Through the years ACFA has progressed with the times, yet never forgetting those precepts on which we were founded.Here are but a few of the reasons we feel our Association is the best, most unique, service-oriented association of its type in the Cat Fancy today:

Every cat entered, judged and scored in an ACFA Show has a Master Show Record for that show year entered into the database of our computer.For each win in the Show Ring during the Show Season, from Best of Color, through Best Cat in Show, it receives a specific number of points.These points are tabulated and the ‘average points scored’ per ring are determined.This final average is used to determine our End-of-Year Awards.Awards start for the Top 3 Cats of Color of Breed and progress upwards through Top 3 Cats of Breed and then on to the Top winning cats, regardless of breed.These awards are presented both on a Regional and Inter-American level.The unique part of this system is that every cat fancier can afford to compete for the top awards each year.Since it is not a ‘total’ point system, exhibitors need not incur the expense of campaigning a cat every weekend to be in competition, as is the case with most of the other award systems in place today.

The ACFA Bulletin, published bi-monthly, is designed to provide the ACFA Member with the latest information about their Association.It includes but is not limited to: reports on new policies and actions taken by the Board of Directors; a current Show Schedule; a Judges’ list; a list of Breed Section Chairs; other Committee Chairs are listed; and more.‘ACFA Yearbook”, a yearbook depicting the End-of-Year award winners, is a publication of the finest quality, utilizing quality reproduction to best display the top winning cats.It also contains breeder advertising, and many interesting articles and special features about cats and the Cat Fancy.Both the Bulletin and the ACFA Yearbook are included with membership

ACFA is continually searching to find new ways that will make the registration of cats and litters simple and easy for our customers, and still maintain the highest degree of integrity in the Book of Registry.In addition, we continue to investigate, and introduce, new services to aid our customers in other areas.Our Central Office is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week through fax, email and voice mail. Our members receive special considerations and/or discounts from sponsoring companies; reduced member pricing on cat registrations, litters, Cattery name registrations and ACFA Yearbook advertising; and a free listing on our Website with a link to your Website so that your Cattery can achieve full exposure to those looking for a kitten.Add this to the ‘personal touch’ you receive from the Staff at ACFA’s Central Office, it is evident that ACFA is sincerely concerned with the quality of service to the Fancier – whether they are a professional breeder, a hobby breeder or a cat-lover.

Many exemplary changes, advanced ideas and policies were first introduced by ACFA.Several of the modifications or policies that were popularized were:

The double, triple and quadruple championship and grand championship were innovations first developed by ACFA.

For the first time in Cat Fancy History, altered cats were accepted for championship competition.These alters did not compete with the whole cats, but were given their own championship classification.Still today, the alters compete in the Championship Shows under the same rules as any other championship cat.

ACFA was the first to introduce the ‘multiple’ ring Championship Show, a concept that is standard in all associations today.However, until ACFA introduced the four ring Show, the common format was simply one Allbreed Ring and one Specialty Ring.ACFA was the first to provide the exhibitor the opportunity to go to a show and have their cat judged “FOUR” times, not just twice.ACFA then forged ahead to introduce the five ring show, six ring show, and then, the now popular Back-to-Back show with 8 to 10 rings in a weekend.

In addition, ACFA was the first to require prospective judges to successfully complete ‘written’ exams before being licensed. Other firsts include: a training program for ‘trainee’ Judges, official Judges’ Schools [established for new and old judges alike], as well as special Breed Seminars for interested parties as well as Judges.

ACFA has been innovative in recording and encouraging owners of Household Pets to enter our show halls and win titles and compete in year-end awards. Along with this concept, ACFA has also been a leader in the Junior ACFA program, enlisting, training, educating and encouraging our young people to become involved in the Cat Fancy.

You will find that some / all of these concepts are practiced by all associations in existence today.

