Maine Coon Tabby Mix: Traits, Facts & Habits

Maine Coons and Tabby cats are two of the most popular kinds of cats around. The Maine Coon is a big, rugged kitty that is known for its very distinctive appearance and lovable personality. Tabby cats are a coloring that many people seek. The Maine Coon Tabby mix is a cat many purr parents would love to have.

This particular blend of felines is a strikingly beautiful cat with a wonderful personality. There can be some unpredictability when it comes to these kitties, and anyone looking to adopt this breed should learn a little about them before bringing one home.

Let’s get to know The Maine Coon Tabby mix and learn about their history, appearance, personality, and care needs. Owners should always remember that mixed breeds can take after one or both of their parents. We present a general breed overview to help owners get to know their kitty and understand what kind of care needs they might have.

Breed History

Tabby-colored Maine Coons have been around for an exceptionally long time. There is no specific information about crossbreeding because a Maine Coon Tabby is not necessarily a blend of two different feline breeds. Maine Coon is a breed, and Tabby is a pattern. Many cat breeds can be Tabby, and just as many can cross with a Maine Coon.

Maine Coon

Maine Coons are a large breed of rugged, wild-looking felines. This breed is considered the oldest natural feline breed native to the United States.

A common urban legend about the Maine Coon is that the breed is a hybrid mix of a domestic cat and a wild raccoon. Though a wildly intriguing tale, this hybrid animal could not ever exist. Other stories claim the Maine Coon is a cat descended from royal pets that escaped France when Marie Antoinette met her horrible fate. These kitties most likely were ship cats that traveled aboard ships and made their way into the communities where they docked.

The Maine Coon is a prevalent breed. Currently, they rank as the second most popular of all breeds listed by The Cat Fanciers’ Association. This big breed is also known as the “gentle giant,” “feline greeters of the world,” and the “dog of the cat world.

Gentle giants are hefty. They can weigh anywhere from 9 to 25 pounds. They stand about 10 to 16 inches tall from paw to shoulder. These kitties also have exceptionally long tails. Their tails can reach between 12 and 17 inches long, sometimes longer. To compare, most cat tails measure around 11 inches long.

This breed is known for rugged, shaggy long coats, tufted ears and paws, and a lion-like ruff of fur around their necks that looks like a wildcat’s mane.

Gentle giants are known for being highly intelligent, very sociable, and quite friendly. They maintain a playful-like mentality well past kittenhood. They take longer than most other breeds to mature and will grow until between three and four years old on average.

Maine Coons can live for quite a long time, between about 12 and 15 years on average. Maine Coons are often polydactyl, meaning they have an extra toe. No serious health concerns come along with this trait, and purr babies with an extra toe are as happy as those with just ten. They also do not make the same meow sound as most other cats. Instead, this giant breed makes what is described as a chirping sound.

Tabby Cats

Tabbys are often characterized as a distinguishable breed. But that is a misconception. Tabby refers to a distinctive marking and pattern, not a specific feline breed. A Tabby pattern is natural and occurs because of the different blend of genetics a cat may have. Tabby is one of the most common coat patterns in all breeds of cats.

There are a few distinct categories of Tabby, but all felines with this patterning have some telltale markings. They all have a distinctive marking that looks like the capital letter “M” right on the middle of their foreheads. They also have very thin lines on their faces, especially around their eyes. It is possible for cats who are solid colored and very dark to be Tabby patterned as well. Some owners who think they have a solid-colored kitty may notice these faint stripes when their kitties are in the sun.

Tabby Patterns

A Tabby pattern can come in five distinct types. While they all look similar, they each have some distinct and noticeable differences. Tabby patterns come in stripes, blotches, spots, whirls, and rosettes.

