Looking at Maine Coons and Siberians, you may not find any significant difference and assume they are the same species. However, if observed closely, they have numerous differences like the shape of their eyes, fur coat, muzzle, weight, etc.
Let’s tell you all the differences between Maine Coon and Siberian cats to help you decide on the right one for your family.
Maine Coon Cats
Maine Coon cats are the largest cat breed kept as pets in the United States and other parts of the world. It is one of the oldest cat breeds in North America that originated in the State of Maine. They have gorgeous fur and are huge. However, they take longer than other cats to grow the full size and reach maturity. Besides their friendly temperament with pets and humans, they are well known for their hunting skills.
Siberian Cats
While Siberians are not as huge as Maine Coons, they look incredibly similar. Siberian cats are a centuries-old cat breed found in Russia and domesticated worldwide. They are medium to medium-large in size and have dense fur, making them a favorite pet choice in North America. Their long hair enhances their beauty even more.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Maine Coon | Siberian |
| Origin | Maine, North America | Siberia |
| Weight | 5 to 12 kg | 3.5 kg to 8 kg |
| Body | Muscular frame | Muscular, Arched body |
| Fur | Two-layered | Three-layered |
| Head shape | Square | Round |
| Muzzle | Square | Short, rounded |
| Ears | Larger, set-high | Pointed |
| Eyes | Slightly oval | Round |
| Temperature tolerance | Less tolerance | High tolerance |
| Activities | Running | Jumping |
| Colors | 75+ colors | Sunshine, color print, etc. |
| Health | Susceptible to some health issues | Healthier |
| Lifetime | 10 – 15 years | 15 – 20 years |
| Price | $400 – $1500 | $1000 – $2000 |
Difference Between Maine Coon and Siberian Cats
Maine Coon and Siberians have a number of distinct characteristics that distinguish one breed from the other. Apart from their gorgeous, similar look, there are many differences like origin, looks, and temperament.
Origin
Maine Coon
Maine Coon cats originate from the state of Maine in the USA. Their popularity in Maine led to naming them the State Cat of Maine. However, there are several stories and hypotheses about their arrival in the US. Some say that they arrived in the 11th century with the Vikings, whereas others reflect that they came along with the European seafarers in the 18th century.
Maine Coon cats became popular in the 19th century among farmers because of their hunting skills. While the cats’ popularity was taken over by Siamese and Persian cats in the mid 20th century, ACFA rediscovered them in 1967, and everyone loves Maine Coon again.
Siberian
As the name indicates, Siberian cats originally belonged to Siberia. They are a favorite cat breed in Ukraine and Russia and reached the USA in 1990. Siberians are one of the oldest cat breeds and date back to over ten centuries (thousand years). Their popularity in Russia made them its national cat.
It is believed that Siberian cats resulted from a crossbreed between domestic cats and Eastern Asian cats. Although, some others suggest that they are a crossbreed between local and wild cats from Siberia. They became the talk of the town soon after their introduction to the US cat market as long-haired cats were not very common at that time.
Weight
Maine Coon
As mentioned earlier, Maine Coon cats are the largest domestic cat breeds in the USA and weigh fairly higher than other types. They eat slightly more than other cats. A Maine Coon male typically weighs between 7 kg to 12 kg (15-26 lbs), whereas female cats are around 5 to 8 kg (11-18 lb).
Siberian
Siberian cats are not small, yet not as big as Maine Coon cats. They weigh from 3.5 kg, commonly being the smallest to 8 kg at most, which means that Maine Coons are around 3kg heavier than Maine Coons on average. The male cats are between 5 and 8 kg, while females weigh only 3.5 kg and 5.5 kg.
Physique
Maine Coon
Both these cat breeds have a strong muscular body frame under their coats. Though Maine Coons have a prominent chest that Siberians do not possess. Their tail is as long as their body and looks gorgeous!
Siberian
Siberian cats have a slight arch on the back of their bodies because of their longer hind legs than their front legs. This also enables them to exhibit their jumping skills. Siberian cats have an elliptical-shaped body compared to Maine Coons. The tail is medium in length and shorter than the body.
Fur
Maine Coon
Both cats have thick fur, with the Maine Coons having a two-layer fur coat with long hair. Parents must use the right Maine coon shampoo to clean fur and enhance the shine and hair beauty. The undercoat of Main Coons is soft, thin, and fine, whereas the upper layer is silky to touch. The coat is semi-water repellent, and you may not see your cat drenched in liquid when they come in contact with water or anything similar. You may also need special brushes for these breeds.
