Hi, my name’s Irena and I live on the beautiful island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. I have three cats, Hammie, Dimitris, and Ebony as well as a crazy, but lovable dog, Sherlock.
Today we’re going to take a look at Maine Coons and find out if there are any short haired cats of this species.
Perhaps you don’t know what a Maine Coon is so let me tell you.
What is a Maine Coon?
The Maine Coon cat originates from Maine in New England.
They have been around since the 19th century and have been popular as mousers and farm cats. In the 20th century, they became household cats.
The most outstanding feature of Maine Coons is their size. They are just so big. A Maine Coon holds the record for the longest cat in the world.
It was well over 4 feet in length. Imagine that. I’m only 5 feet 2 inches. How would I get a cat that size on my lap?
Maine Coons are affectionate but don’t mind having a little space.
They’re happy to receive attention, but if you’re busy, they’re not put out. They get on fine with children but don’t like too much roughness.
They have kept their hunting instincts since being brought indoors, so if you have a rodent infestation, don’t worry, your Maine Coons will be there to help you out.
Maine Coons do have some characteristics which are like a dog. For a start, they enjoy playing fetch. I can’t see any of my cats taking part in that game.
They are very smart and can even learn tricks. Puzzle toys that challenge their brains are a good idea.
Males remain kittenish until adulthood, while females are more dignified. They don’t meow as most cats do but will give out a trill or a short chirp.
As for their looks, they have a well-proportioned muscular body, and they are broad-chested. They have strong legs and large round paws which are well tufted by fur.
Their heads are a medium width which is slightly longer than it is wide, and the muzzle is square. Their ears are tufted like their paws.
The tabby color is quite common, but they can come in solid colors like black, red, or white. Bi colors such as red and white or blue and white are common as are tortoiseshells and calicos.
Their eyes are green, gold, greenish-gold, or copper. Bi-colored or white Maine Coons can have blue or odd-colored eyes, a bit like a Siberian Husky.
What is the Coat Like on a Maine Coon?
Maine Coons have medium to long hair, but they can have short patches in some areas like the shoulders.
Their tails are usually long and bushy and can be as long as 16 inches. They have large well-tufted ears that are wide at the base.
Although their coats are long, they have a silky and smooth texture which doesn’t mat easily as long as you groom them regularly.
They have an unkempt look which is rare in purebreds, but it is very attractive and does stand out.
Alternatives to the Long-Haired Maine Coon
So, you like the look of Maine Coons, but you don’t want to have cats that need a lot of grooming.
What are the alternatives? Well, you can get Maine Coon mixes. They could have shorter hair if one of the parents is short haired.
British Short Haired Cats
A good combination would be British Short Hairs mixed with Maine Coons.
British Short Hairs are also large cats and can weigh up to 20 pounds so if you mix them with Main Coons, the chances are that you will get large cats.
Their coats are dense and plush, but they are short haired so really won’t need any grooming and like a Main Coon, they are affectionate, gentle, loyal, patient, and calm.
They come in a variety of solid colors, including blue, brown, red, silver, and cream. Like Main Coons they are good mousers, so you are highly likely to get a cat who enjoys hunting.
British Short Hairs are highly intelligent. They can learn your schedule and be waiting for you when you get home from work. They’re a bit like dogs in this respect.
Both Main Coons and British Short Hairs are active cats, so they need a lot of protein.
British Short Hairs have more patience and are great with children. Main Coons love affection, but they are less patient with roughness.
They get on with children, but they do need a little personal space. If you get mixed breeds, they could go one way or the other.
American Short Haired Cats
Another alternative is mixing Main Coons with American Short Hairs. However, they aren’t quite as big as British Short Hairs. The males can get up to 15 pounds.
They are active cats, easy-going, playful, and calm. They come in a variety of colors including black, blue, brown, silver, and tabby.
Siamese Cats
Siamese cats are also large, weighing up to 15 pounds. They have glossy, silky, and soft hair.
Siamese cats are energetic, active, loving, sociable, clever, and agile. They come in unusual colors including seal point, chocolate point, blue point, and lilac point.
Ocicat Cats
Another big cat is the Ocicat. They weigh up to 15 pounds. Their coats are short, smooth, and satiny.
They are social cats, so they make a great addition to a family. They are playful, lively, gentle, friendly, curious, and agile. Their color can be blue, silver, chocolate, cinnamon, or fawn.
Egyptian Maus Cats
If you are looking for a cat that is playful, loyal, lively, intelligent, gentle, dependent, and agile, you won’t go far wrong with Egyptian Maus.