5 Types of Tabby Patterns

1. A Classic or Blotched Tabby has signature Tabby facial markings, a prominent M on their forehead, and circular blotched-like patterning along the body. They are often compared to marble or a marbled desert because of the swirling patterns along their sides.
2. Spotted Tabbies have small to large spots covering their torsos and sides. Sometimes the spots will appear as though they are broken stripes. Spots can be oval, round, or up here as rosettes.
3. The Mackerel Tabby has parallel narrow stripes that run along their sides. Stripes will clearly stand out as even lines and start along the same spot at the top of a cat’s spine. When looking at these cats from above, their stripes look similar to a cat skeleton, which is why this particular patterning of Tabby is called the mackerel.
4. Ticked Tabbies do not always look like Tabby cats at first glance. This is because they do not have noticeable spots, stripes, worlds, or rosettes on their body like other Tabby patterns. Ticked tabbies will have the classic Tabby M on their foreheads. Instead of distinct patterning, they have what is called agouti hairs. Agouti means that the hairs themselves have striped light and dark sections.
5. Patched Tabby cats are tortoiseshell-marked Tabbies. These kitties often have brown and red Tabby patches throughout their coats. A Tortoiseshell Tabby cat is sometimes called a Torbie. These kitties can have any of the other four patterns in addition to the tortoiseshell coloring.

The coloring of a Tabby cat coat includes a wide range. It is most common for Tabbies to have a black-based coat, and coat colors can consist of gray, brown, orange, red, cream, and even gray or almost black. The classic orange Tabby cat is one that is often sought after. Most orange Tabbies are male. It is relatively rare to find a female orange Tabby cat. This is because it is easier for males to inherit the coloration gene for oranges as they only have one X chromosome. Female kitties have two X chromosomes and need two copies of the coloration gene to have these orange coats.

Tabby cats are incredibly common and can be seen throughout many different breeds. Persians, Norwegian Forest Cats, Munchkins, Scottish Folds, American Bobtails, Domestic Shorthairs, Ocicat, American Curl, and the mighty Maine Coon are often Tabby patterned.

Maine Coon Tabby Mix

A Maine Coon Tabby mix is a fairly common feline to find. The Tabby pattern naturally occurs in the Maine Coon. In fact, Tabby is thought to be the original pattern of the first gentle giants to be seen in North America. A Tabby Maine Coon may be a purebred cat or could be a mixed breed. Unless owners are willing to pay the expense and have easy access to DNA testing or know both parents, it may be impossible to tell precisely what crossbreed a cat like this is.

Maine Coon mixed breeds are incredibly popular among cat owners. This is due to their beautiful appearance, larger size, longer expected lifespan, and wonderful personalities. Coon cat mixes make terrific pets and are commonly bred with other popular breeds, including Ragdolls, Bengals, Siamese, and Persians. Mixed breeds will pick up different physical and behavioral characteristics from both parents.

Temperament

Gentle giants have agreeable personalities and high intelligence. They love to be around people but also enjoy time outside to explore and hunt. These big tykes are very curious and highly adaptable, meaning they learn to play games like fetch, hide and seek, and more. Most breeds mixed with the Maine Coon will retain some of this friendly, adaptable nature.

This is a cat that is smart, friendly, independent, and playful. They will likely be highly active and have a high need to play.

These big tykes are talented climbers, impeccable mousers, and exceptionally good at understanding communication with their humans. Because they are so intelligent, they can develop a stubborn streak, sometimes making training tricky.

Size & Appearance

This cat has a distinctive appearance. They may be close to the size of a Maine Coon, though many mixed breeds will be smaller. A mixed breed can be larger than their parent breeds. There is a lot of unpredictability. This kitty will probably weigh between 8 to 25 or more pounds.

Gentle giants have a long in body with exceptionally long tails. A Tabby Maine Coon will likely be between 30 and 35 inches long; some may be longer. They will stand about 8 inches to 16 inches tall. These kittens will grow until they reach between three and five years of age, so it may take some time to reach their full size.

A Tabby Maine Coon mix has pointy ears that may have tufts, depending on the percentage of Maine Coon genetics. They have long, fluffy tails with large wide-spaced eyes. Eyes will be prominent and round to less round, depending on the genetics involved. Many of these gentle Tabby giants will have extra shaggy fur around their necks.

Coat & Colors

This kitty will have medium to long, full coats of shaggy fur. Maine Coons developed extra thick coats with double layers to survive freezing weather. Mixed breeds may have thinner coats that are not quite as long. Regardless of what other breed is involved, any cat mixed with a Maine Coon will be very hairy. Though their fur may seem thick and rugged, it will be incredibly soft and silky to the touch, especially with proper grooming.

