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Abyssinian vs Maine Coon
The Abyssinian is a lean, high-energy shorthair; the Maine Coon is a large, shaggy, sociable cat that needs brushing and space.
Verdict
The Abyssinian and the Maine Coon differ in size, coat and pace. The Abyssinian is a medium, lean cat of about 8 to 12 lb with a fine coat that needs almost no care, and it scores at the top for energy and play. The Maine Coon is a large cat of up to about 18 lb with a thick shaggy coat that wants brushing a few times a week. It is calmer, scores top marks with children and other pets, and needs more room.
Choose the Abyssinian if
- You want a lean, athletic cat that plays hard every day.
- You want almost no grooming, as the coat is fine and short.
- You have a smaller home, since a Maine Coon needs more room to climb.
- You enjoy puzzle toys and a cat that follows you around.
Choose the Maine Coon if
- You want a large, good-natured cat with a shaggy coat and tufted ears.
- You have young children or other pets, as it scores top marks for both.
- You will brush it a few times a week and live with seasonal shedding.
- You want a calmer cat, and one that copes better with time alone.
Where they are alike
Both are intelligent, sociable cats with quiet voices. Each has a watch-list of inherited conditions, so ask your vet and your breeder about screening.
Side by side
| Abyssinian | Maine Coon | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | United Kingdom, with ancestry traced to the Indian Ocean coast and Southeast Asia | Maine, United States |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | 8-12 lb (3.6-5.4 kg) | 8-18 lb (3.6-8.2 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 10-13 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Fine, close-lying coat with a ticked (agouti) pattern; each hair carries several bands of colour | Shaggy, water-shedding double coat, longer on the ruff, belly and britches |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Championship breed since 1976 |
| How common | Common | Very common |
| Affection | 3 | 4 |
| Energy | 5 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 1 | 4 |
| Shedding | 2 | 4 |
| Good with children | 4 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 5 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 3 |
| Trainability | 5 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 3 | 3 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The short coat is easy to keep clean, but people who react to cats may still react to an Abyssinian. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Maine Coon's thick coat sheds seasonally, and people who react to cats usually react to this breed too. |
| Suits | An active household that enjoys play and wants a bright, busy cat that follows its people around. | A family or a household with other pets that wants a large, sociable cat and will brush it a few times a week. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who wants a calm lap cat, or a home where the cat is alone for long stretches. | A small flat with little room to climb, or anyone who wants a lap cat that stays small. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026