The stunning spotted Bengals took the cat world by storm with their wild looks and unusual personalities. The Maine Coon is an American kitty icon, and cat lovers prize them for their calm natures and oversized physiques. So, what happens when you cross a gentle giant with a mini leopard?
The Maine Coon/Bengal mix results in a feline companion that is intelligent, active, and larger than life. Your mix will likely stay close to your side, although they are not love sponges like other pure breeds. The high climbing and water-loving MC/Bengal mix needs human companionship and may suffer when left alone.
These two breeds share a strong independent streak and a love of the hunt—particularly the Bengal with its wild leopard cat ancestors. So, you can expect a lot of activity when you combine these two champion mousers! If you are considering welcoming an MC/Bengal into your home, here is all you need to know about the Maine Coon vs. the Bengal and the Maine Coon/Bengal mix.
Contents
- Maine Coon vs. Bengal: Physical Differences
- Maine Coon vs. Bengal Breed Traits: Scientific Study Results
- Personality Differences and Similarities: Maine Coon vs. Bengal
- Maine Coon Coat Patterns Explained
- Bengal Coat Patterns Explained
- Can a Maine Coon Change Its Spots? The Maine Coon Bengal Mix
- Maine Coon vs. Bengal: Care Needs
- Maine Coon vs. Bengal: Health Issues
- Closing Thoughts
Maine Coon vs. Bengal: Physical Differences
| Characteristic | Maine Coon | Bengal |
| Size | Average 10-16 inches tall,19”-32” long | Average 13-16 inches tall and 14”-18” |
| Weight | 9-18 lbs and above | 6-15lbs |
| Coat type | Semi-longhair, glossy coat with longer hair on the back legs, ruff, and belly. Typically, shorter hair on the back and neck. Some Bengals sport “glitter” on their coats, an iridescent sheen on their fur. | Bengal coats can come in the Bengal Standard short, glossy coat or the Bengal Breed Group Longhair (BGL) or Cashmere |
| Coat color | The most common coat is tabby in ticked, classic, and mackerel. Solid colors such as red, black, white, and blue are also available. Other coat types include tortie, torbie, particolor, smoke, and bicolor. | Bengals come in spotted and marbled coat patterns that mimic the leopard-like prints found on wild cats. Tabby colors include brown, seal sepia, sepia lynx, and mink tabby. Other colors include seal lynx point, black silver, silver sepia, seal silver sepia, and mink and seal silver lynx point. |
| Eye color | Gorgeous, wide-set eyes of colors ranging from gold to green. TICA accepts blue and odd-eyed Maine Coons for shows. | Eye color can range from green to gold, including copper vivid orange-gold. CFA accepts any eye color except blue. |
| Body shape | A large and muscular rectangular-shaped body with a long and fluffy tail. Solid and large-boned. | A medium to large cat that is sturdy and muscular and is not delicate like oriental cats. Longer rear legs and a medium-length tail. |
| Face and Head | A broad head with distinctive almond-shaped eyes that are evenly spaced, a prominent square muzzle, and large ears furnished with iconic lynx tips. | A wedge-shaped head slightly smaller than an average domestic cat with a large and wide nose and prominent whisker pads. The ears are small and rounded, often with furnishings. |
| Life expectancy | 12.5+Years | 12-20 Years |
Maine Coon Overview
Maine Coons are the oldest native cat breed in America and hail back to the 1700-1800s when the Puritans colonized New England. Because they were working cats, they are a rugged breed, made to withstand the icy winters of Maine and fend for themselves in catching elusive prey.
Their long, shaggy coats and plumed tails evolved in response to their cold climate origins, as did their oversized paws, which had insulating fur between the toes.
The Maine Coon is one of the largest domestic cats in the world, with a big-boned rectangular build that reflects their semi-wild origins. Their double coats still have a glossy sheen and are extremely water resistant, and they wear them with the characteristic ruff and hairy britches. Everything about the MC is solid and rugged, belying their gentle and affectionate natures.
Bengal Overview
The beautiful Bengal is a relatively recent hybrid breed. Jean Mill of California created the breed by interbreeding the Asian leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) and a black Californian tomcat. She selectively bred the less wild and more docile of the wild/domestic hybrids through successive generations.
Further selective breeding of the Bengal included a variety of species, including the Egyptian Mau, Burmese, and the Abyssinian. Over several decades, selective breeding culminated in creating the modern Bengal cat we know and love today. TICA recognized the breed in 1993 and CFA as late as 2016.
