maine coon vs norwegian forest cat

These are the two big, shaggy, magnificent longhairs the internet confuses more than any other pair, and I understand why. Both are enormous, both are built for cold, both look like they should be photographed on a rock in the snow. But they are distinct cats with distinct temperaments, and once you know where to look, you will never mix them up again. You will also, most likely, discover that you own neither. More on that at the end.

the face is where you tell them apart

Start with the head, because it is the clearest tell. The Maine Coon has a squarish muzzle, a definite box to the front of the face, with high cheekbones and a face that looks, honestly, a little like a friendly lion. The Norwegian Forest Cat has a triangular head and, crucially, a straight profile: draw a line down its nose and it runs dead straight from the brow, with no dip or stop. The Maine Coon's profile has a gentle curve. Both have tufted, lynx-tipped ears, but the Maine Coon's ears are larger and set higher, and its whole face reads as broad, where the Norwegian's reads as an equilateral triangle.

build, coat and size

Both are among the largest domestic cats, so size alone will not settle it. The Maine Coon tends to be the longer cat, rectangular, drawn out, with a famously long flowing tail. The Norwegian Forest Cat is sturdy and solid, a little more compactly powerful. On coat, the Maine Coon wears a shaggier, uneven coat that is silkier to the touch, while the Norwegian carries a dense double coat with a woolly undercoat and a water-resistant top layer built for a Scandinavian winter. Both drop a spectacular ruff around the neck.

temperament: gentle giant vs independent climber

Here the cats truly differ. The Maine Coon is the celebrated gentle giant, unusually people-oriented, often dog-like, following you room to room, chirping and involving itself in everything, happiest in company. The Norwegian Forest Cat is affectionate too but more self-possessed and independent, a born climber that wants height and activity and is content in its own company for stretches the Maine Coon would find unbearable. If you want a shadow, lean Maine Coon. If you want a magnificent housemate who loves you on its own schedule, the Norwegian will suit you. The full profiles sit at maine coon and norwegian forest cat.

the honest close: you probably have neither

Now the part most comparison articles will not tell you. Both of these are pedigreed breeds, and a genuine Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest Cat comes from a registered breeder with papers to prove it. If your large fluffy cat came from a shelter, a friend's litter, or simply appeared, the overwhelming odds are that it is a domestic longhair, a magnificent mixed-breed moggy that happens to share the general look. This is not a downgrade. A domestic longhair can be every bit as big, beautiful and characterful as either breed, and it did not cost a fortune. So enjoy the guessing game, use the face to make your best case, and wear the likely answer with pride: you have a splendid cat of no fixed pedigree, which is the finest kind there is.

Related reading from my desk: the maine coon and norwegian forest cat profiles, scored and reviewed, and the cat breeds hub for the rest of the roster.

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