Can A Maine Coon Have Short Hair? [ Here’s The Answer ]

Originating from Maine (United States), Maine Coon is one of the most beautiful cat breeds in the world.

Maine Coon cats are known for their medium to long hair, bulky physique, excellent health records, and friendly character.

Maine coons are very popular among the urban population due to its majestic long fur and beautiful wedge-shaped face.

In this article, we are going to look whether a Maine Coon can have short hair, or not. We will also answer some of the frequently asked questions on this topic.

This article will also provide some information on the importance of having thick fur on the Maine Coon, the hidden symptoms of a short hair Maine Coon cat, and many more.

Can Maine Coon Have Short Hair?

Some portions of the Maine Coon’s fur can have short hair. However, finding an adult pure-bred short hair Maine Coon, is not possible.

One of the inherent characteristics of Maine Coon is the medium to long majestic looking coat. So, if your Maine Coon has short hair, we can attribute two reasons behind it.

Firstly, we can speculate that your Maine Coon is not a pure-bred, but a mixed breed with a cat having short hair.

Most of the time, this is the main reason why some of the cat owners have a short-haired Maine Coon.

Secondly, if you can guarantee that the Maine Coon is a pure-bred, then you should consult a veterinarian. I would also recommend you read our guide to figuring out if your cat is a Maine coon here.

There should be some underlying medical condition that is causing your cat to have short hair. You will find everything you need to know in the following sections.

What does Maine Coon cats hair look like?

The state of Maine is in the Northern part of the United States east coast. Belonging from the frosty parts of the country, Maine Coon developed a thick coat over its body.

While it gives an appearance of a shaggy fur, Maine Coons have medium to long silky smooth coats.

It is not unnatural to find a Maine Coon with long hair, but generally, Maine Coon has medium to long hair. Here, we are going to describe the coat of Maine Coon cats in detail.

1. Length of Hair:

As we have mentioned earlier, Maine Coon cats have medium to long fur. The size of hair varies from one part of the body to another.

For example, the hair behind the ears is on the shorter side. The belly of Maine Coon cat also has relatively shorter hair.

These characteristics are valid for most of the purebred Maine Coon cats. Maine Coon cats can have short hair throughout its body, but it is always a mixed breed.

If your Maine Coon has short hair, you should check with the breeder or animal shelter to know the purity of the cat.

2. Coat:

If you have ever encountered a Maine Coon cat at a person’s household, you probably know that it’s fur has a rugged and shaggy look to it.

However, petting the Maine Coon can feel quite different from what it looks. The thick, smooth, and soft coat are attractive characteristics of the fur.

3. Colors:

One of the most amazing features of Maine Coon cats is the variety of possible colors. Experts claim that there can be as many as 84 different types of colors and patterns.

Maine Coons can have white, black, blue, orange, grey, gold, brown, or silver-colored coats, and there can be several patterns of each color. It can also have multicolored fur, and this particular feature makes every Maine Coon cat unique.

4. Patterns:

Maine Coon has predominantly three types of fur-patterns –

• Solid
• Tabby
• Tortoise

When we said there could be as many as 84 different types of color combinations, we considered the possibility of having a color combination of two or three types of colors at the same time. The different shades are-

• Solid
• Bicolour
• Tricolour

Every pattern has a few sub-patterns as well, which includes –

• Classic
• Mackerel
• Ticked

So the color of Maine Coon is a complicated subject, and it is fascinating.

Do All Maine Coons Have Long Hair?

The length of the hair depends on the purity of the Maine Coon cat. If you have adopted a purebred Maine Coon, it will have medium to long hair.

However, a mixed breed Maine Coon may have shorter hair due to the presence of a DNA of different species in its genes.

What does it mean If I See A Maine Coon With Short Hair?

Having medium to long length hair is an inherent characteristic of a Maine Coon cat. However, if you have a Maine Coon cat with short hair, it can indicate a few possibilities.

1. Mixed Breed:

You probably already know that short hair all over a Maine Coon’s body is unnatural. So, if your cat has short hair, then you need to ask whether you have the correct breed or not.

One easy way to do that is by contacting the breeder or the animal shelter from where you had adopted the cat. They can give you the information you need to determine the purity.

2. Poor Nutrition:

The natural growth of the hair depends on the amount of nutritious food the cat is ingesting. Having short hair may be indicative of malnutrition in the cat.

You should consult a veterinarian in this scenario to have an idea of the amount of nourishment it needs for a healthy lifestyle.

3. Over-Grooming:

Excessive stress can lead to over-grooming. Grooming is a natural habit for cats, and they love to keep their fur clean at all times.

However, it can be problematic if the cat starts to lick its fur excessively. You need to understand the reason behind this behavior and follow a strict schedule to mitigate the situation.

Can I trim the coat?

Trimming the Maine Coon’s fur depends on the owner, and you need to think it through before taking such a drastic step.

A cat’s coat is crucial for various reasons, including regulating the temperature of the body, keeping the allergens in check, manufacturing several nutrients, and many more.

You should also know that it takes a long time to regrow the coat. If the fur is matted, long, and rugged, you should consider trimming the hair. However, the welfare and safety of the Maine Coon should be of utmost importance.

Conclusion:

We can say for sure that purebred Maine Coon cats should not have short hair. The long, silky hair is one of the characteristics of the Maine Coon cat.

However, mixed breed Maine Coon cats can have short hair, or an owner can consider trimming the coat for aesthetic pleasure.

But you should be considerate towards the needs of the Maine Coon before making any decision. In conclusion, we can ensure that the short hair on a Maine Coon is highly unlikely.