Maine Coon vs British Shorthair - Breed Comparison

Maine Coon vs British Shorthair - Breed ComparisonMaine Coon is originated from United States but British Shorthair is originated from United Kingdom. Both Maine Coon and British Shorthair are of same weight. Maine Coon may live 5 years less than British Shorthair. Both Maine Coon and British Shorthair has same litter size. Maine Coon requires Moderate maintenance. But British Shorthair requires Low maintenance

History

maine coon - historyThe Maine Coon cat hails from Maine, USA. It’s a natural cat breed with actually little being known of its exact origins.

In fact, the first reference to the cat seems to have been in about 1861. It was in 1895 that a female Maine Coon was named Best Cat at a cat show held in Madison Square Gardens.

The Cat Fanciers Association was formed in 1908, and the 5th cat registered as a Maine Coon named Molly Bond.

The Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association was formed in 1968. The cat is also the official state cat of Maine.

british shorthair - historyA cat breeder, Harrison Wier took a street cat of Britain and with an intensive breeding program, transformed it to the British Shorthair.

The British loved this beautiful pedigree cat. During the Second World War, the British Shorthair all but disappeared but re-emerged as a popular cat that is today accepted in cat registries around the world.

Basic Information

Origin:
United States
United Kingdom
Weight Male:
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 15 Years
14 - 20 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
Gentle Giant, Coo Cat
The British
Colors Available:
Many colors - brown tabby most popular
bi-color tortoiseshell or patterned, Solid color
Coat:
3 layers - thick and silky
Short to medium length - dense
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

maine coon kitten - descriptionThis is a large cat breed with strong bone structure. They can weigh between 5 and 9kg.

The height of these cats can be in the region of 25 and 41cm and they can reach a length of 97cm, including the tail. The body is muscular and robust with the chest being broad.

When it comes to the cat’s coat, the Maine Coon is characterized by the ruff along its chest. It has a 3-layered, water-resistant coat with longer hairs over a silky undercoat, and a long, bushy tail. The color of the coat can vary but the most common color is brown tabby. . It is medium- to long-haired. It’s a seasonal shedder with the fur being considerably thicker in the winter. All colors are available in this cat except blue.

Temperament:

The Maine Coon is a sociable cat and known for it playfulness as well as it being an intelligent cat and easy to train.

You’ll certainly need to supply the cat with some puzzle toys so as to stimulate his brain. It is also one of these cats known to have dog-like characteristics, becoming attached to its human owners, and being good-natured.

It is a loving cat and is also fairly vocal, wanting to tell its human owners what it wants. It’s not a lap cat. It is a gentle cat and gets on well with children and dogs as well as other cats.

british shorthair kitten - descriptionThe British Shorthair is a medium to large-sized cat and he can be anything from 5 to 9kg. He has a short to medium-length dense coat that can either be a solid color, bi-color tortoiseshell or patterned.

The coat becomes thicker and longer in the winter. This is a robust, strong cat, being heavily muscled with heavy bones. The cat also has a broad chest with thick, strong legs. The ears are fairly small and the round eyes give him a totally amicable expression on his face.

Temperament:

The British Shorthair is an amicable cat and makes a superb companion as it's an easy-going cat that adores his human family, being loyal towards them.

The British Shorthair is an active cat and it is able to get by on his own for a few hours without human company. If you do work particularly long hours and you go out a lot, it will be kind to perhaps get another cat for him as a friend.

He is quiet and undemanding and because he is big and heavy he doesn’t like being carried around.

Characteristics

maine coon cat - characteristicsMaine Coon cats are such awesome pets and highly entertaining. They're excellent climbers too and to add to their many amazing characteristics, they love playing in water too.

You’ll be doing him a favor by providing him with a paddling pool. They’re so clever, they may even learn to turn a tap on.

He is such a social, friendly, family-loving cat and it's not surprising that he’s a firm favorite with most cat lovers.

british shorthair cat - characteristicsThe British Shorthair is such a companionable cat, being intelligent and affectionate, even though he isn’t a lapcat as such.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love being around his human companions. He does and is loyal to them.

They’re laid back cats and are capable of getting on well with children in the home as well as with other pets. He just loves lazing around in the sun and can spend a few hours on his own without feeling anxious or lonely.

These cats are really great companions and they make themselves at home in different lifestyles, whether you live in the countryside or in town and whether you are single, a couple or a family with children and other pets.

Easy to care for, the British Shorthair cat is guaranteed to make you an excellent companion.

