While Maine Coon comes from United States, Scottish Fold has Scotland origin.

But honestly, breeds' origin doesn't reveal a lot about it, so please keep reading to learn more about these interesting breeds.

Although both breeds are very intelligent, it's important to consider their differences as well.

Here is some basic information about these breeds:

Maine Coon vs Scottish Fold Appearance

Maine Coons are longer.

Maine Coons have an average length of 30 to 40 inches and a weight of 9 to 18 pounds.

On the other side Scottish Folds, have a typical length of 10 to 12 inches and an average weight of 6 to 13 pounds.

Temperament

No doubt, each cat has its own temperament, but we'll try to make some generalizations and help you choose the breed that will fit

Affectionate with Family

Looking for a perfect family cat?

Well, we'd strongly advise to choose Scottish Fold over Maine Coon.

Scottish Folds love their people, and being a part of a family is something that helps them thrive.

Maine Coons, on the other hand, are more of an independent type, that will prefer to stay silent in the corner, or their spot and monitor closely what is happening around them.

This doesn’t mean that there is no love toward humans but instead means that they prefer moments of solitude. You can still expect Maine Coons to come to you for cuddles - at their own pace.

Kid-Friendly

Owning a feline and having a kid can be challenging but also so much rewarding. This is especially true if you get a Maine Coon or a Scottish Fold because you will enjoy watching your kid growing with them together.

These breeds are major kids lovers, and describing them only as kid-friendly isn't enough.

Both breeds will monitor kids closely whenever you leave the room.

With so kid-friendly breeds around, your kid can easily learn how to behave around cats, and even how to train them. Treats can do wonders, even with cats.

Friendly Toward Strangers

Scottish Folds are more friendly than Maine Coons. What does it mean to you?

Generally you should avoid Maine Coons in some cases:

• Your home is always full of people
• You like to make parties at your home
• You consider getting a cat for office or working place
• You travel a lot and plan to leave your cat with your friends
• You plan traveling or commuting with your cat in the transporter

Otherwise no worries, both breeds should do fine, just Maine Coons might be a more reserved in the beginning when meeting new people.

Pet Friendly

Cats are known for being independent creatures. They love being around people, but on their terms.

If there could be a towering safe place for them to overlook everyone and everything, they would claim it as theirs. Although they are independent, they still need affection and love, which is why some are extremely friendly.

Not only that they are friendly and affectionate toward people, but they are highly affectionate toward other pets as well, including dogs. These breeds are ultra-friendly, and they will enjoy multi-pet households.

If your home is blessed with multi-pets and you want a feline or another pet, you should focus on getting a friendly cat.

Bear in mind that some cats are more friendly than others are, but if you choose Maine Coons or Scottish Folds you won't make a mistake, and you will definitely get a polite and friendly furry pet toward other pets.

Potential for Playfulness

If your future cat's playfulness is an important thing for you, be sure to read this carefully.

Let's get straight to the point:

Maine Coons are more playful, and they will require you to invest some time in keeping them entertained, otherwise they might get bored and eventully destructive.

Scottish Folds aren't described by feline lovers as a breed of high playfulness, so if you're looking for a more laid-back breed for your appartment, they might be a great choice.

General Health

When it comes to their health and their overall well-being, both Maine Coon and Scottish Fold are considered breeds that have average general health.

Average health doesn't mean that your feline won't reach senior years, but means that you need to mind more on proper nutrition, invest in high-quality food, enable enough space for exercise indoors, and have a good veterinarian.

With these breeds you can expect slightly higher veterinarian costs if you miss providing regular veterinarian check-ups.

Grooming

Cats are natural groomers. They may love to hide, get into small holes, and explore different scents, but they will do their best to clean themself afterward.

Owning a Scottish Fold will be more demanding than owning a Maine Coon as they require more grooming.

But don't let this fret you. Each breed requires grooming (brushing, trimming nails, hair trimming and combining, shaving mats, etc), it's just a matter of how frequently you should groom them.

Shedding

Nobody enjoys the facts cats shed, but if you hate that, you should probably stick to Scottish Folds, as they shed less than Maine Coons.

However, don't forget that all cats need regular brushing, but how often depends on the breed.

Cats are not too fond of being handled, so invest in high-quality (and proper) grooming tools to make the brushing process easier and short.

Tendency to Vocalize

Both Maine Coons and Scottish Folds are known for being highly vocal breeds. They can talk all day long!

Cats enjoy social contact with people and they use their voices to get human attention, over and over again.

If you prefer quietness, or you have toddlers who sleep a lot, you might think about getting a less vocal feline.

Intelligence

It's a well-known fact that cats are among the most intelligent creatures alive. They are smart to react instinctively, fast to hunt, and smart to hide in a matter of seconds.

Intelligence is a factor to consider when getting a cat. If you want a super smart cat that can be trained but is also independent enough to learn on its own, both breeds are great to have around.

Did you know that cat intelligence is ranked on their sociability and willingness to interact with their owners?

These breeds are fast to interact, communicate, and demand a lot of your time and playtime to thrive.

The Final Word

We hope our Maine Coons vs Scottish Folds comparison helped you to choose the right breed for you.

You can use the tool below to make a new comparison.