True Size of Maine Coon Cats

Marlin

The Extraordinary Maine Coon: Are They Really That Big?

Yes—they truly are! Maine Coons are the largest domesticated cat breed in the world. However, it's important to note that some online photos can exaggerate their size due to camera angles and perspective tricks.

While I don’t claim to know everything about Maine Coons, I’ve had the privilege of sharing my life and cattery with over 125 of them—cats and kittens alike. I love passing along what I’ve learned through firsthand experience.

When we first brought Maine Coons into our home, we weren’t exactly sure how large they’d actually be. The photo below shows my 7-year-old holding our male Maine Coon, Marlin, at 2 years old. At that time, he was already impressive in size—but what’s even more incredible is that he continued to grow! Now at 3.5 years old, Marlin has increased in both length and weight by 27% since that photo was taken.

Marlin is a big cat—no doubt about it. But it’s not just about bulk; it’s also about length. According to The International Cat Association (TICA), an authentic Maine Coon’s tail should, when extended toward the head, reach the shoulder blades. That means their tail alone makes up about three-fourths the length of their body!

In the photo, Marlin measured 38 inches from nose to tail and weighed around 25 pounds. So yes, male Maine Coons are large—especially when compared to other house cats—but let’s not get carried away with lion comparisons. They’re big, but not that big.

Female Maine Coons, while still larger than the average cat, tend to be smaller than the males. My females typically measure around 33 inches in length and weigh about 18 pounds.

To give you a clear picture, here’s a helpful comparison chart:

Maine Coon vs. Regular Cat – Size Comparison

Cat Feature	Maine Coon	Normal Cat
Weight	10 – 20 lbs (4.5 – 9 kg)	8 – 12 lbs (3.6 – 5.4 kg)
Height (shoulder)	10 – 16 in (25.4 – 40.6 cm)	9 – 10 in (22.9 – 25.4 cm)
Body Length	19 – 30 in (48.3 – 76.2 cm)	15 – 20 in (38.1 – 50.8 cm)
Tail Length	12 – 18 in (30.5 – 45.7 cm)	9 – 10 in (22.9 – 25.4 cm)

Female Maine Coon vs. Female Regular Cat – Size Comparison

Cat Feature	Female Maine Coon	Female Normal Cat
Weight	10 – 15 lbs (4.5 – 6.8 kg)	8 – 10 lbs (3.6 – 4.5 kg)
Height (shoulder)	10 – 14 in (25.4 – 35.6 cm)	9 in (22.9 cm)
Body Length	19 – 30 in (48.3 – 76.2 cm)	15 – 20 in (38.1 – 50.4 cm)
Tail Length	12 – 18 in (30.5 – 45.7 cm)	10 in (25.4 cm)

If you're considering welcoming a Maine Coon into your life, know that you're getting not only a large and majestic cat—but also a loving and loyal companion. Just make sure you have enough space for those tails!

Let me know if you'd like a shortened version or one tailored for a social media post!