| The breed |
| History: |
| The Maine Coon cat belongs to one of the most ancient breeds of North America, not surpirsingly it is the official cat of the State of Maine. There are many legends concerning the origins of this breed. One of the most popular (even though biologically impossible) says that this cat was born from matings between semi-wild domestic cats and racoons (hence the name "coon"). This belief is bolstered by the bushy tail and the most common colour of Maine Coons, a very racoon-like dark tabby. Another popular story says Maine Coons originated from Marie Antoinette's six Angora cats which she sent in America whilst planning her escape from France during the French revolution. More prosaically, most breeders today believe the breed was simply born from crosses between early long-haired cats already present in America (probably introduced by Vikings) and imported short-hair domestic cats. The first appearance of Maine Coon cats in Europe is much more recent, this is also because the first breeders' association, still existing today, the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association (MCFBA), was only founded in the fifties, and only at this time a real preservation of this breed was to begin. |
| Characteristics |
| All the Maine Coon's characteristics show the adaptment this cat had to udergo so as to survive the adverse climatic conditions of Maine. The fur is long, flowing and water-proof, it is longer around the neck, on the belly and paws, to protect it from water and snow, whilst it is shorter along the back so it can move freely between bushes. It is straight and therefore does not need frequent combing. The tail is long and bushy and is wrapped around his body when he sleeps, to protect him from the cold. The ears are very furry (also the tips, so that he looks a bit like a lynx) and have a large range of movement. The paws are big, round and furry, like snow boots! The muzzle is relatively long and square, to facilitate its grip on the prey. There are Yankee legends of Maine Coon cats weighing 14 Kg, but in truth these are really only legends (unless the cat is over-weight!). Nontheless Maine Coons are effectively big cats when compared to cats of most other breeds Males generally weigh 6 to 8 Kg, whist females reach 4-6Kg of weight. If to this you add 5-6cm of winter coat, you are looking at one big cat! Maine Coon cats grow relatively slowly and do not reach their definite size until they are 3-5 years old. The Maine Coon's voice is another particularity of this incredible cat. These cats do not have a regular "miaew", but most commonly people say they "squeek" with a small, quiet voice, which is quite strange when you then see the size of the cat!! In our personal experience we can say that our cats mieaw a little bit like crickets! |
| Character: |
| For many aspects the Maine Coon cat is more like a dog than a cat. Many people consider this cat the perfect domestic companion (most of all those that own one!), with its intelligent clown-like personality, its docility, funny habits (like playing with any source of water it can find!) and its glorious, but easily groomed fur. They rapidly get fond, but are not super-dependant. They love cuddling but are never excessively subdued, they like to hang around their owner, observing what he is doing and sometimes even giving a hand! You must not be surprised if in moving from one room to another, even if only for a few minutes, you see a furry shadow running after you! They love observing the family from a high place, like the top of a library or a shelf, and if you hear a strange little squeek coming from them when they come down from their "observation post", do not be surprised! Maine Coon cats easily get along with dogs, with whom they can race in fetching the ball for the first! Thanks to their extraordinary docility Maine coons are ideal for families with children. They let family members including children handle them in all ways without ever scratching. If they get tired of getting "played with" at the most they will protest with a "growl" and walk away, but they would never dare hurting a member of the family. Maine Coons "chatter" quite a lot, telling everyone, with their "squeeky" voice, everything they do (from jumping down a table to complaining when they get caught in a forbidden thing!), but it is quite uncommon for a queen to be noisy during her heat, like cats of most other breeds do. It must also not be forgotten that maine coons belong to those few cat breeds that can easily be trained to a leash! |
| General care |
| Even though Maine Coons have long fur, they do not need daily grooming, whilst a weekly combing is more than sufficient to maintain the fur at its best. Since these cats love water, it is not hard giving them a bath. The only extra attention that must be given is to dry them carefully since the thick underfur tends to remain wet. In spite of their admirable dimensions, these cats are not particularly greedy. As all cats, they love fish and absolutely adore chicken... |
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| Further reading: |
| - Guide to Owning a Maine Coon Cat, Baigail Green - Hurray for Christopher: The story of a Maine Coon cat, Virginia Langley - This is the Maine Coon cat, Sharon P. Bass - Maine Coon cats, Stuart A. Kallen - That Yankee: the Maine Coon, Marilis Hornisge - Maine coon cats: Everything about Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Reproductione, Disease and Behavior (a complete pet owner's manual), Carol Himsel Daly. |
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