Raleigh: My Maine Coon Delight

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raleighclose.jpg (16137 bytes) In 1998 I brought a Maine Coon cat into my life (mostly Maine Coon anyhow - I have no papers for her), and she's been a source of companionship, joy and laughter for me since then. Her name is Raleigh. My friend Bruce found an ad on the Internet that a 7 year old Maine Coon was looking for a good home in a one-cat family. He and I went to meet her and I thought she was the most beautiful cat I'd ever seen. I took her on a trial basis. The first night the poor thing was so traumatized that she cried the whole night. She settled in quickly though and made herself at home, and within a few days I knew she was a keeper. She is a wonderful companion and best friend.

Maine Coons are sometimes called the "dogs of the cat world". Raleigh loves people although initially she's a bit shy. She's also a talker, and sometimes when I talk to her she meows back and it sounds like we're having a conversation. She loves being brushed, which I do twice a day. She's always liked being in close proximity to me, but recently she's turned into a lap cat and will curl up and sleep in my lap. She loves to watch the birds at my balcony feeder and to play - getting mom to chase her is her favorite, but she'll get quite crazy if I run a fishing rod toy under a rug or a pile of newspapers and make it look like prey.

Galensgranny's animations

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Galensgranny is a very active member of the About.com Cats forum. She did a great animation of Raleigh and a cute picture of her wearing a divine black hat with a diamond pin. There are also a couple good ones on Coco's page.

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Pictures of Raleigh

Note: Click any thumbnail to see a larger version of the picture

See also Pinup Calendar for some of her "pinup photos" - she can be quite the vamp :-)

For more pictures, see Playful Raleigh and Affectionate Raleigh.

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I call it her "whazzup?" pose; alert expression, ready for anything Cozy on a winter night (Coco and Raleigh share this bed) Beautiful in profile, and a great look at her intricate tabby coloring
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Taking a play break to groom Watchful and ready - love the tail! Waiting for the fishing rod toy to snake under the rug
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Ready to pounce Cute closeup shot Watching deck action
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Intent on stalking a fly, ignoring me Searching for a new car in the paper? Ready to pounce on Da Bird
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Nothing so peaceful as a cat grooming herself Closeup hiding under the futon Checking out the cube that Coco is usually in
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Raleigh loves to watch the action from the bedroom perch Stunning on the deck railing (recently screened for their safety) The back of the sofa is a favorite spot (to keep an eye on Coco)
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She sleeps a lot at 11 years old. Lots of cute pics of her sleeping follow Can this possibly be comfortable? Note "the look" in the large pic. Lazy cat in the sun; she sure can relax!
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Crashed on a pillow sham Startled by the camera Raleigh and her friends
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Raleigh in a pensive mood Raleigh looking coy Raleigh looking regal
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Caught in the act! Enjoying the deck Flirting through the window
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Raleigh draped over the couch back Her tail reaches halfway to the floor! Another picture? I suppose I'll give you another pose...
 
Raleigh's history (excerpts from an e-mail sent by Kat, her first owner):

"The mail person knocked on my mom's door and told my mom her cat was in the tree in front of the house.  Well Frankie (her cat) was still inside so she went out anyway to check. There was this tiny ball of fluff up the tree (not really that high up). Mom (and maybe the mail person) finally got her down. I believe Mom assumed she belonged to someone in the neighborhood and left her outside.

I got home from work that day and there she was still hanging around outside.  I played with her and cuddled her awhile but mom wasn't interested in letting her in. That night there was a rain storm.  I snuck out and made Raleigh a shelter out of a cardboard box and gave her some cat food.  Well she never left after that.

Mom said we could keep her if we went door to door and made sure she wasn't anyone's cat already.  We didn't want to do it just in case someone claimed her - but we did.   No one was missing a kitten much to our delight.  So she ended up ours - well I really should say mine.  We were great pals that
summer, she slept on my bed and enjoyed lots of grooming.  I can't tell you why the name Raleigh popped into my head - but it did and I thought it fit her."

Raleigh lived with Kat's family in Berea, KY until 1998 when she came to college in Minnesota with Kat's sister Mary. There were too many people and cats in a small space and Raleigh wasn't doing well, so Mary put the ad on Yahoo and Raleigh came into my home.

To Kat, Martie, and Mary - thank you for adopting Raleigh!! And thanks to all of you who open your homes and hearts to stray animals.

Maine Coon links

Breed Profile: Cat Fanciers
Breed Profile: PetSmart
Maine Coon links (Windwalker cattery)
About.com forum (go to Breeds/Maine Coon Lovers)
Providing for your cat if you should die

To Both page

To Coco's page

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