Nebelung and Maine Coon: furry beauties

These special kittens could be twins - but they have nothing to do with each other.

We continue our series of articles comparing cat breeds, this time the Maine Coon with another royal breed, the Nebelung. Although you might think Maine Coons are like no other, here is further proof that several other breeds are very similar.

Origin

It is common for breeds with a similar appearance to share a common ancestor, which means that they look almost identical. Well, this is not the case here. Nebelungs and Maine Coons evolved in completely different areas and in different ways.

The Maine Coon’s origins go back centuries. The USA breed arrived on the continent aboard ships sometime in the 18th century. But some speculate that they were brought to the area much earlier, along with the Vikings, and their ancestors might have been Norwegian forest cats.

The Nebelung is a much younger breed, dating back to the 1980s. For a long time these cats were considered to be the long-coated variety of the Russian blue since the first individuals were born from Russian blue parents. Its recognition as a breed in its own right is attributed to Cora Cobb.

Appearance

If you look at just two photos of the species side by side, they can look very similar. But it’s easier in person. The biggest difference between a Nebelung and a Maine coon is the size of the two cats. While the Maine Coon, one of the largest pets, weighs between 5 and 12 kilograms, the Nebelung is much smaller, weighing only 3-6 kilograms.

Both breeds have a rich, sumptuous coat and often have a mane-like decoration around the neck. Maine Coons come in almost every colour and pattern, but the silvery blue is the most common in Nebelung. Another difference is that Maine Coons also have longer hair on their legs, while Nebelungs typically have short hair on their limbs.

We can also find differences when looking at their facial shape. While the Nebelung’s face is long and narrow, Maine Coons have a rounder face and a stronger jaw. Maine Coons also have bigger ears.

Temperament

The Nebelung and Maine coon breeds are all ideal pets as they are loyal and affectionate with their families. They get on well with other pets and generally get on well with children. If we are looking for differences, we might point out that Nebelungs are more timid than Maine Coons and tend to shy away when a stranger comes into their home. Maine Coons are friendlier and more sociable.