HEAD ..................... 37 points

   Shape ................... 12

   Eyes ..................... 5

   Ears ...................... 10

   Muzzle & Chin ........ 5

   Profile .................... 3

   Neck ...................... 2

BODY ..................... 38 points

   Torso ..................... 10

   Legs & Feet ........... 10

   Tail ........................ 10

   Boning ................... 5

   Musculature ............ 3

COAT/COLOR/PATTERN 25 points

   Length ................... 10

   Texture .................. 10

   Color ..................... 5

CATEGORY: Traditional     DIVISION: All     COLOR: All

HEAD:

   Shape: Broad, modified wedge, medium in size, with a gently curving forehead and high prominent cheekbones.  A distinct stop can be felt under cheekbones.

   Eyes: Large, slightly oval, appear round when wide open.  Wide-set.  Aperture is slightly oblique;  toward outer base of ear.  Color is any shade of green and/or gold, blue and odd-eyes accepted in whites.  No relationship between coat and eye colors.

   Ears: Large, tall, wide at base.  Set high on head with a very slight outward tilt.  Bases no more than an ear's width apart.  Lower base set just slightly further back than upper base.  Moderately pointed.  Lynx tips extend vertically from the top back of the ear.  Furnishings extend horizontally beyond outer edge of ear.

   Chin: Firm, in line with nose and upper lip.

   Muzzle: Square

   Profile: Gentle concave slope.  Allow for slight bump at the end.

   Neck: Medium-long, with sturdy musculature

BODY:

   Torso: Large, long, rectangular, but not slender

   Legs : Medium to form a rectangle with the body with substantial boning and musculature

   Feet: Large, round and well-tufted

   Tail: Wide at base and tapering to top with full, flowing hair at least as long as the body from shoulders to base of tail.

   Boning: Substantial

   Musculature: Substantial, powerful

COAT/COLOR/PATTERN:

   Length : Uneven; shorter on shoulders, gradually lengthening down the back and sides.  Frontal ruff, long; full shaggy britches and belly fur.  A full ruff is not expected; however, there should be frontal ruff beginning at the base of the ears

   Texture: All-weather coat.  Coat has distinct body, falling smoothly along body.  A slight undercoat is carried.  Not cottony or wooly.

   Color: Traditional Category, all divisions, all colors.  White trim around eyes, lips, and chin allowed except in solid colors.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Maine Coon is America's native longhair cat.  The breed, with its essentially amiable disposition, developed through a natural selection process where only the fittest survived.  It should always be remembered that the Maine Coon developed basically as a "working cat" able to fend for itself in rough, woody terrain and under extreme climatic conditions. 

Maine Coons are a large breed with big ears, broad chest, substantial boning, a long, hard-muscled rectangular body and a long, flowing tail.  Good muscle tone and density give the cat the appearance of power.  IMPORTANT NOTE: Females are proportionally smaller than males and can weigh 4 to 5 pounds less.  Allowance MUST be made for this significant size difference.  Mature males can have larger broader heads than the females.

PENALIZE:

Pronounced whisker pads.  Undershot chin.  Nose break of severe bump at end.  Lack of slight undercoat.  Buttons, lockets, or spots.  Straight nose profile.  Wide-set, flared ears.  Long, slilty legs.  Slanted, almond-shaped eyes.  Flat tops on eye openings.  Lack of belly shag.  Short tail.  Rounded head.  Overall even coat.  Short, cobby body.  Fine, light boning.  Overall small cat.

Temperament must be unchallenging; any sign of definite challenge shall disqualify.  The cat may exhibit fear, seek to flee, of generally complain aloud but may not threaten to harm.  In accordance with Show Rules, ARTICLE SIXTEEN, the following shall be considered mandatory disqualifications: a cat that bites (216.9), a cat showing evidence of intent to deceive (216.10), adult whole male cats not having two descended testicles (216.11), cats with all or part of the tail missing, except as authorized by a board approved standard (216.12.1), cats with more than five toes on each front foot and four toes on each back foot, unless proved the result of an injury or as authorized by a Board approved standard (216.12.2), visible or invisible tail faults if Board approved standard requires disqualification (216.12.4), crossed eyes if Board approved standard requires disqualification (216.12.5), total blindness (216.12.6), markedly smaller size, not in keeping with the breed (216.12.9), and depression of the sternum or unusually small diameter of the rib cage itself (216.12.11.1).  See Show Rules, ARTICLE SIXTEEN for more comprehensive rules governing penalties and disqualifications.