They are sociable and friendly to people cats. They are intelligent, brave, and self-confident. They quickly get used to new places and people. They have no problems with accepting changes. They promptly establish relations with strangers, they even steal guests' hearts because they like to be the center of attention, but they get attached to their owners the most.
They miss him if they don't see him for a dozen hours. They have long fur, which should be brushed every day so that no tangles appear on them. Maine Coon is not a quiet cat. It can hum loudly. It has a moderately developed hunting instinct. This means that he may need toys and games to simulate catching prey.
For playing together, a catfishing rod with an attraction hanging at the end of a string, e.g., a plush mascot with a bell, will undoubtedly come in handy. A cat scratcher will also be invaluable. It is one of the most giant cat breeds. They weigh from 5 to 11 kg. They live about 12-18 years.
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The Maine Coon cat is one of the largest domestic cat breeds.
National breed of Canada and one of the earliest known and largest domestic cats - Maine Coon. Size, lion's mane, and fox's mane look impressive. However, in this powerful body hides a gentle spirit. There are many legends about the origin of this breed, but one thing is sure - everything began in North America.
One of the theories says that these cats result from crossbreeding of the local wild cats with Angora or Persians, which were brought on ships by Captain Coon. According to the second one, Maine Coons originate from Norwegian forest cats. And the oldest legend concerns domestic cats from the state of Maine, crossed with raccoons (Racoon, popularly coon).
This is where the name of the breed was supposed to come from. Today it is known that from a biological point of view, such a genetic transfer is not and was not possible.
These semi-longhaired cats belong to the Oriental type. The climate in which they have to live has strongly shaped them. Harsh winters, high layers of snow, and semi-wild areas have eliminated the weakest and sickly individuals, allowing new generations to grow in strength and resilience.
Origins of the feline companion
This is definitely one of the largest domestic cats. Its length often exceeds 1 m - along with a sizable tail, which can measure 35 cm. There are also specimens measuring up to 120 cm! These records, however, apply mainly to males, which are much larger than females. A male reaches a weight of 7-10 kg (and there are heavier, not at all obese), while the importance of a female is on average from 4 to 6 kg.
The Maine coon is an impressive, muscular cat, but it does not seem squat despite its size - it is exquisite. Its silhouette is optically enlarged by luxuriant hair, especially on the neck and chest. His body is elongated and massive, and his chest is wide.
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So if you want a miniature lion on your couch, the Maine Coon is the perfect breed for you. These cats are distinguished by their size - especially males. It is a heavily built, strong, and fit cat. Along with the American shorthair cat, it is considered the national breed of the United States.
We don't know much about the origin of the Maine coon - incredible legends obscure the facts in this case. This first breed cat of the United States is proud like a lion, has brushes of hair on its ears like a lynx, but its soul is a bit... dog-like. He is a loyal, faithful, and highly social cat. However, perhaps that is what adds to its charm?
Maine coon - origins
How was this breed created? Its origins are, unfortunately, not very well known. This is one of those cases where we have more legends than complex data and reliable accounts.
The legend of Marie Antoinette's cats
Among the most famous stories about the origin of the Maine coon is that of the cats of French Queen Marie Antoinette. During the French Revolution, a group of people loyal to Marie Antoinette attempted to organize the queen's escape to America.
The crew had already loaded Marie's furniture, fixtures, personal effects, and her 6 Angora cats onto the ship. However, before the queen boarded the ship, she was captured by revolutionaries and executed. The crew sailed off alone toward the New World. The destination was the coast of today's state of Maine. And when the angora cats left the ship on American soil, they were to cross with the domestic cats that lived there.
Descendants of the viking cats?
Other stories seek its origin among cats belonging to the Vikings. They had cats with thick fur on board their boats, known to us today as Norwegian forest cats. And if not from the angora, where could the breed's long hair have come from?
These cats are large, strongly built, and adapted to unfavorable weather conditions. According to these stories, Norwegian cats came ashore on the American mainland after the Viking expeditions and gave rise to a new breed of cat.
