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Cymric vs Maine Coon
A medium, round, often tailless semi-longhair with a tail-gene health risk against a large, shaggy, top-rated family cat.
Verdict
Size and the tail gene separate these two. The Cymric is a medium cat of 8 to 12 lb, often with a very short tail or none, and that gene brings spinal and bowel risks that you must discuss with the breeder. The Maine Coon is Large at 8 to 18 lb, brushes a little more, and rates top marks with children and other pets. Both are sociable semi-longhairs. Choose the Cymric for a compact, sturdy cat if you accept the welfare questions, and the Maine Coon for a larger, easier-found family cat.
Choose the Cymric if
- You want a medium-sized cat that suits an apartment slightly better.
- You like a round, sturdy body and a short or absent tail.
- You will accept Manx syndrome, spina bifida and megacolon as risks to plan for.
- You can wait for a kitten, since the Cymric is Rare.
Choose the Maine Coon if
- You want a large cat that rates top marks with children and other pets.
- You want a breed that is Very common and easier to find.
- You will brush a thick coat a few times a week.
- You will ask the breeder about heart disease, hip dysplasia and spinal muscular atrophy.
Where they are alike
Both are affectionate, playful and have quiet voices. Both have thick double coats that shed seasonally.
Side by side
| Cymric | Maine Coon | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Canada and the United States, from Manx cats of the Isle of Man | Maine, United States |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | 8-12 lb (3.6-5.4 kg); males are larger | 8-18 lb (3.6-8.2 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | — | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Medium | Long |
| Coat | Dense, resilient, semi-long double coat with a ruff, shirtfront and britches | Shaggy, water-shedding double coat, longer on the ruff, belly and britches |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Championship breed since 1976 |
| How common | Rare | Very common |
| Affection | 4 | 4 |
| Energy | 3 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 4 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 4 |
| Shedding | 3 | 4 |
| Good with children | 4 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 5 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 3 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The semi-long coat sheds seasonally, and people who react to cats are likely to react to this one. | 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 | A home that wants a sturdy, people-friendly longhair and accepts the health questions that come with the tailless gene. | 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 is not prepared for the welfare questions around the Manx gene, or who wants a cat with a full tail. | 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