I’m considering adopting this little cutie. The current owner said he’s half Maine coon. But I wanted to get another opinion from unbiased individuals. He’s 5 weeks old right now.
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And I was looking at his muzzle, his head, and those points of hair on the ears
It's normal for longhaired kittens (and even some shorthaired kittens) to have tufts of hair on the tips of the ears. Maine Coons are bred for larger ear tufts than other breeds, but this picture doesn't show particularly large ear tufts. I'm also not seeing extreme head structure in this kitten picture that would give you a definitive answer about any breed ancestry.And I was looking at his muzzle, his head, and those points of hair on the ears
jefferd18 I'm not sure why you think this kitten is so big? He doesn't look unusually large to me in the picture and there aren't any objects that show scale.
It's normal for longhaired kittens (and even some shorthaired kittens) to have tufts of hair on the tips of the ears. Maine Coons are bred for larger ear tufts than other breeds, but this picture doesn't show particularly large ear tufts. I'm also not seeing extreme head structure in this kitten picture that would give you a definitive answer about any breed ancestry.
Did the kitten's owner also give you any pictures of the parents? That might give you a better indication of how the kitten might look when he grows up.
jefferd18 I'm not sure why you think this kitten is so big? He doesn't look unusually large to me in the picture and there aren't any objects that show scale.
It's normal for longhaired kittens (and even some shorthaired kittens) to have tufts of hair on the tips of the ears. Maine Coons are bred for larger ear tufts than other breeds, but this picture doesn't show particularly large ear tufts. I'm also not seeing extreme head structure in this kitten picture that would give you a definitive answer about any breed ancestry.
Did the kitten's owner also give you any pictures of the parents? That might give you a better indication of how the kitten might look when he grows up.
Hmm... he looks perfectly normal to me.
If the owner of the kitten is representing the kitten as "half Maine Coon," especially if they are selling the kitten at a higher price than a normal adoption fee for a domestic longhaired kitten, they should have better verification of their claim than a picture of a 5 week old kitten. Registration papers are best, so if they are charging very much for this kitten and breed ancestry is important to you, I would ask if they have paperwork. Pictures of the parents would be another way to get an idea of what the kitten will look like when it is older. If they are not even supplying convincing pictures of the parent that is supposed to be a Maine Coon, I would be doubtful of any breed ancestry.
It's not necessarily a bad thing if the kitten has no specific breed ancestry, domestic longhairs are great cats too
I hope not, but we do see people charging lots of money for mixed kittens sometimes.I seriously doubt that they are going to charge a large amount of money for a half-breed kitten.
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on whether he looks unusually large. To me he appears in the picture to be within normal range for a 5 week old male kitten... we don't know how big he actually is, as there was no weight given. I also don't see anything about the picture that definitely indicates Maine Coon ancestry, so you are clearly seeing something I am not seeingThis kitten is not eight weeks old- is not seven weeks old- he is five weeks old!- and he looks awfully big for that age.
I hope not, but we do see people charging lots of money for mixed kittens sometimes.
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on whether he looks unusually large. To me he appears in the picture to be within normal range for a 5 week old male kitten... we don't know how big he actually is, as there was no weight given. I also don't see anything about the picture that definitely indicates Maine Coon ancestry, so you are clearly seeing something I am not seeing
Yes, I do think it is possible that your cat Jeff may have had some Maine Coon ancestry, based on Jeff's pictures. I still think that might have been a possibility. However, that was something that I mentioned in a private conversation with you, and I am not sure why you would bring it up in this thread. Are you bringing it up to make a comment about my level of expertise with this breed?Aren't you the one who thought Jeff was a Main Coon?
Yes, I do think it is possible that your cat Jeff may have had some Maine Coon ancestry, based on Jeff's pictures. I still think that might have been a possibility. However, that was something that I mentioned in a private conversation with you, and I am not sure why you would bring it up in this thread. Are you bringing it up to make a comment about my level of expertise with this breed?
You are correct that I am not an expert on the Maine Coon breed; the Maine Coon is not my primary breed. However, I have shown a few Maine Coons and raised two litters of them, as well as seen and handled lots of Maine Coons at shows since I started showing cats over 30 years ago. I have a fairly good understanding of Maine Coon type, and I have watched litters grow and develop. That's my level of experience, if that is relevant to my comments.