats with deep-set eyes are more likely to develop entropion, and extremely long snouts with large muzzles mean jaws no longer fit together properly, with all the attendant consequences. Furthermore, some cats develop sagging backs due to rapid, exaggerated growth, which is visible in the show position—a stark contrast to the slow growth and maturity that used to be a dominant trait of this breed. Added to this are joint problems, such as HD and PL. Finally, the (illegal) introduction of other breeds to achieve these changes has brought in dominant blue eyes—and their inherent hearing issues—along with colors not natural to the breed, which breeders falsely call 'rare' to drive up prices. This outcrossing has also brought in PKD and SMA.
Because of these adaptations, these Maine Coons would struggle to survive in the wild, particularly in the cold US regions where the breed originated. Consider, for instance, their long, large ears, which are prone to freezing in extreme cold rather than remaining functional. A breed is only as healthy as it is functional; as a working cat, the Maine Coon faces risks when bred merely for looks. When breeding focuses on creating "designer cats," the breed enters an unhealthy decline—a phenomenon already seen in many other dog and cat breeds bred for extreme traits.
View examples of dog breeds whose appearances have been grossly changed by breeding fads over the past 100 years. These changes are inextricably linked to serious health problems. While this article is not in English, the pictures tell a sad story.
Check out an example of the Persian cat and how its appearance has changed over the past 120 years, a transformation inextricably linked to health concerns. This article is not about one cat being better than another; every cat deserves a good home and all the love in the world. Rather, it focuses on the responsibility involved in being a breeder and a pet buyer. This article is intended for awareness and information, because each breeder's breeding program is linked to the future of the breed. As a fancier, you can have a positive influence on that future by buying a cat from a breeder who does not participate in these unhealthy trends. After all, demand determines supply
Where will the Maine Coon be in 10 or 25 years? Will a future video reveal a breed so unhealthy that it becomes controversial, leading to breeding bans? I hope not, but the future is in our hands. Choose your new pet with care: select a healthy cat with a harmonious type, avoiding extreme, exaggerated features. Opt for the long-term health of the breed
This article is adapted (with our thanks) from an article written by: Debbie Sprenger - Macadamia Maine Coons - Maine Coons As Nature Intended
Because of these adaptations, these Maine Coons would struggle to survive in the wild, particularly in the cold US regions where the breed originated. Consider, for instance, their long, large ears, which are prone to freezing in extreme cold rather than remaining functional. A breed is only as healthy as it is functional; as a working cat, the Maine Coon faces risks when bred merely for looks. When breeding focuses on creating "designer cats," the breed enters an unhealthy decline—a phenomenon already seen in many other dog and cat breeds bred for extreme traits.
View examples of dog breeds whose appearances have been grossly changed by breeding fads over the past 100 years. These changes are inextricably linked to serious health problems. While this article is not in English, the pictures tell a sad story.
Check out an example of the Persian cat and how its appearance has changed over the past 120 years, a transformation inextricably linked to health concerns. This article is not about one cat being better than another; every cat deserves a good home and all the love in the world. Rather, it focuses on the responsibility involved in being a breeder and a pet buyer. This article is intended for awareness and information, because each breeder's breeding program is linked to the future of the breed. As a fancier, you can have a positive influence on that future by buying a cat from a breeder who does not participate in these unhealthy trends. After all, demand determines supply
Where will the Maine Coon be in 10 or 25 years? Will a future video reveal a breed so unhealthy that it becomes controversial, leading to breeding bans? I hope not, but the future is in our hands. Choose your new pet with care: select a healthy cat with a harmonious type, avoiding extreme, exaggerated features. Opt for the long-term health of the breed
This article is adapted (with our thanks) from an article written by: Debbie Sprenger - Macadamia Maine Coons - Maine Coons As Nature Intended