True to their wild origins, the Bengal mimics a mini panther with a muscular and athletic body and a slightly smaller head than an average cat. Their coat boats a variety of leopard-like spots and can vary from single spots to a variety of different shaped rosettes such as:
- Cluster
- Pawprint
- Doughnut
- Arrowhead
Maine Coon vs. Bengal Breed Traits: Scientific Study Results
Milla Salonen and her colleagues’ ambitious study tallied information through owner questionnaires on over 5700 cats to discover traits in several cat breeds. Their results showed some surprising results for breed-specific characteristics. Let’s explore the results for our Bengals and Maine Coons.
| Traits (Out of 19 breed and breed groups) | Maine Coon | Bengal |
| Aggression towards family members | No. 6 highest ranking out of 19 breeds and breed groups | The Bengal takes the 3rd highest rank in aggression toward family members |
| Aggression to strangers | 7th position from last of all the breeds and breed groups | The Bengal takes just one rank above the Maine Coon at 8th last of the 19 breed groups |
| Cat-on-cat aggression | 3rd lowest likelihood for aggression to other cats | Fourth position from the top in likelihood for inter-aggression |
| Tendency to shyness with strange people | Just above average tendency to shyness | True to their wild origins, again, the Bengal is the third most likely to be shy of strange people |
| Likelihood of less contact with their humans | 6th least likely towards decreased contact | The Bengal got an average score for decreased contact |
| Behavioral Issues | Maine Coon | Bengal |
| Wool sucking | 4th most likely to wool suck over the 19 breeds | About average in the tendency to suck wool |
| Excessive grooming | 6th least likely to over-groom | Average tendency to groom in excess |
| Owner reported general behavioral issues | Average tendency for owner-reported behavioral issues | 7th out of all the cat breeds for owner repeat behavioral issues |
| Litter box issues | A relatively low score 8th most likely to have litterbox problems in a study of 3,049 cats | Oops! The most likely to have litter box issues in the same survey out of 26 cat breeds |
| Temperament | Maine Coon | Bengal |
| A tendency toward high activity levels | Rated no 12 of 19 breeds for high activity levels | Bengals take the third spot from the top of the 19 breeds for activity levels |
| Shyness toward strange/novel objects | Rated 8/19 in shyness | Rated the 4th most likely to be shy of novel objects |
Personality Differences and Similarities: Maine Coon vs. Bengal
Attachment and Attention Needs
The Maine Coon is a cool character, up for lots of love but also happy to keep themselves busy when you are not around. Although they shadow their humans, they do so at leisure and not compulsively, as some breeds, such as the Siamese.
In scientific study rankings, the Bengal falls into the most fearful and extroverted group, which seems contradictory! However, it makes sense when you experience Bengal’s extreme sociability, high energy, and alert temperament.
Bengals can suffer from separation anxiety when left alone by their humans and exhibit the velcro-like natures of the Siamese. However, this does not necessarily mean constant demands for affection but rather activity and stimulation needs. Bengals are very affectionate at times of their choosing but require high engagement from their human carers.
Maine Coon vs. Bengal: Family Members
Although most Bengal sites suggest they are superb family members in homes with children, the above studies note high aggression levels toward family members. Therefore, Bengals need attentive socialization with youngsters and supervision so their young ones can carefully handle these half-wild mini leopards.
Maine Coons are pretty even-tempered and lack the ever-alert activity levels of the Bengal. Although Maine Coons love to pay and are curious and active, they are far less so than the ever-ready Bengals. So, they fare well with busy children in a family home.
These Guys Live for the Hunt!
The Maine Coon is a famous mouser and survived their early evolution in snowy Maine, feeding on all types of small critters. The Bengal carries the genes of their wild Leopard Cat ancestors—fearsome hunters in their native wild.
Unlike the Persians, who have long centuries of luxury, the MC and the Bengal have strong hunting ancestry, so be ready for plenty of stalking, pouncing, and prey-catching antics in your home.
Chattiness and General Feline Dialogue
One similarity the Maine Coon and Bengal share is their love of conversation with their favorite humans. Maine Coons have a heart-melting language of their own of soft chirrups, chirps, and trills and often love a good convo with their human. The Bengals take this a step further and frequently top the charts of the most vocal domestic felines!
To let you judge yourself, compare these two YouTube clips:
Besides the chirps and trills, these little leopards can yowl, mowl, and meow up a storm!