The American Cat Fanciers Association was formed in 1955 by a group of Cat Fanciers seeking greater flexibility in the development of cats, the activities of cat lovers and greater freedom for growth and harmony with contemporary needs of the individual breeders and the broadening horizons of the Cat Fancy at large. It was a group of Cat Fanciers in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, comprised of individuals highly qualified in business management, organizations, legal expertise and knowledge of the Cat Fancy and Show procedures, who provided the prime force for this endeavor.The founders of this Association, along with many others, believed that a more democratic organization would be able to move forward more rapidly than the organizations or associations current at that time, due to antiquated legislative rules, had been able to do.Their dreams were not unfounded.

Once the policies of this democratic Association were made known to the public, many of the leading breeders and fanciers, who long had resented the autocratic policies of the then existing organizations, joined ACFA.They believed that within the parameters, as set forth, there was room for advancement of the Cat Fancy as an organization.The members set up a Board of Directors who were to represent the various regions in developing the Association policies.Such policies could not be written into the Bylaws, Show Rules or Registration Rules without the approving vote of the membership at large.Separate Breed Sections proposed Standards of Perfection for each breed, and they, the breeders of the specific breeds, accepted or rejected the standard.Once these standards had been set they were to be changed only by the approval of the members of the Breed Section concerned, comprised of the breeder/exhibitor members.

Fife breed standard – Maine Coon

All cats shown at exhibtions arranged after FIFEs rules, are judged by the FIFE breed standard for Maine Coons described beneath.

General appearance:

The breed is large framed with a square outline of the head, large ears, broad chest, solid bone structure, a long, hard muscled, rectangular body and a long flowing tail. Good muscle tone and density give the cat the appearance of power and robustness.

Size:

Large

Head:

• Shape: medium in size; square outline. Profile with a gentle concave slope
• Forehead: gently curved
• Cheeks: cheekbones high and prominent
• Face/Nose/Muzzle: face and nose of medium length with a square outline of the muzzle. Distinct transition can be felt between muzzle and cheekbones.
• Chin: firm, in vertical alignment with nose and upperlip

Ears:

• Shape – large, wide at the base, moderately pointed. Lynx-tufts are desireable, tufts of hair in the ears extend beyond outer edges of ears.
• Placement – Set high on head with a very sligth outward tilt. Ears should be placed one ear’s width apart, the width extends slightly in older cats. Lower base set just slightly further back than upper base.

Eyes:

• Shape – Large and widely set, slightly oval, but not almond shaped. Appear round when wide open, set slightly slantet towards the outer base of the ear.
• Colour – Any colour is permitted, there is no relationship between eye- and coat colour. Clear eye colour is desireable.

Neck:

males have a very strong muscled neck

Body:

• Structure – the body should be long, substantial bone structure, hard muscled, powerful, broad chested large framed. All parts of the body in proportion to create a rectangular appearance.
• Legs – substantial, medium length to form a rectangle with the body.
• Paws – large, round and well tufted between the toes
• Tail – at least as long as the body from shoulderblade to base of tail. Wide at the base tapering to the tip, with full, flowing hair. The hair on the tail is long and always remains flowing.

Coat:

• Structure – all weather coat, dense. Short on head, shoulders and legs, becoming gradually longer down the back and sides, with long, full shaggy baggy trousers on the hind legs and belly fur. A frill is expected, silky texture. Coat has distinct body, falling smoothly. The undercoat is soft and fine, covered by the coarse smooth outercoat.
• Colour – all colour varieties are permitted, including all colour varieties with white; except pointed patterns and chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn. Any amount of white is allowed, i.e a white blaze, white locket, white on the belly, white on the paws etc.

Condition:

The maine coon should always be in good balance, condition and proportion.

Remarks:

• Type must always take preference over colour
• very slow maturing of the breed should be taken into account
• mature males may have larger and broader heads than females
• females are proportionally smaller than males. Allowance must be made for this significant difference in size.
• length of coat and density of undercoat vary with the seasons

Faults:

• General: unbalanced proportions and overall small cats
• Head: Round head, straight or convex profile
• Nose: Nose break
• Muzzle: pronounced whisker pads, rounded or pointed muzzle
• Chin: Undershot chin
• Ears: Wide set, flared ears
• Eyes: slanted almond shaped eyes
• Body: Fine, light bone structure. Short cobby body.
• Legs: Long stilty legs
• Tail: Short tail.
• Coat: Lack of bellyshag, coat of overall even length, lack of any undercoat.

