The Maine Coon
is a very large and semi-longhaired cat. Its appearance is between a
semi-wild domestic cat and raccoons (genetically impossible, but hence the
name).
Size is large, boning strong and heavy.
The body together with the legs form more or less a rectangle. The body is
very muscular, powerful and long, exhibiting exceptional strength. The legs
are medium long and strong with large tufted paws.
The shape of the head is a broad, rather rectangular wedge where the muzzle
is prominent and square.
When viewed from the side the head is longer, the broad nose shows a gentle curve
in the upper part.
The muzzle (also called 'the box') is prominent and square, the chin very
firm.
Ears are strikingly large and wide at the base, and set well apart, with
their long lynx-tufts on the tips they give this certain wild expression.
Eyes are large and oval in shape, slightly slanted towards the base of the
ears. There is no specific relation between coat colour and eye colour.
The shaggy coat is of uneven length, shorter at the shoulders, on the belly
it is longer, and on the hind legs there can be seen trousers. The cat has
little undercoat, the coat is silky to touch.
The tail is very long, its length should be the same measure from the base
of the spine to the neck, its hair is bushy. |
Maine Coon black mackerel tabby
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Maine Coon red tabby
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Maine Coons exist in almost all colours and patterns, except in colourpoint.
Colour can be with silver, and with any amount of white.
There is no correlation between colour or pattern of the coat and the eye
colour.
Maine Coon black
tabby with
white
|
History
The origin of the Maine Coon is not known for sure, some believe that its
ancestors have come from the Norwegian Forest cat, some believe that the
breed is the result from matings in Maine. Another story tells that a cat
was brought by ship to Maine by a captain called Coon, and that it escaped
and mated with the semi-wild domestic cats living in the forests.
This breed exists already for a rather long time. Maine Coons were shown in
many early exhibitions, the black and white Captain Jenks of the Horse
Marines was the first Maine Coon to win 1861 at Boston and New York shows.
With the appearance of the luxuriously long coated Persian at the turn of
the 20th century the Maine Coon lost its popularity. The interest in this
breed rekinkled in the 1950s and became extensive by the 1970s.
Whatever origin the breed might have, it must be noted that breeders
discovered this wonderful cats and carefully bred them to keep that original
"wild look" of its semi-wild ancestors. |
Maine Coon red tabby with white
|
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Maine Coon black torbie with white
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Maine Coon blacktabby with white
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Temperament
The males tend to be possessive of their owner and are extremely loyal.
Females may appear sometimes to be grumpy, but it is a bluff. They may first
growl, and if this doesn't work, they will 'huff and puff'. Females are
excellent mothers, which is as well as litters may have seven, eight or more
kittens.
Maine Coons are very intelligent and show keen interest for their
surroundings. They are easy and amiable cats, and it is easy to get along
with them when they know you. They do not always want to be held, but want
to be close to their people, following them from room to room.
They are very quiet, although when they see something interesting they may
stand on their hind legs like a bear and make a chirping sound.
These cats are truly the gentle giants, they own you, not the other way
around. |
Grooming
The Maine Coon has very little undercoat and semi-long hairs. Their coat has no tendency to get filthy or
matted. They do
not need to be bathed or excessively combed and brushed. Grooming is rather
easy, from time to time one should lightly brush them so that the old and dead hairs
get out from the coat. |
