Maine Coon vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison

The Maine Coon cat hails from Maine, USA. It’s a natural cat breed with actually little being known of its exact origins.

In fact, the first reference to the cat seems to have been in about 1861. It was in 1895 that a female Maine Coon was named Best Cat at a cat show held in Madison Square Gardens.

The Cat Fanciers Association was formed in 1908, and the 5th cat registered as a Maine Coon named Molly Bond.

The Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association was formed in 1968. The cat is also the official state cat of Maine.

Similar to the Asian Shorthair, the Asian Semi-Longhair with its semi-long fur was developed in the UK in the 1980s and isn’t recognized by any U.S. registries.

It is believed that the cat breed goes back to matings between the Chinchilla and Burmilla cats. This cat may not be recognized by any of the U.S. registries but it has recognition in the GCCF.

This is a large cat breed with strong bone structure. They can weigh between 5 and 9kg.

The height of these cats can be in the region of 25 and 41cm and they can reach a length of 97cm, including the tail. The body is muscular and robust with the chest being broad.

When it comes to the cat’s coat, the Maine Coon is characterized by the ruff along its chest. It has a 3-layered, water-resistant coat with longer hairs over a silky undercoat, and a long, bushy tail. The color of the coat can vary but the most common color is brown tabby. . It is medium- to long-haired. It’s a seasonal shedder with the fur being considerably thicker in the winter. All colors are available in this cat except blue.

Temperament:

The Maine Coon is a sociable cat and known for it playfulness as well as it being an intelligent cat and easy to train.

You’ll certainly need to supply the cat with some puzzle toys so as to stimulate his brain. It is also one of these cats known to have dog-like characteristics, becoming attached to its human owners, and being good-natured.

It is a loving cat and is also fairly vocal, wanting to tell its human owners what it wants. It’s not a lap cat. It is a gentle cat and gets on well with children and dogs as well as other cats.

This beautiful cat is medium to large in size and can weigh up to 6 or 7kg. The body is compact, the face and eyes round with a slightly blunt snout. The ears are fairly small and pointed.

The luxurious silky coat comes in different colors and patterns such as black, brown, chocolate, blue and lilac, which happen to be the five main colors of this beautiful cat with his shiny green eyes.

Temperament:

The Asia Semi-Longhair is a gentle cat but curious and active. These are cats that become attached to their human owers and don’t like to share their humans with other cats.

They’re very talkative and they are therefore not the best breed to keep in an apartment. It’s also a cat that doesn’t like to be left on its own for long periods of time and will make a friend of children and other pets such as dogs if it means some companionship.

Maine Coon cats are such awesome pets and highly entertaining. They're excellent climbers too and to add to their many amazing characteristics, they love playing in water too.

You’ll be doing him a favor by providing him with a paddling pool. They’re so clever, they may even learn to turn a tap on.

He is such a social, friendly, family-loving cat and it's not surprising that he’s a firm favorite with most cat lovers.

The Asian Semi-longhair is such a sociable, friendly cat and he loves his human family so much that he can’t bear to be separated from them. It is often referred to as being a dependent cat, as it absolutely hates being alone and does not want to be separated from the people he loves.

It’s not the type of cat to get if you work long hours and there is nobody else at home. It's the kind of cat that also gets on well with kids and dogs.

He is such a playful cat that even a yarn of wool will keep him amused for ages and he loves toys. For so much friendship coming from your feline friend, he deserves plenty of love and attention - after all, he is prepared to give you that.

There are certain health problems that seem to occur in this particular cat breed, including hip dysplasia and feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hip dysplasia is a condition of the hip joint that can cause degeneration of the joints. It can lead to stiffness and pain for your cat and it can be that your cat develops osteoarthritis.

If your cat develops hip dysplasia it won’t want to jump, it becomes lethargic and there may even be muscle loss in the rear legs.

The Asian Semi-longhair is a robust cat, not prone to lots of health issues and he can reach up to 15 years of age.

It doesn’t have any particular breed-specific diseases, but as with any cat, you want to be looking out for heart and periodontal diseases.

Also, hypokalaemic polymyopathy is a condition that results in muscle weakness and pain in your cat. The cause is low potassium and your pet's entire body can have muscle weakness.

Some other symptoms include being stiff, slow walking and an actual reluctance to walk. Some of the common causes of this illness include chronic kidney disease and poor diet.

Cat owners need to realize that diet is one of the most important factors of keeping a cat healthy. The Maine Coon needs nutritious food.

Some people give their cat a mix of dry kibble as well as wet food. It is better to feed your pet smaller meals as opposed to large meals. What is very important is that the cat food is of a high-quality and that it be made up of meaty protein as every cat is a carnivore.

Provide your Maine Coon with a litter box and put it in a quiet, private area. It’s a large cat so make sure the litter box is large as well. With a cat you may need to experiment with him to figure out where he prefers his litter box to be.

This is an active cat so ensure that he gets plenty of exercise. Provide him with climbing equipment and stimulating toys. Your Maine Coon might even enjoy going for a walk and for this, you’ll need to get a cat harness.

Every cat likes to scratch – it’s normal behavior. Make sure you have one or two scratching posts with heavy bases set up for your cat otherwise he may direct his scratching on your furniture.

Every cat owner needs to know a good vet in their area so that their pet can get immediate veterinary help when he becomes sick.

Your Maine Coon’s coat is thick – made up of 3 layers. To maintain its silky feel, and to prevent matting, make sure to brush it once or twice a week. Make it an enjoyable, gentle grooming session for your furry pet. Speak to your vet about the right kind of brushes.

Your Asian Semi-Longhair will require regular deworming.

Keep your cat’s vaccines up to date.

The Asian Semi-longhair has moderate to long hair, and it’s a cat that sheds quite a bit so use a soft brush to brush the coat gently twice a week.

Have your cat spayed or neutered as this can prevent unwanted kittens. Not only this, doing this for your cat can be beneficial for your cat and bring out better characteristics in them. They no longer want to roam and mark territory. In the female cat it's the removal of the cat’s ovaries and uterus, and with the male cat, neutering is the removal of the cat’s testicles.

After this op, your vet will explain to you how to look after your recovering pet.