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Scottish Fold Maine Coon Cat Mix: Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Written by: Elizabeth Gray

Last Updated on January 31, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

grey scottish fold maine coon cat mix

Scottish Fold Maine Coon Cat Mix: Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Breed Overview

Height:

8–16 inches

Weight:

8–20 pounds

Lifespan:

9–13 years

Colors:

White, blue, silver, cream, red, black, calico, patterns including tortoiseshell, smoke, shaded, tabby, ticked

Suitable for:

Individuals and families who can spend plenty of time with their cat, families with kids and other pets, small space living

Temperament:

Playful, affectionate, gentle, intelligent, charming

As a combination of two unique breeds hailing from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, the Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix is one special cat. With so many physical differences between the two parent breeds, you never know what one of these cats will look like or even if their ears will be folded!

Fortunately, Scottish Folds and Maine Coons are known for their sweet and friendly personalities, and their mixed offspring are no different. In this article, you’ll learn details about the Scottish Fold-Maine Coon Mix, including what it’s like to keep one as a pet and health problems to be aware of.

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Scottish Fold-Maine Coon Mix Kittens – Before You Get One…

Energy
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A high-energy cat needs a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep healthy and happy, while a low-energy cat needs minimal physical activity, but still needs mental stimulation. When choosing a cat, It’s important to ensure their energy levels match your lifestyle.
Trainability
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Cats that are easy-to-train are more willing and skilled at quickly learning prompts and actions with minimal training. Harder-to-train cats are usually more stubborn or aloof and require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Certain cat breeds are more prone to various genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every cat in those breeds will have these issues, but they do have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan
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Due to their size or potential genetic health issues of a specific breed, some cats have shorter lifespans than others. Proper nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, and hygiene also play an important role in your cat’s lifespan and quality of life.
Sociability
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Some cat breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other cats and animals. Cats that are more social have a tendency to rub up on strangers for scratches or jump on laps for cuddles, while cats that are less social shy away, hide, are more cautious, and even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed or gender, it’s important to socialize your cat and expose them to many different situations.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Scottish Fold-Maine Coon Mix

1. All Scottish Folds Are Descended From One Cat.

All Scottish Fold cats, including Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes, are descended from a single female kitten born in 1961. This cat, named Susie, was the lone folded-ear kitten born into a litter of cats with regular upright ears. Susie was crossed with British Shorthairs and others to establish the Scottish Fold breed.


2. Scottish Fold-Maine Coon Cats May Come in Almost Any Color.

Scottish Folds and Maine Coons come in dozens of permitted coat colors and patterns. A mix of these breeds could be one of several solid colors, such as blue, red, black, silver, or cream. They could have tabby markings or be a mixture of one or more colors.


3. Scottish Fold-Maine Coon Cats Often Like Water.

Most cats notoriously despise water, but Maine Coons are an exception. Many Maine Coon owners notice that their pets enjoy batting at and playing in the water or trying to follow them into the shower. There’s a good chance your Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix will inherit these tendencies too.

Scottish Fold-Maine Coon Cat Mix
Image By: (L) Sofia Iivarinen, Pixabay | (R) Kanashi, Pixabay

cat paw dividerTemperament & Intelligence of the Scottish Fold-Maine Coon Mix

Maine Coon cats are known for being one of the more intelligent cat breeds, often called “dog-like” due to their trainability and willing nature. They can be pretty outgoing and affectionate to all, making them popular as therapy cats. Scottish Folds are quiet but also friendly and adaptable.

A Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix may display personality traits closer to one or the other parent breed or be more of an even combination.

Are These Cats Good for Families?

Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix cats make lovely family pets. Both parent breeds are known for their friendly, sociable, and flexible personalities. Maine Coons are especially good with kids due to their sturdy size and calm temperaments.

Scottish Folds are usually not as openly outgoing as Maine Coons but are more tolerant of noisy, busy households than some more reserved breeds. However, Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes are not a good fit for the type of household where the family isn’t home much. They bond closely with their humans and don’t tolerate being left alone very well.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Both parent breeds are known for getting along with other pets, and you can expect a Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix to do the same. They may enjoy living with dogs and other cats, but you should always supervise and socialize the pets with each other to ensure a smooth start to the relationship.

Like any cat, Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes are natural predators. While they may not actively try to hunt birds or other small exotic pets, their presence may be stressful to these smaller animals. Play it safe and keep birds, rodents, and exotics separated from the cat.