The FIFe can be considered as the United Nations of Cat Federations. In fact it is a federation of national members representing, at present, 40 countries with 42 full members and 3 countries with a probational member, but whose numbers continue to grow. These member organisations have chosen to follow the same rules with regard to the breed standards, cattery names, shows, judges and student judges. This common interest has, over the years, been consolidated to create the high standard and international reputation of the FIFe.

One lady’s dream becomes reality

The idea of an international European cat federation was the dream of Madame Marguérite (Miggy) Ravel, a French cat lover, who first began working towards her goal in the early thirties. Finally, at a meeting in Paris in 1949 between the Royal Cat Society of Flanders, the French Cat Federation and the Italian Cat Society, her efforts bore fruit with the unofficial founding of the Fédération Internationale Féline d’Europe (FIFE).

The first FIFe show was held in Paris in 1949 at which over 200 cats were present with the exhibitors coming from France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. By today’s standards, 200 cats would be considered a very small show—one of the FIFe World Shows had nearly 1400 entries with exhibitors coming from all over the world.

On 10th December, 1950, the new federation held its first General Assembly in Ghent, Belgium and, with the acceptance of its statutes and rules, was officially founded. To mark the occasion, Madame Ravel presented each delegate with a cat, sculptured in pink sandstone (a photo of it adorns these pages), which she had especially commissioned from a French artist, Jean Martel.

The FIFE becomes the FIFe

The federation grew considerably over the years. With the acceptance of the Brazilian Clube Brasileiro do Gato in 1972, the FIFE had expanded beyond Europe and thus had to change its name, which it did at the following year’s General Assembly, becoming the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe).

Each of the national members of FIFe retains its own identity, with the FIFe guaranteeing their complete uniformity with cat registrations, shows, judges and judge training.

The accent within FIFe is on healthy and happy cats which is reflected in its rules with their emphasis on health and welfare.

The organisation

The Executive Board of the FIFe is the co-ordinating body on the international level. The board is made up of six people from the member countries who are elected by the members; they manage the organisation according to its statutes. There are five supporting Commissions whose responsibility is to implement the decisions of the General Assembly and the Board. These are: the Judges & Standard Commission; Breeding & Registration Commission; the Show Commission; the Health & Welfare Commission; and the Disciplinary Commission. The democratic structure of the organisation guarantees each member equal voting rights at the General Assembly, which convenes annually to discuss and vote upon the proposals of the members, to elect new officers, debate new regulations and accept common strategies.

FIFe has always had good relations with all the major cat organisations of the world. Its official seat is in Luxembourg and its official languages are French, German and English. The Secretariat is administered by the FIFe General Secretary, who handles the daily affairs for all the members; these include the co-ordination of show dates, the processing of cattery names data and the administrative work of judges’ examinations.

The name of FIFe is synonymous with quality and unity

Maine Coon Standard (TICA)

General Description

The Maine Coon is America’s native longhaired cat. The breed, with it essentially amiable disposition, developed through a natural selection process where only the fittest survived. It should always be remembered that the Maine Coon developed basically as a “working cat” able to fend for itself in rough, woody terrain and under extreme climatic conditions.

Maine Coons are a large breed with big ears, broad chest, substantial boning, al long, hard muscled, rectangular body and a long flowing tail. Good muscle tone and density give the cat the appearance of power. Important note: Females are proportially smaller than males and can weigh 4 to 5 pounds less. Allowance must be made for this significant size difference. Mature males can have larger, broader heads than the females.

The coat is shorter over the shoulders, becoming gradually longer down the back and sides, with long, full shaggy britches and belly fur. A full ruff is expected; however, there should be frontal ruff beginning at the base of the ears. The tail is long, at least as long as the body, and has long, full, flowing fur. A slight undercoat is carried, but the texture should not be cottony or wooly.

