Do Maine Coon Cats Have Manes?

Do Maine Coon Cats Have Manes?

It would be cat based irony, wouldn’t it?

A breed of cat with the word Maine in the title having a mane.

Despite the play on words, it’s a good question.

Do Maine Coon cats have a mane?

All Maine Coon cats should have a visible mane. The mane is the slightly longer fur along the top and sides of the neck. The mane can be unobtrusive or clearly visible. The mane will shed during the summer months to keep the Maine Coon cooler in the higher temperatures.

There aren’t actually that many breeds of cat that possess a mane.

The Cat Fanciers Association says there are 42 breeds of cat and The International Cat Association says there are 71.

Only a few have manes, namely the Maine Coon, Siberians, the Norwegian Forest cat, and Persians. Ragdolls can as well, but after that, the manes are less pronounced.

A mane is a very distinguishable trait for a Maine Coon.

In fact, I’d say it’s enough of a feature to be able to identify the breed.

Having a mane leads many Maine Coon owners to consider hairstyles for their Maine Coon, the lion cut being one of the most popular.

So, with regard to a mane, what are we talking about here?

What Is A Mane?

Many animals in the animal kingdom have a mane.

A mane is the longer growth of hair along the top and sides of the neck.

Typically a horse or a lion has a mane, but so does your Maine Coon.

All the hair around the neck of a Maine Coon seems longer, lighter, and fluffier giving them a more majestic look.

Many Maine Coon owners will tell you they like the lion-like look of their pet.

Do All Maine Coon Cats Have Manes?

All Maine Coons should have some visible signs of a mane.

Alita, my own Maine Coon has a very slight mane but it is discernible.

You’d be forgiven for missing it but if you rough the hair up you can see it’s there.

It looks like a little ring of longer around the neck, which although I live in a very warm country, is still there.

Her mane doesn’t change a great deal, but a Maine Coon living in an area with hot and cold times of year may experience more profound looks as their manes shed during the higher temperatures.

The mane never completely goes away so it can be used as an identifying feature of a Maine Coon.

Do Maine Coons Shed Their Mane?

A Maine Coon should shed their manes as the weather warms up.

Likewise, as summer ends, and the cooler weather starts to come, then the Maine Coon will develop the mane to overcome the winter months.

The Maine Coon is a breed that has long hair naturally so can sometimes hide the mane.

The breed stood up against the very harsh winters of Maine and the genetics have remained.

As the warmer weather arrives the mane can overheat a Maine Coon, especially indoors.

Therefore as winter ends I’d expect some excess fur around the house.

Depending upon where you live a Maine Coon will shed the mane but it won’t disappear entirely.

Why Maine Coons Have Manes?

Why a mane developed on the Maine Coon is more educated guesswork than anything else.

Any animal tends to develop to the environment around it, and those with genetics that give a superior survival rate will live to pass on the survival traits.

Maine Coons are said to have been imported into the USA as a seafaring breed and were introduced to the harsh winters of Maine.

A mane is more than likely to have developed in order to keep the head warm of those very robust and hardy cats.

The neck carries vital blood flow to the head so the blood needs to be at body temperature to help the brain function correctly.

A mane also makes a Maine Coon look even nigger than they naturally are.

This can also help in deterring attacks of other wild animals.

The mane no doubt developed as a survival tool.

Conclusion

All Maine Coons should possess a mane, which can range from a small ruff to quite a pronounced flow of hair.

The Maine Coon mane is an identifiable trait of the breed.

When the weather is warm the mane may be less pronounced to avoid overheating, but a cat used to an outdoor life in cold winters can have a very visible mane.

The mane will likely shed as the seasons change to give better lifestyle conditions to your Maine Coon.

The Maine Coon having a mane is one of the more endearing traits of owning this breed and many owners really like the fact that their cats looks quite majestic with it.