Breeds

Oriental Shorthair Maine Coon Mix: Traits, Facts, & Habits

If you're looking for a friendly feline, consider a Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair blend. Loving and loyal, this blend is a great addition to any family.

MJ Shaffer writer with Dog

Last Updated: February 12, 2024 | 11 min read

Oriental Shorthair Maine Coon Mix

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Have you ever heard of the Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair mix? This is one amazing crossbred kitty that you will not soon forget about. Maine Coons have been popular family cats for years. The Oriental Shorthair quickly became one of the Cat Fancier Association’s (CFA) most popular breeds after the breed was accepted for championship status in 1977.

A kitten that is a blend of these two breeds will be exciting to get to know. Both parent breeds love their people, so a mix is bound to be a loving addition to any family.

Crossbred individuals are often healthier than their parents. A cross of these two friendly breeds will produce an individual of moderate body type but with the Oriental Shorthair’s type coat.

Adopting a kitten that blends two different breeds will likely mean you’ll have a healthier cat. Some newer breeds come from older stock with genetic predispositions, so a cross may not eliminate a genetic issue but instead concentrate it. Knowing about the two parent breeds will help you understand what personality traits your kitten may have and what health issues you’ll need to monitor.

Maine Coons

Maine Coon's large adult cat eats food out of a bowl on the ground
The Maine Coon’s silky coat has natural oils to shed water in bad weather.

The Maine Coon is Maine’s official state cat. These imposing cats are considered America’s first indigenous feline, and adult males sometimes approach twenty pounds. With fur between his toes like snowshoes, the Maine Coon’s coat can handle Maine’s extreme climate. Maine Coon may have a range of coat colors, but the Himalayan pattern that gives the Himalayan and Siamese breed their distinctive lighter body with darker extremities is not allowed.

History Of The Maine Coon

Theories abound about the Maine Coon’s history. One legend suggests the Maine Coon’s origin came from a cross of the domestic cat with raccoons in the area. While Maine Coons may have resembled raccoons because of their large size and bushy tail, this cross is genetically impossible. The Maine Coon’s body type, tufted ears, and snowshoe paws encouraged some to guess that cats brought to the New World by early settlers interbred with wild Bobcats to create the Maine Coon. Modern science shows us that this isn’t genetically likely. Maine Coons are not hybrids.

Another legend suggests royal roots for this breed. A plan to rescue Marie Antoinette and sail her safely to Maine never came to fruition. She never made it, but her beloved felines were already loaded on the escape ship. They made the voyage and found a home in New England. There are also thoughts that the cats were Viking ship’s mates, brought along to hunt vermin. The likely reality is that longhaired cats came in with various traders and travelers from overseas and interbred with other felines already thriving as working companions in Maine’s harsh weather conditions. These survivors were prized for their mousing abilities by early Maine settlers.

Oriental Shorthair

Oriental Shorthair cats don’t just love attention but genuinely need it.

The Oriental Shorthair is a late Twentieth Century breed with genetic origins in the Siamese, one of the most distinctive breeds in the world. The Siamese influence is evident in their svelte bodies and elongated faces. Loyal companions, Oriental Shorthairs love to snuggle next to their people and miss you desperately when they’re left alone. Provide plenty of interactive toys to help them pass the time while you’re away.

Like their Siamese forebears, Oriental Shorthairs don’t shed more heavily than other breeds. They may produce less of the protein, Fel d 1, that triggers symptoms in most people who suffer from cat allergies. If being around cats creates allergy symptoms for you or someone in your home, you may be able to coexist with an Oriental Shorthair cross safely. Ask for a trial period with your kitten to ensure you’ll be able to tolerate him in your home without compromising your health. You want to make sure your home can be his forever home.

Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair Mix

The Maine Coon and the Oriental Shorthair have body types at two extremes of the feline scale, although they’re not so different personality-wise. Because of the extreme differences between his parent’s breed types, a Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair mix kitten may vary considerably in body type. His “look” will depend on which parent he takes after most.

Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair Mix
    • weight iconWeight12-17 or more Pounds
    • height iconHeight9-17 Inches
    • lifespan iconLifespan12-15 Years
    • color iconColors Any Color and Pattern
  • Child Friendliness
  • Canine Friendliness
  • Training Difficulty
  • Exercise
  • Grooming Upkeep
  • Breed Health
  • Kitten Costs

Size & Appearance

Your Maine Coone Oriental Shorthair blend should be larger than average with an athletic build. Both parent breeds are muscular and firm but have different types of muscle. Your blended kitten will be somewhere in between these two extremes of heavy muscling and long, slender muscling. Your blended kitten’s face may be more wedge-shaped than most because of the extreme type of the Oriental Shorthair. His Oriental Shorthair ancestry brings enormous ears, but his Maine Coon side may make his face look somewhat longer and chin square.