Color

White trim around eyes, lips and chin allowed except in solid colors.

Penalize

Pronunced whisker pads. Untershot chin. Nose break or severe bump at end. Lack of slight undercoat. Buttons, lockets, or spots. Straight nose pofile. Wide-set, flared ears. Long, stilty legs. Slanted, almond-shaped eyes. Flat tops on eye openings. Lack of belly shag. Short tail. Rounded head. Overall even coat. Short cobby body. Fine, light boning. Overall small cat.

Head: Shape: Broad, modified wedge. Size: Medium. Profile: Gentle concave slope. Allow for a slight bump at the end. Forehead: Gentle curve. Cheekbones: High, prominent. Distinct stop can be felt under cheekbones. Muzzle: Square. Chin: Firm, in line with nose and upper lip.

Ears: Shape: Wide at base. Lower base set just slightly furhter back than upper base. Moderately pointed. Size: Large, tall. Placement: Set high on head with a very slight outward tilt. Bases no more than an ear’s with apart. Lynx Tips: Extend vertically from the top back of the ear. Furnishings: Extend horizontally beyond the outer edge of the ear.

Eyes: Shape: Slightly oval, appear round when wide open. Size: Large. Placement: Wide-set. Aperture: Slightly oblique; toward outer base of ear. Color: Any shade of green and/or gold, blue and odd-eyes accepted in whites. No relationship between coat and eye colors.

Neck: Length: Medium-long. Musculature: Sturdy.

Body: Sharpe: Long, rectangular, but not slender. Size: Large. Boning: Substantial. Musculature: Substantial and powerful.

Tail: Shape: Wide at base and tapering to tip with full, flowing hair. Length: At least as long as the body from shoulders to base of tail.

Legs: Length: Medium to form a rectangle with the body. Boning: Substantial. Musculature: Substantial.

Feet: Shape: Round, Size: Large. Toe Tufts: Well-tufted.

Coat: Length: Uneven; shorter on shoulders, gradually lengthening. Frontal ruff, long shaggy britches and belly fur. Texture: All-weather coat. Coat has district body, falling smoothly along body. Density: Slight undercoat.

The International Cat Association (TICA) has thousands of members and hundreds of clubs around the world in Latin America, North America, Asia, and Europe that host cat shows all year.

A genetic registry, TICA allows new cat breeds such as the Savannah, the world’s favorite breed of cat the Bengal, and the Thai cat. Fifty five breeds of cats from the Russian Blue to LaPerm, Sphynx to Norwegian Forest Cat compete for titles and regional and international awards. TICA also was the first cat–and now the world’s largest–registry to allow household cats and household kittens to compete for the same titles at cat shows and awards as pedigreed cats.

TICA cat shows are fun. TICA cats are fabulous. And TICA members including junior cat exhibitors are friendly. The cat fancy and cat fanciers are all cat owners and cat lovers. Cat kids get to learn the ropes through our junior exhibitor program and new cattery breeders can learn more through TICA mentorship programs.

GENERAL: originally a working cat, the Maine Coon is solid, rugged, and can endure a harsh climate. A distinctive characteristic is its smooth, shaggy coat. A well proportioned and balanced appearance with no part of the cat being exaggerated. Quality should never be sacrificed for size. With an essentially amiable disposition, it has adapted to varied environments.

HEAD SHAPE: medium in width and slightly longer in length than width with a squareness to the muzzle. Allowance should be made for broadening in older studs. Cheekbones high.

MUZZLE/CHIN: is visibly square, medium in length and blunt ended when viewed in profile. It may give the appearance of being a rectangle but should not appear to be tapering or pointed. Length and width of the muzzle should be proportionate to the rest of the head and present a pleasant, balanced appearance. The chin should be strong, firm and in line with the upper lip and nose. When viewed in profile the chin depth should be observable and give the impression of a square, 90-degree angle. A chin lacking in depth, i.e. one that tapers from the jaw line to the lip, is not considered strong, firm or desirable.

