Fine-Tuning the Three “Forest” Cats
A Basic Breed Comparison
“Ooh, look, it’s a Siberian Forest Cat … or is it a Maine Coon?”
Breeders and exhibitors of Maine Coon Cats (not simply “Maine Coons”) and Siberians (not “Siberian Forest Cats”) are all too familiar with this question. Those with Norwegian Forest Cats (or “Wegies,” the common moniker among breeders and exhibitors) often hear it as well. Finding a clear-cut explanation of the differences among these three breeds can be a challenge even for experts — just try asking Google! So it’s understandable that cat show spectators feel confused. Get ready for a simple explanation that just might help you determine what you are looking at, thereby enabling you to learn more about the kitty that has caught your eye without struggling to identify it.
Making a Long Story Short
The quick-start approach to “forest” cat identification (with “forest” used as a general reference to these breeds’ origins in heavily wooded areas of Northern Europe/Asia and the Northeastern US) is to use basic shapes as your guide. If the cat in front of you makes you think of squares, rectangles, or boxes, or you notice a squared-off muzzle on a head that is reminiscent of a rectangle, you are most likely looking at a Maine Coon Cat. The odds are in favor that you’ve made a good guess because the Maine Coon Cat is one of the most popular cat breeds. In fact, for 2023, it ranked #2 of all breeds registered by CFA.
Now, try to visualize a small box connected by a gently curved line to a larger, longer box. If you succeed, you will have drawn a Maine Coon Cat’s profile in your mind’s eye. The broad, powerful jawline and strong chin give these cats the leonine look of a predator, while the rectangular head further contributes to the appearance of intelligence and strength. The eyes are large and expressive, wide set with an opened oval shape. It is very easy to imagine a Maine Coon Cat as “Minister of Rodent Control” on a northern New England farm; and, indeed, farmers in the late 19th century used to hold competitions for their cats, awarding prizes to the biggest cats and/or best mousers. We know that the breed originated in Maine (hence the name), and is most likely descended from cats that helped manage rodents on board the ships that carried settlers to North America.
The rectangular theme and rugged look are repeated in the cat’s body. Heavily boned, with broad shoulders and well-developed muscles, the Maine Coon Cat’s body makes it the largest — and longest — of all pedigreed cats. The full and noticeably shaggy coat, paired with a flowing, plumed tail, completes the picture of power, length, and strength.
Finding the Right Angle
“But wait,” you may say … “the cat I’m looking at seems to have more of a wedge-shaped head. In fact, it’s more like a triangle than a rectangle!”
This perceptive observation quickly allows us to conclude that you may not be looking at a Maine Coon Cat at all. Instead, you have probably located a Norwegian Forest Cat. The triangular shape of the Wegie’s head is considered such an important characteristic that the CFA standard for this breed allocates 50 points to it more than any other feature. The outer edges of the ears continue the line of the triangle, making it even more dramatic. A straight nose profile, eyes large, almond shaped, well-opened and expressive, and a prominent ruff under the chin further emphasize this breed’s unique wedge-shaped head.
Rather than having a matching triangular body – difficult to imagine – we find this breed is simply sturdy and strong in build. The Wegie is another “working cat” designed by Mother Nature for a pest-control partnership with farmers, but in a much harsher climate than that of New England. Consequently, Wegies will convey an impression of majestic strength and power, but they appear moderate rather than long in the body, with coats that are voluminous and dense, designed for winter weather and naturally water-resistant. This makes a pre-show bath for a Wegie one of the most challenging tasks to be found in the cat fancy! The paws have noticeable tufts between the toes, helping the cat keep its footing in the Scandinavian snow. The tail should be equal in length to the body but is broad at the base and bushy rather than flowing, like the Maine Coon Cat’s tail.
Historically, the Norwegian Forest Cat can be traced back to the Vikings and may have contributed the gene for long hair to the Maine Coon Cat’s ancestral mix. In Norse mythology, the goddess Freya drove a chariot drawn by two enormous cats. Look closely at the well-developed, muscular chest, front paws and thighs of a Wegie, and you will find this a very easy thing to imagine.
Grading on the Curve
Hailing from the coldest part of Russia, the third “forest” cat breed is generally the most difficult one for cat show spectators to identify. In fact, the easiest way to ensure that you are looking at a Siberian may very well be to look for — and fail to find — the distinguishing features of our first two breeds. While this national cat of Russia has all the majesty and muscle to equal (or even exceed) a Wegie or Maine Coon Cat, there is no simple shape to guide your identification. Sorry, no box, no triangle; Siberians are constructed in a series of gentle curves. In fact, you likely won’t see anything that even suggests a straight line, and breeders often remark that the only straight line on a Siberian’s head is the line between nose and chin tip in profile! The head is typically described as a broad, modified wedge, with a muzzle that appears relatively wide when compared with a Wegie, but it is rounded rather than squared off, as we see on a Maine Coon Cat. The large, soulful eyes of a Siberian are set well apart and are almost round in shape, giving the cat’s face a sweetness of expression that can also help you distinguish it from our other two breeds.
You will find curves in this breed’s body structure as well. Medium in length, Siberians have a subtle arch to their backs and a barrel shape to their torsos. The tail tends to be slightly shorter than the body, with fur that is mostly even in length and tapers to a blunt tip. While the coat of a Norwegian has the greatest volume and prominence of these three breeds, a mature Siberian’s coat will generally be thicker and denser. The true triple coat that sets Siberians apart from all other breeds calls for a close look under clear, bright lighting. The long outer guard hairs that develop with maturity are difficult to see against the rest of the full-bodied coat, but once you do see them, there will be no doubt that you are looking at a real Siberian.
Compared with Maine Coon Cats and Norwegian Forest Cats, Siberians are relative newcomers to the cat show scene. They were generally unknown outside of their native land until the early 1990s, when the first breeding pairs arrived in the United States. However, their popularity has grown considerably in the past few years, bringing them up to #10 in CFA’s annual breed ranking in 2022, then earning a promotion to #9 in 2023.
Time to Test Yourself
Hopefully, we’ve now given you enough guidance to figure out which of the three “forest” cat breeds you might encounter the next time you visit a cat show. Take the time to learn more about each breed by checking out their profiles throughout this article and at https://cfa.org/breeds/, and you’ll find that the exhibitors you chat with will be impressed. More importantly, you will have a good idea of whether one of these wonderful “forest” cats might be right for you!