So, I wanted to share a bit about my experience with this whole “Maine Coon mixed with tabby” situation. It wasn’t something I planned, it just kinda happened, you know?
It started when I decided to get a cat a few years back. Went to a local shelter, place was overflowing, bless them. They had this little guy, maybe 6 months old, listed just as ‘Domestic Longhair – Tabby markings’. Looked like a regular fluffy kitten with those classic grey and black stripes. Cute enough. So, I took him home. Named him Buster.
First year, everything seemed pretty normal. He grew, shed everywhere, did typical cat things. But he just… kept growing. I mean, my sister has a regular tabby cat, full grown, maybe weighs 10 pounds soaking wet. Buster blew past that easily. He wasn’t just long, he was sturdy. Big boned, you could say.
Then I started noticing other stuff. His paws were huge, like seriously oversized for his body back then. And he started developing this ruff of fur around his neck, almost like a mane. His tail wasn’t just long, it was super bushy, like a raccoon’s tail, honestly. And the ears! They had these little tufts of hair sticking out from the tips. All the while, he kept his distinct tabby swirls and the ‘M’ on his forehead.
That’s when I started digging around. Could he be part Maine Coon? The size, the fur, the ear tufts, the tail – it all pointed that way. But he wasn’t quite like the purebred Maine Coons you see in pictures either. His face structure was a bit different, maybe less “wild” looking? And his meow wasn’t the typical Maine Coon chirp; he had a regular, albeit deep, meow.
Living with the Big Guy
So, what was he? A Maine Coon mix? A really, really big tabby cat with long hair? Does it even matter? I spent a while looking online, comparing photos, reading breed descriptions. It’s a maze out there. Everyone’s got an opinion. Some people are real sticklers for purebreds, anything else is just a “moggie.”
Here’s what I figured out from just living with Buster:
- He was BIG. Seriously, people visiting would always comment, “Wow, that’s a huge cat!” He took up a whole armchair when stretched out.
- The fur was intense. Long, thick, needed constant grooming. If I skipped a day, bam, knots. Especially under his arms and belly. But definitely tabby patterned.
- Personality-wise, he was a mix too. Very chill and gentle giant, like Maine Coons are supposed to be. Followed me room to room. But also had moments of pure tabby energy, chasing dust bunnies like his life depended on it.
Trying to label him felt kinda silly after a point. The shelter called him a Domestic Longhair, tabby. My observations suggested Maine Coon traits. So, Maine Coon mixed with tabby? Probably the closest description. But he was just Buster, you know? My big, fluffy, stripey dude.
It’s funny how hung up we can get on labels for pets, like it changes who they are. Reminds me of when I worked in that big office downtown. Everyone obsessed over job titles – ‘Associate Manager’ vs ‘Junior Executive’. Felt like nonsense half the time. You did the work you did, regardless of the label. Same with Buster. He was my cat. Part Maine Coon, part tabby, 100% a furry pain sometimes, but my guy.
So, that’s my practical experience with it. Started with a shelter cat, noticed some unusual traits, did some research, and ended up with a great companion who just happens to be a big ol’ mix. Wouldn’t trade him.