PROFILE: should be proportionate to the overall length of the head and should exhibit a slight concavity when viewed in profile. The profile should be relatively smooth and free of pronounced bumps and/or humps. A profile that is straight from the brow line to the tip of the nose is not acceptable, nor should the profile show signs of having a “break” or “stop.”

EARS: Shape: large, well-tufted, wide at base, tapering to appear pointed. Set: approximately one ear’s with apart at the base, not flared.

EYES: large, expressive, wide set. Slightly oblique setting with slant toward outer base of ear.

NECK: medium long.

BODY SHAPE: muscular, broad-chested. Size medium to large. Females generally are smaller than males. The body should be long with all parts in proportion to create a well-balanced rectangular appearance with no part of the anatomy being so exaggerated as to foster weakness. Allowance should be made for slow maturation.

LEGS and FEET: legs substantial, wide set, of medium length, and in proportion to the body. Forelegs straight. Back legs are straight when viewed from behind. Paws large, round, well-tufted. Five toes in front; four in back.

TAIL: long, wide at base, and tapering. Fur long and flowing.

COAT: heavy and shaggy; shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches. Frontal ruff desirable. Texture silky with coat falling smoothly .

PENALIZE: a coat that is short or overall even.

DISQUALIFY: delicate bone structure. Undershot chin, i.e. the front teeth (incisors) of the lower jaw overlapping or projecting beyond the front teeth of the upper jaw when the mouth is closed. Crossed eyes. Kinked tail. Incorrect number of toes. White buttons, white lockets, or white spots. Cats showing evidence of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern; or unpatterned agouti on the body (i.e. Abyssinian type ticked tabby).

MAINE COON CAT COLORS

EYE COLOR: eye color should be shades of green, gold, green-gold, or copper. Blue-eyes or odd-eyes are also allowed for white or bi-color (including vans) patterned cats.

Solid Color Class

WHITE: pure glistening white. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

BLACK: dense coal black, sound from roots to tip of fur. Free from any tinge of rust on tips or smoke undercoat. Nose leather: black. Paw pads: black or brown.

BLUE: one level tone from nose to tip of tail. Sound to the roots. Nose leather and paw pads: blue.

RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red; without shading, markings, or ticking. Lips and chin the same color as coat. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.

CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Sound to the roots. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

Tabby Patterns

CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Frown marks on forehead form an intricate letter “M”. Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes of the ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical rows of buttons on chest and stomach.

MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and all narrow pencillings. Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct, like so many chains. Head barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes. Lines running down the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body.

PATCHED TABBY PATTERN: a patched tabby (torbie) is an established silver, brown, blue, or blue-silver tabby with patches of red or cream.

Brown Tabby Color Class

BROWN TABBY (classic, mackerel, patched): ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings dense black. Back of leg black from paw to heel. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather and paw pads: black or brown desirable.

All Other Tabby Colors Class

SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, patched): ground color pale, clear silver. Markings dense black. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather: brick red desirable. Paw pads: black desirable.

BLUE-SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, patched): Ground color pale, clear silver. Markings a deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather: old rose desirable. Paw pads: rose desirable.

RED TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red desirable.

BLUE TABBY (classic, mackerel, patched): ground color pale bluish Ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather: old rose desirable. Paw pads: rose desirable.

CREAM TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color very pale cream. Markings of buff or cream sufficiently darker than the ground color to afford good contrast but remaining within the dilute range. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather and paw pads: pink desirable.

CREAMSILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color off-white. Markings cream. Undercoat white. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather and paw pads: pink desirable.

CAMEO TABBY (classic, mackerel): ground color off-white. Markings red. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather and paw pads: rose desirable.

Brown Tabby & White Color Class (including Vans)

BROWN TABBY AND WHITE (classic, mackerel, patched): color as defined for brown tabby with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly and all four paws.

BROWN VAN TABBY AND WHITE (classic, mackerel, patched): white with color confined to the extremities: head, tails, legs. One or two small colord patches on body allowable. Tabby pattern to be present in teh colroed markings.