Temperament

These two family-friendly breeds are similar in temperament. Your blended kitten will enjoy your company and will follow you around the house to be by your side. Your blend does well with other pets and well-behaved children, and he’ll be lonely when you’re away. Your Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair blend is likely to be quite talkative. This sweet, social combination makes a great addition to a family who spends plenty of time at home.

Coat & Colors

Your blended kitten will be shorthaired. Oriental Shorthairs will pass along a dominant shorthaired gene, and long hair is a recessive trait. The Maine Coon has a weather-resistant double coat, but the Oriental Shorthair is sleek and quickly chilled. Don’t expect your blended kitten to be able to withstand the elements like his Maine Coon parent. If your heart is set on a longhaired cat, look for a Maine Coon Oriental Longhair blend instead.

With this blend, the sky’s the limit as far as color goes. The whole raison d’etre for this breed was to have a Siamese-type cat in any color. Because the Maine Coon can’t have a pointed coat color and adhere to the breed standard, a blend including Maine Coon would not be able to express that recessive trait. Even if the Oriental Shorthair parent is a pointed color, your kitten will carry the recessive gene but not express it.

Grooming

Because your blended kitten will have short hair that lies sleekly close to the body, you’ll be spared daily brushing, although you may choose to spend that time with your loving companion anyway. Cats with coats like the Oriental Shorthair have fairly basic grooming needs, and your blend’s coat should be short. As a seasonal shedder, your combination will need more attention twice a year during shedding seasons as the days grow longer and shorter.

Your Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair blend can be brushed a few times weekly and stay tidy for most of the year. During Spring and Fall, your blend may require daily coat care to handle the shedding. They’ll appreciate being combed gently to loosen shed hair, detangle any mats, and then brushed with a soft bristle brush. Brushing does stimulate oil production in the hair follicles and helps keep her skin healthy and coat glowing. Like all cats, they’ll need their nails trimmed. Brushing their teeth helps prevent periodontal disease.

Living Requirements

Cats want to feel safe in their homes, and even extroverted blends like yours will appreciate plenty of hiding places. Create designated areas for their food and water away from their litter box. Household cleaners and electronics may pose a hazard to your feline companion. Your Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair blend’s athleticism needs a safe outlet, so plan to play with him daily. Providing cat trees and scratch toys will help him find appropriate ways to express his desire to climb and scratch.

Exercise

Your Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair mix will likely be athletic and fun-loving. Both breeds are people-oriented and love to play. He’s going to be an athlete, so make sure he has plenty of opportunities to stay fit. Lasers and wand toys keep him moving. If he’s getting sufficient exercise and time with you, separation will be easier for him to handle.

Maine Coons/Oriental Shorthair blends may be leash trainable. Training any cat to walk on a leash takes a lot of patience. Not only does being able to get outside safely keep your blend’s body healthy, but it can also alleviate boredom and improve indoor behavior. Provide both chase toys and opportunities for your blend to climb and stretch. He’ll appreciate interactive toys that keep his mind and body exercised.

Training

Common Training For Cats

  • Use the scratching post or cat tree only.
  • Keep claws retracted when playing with people and other pets.
  • Eliminate only in the litter box.
  • Biting is for toys only.
  • Games and agility tricks.
  • Standard commands like sit, stay, roll over, jump, high-five, play a game, time to eat, come here, etc.
  • Familiarity with the grooming process.
  • Stay off of furniture and counters.
  • Familiarity with bathing.
  • Riding calmly in the car.

Health

A blend of two varieties is typically healthy because any recessive breed-related genetic disorders aren’t expressed. Although Oriental Shorthairs may be predisposed to their Siamese ancestors’ health problems, Maine Coons have their own genetic predispositions. The most concerning are those shared by both breeds.

Feline Dental Disease

While any cat can develop dental disease, breeds like the Oriental Shorthair are more at risk. Have your Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair blend’s teeth cleaned regularly. If not removed periodically, the plaque that naturally builds up on your cat’s teeth will move below the gum line and cause gingivitis. The cat’s immune system attacks the bacteria in the plaque, and this causes inflammation. Left untreated, it can develop into periodontitis.

Once a cat develops periodontitis, he may drool and tilt his head while chewing to avoid eating on one side of his mouth. He may also have halitosis, a fancy term for bad breath. Periodontitis can’t be reversed, so it is essential to clean your cat’s teeth before he develops any problems. Your veterinarian will show you how to brush your cat’s teeth with specially formulated feline toothpaste and set him up for regular cleanings.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) decreases the heart’s efficiency by causing the heart’s walls to thicken. The cause of HCM remains inconclusive, but there appears to be a genetic component. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help, although the prognosis for this disease varies.

