Maine Coon Size – All You Need to Know

Let’s talk about that famous Maine Coon size. To start, meet Chelle, my Maine Coon girl. She is 15 pounds and 3 feet in length! And yet, she’s just average for a female Maine Coon.

Here’s some background: One evening, I caught a segment of the local news. And they featured “Knight,” a 42 inch long, 22 pound (and still growing) majestic male orange Maine Coon! He basically inspired me to start my Maine Coon cat journey.

The Average Maine Coon Size and Weight

There’s no mistaking it, your average Maine Coon is a solidly sizable cat, even the dainty females. There’s a reason the Maine Coon is the largest domesticated breed of cat.

Below I give some size and weight ranges, but keep in mind both genders can be even larger or heavier than these ranges. And disclaimer here, not all Maine Coon cats will grow to be the sizes described here! Some may fall into the bottom end of a range.

Females Maine Coon Weight and Size

Full grown females average 10 – 15 pounds, with an average height of 8 – 15 inches, and can be about 40 inches in length.

You might even scoff a little at an average female Maine Coon weight, thinking 13 pounds is not even that much. That’s the size of a tiny dog, you think.

Well, it’s a not a doggo. It’s a cat. And cats are known to be super strong and flexible and express that in how they move, jump, and charge.

What I am saying is… even female Maine Coons are bigger and heavier than you expect.

• 13 pounds jumping onto your chest or into your lap is definitely something considerable! Like a bowling ball.
• 13 pounds of running and playtime with needle sharp claws is reminiscent of a tasmanian devil!

My silver girl is just 14 lbs, but every bit of her is thick. When she walks, she kind of saunters, butt going side to side :0 The long fluffy coat and semi-wild looking fur, plus wide legs and big paws really contribute a lot to the look.

Male Maine Coon Weight and Size

Full grown male Maine Coon weight averages 15 – 25 pounds, with an average height of 10 – 16 inches and be approximately 40+ inches in length.

You can usually notice if a cat is a male Maine Coon. You’ll see the rectangular body, the barrel chest, framed by super floofy, long shaggy coat. Short hair Maine Coons do not exist.

People usually think they are a wild creature or if the zoo is missing one of their animals. But it’s nothing of that sort. Maine Coons are never fierce like their wild feline cousins,

In fact, male Maine Coons tend to be goofy and playful, even more than the females. With males, you can literally feel the aura of a gentle giant.

Numerous cat world record holders for size are male Maine Coons – no surprise here! Like Samson from the New York, USA.

Or Mr. Maine Coon Italy – Barivel, who is the longest cat in the world verified by the Guinness Book of World Record. He’s a whopping 120 cm or 3 ft 11.2 inches!

So, if you are seeking the biggest possible cat, adopt a male kitten because in 4-5 years when fully grown, he will probably be larger.

How Big is a Full Grown Maine Coon?

Keep in mind the above record holders are the exception and not the rule. So how big do Maine Coon cats get? Full grown Maine Coons are generally:

• females average 10 – 15 pounds, stand at 8 – 15 inches tall, and can be about 40 inches in length.
• males average 15 – 25 pounds, with a height 10 – 16 inches and be approximately 40+ inches in length.

The Maine Coon Size Guarantee

No matter, if you adopt a male or female, a Maine Coon cat’s size will be more than satisfactory, I guarantee. How can I say that?

Simple. When just looking at a Maine Coon, they seem a lot heavier than the 15 – 20 pounds would indicate.

Because a fully grown Maine Coon cat sports extra-special accessories that give an impression of size and presence!

• Extra thick paws with tufts in between their toes
• Extravagant mane
• Luxurious fluffy tail that wraps around like a blanket or scarf
• Silky, waterproof long haired coat
• Lynx tipped ears

Let’s just say that Mother Nature did not forget her goal – to develop the Maine Coon as a sturdy, tough, and working class cat!

In fact, the Maine Coon looked so perfectly wild that we humans deemed them beautiful and turned them into a show breed. Now they are desirable, pedigreed cats.

Maine Coon Cat’s Size in Comparison to Normal Cats

A normal domestic cat is typically fun-sized, weighing less than 10lb and not more than 10 inches in height.

The average Maine Coon, at 18 pounds and 10-16 inches tall, positively dwarfs a normal cat in comparison. Even a female small Maine Coon is larger in size than a domestic cat!

This is why if you’ve never been around a Maine Coon, they will be bigger than you expect. Since you have no context for large they can be.

But, even without consulting the measurements or busting out a ruler, a Maine Coon cat in comparison, simply looks much more substantial in size.

A picture is worth a thousand words!

A True Gentle Giant

If you currently house a regular domestic cat, and are considering a Maine Coon to join the family, but are wondering if the Maine Coon will use their size to their advantage and be aggressive?

Know that Maine Coons do not have one aggressive bone in their body! This would never cross their mind.

While big Maine Coons can give off a wild impression, with the uneven fur and long whiskers, you need just look into their calm eyes to see the truth! They are truly special.

Maine Coons are domesticated to the point where they are docile and floppy when handled.

And if you ever offend, they gently scold you with a high pitched “meow” that 100% does not fit their size. It’s adorable. So, don’t worry – the Maine Coon breed of cat is well known for their excellent disposition.

They can tolerance most indoor living conditions and a wide array of companions – human or furry family. I support you in your search for the perfect Maine Coon!

