Maine coon cat | Facts & Information

Temperament: intelligent, active, loving and playful

Origin

The Maine Coon cat is native to the state of Maine, U.S. as one of the oldest breeds of cats in U.S. history it has become the official cat of the state of Maine.

The origin of the Maine coon cat is unknown, but there are several stories and legends. One of them says that the cat appeared after crossing between a domestic cat and a raccoon or a bear.

A story tells that Maine Coon has its origins in the cats that Queen Antoinette brought with her when she fled France during the French Revolution. Another story says that the race was brought by the Vikings long before America was discovered by Columbus.

Breeders believe that Maine Coon cats appeared after crossing Maine cats with other cats brought by sailors. The first Maine Cat (Maine cat is the old name) went down in history in 1886. In 1950 the first club was founded and the breed was officially recognised in 1976 by the CFA and 1980 by FIFE.

It first arrived in Europe in 1972 in Germany. This gorgeous breed is increasingly popular in our country. I've seen it at competitions and exhibitions and I can tell you it's fantastic. She is referred to as the"polite giant".

Read also about ... cat food

Appearance Maine Coon

The Maine Coon cat is one of the largest cats in the world. It often exceeds the weight of 10kg. Some males may have as much as 14 kg. The body is muscular and strong, and the neck is long.

The tail is long and fluffy. The coat is also long and bushy.  Strong legs are adapted to walking through the snow. Between the fingers can be seen tufts of hair that protect them.

Large eyes can have several colors. You can also find specimens that have one eye of one color and one eye of another color. The ears end with some hair ruffles called "Lynx tips".

Males are larger than females.The difference is about 3 kg. The height can vary between 25 and 40 cm. Maine Coon cat can reach 1.2 m in length.

They can be found in different colors. The most popular are Orange Maine Coon, Blue Maine Coon and White Maine Coon.

It is similar to the German Dog, The Great Dane. 

Maine Coon temperament

Maine Coon is an intelligent, active, loving and playful cat. It is the perfect choice for families who want an affectionate pet.

It is active both during the day and at night. It is said that the cat miane Coon takes a long time to get used to a new home. The accommodation period can last up to several months. During this period the cat inspects and gets used to the surroundings after which it surprises its owners with its affection and unique personality. He likes to be involved in all the activities of the House.

If he sees you cooking or reading, he will keep a close eye on all your movements. Unlike other breeds of cats, he is not the "talkative" type or the one who insists too much on something. Maine coon is a cat who likes to play, is very sociable, despite its size gets along very well with young children.

She socializes very well with other animals (dogs or birds), especially if she is taught with them as a child.

Features Maine Coon

The coat of the Maine Coon cat is soft and very fluffy. It's a pleasure to have such a large animal that is so pleasant to the touch. Even if it has longer fur it is easy to maintain because it does not curl and does not get tangled.

If you brush it periodically or Weekly should be enough. It is recommended to cut the claws once every two weeks and brush the teeth periodically. Maine Coon breed is prone to obesity. Even if it is a large cat, it should be treated like any normal cat.

Meals should be small and frequent. It reaches full maturity at the age of 4 years. Maine Coon cat is recommended for those who have never had cats before. It's not an aggressive cat. Many people confirm that if they are troubled they would rather run than scratch. A lot of people are scared of her size.

Maine Coon is just a little soul in a big body. It adapts easily to almost any environment, but it is recommended to grow it in the home to avoid contact with other cats or animals carrying diseases. It is said that the breed can be easily recognized by the M-shaped mark on the forehead.

An excellent hunter becomes an aid to American farmers who protect crops from rodents. The gentle, sociable and affectionate character made the Maine Coon cat find its place in many of the farmers ' homes.

Maine Coon Diseases

The Maine Coon cat is generally a healthy cat with no health problems.

Like any cat, it has some conditions that statistically can occur more often. The most common conditions are: hip dysplasia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or kidney cysts.

To avoid such problems it is recommended to purchase Maine Coon cats from felise certified. The life expectancy of the Maine Coon cat is 15 years.