He is playful but as calm as a bug, he is devoted to his owner who does not "bother" him, he is intelligent and a great friend to other pets in the home.
The Maine Coon is one of the largest breeds of domestic cats, known not only for its impressive size, tufted ears, thick tail and luxurious fur, but also for its friendly temperament, which it shows by socializing with its owner and other pets in the home. Another name for the Maine Coon is "gentle giant," which this intelligent, playful, and adaptable cat truly is.
Despite its size, the Maine Coon is a graceful and agile cat that loves children, family, dogs and domestic cats. Her thick, waterproof fur helps her adapt to different climates, and a special feature of this kitty is her tufted ears, writes Cattime.
The Maine Coon originates from the USA, from the state of Maine: males weigh from 6 to 8.2 kilograms and even more, and adult females weigh from 3.5 to 5.5 kilograms.
The life span of the Maine Coon is 12 to 15 years, its health is generally problem-free, but it can be prone to certain genetic conditions such as hip dysplasia and heart disease, so veterinary checks are necessary.
History of the Maine Coon breed
The Maine Coon originates from the state of Maine, where the breed was very popular, and cats lived on farms or were passengers on ships, as early as the early 19th century. This is a natural race and little is known about their origin: it is even believed that the Vikings brought them to North America, centuries before Columbus discovered the American continent. According to some assumptions, the Maine Coon is a descendant of Marie Antoinette's long-haired cats, which were sent to America before the queen was sentenced. One thing is certain – the Maine Coon is not the result of mating between a cat and a raccoon, as some people think.
A female Maine Coon was named the best cat in 1895 at the Cat Show held in Madison Square Garden. In Boston and New York, domestic cats were popular at cat shows, and when the Cat Fanciers' Association was founded in 1908, the fifth registered cat was a Maine Coon named Molly Bond.
The invasion of glamorous Persian and exotic Siamese cats from England at the turn of the century meant the end of the Maine Coon's popularity, which had been out of favor for five decades. Things took a turn for the better in the 1960s, and the Maine Coon Breeders and Breeders Association was formed in 1968. Today, these large, beautiful cats are among the most popular breeds in the world, and this is also the official state cat of Maine.
Temperament of the Maine Coon
Good-natured and friendly, the Maine Coon adapts well to many lifestyles and owners, loves to be with people and has a habit of following them, is happy to receive attention from the owner, but if he is busy, the cat will be content to monitor what her man is working. If you close the door in his face, he will patiently wait for you to realize that you have forgotten him. The Maine Coon is not a lap cat, but it is a cat to be close to its owner.
Although a large and robust cat, the Maine Coon is adept at catching rodents. Even if there are no mice in the home, this cat will chase toys and grab them with its big paws. The Maine Coon enjoys playing fetch and will take small balls, toys or rolled up pieces of paper. It can climb with ease, but usually prefers to stay on the ground. Very smart, the Maine Coon will easily learn tricks or play with puzzles that will stimulate him mentally.
The Maine Coon usually enjoys playing well into adulthood, and its games resemble those of kittens. Males sometimes perform "antics", while females are more dignified. The Maine Coon does not vocalize excessively, so their meow is reminiscent of a bird's voice.
Health, coat color and care of the Maine Coon
The Maine Coon is considered a healthy breed, but there are certain predispositions to some genetic diseases. Problems that can affect the health of the Maine Coon include: hip dysplasia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, polycystic kidney disease and the relatively rare spinal muscular atrophy.
When it comes to caring for the coat of the Maine Coon, it has a silky texture and needs regular care, i.e. brushing twice a week to remove dead hair and promote oil secretion. The Maine Coon should be bathed as needed - from every few weeks to several months. Wipe the corners of your Maine Coon's eyes regularly with a soft, damp cloth to remove discharge, and check the ears for cleanliness weekly.
It is good that the Maine Coon is closed in the home, in order to protect it from diseases spread by other cats, but also from dog attacks, traffic accidents and theft: the Maine Coon is a very beautiful cat and anyone can steal it because it is calm.
The Maine Coon is a large cat with shaggy fur, large expressive green, gold, greenish-gold or copper eyes. A white or two-colored Maine Coon can be blue-eyed or have different colored eyes, while the coat color is black, red, white, all tabby colors and patterns, two-colored, tortoiseshell, calico, gray...