BROWN PATCHED AND WHITE [including vans (classic, mackerel)]: color as defined for the patched tabby(torbie) but with a distribution of white markings as described in brown tabby with white. Color as described for patched tabby (torbie) with or without white on face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws.

All Other Tabby & White Colors Color Class

TABBY & WHITE(classic, mackerel): color as defined for tabby with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws. Colors accepted are silver, blue, blue-silver, red, cream, cream-silver or cameo.

VAN TABBY: white with color confined to the extremities: head, tail, and legs. One or two small colored patches on body allowable. Tabby pattern to be present in the colored markings.

PATCHED TABBY WITH WHITE (torbie with white): color as described for patched tabby (torbie) but with distribution of white markings as described in tabby with white and van tabby. Color as described for patched tabby (torbie) with or without white on face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws. Colors accepted are blue, silver or blue-silver.

Parti-Color Class

TORTOISESHELL: black with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both the body and the extremities. Presence of several shades of red acceptable.

BLUE-CREAM: blue with patches of cream or softly intermingled areas of cream on both the body and the extremities.

TORTOISESHELL WITH WHITE: color as defined for tortoiseshell with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws.

BLUE-CREAM WITH WHITE: color as defined for blue-cream with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws.

CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red. White predominant on underparts.

DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream. White predominant on underparts.

BI-COLOR: a combination of a solid color with white. The colored areas predominate with the white portions being located on the face, chest, belly, legs, and feet. Colors accepted are red, black, blue, or cream.

VAN BI-COLOR: white with color confined to the extremities: head, tail, and legs. One or two small colored patches on body allowable.

Other Maine Coon Colors Class

CHINCHILLA SILVER: undercoat pure white. Coat on back. flanks, head, and tail sufficiently tipped with black to give the characteristic sparkling silver appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, pure white. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

SHADED SILVER: undercoat white with a mantle of black tipping shading down from sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as the face. The general effect to be much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

SHELL CAMEO (Red Chinchilla): undercoat white, the coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail to be sufficiently tipped with red to give the characteristic sparkling appearance. Face and legs may be very slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest white. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.

SHADED CAMEO (Red Shaded): undercoat white with a mantle of red tipping shading down the sides, face, and tail. Face and legs may be a deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff) to be white. The general effect to be much redder than the shell cameo. Nose leather, rims of eyes and pawpads: rose.

BLACK SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with black. Cat in repose appears black. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask black with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Light silver frill and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads: black.

BLUE SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with blue. Cat in repose appears blue. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask blue with narrow band of white hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. White frill and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads: blue.

CAMEO SMOKE (Red Smoke): white undercoat, deeply tipped with red. Cat in repose appears red. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask red with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.

BLUE-CREAM SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with blue, with clearly defined patches of cream as in the pattern of the blue-cream. Cat in repose appears blue-cream. In motion, the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Face and ears blue-cream pattern with narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to the skin which may be seen only when the fur is parted. White ruff and ear tufts. Blaze of cream on face is desirable.

TORTIE SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with black with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both the body and the extremities. The presence of several shades of red is acceptable. Cat in repose appears tortoiseshell. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Face and ears tortoiseshell pattern with narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to the skin that may be seen only when fur is parted. White ruff and ear tufts. Blaze of red or cream on face is desirable.

SMOKE & WHITE: Color as defined for smokes with or without white on the face. Must have white on bib, belly, and all four paws.

SHELL CREAM: undercoat white, the coat on the back, flanks, head and tail to be lightly tipped with cream. Face and legs may be very slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff) to be white. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.

SHADED CREAM: undercoat white with a mantle of cream shading down the sides, face and tail, face and legs may be a deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff) to be white. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.

SHELL TORTOISESHELL: undercoat white. The coat on the back, flanks and tail to be lightly tipped with black and shades of red. Face and legs may be lightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff) may be white to very lightly tipped with shading. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose to black, may also be patched.

SHADED TORTOISESHELL: undercoat white. Mantle of black and red shading down the sides, face and tail. Face and legs may be a deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff) may be white to lightly tipped. The general effect is to be much darker than the shell tortoiseshell. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose to black, may also be patched.