Maine Coon Coat Patterns Explained
The Maine coon typically sports the tabby pattern, which lies in the agouti gene. The agouti gene produces a protein that controls the melanin or pigment in the hair shaft. The agouti signaling protein prompts a receptor to switch between brown/black pigments and yellow/red in alternating cycles—creating the banded stripes on individual hairs found in a tabby.
The Maine Coon can also have solid coloration where the cats have a/a combination of non-agouti genes, which hide the tabby pattern. However, these solid colors often mask the underlying tabby, visible as ghost stripes.
Other genes dictate the wonderful variety of coat variations in the Maine Coon, such as smoke, tortie, torbie, and bi-color combinations. You can read more about this in my article “Maine Coon Colors.”
Bengal Coat Patterns Explained
The Bengal’s glorious spotted and swirled coat lies in a mutation that affects the agouti gene mentioned above in the Maine Coon patterns.
In a mysterious and yet-to-be-understood process, a mutation of the agouti gene breaks up the banded pigment stripes of the tabby cat into the array of rosettes, spots, and marbling that the Bengal displays. Experts suggest the spotting relies on a collection of polygenes labeled Sp that transforms the mackerel tabby pattern into their leopard-like patterns.
Thus, the mackerel pattern will become complete spots in a cat with Sp/Sp genes, while the dominant Sp and recessive sp patterns will have partially broken stripes (marbling). Bengals also have an additional form of ALC agouti denoted Apb, which combines with a domestic non-agouti allele a and causes the charcoal variant of Bengal coloring.
The Science Behind Bengal Glitter
Some Bengals also boast an eye-catching sheen in their coats that breeders call glitter. This sparkling coat effect likely lies in a mutation of the Fibroblast growth receptor 2 (Fgfr2). Typical cat hair consists of alternating keratinocytes (the cells of the outer hair shaft) and air cells that become thinner and break up towards the hair tips.
In Bengals, the mutation causes a larger gap between the keratinocytes and the hair tip, causing the hair tip to be more translucent. This translucence catches the light to give the gorgeous glittery effect of the Bengal coat.
Can a Maine Coon Change Its Spots? The Maine Coon Bengal Mix
How Genetics Work in Cross Breeds
Like humans, kittens inherit half of their mother’s genetic makeup and half of their father’s. When the sperm fertilizes the egg, the two halves combine the two genetic streams. For every trait, your cat will have a genetic pair (one from each of their parents).
Alleles are a type of gene at a specific location or locus of a chromosome, and each gene in an organism has two of these alleles. These alleles are responsible for the particular traits of the organism, in this case, your hybrid Maine Coon/Bengal mix.
The allele can be dominant or recessive, meaning that if two differing alleles form a pair, one of the alleles will take dominance over the other. For example, a dominant A (striped allele) will cancel out a recessive a and produce a tabby Maine Coon.
When two recessive alleles make a pair, the recessive trait will be exhibited, such as two non-agouti (non-striped) alleles, and the a/a combination produces a solid color cat.
A Pure Bred Maine Coon/Bengal Mix Physical Traits
Spots or Not?
If your Maine Coon shows a splotched or mackerel pattern, they will likely take on their Bengal parent fabulous spots. The Spotted gene Sp is dominant, meaning that it will transform the Maine Coons tabby marking into spots. If your Maine Coon has a ticked pattern, your kittens won’t boast the fabulous leopard print from the Bengal.
The short hair gene is dominant over the long hair gene in Maine Coons, so unless the Bengal has a recessive longhair gene, your kittens will mostly likely be short-haired. However, there is a chance the Bengal may carry a recessive longhaired gene, and if so, some of the kittens may have long hair.
Will My Maine Coon Glitter?
Unfortunately, the Bengal glitter is also a recessive gene, so unless your Maine Coon carries a bit of Bengal ancestry, they won’t be showing any of these wonderful attributes. The recessive glitter gene causes a translucent sheen on Bengals, which is the breeder’s prize (there is more about glitter in the sections above).
Size
Both the Bengal and Maine Coon are larger than average breeds, so expect your kitties to be on the XL side. Although the large size is eye-catching and unusual, these cats may be susceptible to feline hip dysplasia. Consequently, weight control is imperative in these two breeds to ensure hip and joint health.
As you can see in these MC / Bengal mixes, the hair is short, and the characteristic long fur look is more streamlined:
Maine Coon Bengal Mix Personality: 4 Things To Expect
1. Your MC Bengal Mix Will Be a Water-Baby
Both the Maine Coon and the Bengal often express an affinity towards water. So, in combination, expect a tap-tacking, bathtub-loving mix! The Bengal’s close bloodlines with the wild Leopard Cat likely make them more inclined for a paddle or a game of catching water drips from your kitchen sink.
