Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
The Main Coon Breed
- Temperament: Friendly, Intelligent, Gentle
- Coat Length: Longhair
- Height/Weight Range: Maine Coons don’t typically reach full maturity until they are 4 years of age.
- Adult females: Females are typically somewhat smaller at 12 to 15 pounds, but still larger than average for a cat.
- Adult males: Males are quite large with healthy weights that are usually around 18 to 22 pounds
- Colors: The Maine Coon breed is available in a variety of colors and patterns except pointed (pale body and relatively darker extremities, i.e. the face, ears, feet, tail and in males, scrotum). The most typical colors and patterns are brown, red (orange) or silver tabbies (with or without white), and in classic (bold, swirling patterns along his sides — much like a marble cake), mackerel (vertical, gently curving stripes on the side of the body) or ticked patterns.
- Life Expectancy: 12.5+ years.
Maine Coon - Cat Companion
Maine Coons are often called companion cats. They are friendly, somewhat calm, but at the same time quite serious and unlikely to appreciate petting.
These giants will prefer the owner’s lap to that of a warm place near his side, which is why some compare this breed with dogs.
This breed will quickly learn the habits of the owner, adapt to them, and are happy to help and participate in his work. For instance, with a computer programmer, they will sit near the computer monitor, perhaps with their favorite toy.
Personality
Despite its somewhat intimidating appearance, Maine Coons are very sociable and affectionate animals. Despite their size, Maine coons are among the gentlest of cats and tend to follow their people room-to-room as constant companions, if not always lap cats.
Social by nature, they make excellent companions for large, active families of all ages that also enjoy having dogs and other animals, including other cats. While sometimes mischievous, the Maine Coon's antics are good-natured and easily forgiven by adoring owners.
Maine Coons are very smart and can be trained like a dog. They can also very quickly understand the mood of their owner, while showing unusual tact and understanding. A Maine Coon will not pester or demand attention if the owner is not in the mood.
Maine Coons are calm, balanced, independent, and smart.
History
One of the oldest natural breeds in North America, the Maine Coon is generally regarded as a native of the state of Maine (in fact, the Maine Coon is the official State Cat of Maine).
Maine Coon ancestors were large cats that lived in the northern states of the United States. These animals were a natural population in these places, and their domestication and breeding began more than 250 years ago.
Maine Coon is also called the Manx raccoon cat. Due to the similarity of these animals with raccoons, several legends about their origin have even appeared. Some are sure that the ancestors of Maine Coon were an ordinary domestic cat and a female raccoon. And it was from the wild beast that cats inherited their chic, magnificent striped tail.
Others argue that Maine Coons were due to the crossing of tabby-colored domestic cats with a North American trot. Maine Coon ear tassels serve as proof of this theory.
True, genetics easily break down both of these theories.
Maine Coons are a natural population of the American cat metropolis. Initially, these cats were used as rat-catchers on farms, even sometimes taken for ships and ships of those times, often suffering from rodent invasions.
Care
While the Maine Coon is ideally suited to the harsh realities of life like frosty winters, careful care is required. First of all, this applies to the coat of the animal, with Maine Coons it is thick and long.
To avoid tangles, the cat needs to be combed every day (or at least every other day) with a comb with blunt teeth. If the fur is still tangled, it is better to contact a professional groomer than to cut them yourself.
In addition to the usual comb, you should buy a puderka - cats of this breed have a very thick undercoat that needs attention.
Once a month you should bathe the cat using special disentangling shampoos for long-haired breeds. Many will imagine a horror picture of keeping a hefty, terrified cat from fleeing from the bathroom. Calm down, Maine Coons just love water and enjoy swimming. Therefore, with washing, as a rule, the owners have no problems.
The main problem of many cat owners is having enough special places where their pets can sharpen their claws. Often cats use wallpaper, upholstered furniture or other interior items for these purposes - in general, everything that, according to the owners, cannot be used as a scratching post.
7 facts about Maine Coons, which breeders are silent about
They are friendly but not tame
Maine Coons are often called "affectionate giants" for their flexible and kind nature. Breeders claim that these cats are loyal to other pets and to children, and in relation to their owners are distinguished by "dog like" devotion.
But the breeders are silent about the fact that Maine Coon does not like to be picked up and squeezed. These cats are affectionate only when they themselves want it. If you begin to show attention, then a well-bred cat will just politely leave, and an ill-bred cat can even bite.
They are eternal kittens
These cats grow up slowly. They reach puberty in a year, but their growth doesn't end at 3 years, in some cases it's 5 years. And secondly, even after that, Maine Coons retain a childlike gaiety and spontaneity. Add to this the fact that with age they gain the ability to climb higher and higher.
Jump onto the dining table? Steal a flower from a vase? Throw the porcelain figurine from the rack? They can, they know how, andthey practice. Experienced mainkunovodi clean almost everything even from shelves located high.
These cats can be very loud
Many owners of Maine Coons claim that these cats have a special structure of the vocal cords, and instead of meowing they make melodious sounds. This is not entirely true. These cats really can make melodious sounds. But they are also experts at screaming like a normal street cat in March. You may come across a very “talkative" pet, so lovers of silence should not trust breed.
They love to play with water
Maine Coons love to play with water. Some experts believe that this trait came to them from distant ancestors, ship cats, who spent a long time at sea. Many owners claim that their pets ridiculously move their paws over the water, as if conjuring it.
In fact, cats "dig out" the water. It is believed that this habit remained at their genetic level from the life of raccoons in the wild, when it was necessary to clear puddles of branches and leaves.
Often, Maine Coons, "digging out" a drink, turn the bowl over and spill it on the floor. Some owners dutifully wipe all this up every time, some put the bowl in a bathtub or sink, some give the cat a large bucket, which is unrealistic to turn over.
Some cats, when they see a large container with water, prefer to dip a paw into it and drink "from the palm of his hand."
They do not like loneliness
Maine Coons have a lot in common with dogs. They, as a rule, choose one owner and remain loyal to him for life. If your cat chose you from among all the family members, then you are very lucky, but there are drawbacks: it is unlikely to give you privacy in the toilet or shower. The doors in the room where you are should always be open.
These animals generally hate loneliness: even if you left the house for just a couple of hours a Maine Coon will meet you with violent screams.
These cats are finicky
Maine Coons love and know how to care for themselves. Sometimes it seems that they are obsessed with their appearance, they are so carefully groomed.
But cleanliness has a flip side. The Maine Coon is very hard to please with the toilet. Owners report trying different litters for a long time until they found one that he liked.
Main Coons are very concerned about their claws.
In order not to scratch their loved ones, Maine Coons tear everything that catches their eye.
A claw-brush will not help here - it will simply become another place for a “manicure” that does not cancel others.
The only way to save furniture is to cut his claws.
They don’t necessarily have a brutal appearance
Maine Coons are believed to have a very severe appearance. And all because of the specific predatory incision of the eyes, the massive zone of the mustache and chin, which is called the "box".
In fact, this breed has 2 types: European and American. And the brutal appearance is most associated with the European. As well as large furry tassels on large ears. Americans have a more elegant face and small ears with neat tassels. Moreover, they have a thicker and silky coat.
