What kind of breed is my cat?

[DrDivine]

I adopted a cat from the shelter about a month ago, and I'm still trying to find out the breed. His papers from animal control said he was a domestic long hair, but then they lied about all the other stuff they wrote on his papers such as being neutered and not declawed (His front claws are missing) so I don't really trust their opinion. When I took him to the vet to get his shots, the vet said he was a maine coon, seeing how is extremely big (not obesity), has those large tuffed paws, big face etc. but his tail doesn't look like the maine coon pictures I tried to look up. His tail is fluffy, but not rounded like the display, and his tail isn't broken, but when his walks or sits down, he likes to shape it in a loop much like a scorpion tail, so I was curious if this is a characteristic of another breed

[becca623]

He could be a mixed breed. Have you looked up norwegian forest cats? They don't have the popularity of maine coons but some similar characteristics.

[DrDivine]

Yeah I looked up those, but I'm not entirely sure. It seems like he could be either, shares every characteristic its just the tail isnt rounded, big and fluffy, but pointed

[Lori~D]

Domestic Long hair is a term Given to any long haired domestic cat. Period. No matter what "breed" he may be he is still a Domestic long hair (as opposed to Domestic shorthair). Need to see some pics to maybe Identify what he could have in him. Unfortunatly Pure bred cats are uncommon in the shelter world and Identifying certain "breeds" that may end up in shelters is difficult. As for "Lying" to you?....Shelter workers are mainly volunteers and many are inexpirienced. Someone could have simply picked him up and said he has claws when they were bringing him in. They deal with SOOooooo many animals each day 24/7 it is difficult. So the only thing they got wrong was his front nails I wouldn't say anyone lied to you on purpose. Just because his tail is not correct also does not mean he is not a specific breed either. Many breeeds of dogs and cats have imperfections - this is what makes them "pet" stock as opposed to "show" stock. ie: MYy male Bloodhound has a curly tail up over his back - He would not point at all in the akc show ring so there for any breeder wouldnt bother...but he makes a great pet!

[DrDivine]

I understand about domestic longhair, and I dont consider his scorpion tail, I like my cat alot. I was just curious on the breed since I have been hearing mixed responses. Yeah pure breds are pretty uncommon in shelters

I would figure they were volunteers like I was, but these were suppose to be more of the professionals that work the office, I'm not too familiar in ranks.
The "lies" that upset me is, they wrote specifically in his papers and told me he was neutered and had all his claws, only to find out by the vet his front claws are missing and he was not neutered. I don't mind some mistakes, but neutering shouldn't be something they guess on, it was more of an unexpected fee.

Ill see if I can get new pictures up soon, I appreciate the info so far, I'm sure hes not a pure bred or anything, but I was just curious.

[EmilyGrace]

Purebred dogs are very common in shelters. Cats, not so much. It's probably just a mix. He may have maine coon or a Norwegian Forest cat, or maybe even ragdoll somewhere in his lines.
About the neutering, I would complain to the shelter. My local shelter adopts out spayed/neutered cats for $25, and unfixed for $75 (more for kittens) and this includes a voucher for $50 off a spay. If your shelter has a program for that, maybe they will give you some money back for the mishap.

[Emmilyy]

Yeah, the saying he was neutered when he isn't would make me a bit mad, too.. but i wouldn't complain about it. Shelters do their best with what they have.. As Lori said, alot of the volunteers aren't experienced, and most of them run off of donations.. I know my shelter here is having a really rough time with upwards of 200 cats, a buncha dogs, rabbits, and 15-20 doves.. (that may not be alot for some shelters, but ours is reaaallly small..)..

[brdfvr]

why didn't you check to see that he was not neutered? Pretty obvious in a male, if you know what I mean.