The Maine Coon is medium to large, and males are larger than females. The body is long and rectangular and the tail is also long. For these reasons, it may look much larger than it is.

The Maine Coon is a heavily boned, muscular cat. Originally she was an outdoor cat, and later became a working breed who kept barns and homes clear of rodents. The head is large with tall ears. The profile shows a slight dip under the large eyes. The chest is broad, and the legs are thick.

The coat of the Maine Coon is heavy but silky. An interesting characteristic is that the coat is shaggy and drapes longer on the stomach and behind the legs but is shorter over the shoulders.