SHELL BLUE-CREAM: undercoat white. The coat on the back, flanks and tail to be lightly tipped with blue and shades of cream. Face and legs may be lightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff) may be white to very lightly tipped with shading. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose to blue, may also be patched.

SHADED BLUE-CREAM: undercoat white. Mantle of blue and cream shading down the sides, face and tail. Face and legs may be a deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff) may be white to lightly tipped. The general effect is to be much darker than the shell blue-cream. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose to blue, may also be patched.

CALICO SMOKE: white with unbrindled patches of black and shades of red. Black and red patches to have a white undercoat. White predominate on the underpants of the cat.

DILUTE CALICO SMOKE: white with unbrindled patches of blue and shades of cream. Blue and cream patches to have a white undercoat. White predominate on the underpants of the cat.

CHINCHILLA SILVER & WHITE, SHADED SILVER & WHITE, SHELL/SHADED CAMEO & WHITE, SHELL/SHADED CREAM & WHITE, SHELL/SHADED CALICO, SHELL/SHADED DILUTE CALICO: white undercoat. Body color to conform to the established color descriptions. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: must conform to the accepted color descriptions. This color description also applies to the Van patterned cats of these chinchilla/shell/shaded colors.

OMCCC (Other Maine Coon Cat Colors): any other color with the exception of those showing hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern; the unpatterned agouti on the body (i.e. Abyssinian type ticked tabby), or these combinations with white.

Myths, legend and lore surround the Maine Coon Cat. Some are amusing, some are fantastic flights of fantasy and some are merely plausible. They certainly provide good material for conversation. Books and articles dealing with these aspects of the Maine Coon Cat have been well received as people never seem to tire of the subject and are always eager to know more about this wonderful breed.

The Maine Coon is the native American longhaired cat and was recognized as a specific breed in Maine where they were held in high regard for their mousing talents. Through nature’s own breeding program, this breed has developed into a sturdy cat ideally suited to the harsh winters and varied seasons of the region. The Maine Coon is well known for its loving nature, kindly disposition and great intelligence. Maines are especially good with children and dogs and have always been a popular and sought after companion.

The Maine Coon has always been admired for its beauty, and a Maine Coon was chosen Best Cat at the first major cat show ever held in this country. The transition from easygoing farm cat to CFA finalist was not an easy one, nor did it happen quickly. Although they lost favor and were conspicuously absent from shows for quite a long time, we are now seeing large classes of these beauties in most cat shows and it is not unusual for a Maine Coon to be named “Best Cat.”

Pricing on Maine Coons usually depends on type, applicable markings and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National Regional winning parentage (NW or RW) or of Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having produced five CFA grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen CFA grand champion/premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.

The Cat Fanciers’ Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1906. The first cat shows licensed by CFA were held during 1906 – one in Buffalo and one in Detroit. The first Annual Meeting was held in 1907 at Madison Square Garden. In 1909, CFA published the first Stud Book and Register in the Cat Journal magazine. Also in 1909, Volume I of the Stud Book was published in book form. On September 18, 1919, articles of incorporation were drawn up under the laws of the State of New York. CFA then entered a new and successful era, and the Association has grown steadily over the years. Total receipts have grown from $155.25 in 1907 to over $2,300,000 during fiscal year 2002-2003.

CFA has grown in all areas from a humble beginning, and approximately 400 shows will be held this season worldwide. CFA shows are judged by individuals who meet high qualification criteria and have completed a rigorous training program that well qualifies them to evaluate the show cat using CFA Breed standards.

The CFA Central Office, located in Manasquan, New Jersey, has grown from a “one person” operation to a modern computerized office that occupies over 10,000 square feet.

During 2003, the CFA Central Office staff of twenty-one efficiently handled litter registrations and cat registrations, in addition to transfers of ownership, additions of cattery name suffixes, cattery name registrations, duplicated or corrected registration certificates, certified pedigrees, cattery offspring reports, reverse pedigree reports, championship and premiership confirmations.