2. The Mix Will Be Intelligent and Curious
Both the Maine Coon and the Bengal have keen intellects, so expect a curious and inquisitive blend of the two. Bengals thrive on mental stimulation, and many owners attest that they are highly amenable to training—much like Maine Coons.
However, the Bengal is slightly more fearful of novel objects and people, so they may not appreciate harness walks as much as the calm-natured Maine Coon.
3. Welcome to Your 24/7 Shadow: Bengals and MCs Love To Follow Their Humans
Although neither the Bengals nor the Maine Coon are the “love-bombers” of the cat world, they actively engage with the movements of their humans. Maine Coons love to follow you from room to room, keeping a supervisory air over much of your activity.
Bengals’ keen need for stimulation makes them an even tighter shadow—and they suffer when left alone. Expect a cat that needs company and a constant companion during your home time.
4. Up and Atom: MC Bengal Mixes Love To Climb
Expect an active and med-to-high energy mix with a crazy love of climbing up high. Small wild cats use elevation as a means of protection and spotting prey, and this tendency is strong in your Bengal companion. Combined with your Maine Coon’s love of play, your mantelpiece decor may become just that—mantel pieces! We suggest a sturdy cat tower…
Maine Coon vs. Bengal: Care Needs
Grooming
The Bengal’s glossy coat fur is low shedding, and they will likely need little grooming attention beyond a weekly comb-through. Should some recessive gene work their magic in the MC/Bengal mix and deliver a longer Maine Coon coat— expect to engage in a regular grooming routine.
Maine Coons are double-coated and require your help to keep their long coats tangle and mat free. Ideally, you should aim to brush them every second day.
Attention and Commitment
Bengals are fiercely intelligent breeds requiring extra commitment to keep them stimulated and exercised. The Bengal mix may have the Bengal’s high energy needs, so ensure you devote time daily for several bouts of play and puzzles.
Working from home is best if you are considering welcoming a Bengal mix. These cats become stressed when their humans leave them alone and require consistent and careful attention lest they become destructive.
Dental Care
Both the Bengal and Maine Coon are prone to dental issues such as gingivitis and periodontitis (see below). So, you should start a teeth brushing routine with your young mixed breed as early as possible to ensure they keep their pearly whites through to their senior years.
Maine Coon vs. Bengal: Health Issues
The Maine Coon and the Bengal both enjoy relatively good health in comparison to most purebred cats. MCs enjoyed a semi-feral history as champion small prey hunters in Maine, so humans had little to do with interbreeding in their early ancestry.
The Bengal is a recent hybrid of the Leopard Cat and other domestic and purebred cat breeds. The wild genes bring the natural evolutionary health of animals adapted to living in the wild.
However, the Bengal and MC still have strong elements of purebred susceptibilities to genetic disease.
Common Genetic Susceptibilities: Bengals and Maine Coons
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Both the Maine Coon and the Bengal have a genetic tendency toward developing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which is a thickening of the walls of the heart. This progressive condition leads to impaired heart function, blood clots, and potentially death if left untreated.
Hip Dysplasia
The Maine Coon and the Bengal are larger than most other domestic cats, and like large breed dogs, they are prone to hip dysplasia. This genetically linked condition occurs when the femoral head of the thigh bone (ball joint) does not fit properly into the acetabulum (hip socket).
Over time, the abrasion of the ill-fitting joint may lead to pain, arthritis, and severely impaired mobility.
Dental Issues
In a Finnish study of over 8000 pedigree and non-pedigree cats, researchers found that the Bengals of the survey had the highest rate of dental disease of all the tested breeds. The Bengals showed a 39% rate of dental disease, followed closely by the Maine Coon at 29%.
These conditions include gingivitis, which is a build-up of calcified tartar on the gumline due to the build-up of bacteria. If untreated, this may lead to more severe peritonitis, which causes the tartar to invade the spaces between gum and teeth, causing bone loss and tissue destruction.
Closing Thoughts
These two majestic breeds are wonderful and chatty water lovers, and combined, they may create an even more quirky and unique mix. Ensure you are ready for plenty of high-climbing antics with a super-intelligent companion who will likely become inseparable without being too much of a love sponge! Either way, with these two fantastic breeds—the mix is a win-win!
