Compare
Maine Coon vs Persian
A large, active, shaggy family cat against a medium, placid, long-coated lap cat that needs daily combing and flat-face care.
Verdict
Size, energy and face shape differ. The Maine Coon is Large at 8 to 18 lb, scores high for play, and rates top marks with children and other pets. Its shaggy coat needs brushing a few times a week. The Persian is a medium, placid cat that scores lowest for energy and voice, and rates top marks for small homes. Its long coat needs combing every day and sheds heavily, and its flat face brings breathing and eye problems. Choose the Maine Coon for a big, sociable cat with room to climb, and the Persian for a quiet indoor home with time to groom.
Choose the Maine Coon if
- You want a large, playful, sociable cat.
- You have children or other pets.
- You will brush a few times a week, not every day.
- You will ask the breeder about heart disease, hip dysplasia and spinal muscular atrophy.
Choose the Persian if
- You want a quiet, undemanding indoor companion.
- You live in a small home.
- You will comb a long coat every day.
- You will plan for kidney, breathing, eye and heart checks.
Where they are alike
Both are long-coated, affectionate breeds that shed heavily. Both rate well with children and other pets, and both list heart disease on their watch-lists.
Side by side
| Maine Coon | Persian | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Maine, United States | Named for Persia (Iran); developed in Europe |
| Size | Large | Medium |
| Typical weight | 8-18 lb (3.6-8.2 kg); males are larger | About 7-12 lb (3.2-5.4 kg) |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | Studies put the median near 11 to 12.5 years |
| Coat length | Long | Long |
| Coat | Shaggy, water-shedding double coat, longer on the ruff, belly and britches | Long, dense, fine coat standing off the body, with a full ruff and brush tail |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1976 | Championship breed since 1906 |
| How common | Very common | Common |
| Affection | 4 | 4 |
| Energy | 3 | 1 |
| Playfulness | 4 | 2 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 4 | 5 |
| Shedding | 4 | 5 |
| Good with children | 5 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 5 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 3 | 5 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Maine Coon's thick coat sheds seasonally, and people who react to cats usually react to this breed too. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Persian's long coat sheds heavily and holds dander, and people who react to cats often react to this breed. |
| Suits | A family or a household with other pets that wants a large, sociable cat and will brush it a few times a week. | A quiet indoor home where someone has the time to comb a long coat every day and wants a gentle, undemanding companion. |
| Less suited to | A small flat with little room to climb, or anyone who wants a lap cat that stays small. | A busy or noisy house, a home that cannot afford regular grooming and vet care, or anyone who wants an athletic, climbing cat. |
| Registries that recognise it |
|
|
| Health conditions to watch |
|
|
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