a maine coon compared to dog breeds for size

The Size Of A Maine Coon Compared To A Dog

Maine Coons are large cats and the largest domestic cat breed.

Maine Coons range in size, but people don’t know how large they are when compared to other animals.

The easiest household pet to compare a Maine Coon to is that other family favorite, the dog.

So, what’s the size of a Maine Coon compared to a dog?

The Maine Coon is a large cat with beagles, miniature poodles, boston terriers, and king charles spaniels being of comparable size. Pomerainians, shih tzus, and chihuahua are smaller dog breeds, while springer spaniels, retrievers, and collies are slightly larger than a Maine Coon.

Maine Coons are often described as both gentle giants and dog like in their mannerisms.

So what size dogs compliments a Maine Coon in size, what breeds are smaller, and what breeds will be larger.

While cat sizes can vary, dog sizes can really vary.

There are really small dogs that are smaller than domestic cats, and there are dog sizes that on their hind legs can be taller than humans.

This article will show Maine Coons being compared to dog breeds so that readers have an idea of how big Maine Coon might be.

alita the maine coon on a balustrade

Some Basics About Maine Coon Size

The Maine Coon is a large cat by cat standards.

But exactly how big?

Well, luckily I have a small one called Alita and I can give you some exact dimensions.

She is small and female, so this will be the lower end of the Maine Coon size spectrum.

Alita has a height of 12 inches, her tail is 14 inches with a body length of 19 inches.

She weighs 3.5 kg (approx. 8 lbs)

Often quoted statistics about Maine Coons are 10 to 16 inches in height, and males weigh between 5.9kg to 8kg (13 to 18 lbs). Females weigh less, around 3.6kg to 5.4kg (8 to 12lbs).

We can also take a look at how big they might get – luckily there are a few record breakers that are professionally measured.

Ludo is huge, and currently the longest living cat in the record books.

Ludo is 3 ft 10.6 in long (46 inches), is 16 1/2 inches in height and weighs a hefty 34 lbs.

Big cat.

So an average Maine Coon would be 14 or 15 inches in height, be around 40 inches long, and would weigh around 20 lbs.

What Breeds Of Dog Are Smaller Than A Maine Coon

So now we know how big an average Maine Coon is, we can look for breeds that by and large will be smaller.

Maine Coons aren’t aggressive with dogs for no reason, so there shouldn’t be any conflict – they certainly won’t use their size against a dog.

If you have the following breeds, the chances are good that your Maine Coon will tower over them.

Yorkshire Terrier

Height: 8 to 9 inches (20 to 23 cm)

Weight: 4 to 7 lbs (1.8 to 3.2 kgs)

Pomeranian

Height 7 to 12 inches (18 to 30 cm)

Weight: 4.2 to 7.7 lbs (1.9 to 3.5 kgs)

Chihuahua

Height: 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm)

Weight: 3.3 to 6.6 lbs (1.5 to 3 kg)

Shih Tzu

Height: 8 to 11 inches (20 to 28 cm)

Weight: 8.8 to 16 lbs (4 to 7.2 kgs)

dog breeds smaller than a maine coon

What Dog Breeds Are The Same Size As A Maine Coon

Dogs are considered bigger than cats, but as the Maine Coon is large then there are going to be some breeds of dog that will be physically the same height.

Individual dogs and cats aside, the following breeds should be of similar height and weight to a Maine Coon.

Boston Terrier

Height: 9 to 15 inches (23 to 38 cm)

Weight: 11 to 24 lbs (4.5 to 11 kgs)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Height: 12 to 13 inches (30 to 33 cm)

Weight: 13 to 18 lbs (5.9 to 8.2 kgs)

Beagle

Height: 13 to 16 (33 to 41 cm)

Weight: 20 to 24 lbs (9 to 11 kgs)

Miniature Poodle

Height: 11 to 14 inches (28 to 35 cm)

Weight: 12 to 20 lbs (5.4 to 9 kgs)

Jack Russell Terrier

Height: 10 to 15 inches (25 to 48 cm)

Weight: 14 to 18 lbs (6.4 to 8.2 kgs)

dog breeds the same size as a maine coon

What Breeds Of Dog Are Larger Than A Maine Coon

Ok, now we come to the fractionally larger dogs.

In the dog world they might be called medium size, but compared to a Maine Coon these dogs are likely to be bigger and stronger by far.

There are obviously very large dog breeds, but the following breeds are all going to be bigger than most Maine Coons.

English Springer Spaniel

Height: 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 cm)

Weight: 40 to 55 lbs (18 to 25 kgs)

Labrador Retriever

Height: 22 to 24 inches (55 to 62 cm)

Weight: 55 to 80 lbs (25 to 36 kgs)

Golden Retriever

Height: 28.5 to 31.5 inches (72 to 80 cm)

Weight: 55 to 75 lbs (25–34 kgs)

Border Collie

Height: 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 cm)

Weight: 26 to 45 lbs (12 to 20 kgs)

dog breeds larger than a maine coon

The Maine Coon Compared To A Great Dane

Just for a bit of fun, it might be worth comparing the size of a large cat breed to a large dog breed.

The record break ‘George’ was a Great Dane who weighed 111kg (245lbs) and was recorded at a height of 43 inches (109.2cm).

How does that look visually, well, take a look.

a maine coon vs great dane size comparison

That picture is sort of to scale as well, so even a large Maine Coon still looks tiny compared to a large dog.

Conclusion

The Maine Coon is a very large cat, taking the title as the largest domestic cat breed.

They are gentle giants as their moniker implies, but they’re not so large that they rival typical medium sized dogs breeds.

If you have a Boston Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Beagle, Miniature Poodle, or Jack Russell Terrier your Maine Coon kitten will likely grow into an adult cat of the same size.

If you have, or want to get one of the smaller dog breeds, such as a Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, or Shih Tzu then your Maine Coon will start to tower above them after a year or two.

Typically medium sized dogs like English Springer Spaniels, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, or Border Collies will get to sizes that a Maine Coon will not obtain.

Even a small Border Collie will be bigger than the biggest and record breaking Maine Coon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Maine Coons more like dogs?

Maine Coons possess a personality that has been likened to dogs. A Maine Coon is affectionate, loyal, and will wander around the house with you to be part of ‘the pack’. They are known for playing ‘fetch’ and greeting you at doors as well.

How smart are Maine Coons?

The Maine Coon is an intelligent breed of cat and they can be trained. They learn things quickly, and the ease with which they socialize reflects their intelligence.

At what age is a Maine Coon full grown?

A Maine Coon is considered fully matured and grown between three to five years old. They exit kittenhood around the 12 to 15 month period, and still require a protein rich diet until they are fully mature.

About the Author

MaineCoon

My name is Ann and I have been looking after and breeding cats since 2013. I am currently the proud ownder of Alita, a female Maine Coon to whom I've dedicated this site. She has had 2 litters and is around 3 years old. We share adventures and stories together.

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Maine Coon 101 | Read This Before Getting One