Coat patterns can come in any of the five Tabby variations: classic, mackerel, ticked, spotted, or patched. Most have a distinctive M-shaped pattern on their forehead. The ticked Tabby Maine Coon may look less like a Tabby because they often do not have a lot of spots or stripes.

Maine Coon Tabby Mix Coat Colors

• Brown
• Tan
• Blue
• Silver
• Silver Blue
• Cream
• White
• Cameo
• Red
• Orange
• Black
• Cameo
• Agouti
• Multicolored
• Tortoiseshell
• Brown and White
• Red and White
• Silver and Black
• Patched

This might seem like a lengthy list, but it barely scratches the surface regarding the possibility of colors and color combinations on a Maine Coon Tabby cat. Brown is one of the most common colors in this particular breed and is fairly easy to find. Red, Cream, and Blue Tabbies are much harder to find.

Grooming

This gentle giant Tabby cat will need a significant amount of grooming. They are not hypoallergenic and carry around a lot of hair. All felines shed, and because this breed will have more hair than many others, they shed more. Tabby Maine Coon mixes need regular brushing. Try to do this daily or at least three times a week. Owners will want to invest in quality grooming tools like steel-toothed combs, bristle brushes, and slicker brushes.

These kitties may not be a smart choice for people who suffer from allergies and people who do not have time to groom them. Grooming is essential to keep them healthy and is not something that owners can do every once in a while.

Owners should never forget to pay attention to nail trimming and feline dental care as part of the grooming process. Failing to trim a cat’s nails can result in injury to the cat and damage to humans, as well as unwanted cat scratches. Feline dental disease is a serious concern, and brushing their teeth regularly is one of the most significant methods owners can take to keep this big breed healthy.

Living Requirements & Care

These magnificent cats will need owners that understand that caring for them is a big commitment. This is true of any breed, but especially for a highly sociable and amiable breed like this. While these purr babies are independent, they will need plenty of attention and interaction from their humans daily. They will be larger than many other breeds and need homes with lots of room to run and play.

These kitties need interaction and entertainment every single day. They do not fare well alone for extended periods of time or overnight. They are very needy when it comes to affection and will start to stress out and even become aggressive if left to fend for themselves for too long. These cats do not simply like to interact with humans. This breed craves it. Owners should ensure plenty of entertainment options, tunnels, cat towers, and a variety of toys.

Exercise

These purr babies will need plenty of exercise. They have a lot of energy and will require multiple play sessions to keep them from bouncing off the walls. They require several a day. Incorporate different activities into play sessions.

Always keep a close eye on this breed when taking them outside. They will be exceptionally good at catching mice and other rodents, and because they are swift and robust, it can be pretty easy for owners to lose track of them. It is best to keep this kitty on a leash while taking them outside while allowing them to experience a little bit of exploration and freedom in the great big world. Make sure to provide cat trees, interactive toys, and places to climb.

Training

Training a Maine Coon Tabby mix can be both extremely easy and highly challenging. These incredibly smart cats will respond very well to positive behavior reinforcement. They will enjoy treats, cuddles, and toys as a reward for good behavior. Because this breed is so bright, they may have an intelligent streak which can cause them to be stubborn. Often intelligent kitties get the better of owners, and it may take some time for the owner to regain the upper hand.

This breed will need basic behavior training along with learning tricks and leash walking. This will help them interact well with other felines, humans, and other pets in the home.

Common Training For Cats

1. Litter box training
2. No biting other pets
3. Do not scratch furniture
4. Not to scratch people
5. Areas that are off limits
6. Do not bite people
7. Not to spray
8. Basic commands: stay, sit, jump, no, come, stop, roll over, etc.

Health

Mixed-breed felines are some of the healthiest cats in the feline population. This mix can live an average of 12 to 15 or more years. Gentle giants are a breed that is relatively healthy, but they can be prone to some size-related medical conditions, including some genetic ones. Proper care and nutrition also go a long way in keeping felines healthy throughout their lives.

Manie Coon Tabby Mix Health Concerns

• Orthopedic and joint concerns
• Joint dysfunction
• Tumors
• Hip dysplasia
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
• Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
• Feline asthma
• Allergies
• Urinary tract issues
• Parasites and infection
• Digestive issues and malfunction
• Weight loss

Owners can work to keep this cat healthy by keeping up with regular veterinary examinations, including scheduled wellness checks. While some owners may not feel it necessary to take their cat to the vet if they are feeling well, felines are notorious for masking symptoms of illness or injury until they are in profoundly serious or even dire condition.

