Maine Coon
The Maine Coon has become one of the most popular breeds of cat in the world. This is probably because of their majestic appearance and good nature.
Origins of the Maine Coon
The Maine Coon comes from Maine/USA, as the name suggests. In fact, they
are most likely to be related to the large
Norwegian Forest Cat
and the
Siberian Cat.
There are many legends about its heritage, including wild claims that it
is a mix between a cat and a raccoon. Being skilled hunters, it’s likely
their ancestors were used on immigrant ships on their way to America to
eliminate rats and mice. This breed was then completely forgotten,
before becoming popular again in the 1950s and making regular
appearances at breed shows.
Did you know that the Maine Coon is known as America’s first
show cat? The inhabitants of Maine are extremely proud of their
unusual cats. They were convinced that these were the smartest, fastest,
strongest and, therefore, the best of all cat breeds. As far back as the
18th century they began comparing their Maine Coon cats with other
breeds at rural folk festivals.
Character
Maine Coons are very gracious and sociable animals. They like to play and are extremely intelligent. Perfect requirements for teaching them tricks. Unlike most cat breeds, Maine Coons are also known to like water. These playful cats need a lot of attention and enrichment. They will reward you with cooing and meowing throughout the day. Their sociable character makes them compatible with other animals and children. This means, they can easily be kept as domestic cats and are perfect for working professionals. However, they are very active and should, therefore, have plenty opportunities to let off steam. Especially if they are living indoors.
Appearance
Maine Coons are usually between 6-8kg, with 5kg being a minimum weight. Their body is muscular, with a broad chest, and elongated. Maine Coons can reach up to 1.2m in length, with big, pointed ears that are tufted at the end. Their coat is water repellent, with a dense undercoat, firm hair and bushy tail. This coat can vary in colour and is found in every variant aside from golden. The Maine Coon’s legs are strong and muscular, of medium length and well-proportioned. Paws are big, round and tufted, with hair tufts on the paw pads that can protrude between the toes. There is no single clear breed standard for the Maine Coon. Polydactyly can also occur in Maine Coons; this is a genetic defect in which the cat is born with six or seven toes.
Learn more about Maine Coon cats here.