The Maine Coon Siamese Mix: The Myth of the ‘Colorpoint Giant’#

I recently received an email from a reader, “Sarah,” who was frantically looking for a “Purebred Colorpoint Maine Coon.” She had seen a picture online of a massive, fluffy cat with the dark face and blue eyes of a Siamese, but the size of a Maine Coon.

I had to break the news gently: “Sarah, that cat doesn’t exist in nature. And if a breeder is selling it as a purebred, run away.”

The Maine Coon Siamese Mix (sometimes affectionately called a “Coon-amese”) is a fascinating hybrid, but it is misunderstood. You are essentially taking the two most opposite personalities in the cat world—the chill, rugged lumberjack (Maine Coon) and the needy, vocal aristocrat (Siamese)—and mashing them together.

Here is the truth about the genetics, the personality, and the health risks of this unique cross.

The Genetics: Why “Colorpoint” is Rare#

To understand this mix, you have to understand the Himalayan Gene ($cs$).

The “point” coloration (dark ears, paws, tail, and blue eyes) is Recessive.

A purebred Maine Coon does NOT carry this gene. (If they do, there was an unauthorized outcross somewhere in their history).
A purebred Siamese ALWAYS carries two copies of it.

The Result: If you breed a pure Maine Coon to a pure Siamese (F1 Generation), the kittens will likely NOT be pointed. They will mostly be solid or tabby, but they will carry the pointed gene silently.

To get a fluffy, pointed giant, you usually need second-generation breeding (breeding two carriers together). This is where things get ethically murky. Most “pointed” longhaired cats are actually Ragdolls or Himalayans (Persian/Siamese mix), not Maine Coon mixes.

Personality: The “Vocal Giant”#

If you do find a genuine mix, be prepared for a personality clash.

Maine Coons communicate with trills, chirps, and gentle head-butts. They are “quiet company.”
Siamese communicate with loud, raspy yowls that sound like a human baby crying. They are “demanding company.”

A mix often inherits the Siamese vocal cords with the Maine Coon lung capacity. Be prepared for a cat that shouts at you with a megaphone.

However, they are usually incredibly intelligent. Both breeds are “smart” breeds. The Maine Coon brings the emotional intelligence, and the Siamese brings the puzzle-solving brain. This cat will open doors, fetch keys, and possibly learn to flush the toilet (a common Siamese trick).

Appearance: What to Expect#

You rarely get a perfect 50/50 split.

Body: Usually muscular but leaner than a pure Maine Coon. They lack the extreme “barrel” chest and often have the “tubular” elegance of the Siamese.
Coat: Often shorter than a Maine Coon but longer than a Siamese (Semi-longhair). They rarely have the full “lion ruff” or the massive ear tufts.
Color: If the recessive genes align, you get a large, fluffy cat with blue eyes and dark points. This effectively looks like a Ragdoll, but with a much higher energy level. (See our Maine Coon vs. Ragdoll guide for the difference).

Health Warning: The “Double Whammy”#

Mixing breeds creates “hybrid vigor” in some cases, but it also opens the door to doubling up on bad genes if the parents weren’t tested.

Siamese Risks:
- Amyloidosis: A severe protein deposit disease affecting the liver and kidneys.
- PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy): Genetic blindness.
Maine Coon Risks:
- HCM (Heart Disease): As discussed in our HCM Guide.
- Hip Dysplasia: Joint issues from their size.

A mix needs to be screened for both sets of problems. A responsible breeder producing this mix (which is rare) should still be doing echocardiograms and DNA swabs.

The Bottom Line#

If you want a large, fluffy, pointed cat, buy a Ragdoll. They are bred specifically for that look and have a temperament that is consistent and sweet.

If you are adopting a shelter cat that looks like a “Siamese in a winter coat,” you have likely found a lovely domestic longhair with the colorpoint gene. Love them for who they are—a vocal, intelligent, and likely very affectionate companion—but don’t pay “purebred” prices for a genetic accident.

References#

Lyons Feline Genetics Laboratory. The Genetics of the Colorpoint Restriction (cs gene).
Journal of Heredity. Inheritance of the Siamese colorpoint pattern.
UC Davis. Feline Coat Color Genetics.
TICA. Siamese Breed Standard vs. Maine Coon Breed Standard.
Cornell Feline Health Center. Amyloidosis in Siamese Cats.