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Exotic Shorthair vs Maine Coon
A medium, calm, flat-faced lap cat against a large, shaggy, more active family cat that needs brushing and room to climb.
Verdict
Size, energy and health risks differ. The Exotic Shorthair is medium, plush and placid, rates top marks for small homes and scores low for energy and voice, but its flat face brings breathing and eye problems. The Maine Coon is Large at 8 to 18 lb, needs more brushing, plays more and rates top marks with children and other pets. Choose the Exotic for a quiet lap cat in a smaller home, and the Maine Coon for a big, sociable family cat with space.
Choose the Exotic Shorthair if
- You want a calm, quiet lap cat.
- You live in a small home.
- You are ready for face cleaning and regular vet checks.
- You keep a cool home.
Choose the Maine Coon if
- You want a large, sociable cat that suits children and other pets.
- You want a more playful cat with moderate energy.
- 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 CFA championship breeds with a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Both are affectionate and sociable, and both shed noticeably.
Side by side
| Exotic Shorthair | Maine Coon | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | United States | Maine, United States |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | 8-15 lb (3.6-6.8 kg); males are larger | 8-18 lb (3.6-8.2 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Dense, plush, soft coat that stands out from the body | Shaggy, water-shedding double coat, longer on the ruff, belly and britches |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1967 | Championship breed since 1976 |
| How common | Common | Very common |
| Affection | 4 | 4 |
| Energy | 2 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 1 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 4 |
| Shedding | 3 | 4 |
| Good with children | 4 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 5 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 3 |
| Trainability | 3 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 5 | 3 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The dense coat sheds steadily 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 calm indoor home that wants a quiet, affectionate lap cat and is ready to pay for regular vet checks. | 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 | A hot or humid home, a household with no time for face cleaning, or anyone worried about flat-faced cat welfare. | 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