Nutrition

Nutrition is especially important for this breed and all cats. These tykes will be highly active and need a diet full of high-quality animal proteins. This is especially important when they are young to support proper growth and development. Stick to foods that are healthy and safe for cats to eat.

Felines are obligate carnivores and need to eat meat. Foods that use fish and chicken, as well as beef, lamb, and turkey, are reliable sources of healthy animal protein. These cats will need Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to help support their health.

Always look for cat foods that list meat and meat products as their first ingredients. Avoid low-quality and budget brands and those high in fillers, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. Kittens will need more calories, and fat, highly active cats will need protein and healthy fats, and aging felines will need fewer calories with added minerals and vitamins to support bone and joint health. Pick a quality dry, wet, fresh, or freeze-dried food suitable to your pet’s age.

Never hesitate to discuss any dietary and nutritional concerns with your veterinarian.

Breeders & Kitten Costs

Many breeders specialize in Maine Coons, and mixes. Purebred cats will be more expensive than some mixed breeds. Some colors of Tabby Coon cats, especially brown, are quite common and will not be as expensive as some rarer colors. For a Maine Coon Tabby mix, expect anywhere from about $500 to about $1,000. Some of these kittens may have a price tag of over $2,000. For rarer colorations, the price tag will be higher, even up to $4,000.

Always ask a lot of questions and be very observant to ensure that a breeder is reputable before purchasing a kitten. Ask to see parent cats and previous litters and inquire about how many litters a year a breeder produces. It is also imperative to ask about pre-screenings for different diseases and medical conditions. If breeders are unwilling to answer questions or show proper documentation, it is best to look elsewhere.

Rescues & Shelters

Both cats are incredibly popular and familiar to see. It is highly likely that this breed can end up in a rescue or cat shelter. Adopting a cat from a shelter can be much less expensive than a breeder. Some adoption fees will range as low as $20, and others can go as high as $100 or a little more. While owners may be unable to pick the exact color of a Tabby cat when getting one from a rescue or shelter, it is a far less expensive option.

Check with your veterinarian and local and national animal humane societies to learn more about cats that may need good homes. Some breed-specific rescues for gentle giant cats may have Tabby cats available.

As Family Pets

These striped gentle giants make amazing family pets. They are affectionate, intelligent, eager to please, and very adaptable to changes in routine and environment. These kitties crave attention and always try to get right in the middle of what their humans are doing.

The Tabby Maine Coon mix needs owners that can set firm boundaries and enforce them. They are incredibly smart and highly trainable but can also be stubborn. These kitties are good for cat owners of about any level of experience but may be challenging for first-time cat owners. However, that has more to do with general kitten behavior and care than with the specific breed.

Fun Facts

A Tabby cat was once elected mayor of a tiny town named Talkeetna, Alaska (under 1000 population.) His name was Stubbs, and he was a write-in candidate. Stubbs won and held office for about twenty years. He was a bit quiet on significant issues but served his teeny town with pride for two decades.

Maine Coon cats are sometimes clones. This is a true story. The first successful cat clone is a gentle giant by the name of Little Nicky, who was born in 2004. He may be one of the most expensive cats to ever walk the planet, with a whopping price tag of at least $50,000

Final Thoughts

Although a Maine Coon Tabby mix can be a mixed breed, this is not always true. Tabby does not refer to one specific breed. Instead, it refers to a very distinguishable pattern in a feline’s coat. Tabby happens to be one of the most common coloring and patterns of Maine Coon cats. Depending on how strong the Maine Coon genetics are, they may look remarkably like a purebred coon cat with a Tabby coat.

The Tabby Maine Coon has a wonderful personality, is incredibly smart, and is extremely attractive to look at. They are relatively large cats with elegant faces, manes like lions, and plenty of love to give. These kitties make fascinating, highly affectionate, and very engaging companions. This breed will need a dedicated owner who is understanding of their size and personality. While our guide is a wonderful introduction to this fascinating feline, it is not meant to substitute for advice from a veterinarian or a qualified animal trainer.