The CFA Foundation is charged with preserving this constantly evolving history of the Association.

General Statement:
The Maine Coon is a solid, rugged cat and is America’s oldest natural longhaired breed. Type must not be sacrificed for size, nor size for type, the optimum being a large, typey cat. Females are somewhat smaller than males, and allowance should be made for the slow maturation of the breed.

Head:
Medium in length and width, with a squareness to the muzzle. Allowance should be made for broadening in males. Cheek bones high. Nose medium in length with a gentle, concave curve and no break or bump. Chin firm and in line with upper lip and nose.

Eyes:
Large, wide set, slightly oblique setting. Eye color can be shades of green, gold, or copper, though white cats may be blue or odd-eyed. There is no relationship between eye color and coat color. Clarity of eye color is desirable.

Ears:
Large, wide at base, moderately pointed and well tufted. Set high on head approximately an ear’s width apart. Lynx-like tipping is desirable.

Body:
Muscular, medium to large in size, broad chested. Body is long, with all parts in proportion, creating a rectangular appearance. When viewed from the rear, there is a definite squareness to the rump. Neck medium-long.

Legs and Paws:
Legs substantial, wide set, medium in length, contributing to a rectangular appearance. Paws large, round, well-tufted (five toes in front, four toes in back).

Tail:
Long, equal to body in length (distance from end of rump to shoulders), wide at base and tapering. Fur full, long, and flowing.

Coat:
Fur on shoulders is short, gradually increasing in length along back and sides, ending in full britches and long, shaggy belly fur. Fur is soft but has body, falls smoothly, and lies close to the body. A slight undercoat is carried. A full ruff is not expected; however, there should be a frontal ruff beginning at the base of the ears.

Coat Colors:
All recognized colors. White trim around the chin and lip permitted except in solid color cats.

Disqualifications:
Buttons, lockets, spots, overall even coat, short cobby body, crossed eyes, kinked tail, incorrect number of toes.

Penalties:
Delicate bone structures, untufted paws, poor condition, nose break or bump, undershot chin, short rounded muzzle.

Colors:
The following colors are among those recognized by most registering associations:

White, black, blue, red, cream.

Silver (chinchilla & shaded), blue-silver (chinchilla & shaded), cameo (shell, shaded, & smoke), cream cameo (shell, shaded, & smoke), black smoke, blue smoke, shaded tortoiseshell, shaded blue tortie, shaded torbie, shaded blue torbie.

Silver tabby (all patterns), blue-silver tabby (all patterns), cameo tabby (all patterns), cream cameo tabby (all patterns).

Shaded brown or golden tabby (all patterns), red tabby (all patterns), cream tabby (all patterns), brown tabby (all patterns), blue tabby (all patterns).

Bi-colors (solids with white), Parti-colors – tortoiseshell, torbie (patched tabby), calico, blue cream, tabby with white and other colors with white.

MCBFA was founded in 1968 to preserve, protect and promote the Maine Coon Cat. MCBFA is composed of fanciers and breeder members around the world who are united in admiration of these wonderful cats.

We offer an array of information about our breed, listings of available cats and kittens, photos of the colors Maine Coons come in. For our breeder members, information about MCBFA, including how to join MCBFA, notes of interest to our members, health information including our fund raiser for HCM, as well as other resources and links.

Review our Constitution, our By-Laws, and meet our Officers.

MCBFA Regions:

Northeast Region - CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT, QUE, MP (Maritime Provinces)
Northeast Director – Sharon Stegall

Mid-Atlantic Region - DE, KY, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Mid-Atlantic Director – Brenda Flauhault

Southeast Region – AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN
Southeast Director – Sharon Butler

Midwest Region - IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI, MAN, ONT
Midwest Director -  Caron Gray

South Central Region - CO, KS, NM, OK, TX
South Central Director – Judy Lindemann

Western Region – AZ, AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY, ALTA, BC, SASK
Western Director - Elaine Weitz

Overseas Region - AROUND THE WORLD
Overseas Director -  Misha Peersmans