Some cats with HCM show no symptoms, but others exhibit labored breathing and lethargy from congestive heart failure. If your cat is symptomatic, your vet may use an echocardiogram or genetic testing to confirm the cause and prescribe medication to help your cat live more comfortably. Asymptomatic cats may live for many years, but the disease is progressive.

Nutrition

Maine Coons take up to three years to fully mature, but Oriental Shorthairs mature more quickly. Your mix will mature in about two years, so choose a food designed for kittens and discuss with your vet how long your blend should use this formula. Protein and fat levels should support slow, steady growth. Kittens need a specific calcium-phosphorus ratio for proper bone development. Look for a recipe with .8 to 1.6% calcium on a dry matter basis.

Wet cat food contains more moisture than kibble; if your cat is prone to urinary tract infections, this additional moisture can help reduce the frequency of her infections. Your Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair mix may enjoy playing in the water. She prefers fresh running water and may try to drink directly from the spigot. She’ll appreciate a fountain drinker.

Any cat food you choose should meet the Association of Animal Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards as a complete and balanced diet for your feline. In the wild, animal meat comprises the most significant part of the feline diet. Their diet should reflect what they evolved to eat. They consumed high amounts of protein, moderate amounts of fat, and a minimal amount of carbohydrates. Their prey provided adequate vitamins and minerals.

Regardless of which type of food you choose, read the label. Look for meat, meat by-products, or seafood among the first few ingredients. These ingredients suggest the food contains enough animal-source ingredients to supply essential amino acids and fatty acids without additional supplements. For cats prone to urinary tract issues, a low-magnesium wet food may be worth the extra expense.

Breeders & Kitten Costs

Because this kitty is a mixed breed, the price of a kitten will often be much less than the cost of their purebred parent breeds. Maine Coons are larger than most other breeds, so a kitten with one as a parent is likely to at least be on the large side of average. Keep this in mind when you plan your kitten’s space and purchase cat trees or travel crates.

You may find a kitten free from a backyard or accidental breeder. Kittens will likely have had their first vet visit or their first round of vaccinations before they’re ready to come home with you. The owners may ask you to reimburse some of the veterinary costs, but you’ll also be able to start a relationship with a vet who has already met your kitten. A backyard breeder may not offer health guarantees, but they should be able to answer your questions.

Before bringing your kitten home, get the supplies you’ll need to take care of her. Have her litter box and the food you plan to feed. You may wish to have a bed for her, a crate for transport, some toys, and grooming tools. If you don’t already have an established veterinarian, locate one for your kitten’s first vaccinations and a general wellness check. Expect to spend about $150 to $400 for your kitten and her supplies if you’re starting from scratch.

There may not be many breeders advertising these mixed kittens, but you can check with local online resources. If you have Maine Coon or Siberian breeders in your area, they may be able to steer you in the right direction. Your veterinarian may know of available kittens in your area and check local rescue and shelter pages regularly.

Rescues & Shelters

Check your local shelters regularly for kittens or cats listed with Maine Coon or Oriental Shorthair in the mix. Breeders will try to limit accidental litters because purebred individuals are in demand. If you don’t know if your cat has either Maine Coon or Oriental Shorthair in his ancestry, you may be able to tell by his size, facial features, and personality.

Depending on your needs, you may find a kitten with the look and temperament to make you happy at the shelter. The Humane Society of the United States, your local shelter, and your veterinarian are reliable resources for finding reputable shelters and rescue groups. You can expect to pay a shelter fee of between $60 and $120.

Check your local shelters and rescue groups in late Spring and early Summer if you’re in the market for a kitten. They’ll likely have a vast array. If you are willing to adopt an older cat, you’ll be able to see the adult and interact with her one on one. There are many advantages to adopting a mature cat. Most kittens are playful but settle as they approach adulthood. When you meet an adult cat, what you see is what you get. You’ll have a much clearer picture of the personality you’ll be living with for the rest of your cat’s life.

Final Thoughts

If you have time and energy to spend with a new addition to your family and want a feline companion who adores being by your side, you’ll love a Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair blend. He will probably be an above-average-sized cat of athletic build. He’ll follow you around the house to ensure you’re okay and will love to cuddle in your lap. He’s likely to be very vocal in expressing his opinions, too.

Play with your cat to provide exercise and strengthen your bond. This affectionate blend will hopefully live more than fifteen years by your side. Each cat is unique, and being a mixed breed adds to the mystery, but this blend should have a tremendous personality. You’ll have a constant and steadfast companion when you open your home and heart to a Maine Coon Oriental Shorthair mix. He’ll shower you with affection. Show him your love in the most tangible way with regular veterinary care, proper nutrition, and a healthy, attentive environment.

Cat playing with a ball

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