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Maine
Coon Cat
The Maine Coon Cat is one of the
largest breeds of domestic cat, known for their intelligence, playfulness as
well as distinctive physical appearance.
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Maine
Coon Cat
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The breed is one of the oldest
natural breeds in North America and originated from New England, USA.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, domestic
cats brought over from Europe faced very severe winters in New England where
only the strongest and most adaptable cats survived.
Through natural
selection (as opposed to selective breeding), the Maine Coon developed into
a large, rugged cat with a water-resistant, thick coat and a hardy
constitution.
The origin of the breed (and its name) has
several (often fantastic) stories surrounding it. One comes from a legend
that a domestic cat released in the wilds of Maine interbred with a raccoon,
resulting in offspring with the Maine Coon cat's characteristics.
Though this is biologically impossible,
this myth, bolstered by the bushy tail and the most common coloring (a
raccoon-like brown tabby) probably led to the adoption of the name 'Maine
Coon.'
Another popular story is that the breed sprang from the six pet cats
which Marie Antoinette sent to Wiscasset, Maine when she was planning to
escape from France during the French Revolution.
However, most breeders
today believe that the breed originated in mating between pre-existing
shorthaired domestic cats and overseas longhairs (perhaps Angora types
introduced by New England seamen, or longhairs brought to America by the
Vikings). Maine Coon cats resemble their European counterparts, the Norwegian
Forest Cats
Maine Coon Cats are very large (but
energetic) cats, sometimes weighing 11.3 kilograms (25 pounds); the average
weight is 6 to 9 kilograms (13-20 pounds) for adult males and less for
females.
The most common color/pattern in the Maine
Coon cat breed
is brown with tabby markings. Maine Coon cats are recognized in all colors
except for chocolate, lavender, ticked tabby, and the point-restricted
("Siamese") pattern.
They have medium-long, dense fur, with longer
hair, or ruff, on their chests and a pronounced mane, similar to that
of a lion (which is why the breed is sometimes spelled "Mane
Coon").
Their fur consists of two layers - a typical undercoat and an
additional layer of guard hairs, which gives the breed their key physical
feature. The fur is generally very soft.
They have long hair on the backs of
their legs and between their toes which assist in keeping warm in the snow.
They have bushy tails and broad heads (the heads of males are typically
larger than females) with wide-set ears marked with tufts of fur.
Most Maine Coon cats keep their fur in good order without extensive grooming, but due to
the length and quantity of hair, most Maine Coon cats require a simple brushing
once a week. While the Maine Coon cat is known as being polydactyl, having one or more
extra toes on their paws, this trait is generally bred out, as it has been
rejected by the standard.
Maine Coon cats are a breed distinguished
by intelligence, dexterity and playfulness. They have a tendency to use
their front paws extensively (often curling the paw round to pick objects
up) and as a consequence will easily learn to open cabinet doors or pick up
small objects. Some Maine Coon cats will eat with their paws, rather than eating
from the bowl itself.
Due to their above-average intelligence,
Maine Coon Cats are known to be one of the easiest cat breeds to train.
Maine Coon cats are generally very quiet and do not meow much. However, they are
noted for their ability to trill their meows, which sounds like a
combination of a purr and a meow, and they tend to make this sound when
happy or startled.
Maine Coon cats are a very independent breed, and they do not
often "beg" for attention. However, they are noted for rarely
eating alone, preferring to eat in the company of other cats or humans.
Maine Coon cats are usually not considered to be "lap" cats, and many
Maine Coon cats, possibly due to their weight, may not be comfortable with
sitting on a person's lap or chest. Though this may depend on the
personality of the individual cat.
Some Maine Coon Cats enjoy playing with,
but not usually in, water. They may dip toys in their water bowls before
playing with them, or just tip the water bowl over. They may also skim their
paws across the surface of their water bowl. Maine Coon cats occasionally engage
in mischievous behavior when bored, such as deliberately pushing things off
tables and the tops of fridges with their paws
A genetic predisposition towards hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy (HCM) appeared in some genetic lines of the Maine Coon cat population. In extreme cases, this condition can result in the sudden death
of what appears to be an otherwise healthy animal.
It can be detected by
regular cardiac ultrasounds
of pets between the ages of 3 and 6, when the pets are at highest risk. Most
of the pedigreed Maine Coon cat breeding population has been screened for HCM
lately, some for four or more generations in an effort to reduce its occurrence.
Many breeders now track this information and have it available for potential
pet buyers.
Other potential health problems with the
Maine Coon cat include hip
dysplasia and Polycystic
Kidney Disease. Note however that Maine Coon cats are generally quite
healthy and resilient animals due to their housecat origins.
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