Maine coon - character and preferences
Maine coons are cats with a "dog" character. They are loyal, very sociable, striving for contact with a man. They are excellent family companions. Thanks to their patience and gentleness, they can "get along" with children. They are cheerful, open, and love to play.
Many of them are eager to fetch toys and learn to respond to commands. Remember that this cat has a strong need for human interaction. It may demand to play and spend time together.
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Many Maine coons are cats that like to be the center of attention. They even enjoy visits from guests and usually feel bad about staying alone. They are brilliant - they are eager to learn, and they can go out for a walk with their owner on a leash (best if they are used to it from an early age). They are cats that need to be given time.
Maine coon is a "big kid."
Perhaps because his feline childhood is very long. It reaches sexual maturity a little later than other cats and can contact its full physical size even at 3-4 years (especially males).
This breed is comfortable with other cats as well as dogs. It is a gentle cat, so it is usually peaceful with other animals. However, this does not mean it allows itself to be easily subordinated. If a Maine coon lives with a dog, it will probably wrap it around its paw. Also, in a cat group, the majk will strive for the top spot in the household hierarchy. This behavior is quite characteristic of this breed.
Maine coon doesn't belong to noisy cats with loud voices. It usually gives quiet, chirping meows, which are quite characteristic and pleasant to the ear. It can be an indoor cat and one that goes out into the garden or aviary.
However, if he stays only at home, provide him with a proper dose of exercise, arrange places for climbing and observation (the best are elaborate scratching posts - "cat trees") or shelves and footbridges hung on the wall. Remember that they have to be solid constructions that can bear the considerable weight of the cat. The Maine coon is a cat that weighs its own weight, don't forget about it!
Grooming and care
The Maine Coon cat has all three types of hair - pelt, down, and transitional hair. Such a fur structure makes it prone to tangles and requires regular combing sessions, preferably every few days. So it's worth getting your cat used to grooming from an early age and rewarding it with a treat or affection after each one. It's best to comb him with a metal comb with long and narrowly spaced teeth.
In periods of increased shedding, it is recommended to use trimmers or combs to comb out the excess undercoat and dead hair. This will allow you to reach the root of the hair and comb it from the skin, not just the top. The procedure should take place in a relaxed atmosphere, without tugging and "tearing cats."
When grooming, special attention should be paid to the areas: under the arms, in the groin, on the so-called portcullis, and behind the ears, where the hair tangles the most. More time should be spent on combing the tail - the hair grows more slowly there, and every torn or damaged tuft of hair can leave baldness and thinness on the coat for a long time.
Cats of this breed have a waterproof coat, so bathing them is very difficult. Without a clear recommendation from a veterinarian, or if the cat is heavily soiled with a substance it should not consume, such an attempt should not be made. You can use dry shampoo if necessary, which is definitely a less stressful method for both parties.
A long and dense hair coat contributes to a higher incidence of pilobezoars, which are undigested, clumped hairballs that form when maykens are washed daily. With a proper diet and sound digestive system, the cat can better excrete them.
So it's worth taking care of the best diet for these semi-longhaired cats - food for Maine coon should be meaty and wet. Adding offals and animal fat will definitely strengthen the digestive system and regulate the excretion of hairballs.
A good diet will also make it easier to control your pet's weight. Each extra kilogram puts excessive strain on the bones and joints of Maine Coons, so you should not allow the start of uncontrolled weight gain in the pet.
When thinking about buying a Maine Coon, you should keep in mind its maintenance cost. There's no denying that as one of the largest cat breeds, Maine Coons eat a lot. Food should be of good quality and meaty - such feeding will allow the cat to saturate faster, but still, a more enormous amount of food will go daily than with smaller cats.
Also, remember to have regular heart check-ups. Additionally, deciding on a maypole, you have to provide him with a proper place to scratch, and a scratching post for Maine coon should be firm, high, and stable. The cat should stretch freely when scratching, so the stakes' height is at least 1.5 m.