Maine Coon Size by Age

Maine Coon kittens need to stay at the kid’s table way longer than other cats, being slow to mature and blossom into their full fantastic form. While Maine Coons do not require special cat food, they do need a quality kitten formula.

It takes Maine Coons up to 5 years to fully grow up, while your domestic feline is at full maturity in about 8 months.

Maine Coon Size Chart by Age

The following growth chart provides an approximate guideline for the sizes of Maine Coon cats by age, but it’s important to note that individual cats may vary in size and growth rates:

Remember that these figures are general estimates and should not be taken as precise measurements. Additionally, factors such as genetics, diet, and overall wellness can influence an individual cat’s size.

Maine Coon Size at 6 Months

At 6 months, Maine Coon kittens are growing at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds a month. It’s slow and steady, but not very dramatic. Don’t feed them junk or a high calorie food.

Many families with a new Maine Coon kitten watch them with held breath, wondering when the little kitten will hit its growth spurt. At this point, a regular cat is basically grown, but Maine Coons have barely gotten started.

Maine Coon Size at 1 Year

At 1 year, kittens should have finally hit a growth spurt and start to resemble the cat you’ve seen in pictures. Between 1 year and 2 years, a Maine Coon should be as large as a normal cat (or even bigger!)

Maine Coon Cat Size Compared to Other Large Cat Breeds

Of course, Maine Coons are not the only large domestic cat breed. I’m willing to bet some of you who are far along in your cat journey have done research on other big cat breeds too 🙂

Anyway, other large domestic cat breeds you could look at include the Ragdoll, Siberian, and Norwegian Forest Cat.

Compared to all those breeds, the Maine Coon has the potential to be larger, heavier, and stockier. The Maine Coon stands out as generally larger, even amongst larger cat breeds.

Maine Coon Size Compared to a Dog

Chelle and I have a neighbor with 2 Pomeranians, and 1 neighbor with a bulldog of some sort.

Sometimes, we are lounging in the hallway around the same time, and I get a chance to compare my Maine Coon’s size to the 2 dogs.

First, the two Pomeranians put together would not equal the Maine Coon, in height or weight!

Maine Coons are much bigger than varieties of toy dogs – Corgis, Terriers, Dachschund, Papillions, you get the idea.

Funny story about the two Chihuahuas, breed of dog is known for being full of attitude and spunk.

And despite my Maine Coon cat being about twice the size of them, their fire and buzzing energy turn my normally calm cat in to a cautious scaredy-cat.

Second, if we compared my 14 pound Maine Coon to the bulldog, they are almost the same size, though the dog is heavier.

But the thing won’t be the same: The reaction from friends or family seeing your “average” 18 pound Maine Coon cat is a million times more fun!

Why are Maine Coons So Big?

I elaborated on this in my big Maine Coons post, so go there for more details!

Maine Coons originally are from the great state of Maine, USA 🇺🇸. And before that, their ancestors were linked to Northern Europe 🇳🇴.

But for all intents and purposes, they are from Maine. It’s even their state cat! See, Maine has harsh, extremely cold winters. But Mother Nature has a trick called Bergmann’s Rule.

This principle says:

It holds that within such species body size varies such that individuals occupying colder environments tend to be larger than individuals who live in warmer environments.

Plos One: A Reassessment of Bergmann’s Rule in Modern Humans

The larger the mass, the less quickly heat will dissipate. That’s part of the reason why Maine Coons are this massive. It’s a survival mechanism and natural selection.

The second reason? They’re totally badass!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does a Maine Coon Cat Weigh?

The average weight range for Maine Coon cats is typically between 15 and 25 pounds for males and 12 and 17 pounds for females. However, it’s important to note that individual cats may weigh more or less than these averages.

How Big Does a Maine Coon Cat Get?

Adult female Maine Coons can weigh between 10 to 15 pounds and can stand at a height of 8 to 15 inches at the shoulder. Their length can reach approximately 40 inches.

Adult male Maine Coons, on the other hand, typically weigh between 15 to 25 pounds and have a height ranging from 10 to 16 inches at the shoulder. Their length can also be around 40 inches or even longer.

What Are the Length of Maine Coons?

Maine Coons are typically long-bodied cats with a substantial length.

On average, the body length of an adult Maine Coon cat can range from 18 to 40 inches. My girl is about 36 inches (3 feet standing), including her head, body, and tail.

How Tall are Maine Coon Cats?

On average, the shoulder height of an adult Maine Coon cat can range from 10 to 16 inches (25-40 cm). However, it’s important to remember that individual cats can vary, and some Maine Coons may be taller or shorter than the average range.

Males are generally larger and taller than females. I’ll also note that the shoulder height doesn’t account for other factors like the head and ears, which can add additional height. Maine Coon cats are also known for their fancy tufted ears, which can make them appear taller.

In Closing

I hope this was everything useful to you about Maine Coon mass and size comparisons.

This post is light on actual measurements, I know. That’s because you can give people all the stats of something but without context, it does not even matter.

I’d rather paint you a picture of the Maine Coon cat’s size with stories, experiences, and feelings. Those beat looking at measurements any day.

Gary H.

I’m Gary Hu, a proud cat dad to a 15 lb Maine Coon. Have taken care of outdoor and indoor cats for over 10 years, and learned tons on behavior, habits, health, and products. I help new Maine Coon (or any other cat) parents with common questions and issues based on real, practical experience.