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Things to Know When Owning a Scottish Fold-Maine Coon Mix:

Scottish Fold-Maine Coon cats are typically relatively low-maintenance pets, except for their grooming needs, depending on their coat type. Here are some details potential owners should know before buying a Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix.

Food & Diet Requirements

Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes generally don’t have any special diet requirements as long as they’re otherwise healthy. You should serve nutritionally balanced food appropriate to the cat’s life stage. Commercial foods are required to meet all proper nutritional standards and are the easiest way to help your cat eat right.

If you prefer to feed a homemade diet, ask your vet to help you formulate the meals to ensure all essential nutrients and amino acids are present.

Because of their Maine Coon parent, these cats are often quite physically large. Scottish Folds also tend to be a bit round by nature. Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes can put on too much weight, which can be unhealthy and cause stress on their skeletal system.

More important than what food you feed your cat is how much. Your vet can help you calculate how many calories your Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix should eat daily based on age, weight, and activity level. Stick to this diet even if your kitty insists they’re starving, which is likely to happen!

tabby Scottish fold maine coon cat mix
Image By: Niney Azman, Shutterstock

Exercise

One way to keep your pet at a healthy weight is to make sure they get daily exercise. Maine Coons usually need more exercise than Scottish Folds, so your mix cat’s activity needs vary.

Scottish Folds are prone to bone and joint issues and weakness due to their genetic differences. Because of this, you’ll need to be more careful with some Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes during playtime and physical activity.

More active Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes will enjoy climbing cat trees and engaging in active play. Quieter mixes may prefer to play with puzzle games or teaser wands. Playing with your cat every day will keep them physically and mentally fit and help strengthen your bond with your pet.

Training

As mentioned earlier, Maine Coon cats are typically considered one of the more trainable cat breeds. Your Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix may also take well to training, although cats require more patience and persistence than dogs when it comes to learning.

Since this breed generally loves to eat, you’ll likely have the most luck using positive, food-reward training techniques. Consistency is key to successful training, and you should never resort to punishing your cat for bad behavior.

Grooming ✂️

Maine Coons are famous for their thick, luxurious coats, developed to survive the cold winters of their home state. Scottish Folds usually have short coats, but the breed has a longer-haired variation. Your Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes’ grooming needs will depend very much on which breed’s coat they inherit.

A coat more like a Maine Coon will likely require frequent brushing to remove tangles and mats. Many Maine Coon owners also choose to get their cats professionally groomed, including sanitary cuts, to keep their coats looking tidy. Shorter-haired Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes may only need occasional brushing to keep shedding to a minimum.

If your cat does indeed have folded ears, clean them frequently to help prevent infections. Keep your cat’s nails trimmed and perform regular dental care by brushing or using other oral health products recommended by your veterinarian.

Health and Conditions

Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mixes can suffer from inherited diseases common to either parent. Some of these can be detected by tests before a cat is used for breeding. If you’re buying a kitten from a breeder, ask about the parent cats’ medical history and any screening tests that were performed.

Serious Conditions:

Maine Coons can suffer from bone and joint conditions, including hip dysplasia and spinal muscular atrophy. They’re also one of the breeds commonly afflicted by a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Scottish Folds often suffer from painful degenerative joint disease and other bone conditions. They are also prone to a condition called polycystic kidney disease.

Minor Conditions:

Scottish Folds with folded ears are more prone to ear infections than other cat breeds, but the Maine Coon and Scottish Fold are both vulnerable to obesity, thanks to their love of food.

Minor Conditions
  • Ear infections
  • Obesity
Serious Conditions
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Spinal muscular atrophy
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Degenerative joint disease
  • Polycystic kidney disease

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Male vs Female

The primary difference between male and female Scottish Fold-Maine Coon cats is their size. Male Maine Coon cats are significantly larger than females, and while Male Scottish Folds also tend to be larger than females, the weight difference is minimal.

Unneutered male cats frequently mark and spray with foul-smelling urine, while unspayed females go into heat regularly. Females may experience personality changes during heat and be very vocal and demanding.

Neutering or spaying your Scottish Fold-Maine Coon cat usually has a calming and mellowing effect on its personality. Many people prefer male or female cats, which may also be the deciding factor for you.

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Final Thoughts

The Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix is usually well-suited to almost any living situation or family. Just remember that they don’t like being left alone often, so you may want to consider a different breed if that’s the situation at your house. You may have a tough time finding one of these cats with folded ears because they are rare, even among purebred Scottish Folds.

However, regardless of their ear type, a Scottish Fold-Maine Coon mix will make an extraordinary pet.

Related Reads:


Featured Image Credit: Niney Azman, Shutterstock

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