Health Problems

maine coon kittens - health problemsThere are certain health problems that seem to occur in this particular cat breed, including hip dysplasia and feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hip dysplasia is a condition of the hip joint that can cause degeneration of the joints. It can lead to stiffness and pain for your cat and it can be that your cat develops osteoarthritis.

If your cat develops hip dysplasia it won’t want to jump, it becomes lethargic and there may even be muscle loss in the rear legs.

british shorthair kittens - health problemsThese beautiful cats are a robust, healthy type of cat breed and if you care well for him, you aren’t going to be taking him along to the vet too often. He can also live to be up to 20 years of age.

This cat has been bred with Persians in the past, so this should alert you to some of the diseases that this particular cat breed is susceptible to. It makes the cat a little bit vulnerable to polycystic kidney, an inherited condition in cats that causes cysts to form in the kidneys. They are small at first but they can grow bigger and actually result in kidney failure.

Caring The Pet

maine coon cats - caringCat owners need to realize that diet is one of the most important factors of keeping a cat healthy. The Maine Coon needs nutritious food.

Some people give their cat a mix of dry kibble as well as wet food. It is better to feed your pet smaller meals as opposed to large meals. What is very important is that the cat food is of a high-quality and that it be made up of meaty protein as every cat is a carnivore.

Provide your Maine Coon with a litter box and put it in a quiet, private area. It’s a large cat so make sure the litter box is large as well. With a cat you may need to experiment with him to figure out where he prefers his litter box to be.

This is an active cat so ensure that he gets plenty of exercise. Provide him with climbing equipment and stimulating toys. Your Maine Coon might even enjoy going for a walk and for this, you’ll need to get a cat harness.

Every cat likes to scratch – it’s normal behavior. Make sure you have one or two scratching posts with heavy bases set up for your cat otherwise he may direct his scratching on your furniture.

Every cat owner needs to know a good vet in their area so that their pet can get immediate veterinary help when he becomes sick.

Your Maine Coon’s coat is thick – made up of 3 layers. To maintain its silky feel, and to prevent matting, make sure to brush it once or twice a week. Make it an enjoyable, gentle grooming session for your furry pet. Speak to your vet about the right kind of brushes.

british shorthair cats - caringThe British Shorthair is a fairly large, robust cat but that certainly doesn’t mean he must be fat. Being overweight can bring about a range of health issues and you want to follow an appropriate diet for him ad see that he gets enough exercise.

When it comes to feeding your British Shorthair, always look out for the very best, most nutritious food there is as he is a big cat.

You want to ensure your pet gets enough protein as cats are carnivores - they’re meat eaters and they require chicken, beef and fish. You can give your cat some cooked egg as they are an excellent source of protein.

Be very careful not to be tempted to give your cat chocolates, grapes, nuts, onions or garlic as foods like this are toxic for your cat and can cause him pain and discomfort.

Remember to ensure that there is always a constant supply of fresh, cool water for your cat. If you’re wondering what to feed your cat or you have any other concerns, don’t hesitate to speak to your vet.

Brush your British Shorthair when he starts to shed his winter coat and trim the nails.

Do things for your cat that you would do for your own human child. This is your beloved fur-child and you want him to be happy and healthy.

Check inside his mouth to make sure there aren’t any loose or blackened teeth that could be causing him terrible pain. Also, check inside his ears for signs of redness.

Your British Shorthair is an elegant, clean type of cat so you want to keep his litterbox nice and clean for him.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Maine Coon vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
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  4. Maine Coon vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Maine Coon vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Maine Coon vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Maine Coon vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Maine Coon vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Maine Coon vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Maine Coon vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Maine Coon vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Maine Coon vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Maine Coon vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Maine Coon vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Maine Coon vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Maine Coon vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Maine Coon vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Maine Coon vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Maine Coon vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Maine Coon vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Maine Coon vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Maine Coon vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Maine Coon vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Maine Coon vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Maine Coon vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. British Shorthair vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. British Shorthair vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. British Shorthair vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. British Shorthair vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. British Shorthair vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. British Shorthair vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. British Shorthair vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. British Shorthair vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. British Shorthair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. British Shorthair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. British Shorthair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. British Shorthair vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. British Shorthair vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. British Shorthair vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. British Shorthair vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. British Shorthair vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. British Shorthair vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. British Shorthair vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. British Shorthair vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. British Shorthair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. British Shorthair vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. British Shorthair vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. British Shorthair vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. British Shorthair vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. British Shorthair vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison

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