They are another big cat growing up to 14 pounds. Their coats are short, resilient, and silky and they come in blue, silver, black, and smoke. They would make a great mixed breed with Maine Coons.
Chartreux Cats
Finally, another breed that would mix well with Maine Coons is the Chartreux. They are big at 15 pounds and they are short haired.
They are loyal, affectionate, lively, playful, intelligent, and social and come in blue or silver colors.
As you can see, there are a lot of short haired breeds that would mix well with Maine Coons.
You may get cats that have the characteristics of both, or you may end up with one that looks like one or the other.
Still, whichever you choose the chances are that you will end up with a loyal, friendly, and affectionate pet.
Can You Trim a Maine Coon’s Hair to Make it Short?
You may see Maine Coons with short coats and if they’re not mixed breeds, they will have had their coats trimmed.
Personally, I can’t see the point as you might as well get a short haired cat, but a lot of people do this.
They may think it’s like wearing clothes. When you are hot, you take a layer of clothes off. When you are cold you put on another layer.
Logically this means that a shorter coat will be cooler, but this is wrong.
Fur is a built-in insulator and regulates their temperature. Cats don’t get overly hot and the same fur will keep them warm in the winter.
Another reason against trimming their fur is that it can be a shock to them and a painful and traumatic experience.
You do need to consider how they might feel to be suddenly robbed of their fur. If you do want to do this, it is better to do it gradually, not all in one go.
Perhaps you are worried about shedding. However, a long-haired cat doesn’t necessarily shed any more than a short haired cat.
Maybe you don’t want to deal with mats but grooming your Maine Coons a couple of times a week will stop mats from forming.
The Lion Cut
Some people decide to give their Maine Coons a trim just to alter their appearance. The lion cut is immensely popular.
If you have Maine Coons that are a light ginger color, there’s a good chance that they will look like a mini lion. However, you should consider the effect on your Maine Coons.
The Lion cut is quite extreme. A real lion has noticeably short hair compared to the long hair of the mane so you will have to shave your Maine Coons very close to the skin leaving a definite line around the mane.
I would advise going to a groomer as they will be more experienced and will make your cats feel more at ease.
Additionally, the legs can be shaved as can the tail, leaving a pom-pom at the end, very much like a lion.
You can start slowly leaving a less pronounced effect between the areas which have been cut and which haven’t.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the lion cut.
Pros
1. The lion cut is good for those Maine Coons whose fur mats up.
Grooming should help, but if it doesn’t, this is an option. A lion cut removes as many knots as possible and reduces the possibility of it getting matted again. This could help older cats who are having trouble grooming.
Older cats can become stiffer and less enthusiastic about grooming. Maine Coons can get hip dysplasia which means that it could be difficult for your cats to groom themselves.
2. Long-haired cats can easily get hairballs and the lion cut should stop these.
Hair removal around the midriff will certainly help to cut down the number of hairballs your cats get.
3. Giving your Maine Coon the lion cut will cut down on the amount of vacuuming you will have to do.
4. If your Maine Coons have been shaved, they will be more suitable for people with fur allergies.
It won’t eliminate the effects as no cat is completely hypoallergenic, but it will help to mitigate some of the effects.
Cons
1. Cats have fur for a reason.
It regulates their body temperature. This is more significant if you live in an area that sees extremes of temperature.
Your Maine Coons could become more susceptible to the heat or the cold. They could end up suffering from sunburn or hypothermia.
2. The absence of fur might leave your Maine Coons exposed to scratches.
If your cats go outside, they might end up in fights with other cats and they won’t have fur to protect them.
3. Your Main Coons may not be happy with the way they look.
After all, it is completely unnatural to them.
4. Your cats may get stressed by the experience of being shaved.
Final Thoughts: Short Haired Maine Coon Guide
The conclusion that we have come to is that there isn’t a short haired Maine Coon.
The only way you can get them is to breed them with a short haired breed and then, of course, you aren’t guaranteed one.
Then, of course, you can trim the hair of your Maine Coons, but I find it hard to accept that this is the right way to go.
Maine Coons have coats to be envied. They are long and luxurious, and they show off their personalities.
Their coats offer protection against scratches, they look amazing and they also help to regulate their temperatures wherever they live.
It isn’t difficult to look after a long-haired cat as all you have to do is to groom them a couple of times a week.
A well-maintained coat combined with a healthy high protein diet will keep your Maine Coons looking fantastic and mat-free.
If you really do want to change their appearance, try the lion cut, but take it slowly, and if they don’t like it let their coats grow back.
It may take 4 – 6 months but it’s worth it if they’re not happy. If you really do prefer a short haired cat it makes more sense to get short haired one. There are plenty out there looking for a good home.