Once pedigree records were established, Maine Coons once again became respectable, and cat lovers and breeders outside their native territory realized just how attractive they were. By 1980, it was one of the most popular cats at TICA shows and recognized by all nine cat registering associations. Undoubtedly, however, the brown tabby remains the most popular. By far the most important features to judges are the head, body and coat. The head is wedge-shaped with a square muzzle.
Ears are large and set high on top of the head, well tufted.
The body is long, rectangular and the chest is broad. The coat is silky, shaggy, uneven with a slight undercoat. The closest breed to the Maine Coon in appearance is probably the Norwegian Forest Cat. Maine Coons develop relatively slowly, and may not achieve their full size until they are about five years old. Many people consider them to be the perfect domestic pets, with their clown-like personality, amusing habits and tricks, and easily groomed coat.