Siberian
Siberian cats have a thicker, 3-layered coat protecting them from harsh weather. The undercoat of Siberian cats is tight to the skin, and the outer layer is water-repellent like Maine Coons. Siberian cats also have medium-long hair, which is one of the reasons for their popularity in multiple countries.
Head and Muzzle Shape
Maine Coon
Main Coons are distinguishable from Siberian based on their head and muzzle shape. Maine Coon cats have a square head with a square muzzle and prominent cheekbones.
Siberian
Siberians are more on the rounder face shape with a softly rounded head and a rounded, short muzzle compared to Maine Coon cats.
Eyes and Ears
Maine Coon
Eyes are one of the most prominent differences between the cats when observed closely. Main Coons have slightly oval, large eyes that appear round when open. Maine Coon ears are set sigh and are larger and wider than Siberian’s.
Siberian
Alternatively, Siberian cats are set apart and almost round in look. Unlike many other furry breeds, their ears have round tips and are medium-sized.
Temperature Tolerance
Maine Coon
Maine Coon cats are not really good at handling cold and must not be left out in the streets for long during winters.
Siberian
On the other hand, Siberian cats can stay out all night in the cold compared to Maine Coons. However, they also require warmth, especially on cold days.
Activities
Maine Coon
Maine Coon cats are not sedentary, yet they are not interested in jumping and impressing their pet parents. They may roam around the house to kill time but do not exercise inside the house. They have been well-known for hunting and love to go out whenever given the opportunity to play outside of the house.
Siberian
On the other hand, Siberian cats love jumping around the house and impressing their owners with their tricks and skills. You may see them jumping from high places like a bookshelf and get down easily without any hassle.
Colors
Maine Coon
Maine Coon and Siberian both have thick coats in multiple colors. Maine Coons are believed to have more than 75 varieties of colors and patterns, most of which are different from Siberian cats.
Siberian
Siberian cats have almost the same number of colors and patterns as Maine Coon, yet they are quite distinct. They have a color print pattern and sunshine color, rarely found in other breeds. Their bi-metallic color is also specific to Siberians.
Health and Lifetime
Maine Coon
Maine Coon and Siberians are healthy and agile cats, yet Siberians are considered healthier than Maine Coon and resistant to diseases. Maine Coons are susceptible to Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia. However, they do not get sick often and live between 10 to 15 years.
Siberian
Siberians are healthy compared to Maine Coons and do not need extensive look after. They live for as long as 20 years if given the right care.
Price
Maine Coon
The price of a Maine Coon cat usually ranges between $400 and $1500. They are considered a more affordable breed than some others as their average price is $1000.
Siberian
Siberian cats are not as common as Maine Coons and thus a little expensive. You can find a pure Siberian breed for $1000 to $2000 in the US.
Similarities between Maine Coon and Siberian
Paws
Contrary to other dissimilarities in their looks, they have medium sized-legs and rounded hairy paws.
Temperament
The temperament or nature of both cats is quite similar, with one of the common attributes being hunting. Both cats are excellent hunters, and besides this skill, they also get along with other pets and people of all ages fairly well. Maine Coon and Siberians are affectionate, playful, and easygoing cats to keep at home.
Interaction
If you like interactive pets, you will be glad to know that both these breeds are quite good at communicating with their owners. You can talk to them like you would with babies and see how they respond to you in their cute cat voice. They use their voice to communicate their hunger, need for attention, help, or wanting to play.
Intelligence
Maine Coon and Siberian are intelligent cat species with an easy-to-learn nature. They are easy to train and sometimes learn tricks on their own. For example, you may try to hide your cat’s toy or food containers; they are most likely to find it themselves and enjoy a treat.
Water-lovers
Siberian and Maine Coon cats have water-resistant furs leading to their love for the water. They love to play outside with water and do not stay inside despite harsh weather. If you cannot entertain their aquaphilic nature, you have to provide toys to direct their energies to something productive.
Shedding
Both breeds shed hair in early spring, and you will require thorough vacuuming in your home to avoid allergies. You can also get an air purifier for cat allergies to keep cat hair and dander away.
The Bottom Line
Maine Coon and Siberians are adorable cat breeds with a friendly, easygoing nature. They are huge cats, with Maine Coons having a bigger body and tail similar to the size of their body. There are slight differences in their body shape, eyes, and ears, while the legs and paws look similar. If you are looking to buy any of the two, it is worth knowing that they have quite similar personalities and vary in looks. You can find a Maine Coon for less than $400, whereas Siberians begin at $1000 up to $2000.