maine coon

The Maine Coon is a domestic cat known as the gentle giant because of its medium to large size, which contrasts with its gentle, sweet, balanced personality. Although it started as a mousetrap, it is popular as a family, companion, and therapy pet, perfect for children, dogs, and other cats. Its popularity is second only to Persia.

Features: Know Before You Buy

Here are some important things you need to know before buying a Maine Coon:

• This is a fluffy medium hair cat! You can expect to brush your teeth regularly. Due to its high grooming needs, you should brush it daily. However, its fur is straight and smooth without tangles or knots.
• It likes water. Unlike other breeds, you will have no trouble bathing your cat.
• The Maine Coon is the largest domestic cat. This means it may need a larger litter box, depending on its size. Also, as we age, it's prone to hip dysplasia.

You can check out more incredible facts about the Maine Coon.

breed history

Maine Coons may be descended from Siberian forest cats or Norwegian forest cats brought to North America by settlers, but their exact origins are unknown. There is also a legend that in 1793, Marie Antoinette, fearing her own death, loaded six of her most cherished Turkish Angoras and Siberians, along with other important possessions, on a ship bound for the New World boat. The ship, piloted by Captain Samuel Clough, landed off the coast of Wiscaset, Maine, where the cats may have been rescued and bred with other cats or bred in the wild.

A wilder story is that the Maine Coon was bred by interbreeding with a raccoon, but this is unlikely, although it is speculated that the Maine Coon's tail closely resembles that of a raccoon. These unusual cats were written by FR Pierce in the 1860's, who owned several cats. In the same decade, Maine farmers held a contest called the "Maine Champion Coon." They soon became part of other cat shows, such as one held in Boston and New York City in 1895. At the latter show, a Maine Coon brown tabby named Cosey won a silver collar and a best of show medal.

Maine Coon Health and Recreation

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Although the Maine Coon was initially popular, they were forgotten for many years as other long-haired breeds were introduced in the United States. Due to some claims that they were extinct in 1950, the Central Maine Coon Club was formed to protect and breed this unique cat breed. The Maine Coons didn't qualify for the championship until 1976. Today, they are the third most popular cat breed in the United States and the state cat of Maine Coon.

character

Maine Coons' personalities have earned them the nickname "the dogs of the cat world." They are loyal, sociable, affectionate, docile, playful and intelligent.

Maine Coons are curious and patient. This makes training easy. This outdoor cat became a working breed for hunting rodents, but it is also often used as a therapy cat.

Although initially timid or reserved around strange people and animals, it quickly warms up and becomes friendly. While not a lap cat, it wants to be close to people, but it doesn't need it too much.

It's not loud, but it has the chirps and trills it's known for. Owners can expect responses in the form of these chirps and trills, not meows.

size and weight

The Maine Coon is a medium to giant domestic cat with large, slightly round eyes, tufted ears and toes, and a medium-length fur that adds to its size. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America and is the official state cat of Maine, the native cat of Maine. As such, it can adapt to harsh conditions, with a strong bone, muscular build and a smooth, shaggy coat. Its coat is long on the neck, tail, and belly, but is medium on the body.

Maine Coon cats generally come in medium, large, or giant sizes. On average, Maine Coon cats are large, especially males. While both males and females can reach a weight of 8-12 pounds, the average male is 15-25 pounds and the female is 10-15 pounds. This makes females medium-sized and males large to giant. Adult males and females average 10-16 inches in length and can be up to 38 inches long, including tail, up to 14 inches long.

price

The price you pay for a Maine Coon cat depends on where you get it. The price is the standard adoption fee from bailout onwards. From a respected breeder, an adult cat can cost $1,600-$2,000, with show grade cats costing more than pet grade cats. From backyard breeders, the cost can be as low as $700.

kitten

Breeders sell Maine Coon kittens for $800-$2,000. Display quality kittens are sold for a higher price than pet quality kittens or kittens from backyard breeders. If you decide to get your Maine Coon kitten from a rescue organization, it may be a hybrid, and the fee will be the standard adoption fee. Maine Coon mothers give birth to an average of 5 kittens per litter.

life

These cats have a lifespan of 9-13 years with an average lifespan of 12.5 years. Some examples of health issues that may affect their quality of life or longevity are arthritis, dental health issues, kidney problems, and cancer. To reduce the risk of a Maine Coon developing health problems, consider a respected breeder who will perform a health check on its parents and can provide you with a health certificate for adoption. At 31, a Maine Coon cat named Rubble has become one of the oldest cats ever to live.

Varieties and Mixes

These cats have specific coat color and pattern standards for being purebreds, but some of these traits carry over into Maine Coon mixes. As a result, Maine Coon mixes have uniquely diluted coat colors, often crossed with Siamese or Abyssinian cats: chocolate, cinnamon, fawn, caramel, apricot, lilac and lavender. Distinctive coat patterns are Abyssinian (agouti), Himalayan, or any of these mixed with white.

Maine Coon Types and Colors

The cats are divided into different types based on coat color and pattern, with a total of 84 possible types and 75 officially recognized types. Below are some of the most common.

• Solid Colors – Black, Blue, Cream, White, Silver, Brown, Gold, and Red (Orange).
• Variegated —tortoiseshell, calico (tri-color), blue cream, and tortoiseshell/white. This combination usually only occurs in females, who can inherit more than one color.
• Two-color – two-color, but one of the colors is white, such as black/white, blue/white, cream/white, and red (orange)/white.
• Tabby — a striped cat with classic pattern (swirls of butterflies on the shoulders), mackerel pattern (narrow parallel stripes), tabby and checkered pattern (several bands of color in each hair, and with stripes). Brown tabbies are the most common, while tick patterns are only accepted by certain cat associations' breed standards.
• tabby white
• shade (smoky)
• shade (smoky) white

Maine Coon vs Norwegian Forest Cat

The origin of the Maine Coon is unclear, but it is said to be related to the Norwegian Forest cat and the Siberian cat. Its progenitor was most likely Marie Antoinette's Turkish Angora (or Siberian), brought in by Captain Charles Coon in the 1800s. These long-haired cats were then mated with short-haired breeds, resulting in a mid-hair shaggy coat.

That being said, there are some subtle differences between a Maine Coon and a Norwegian Forest Cat. For one thing, the Norwegian Forest cat has a more even and silky coat. There are no wrinkles at the neck. This is followed by differences in head and facial features. The Main Coon has large, slightly rounded eyes, a square head, high cheekbones and a friendly expression, while the Norwegian Forest cat has almond shaped eyes, a triangular head, flattened nose and a more serious expression. Finally, there are differences in behavior and character. Maine Coon cats are somewhere between independence and poverty, preferring to play and be with people, while Norwegian Forest cats prefer to relax by themselves.

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