Maine Coon: description of the cat breed, character, photo and price

Origin of the breed:

The exact origin of the Maine Coon breed is not clear. It is likely that the breed began to be bred in the 1860s in the northeastern part of America in the state of Maine.

1. Because of its massive body and striped tail, they decided that the Maine Coon was a cross between a domestic cat and a raccoon.
2. But others argue that the breed was the result of crossing a North American lynx with a cat. This is confirmed by the funny tassels on the ears of this breed.
3. There is no exact information about their origin, but there are many legends. According to one of them, Maine Coons are the result of crossing a cat with a raccoon or lynx.
4. There is another, more plausible version, which states that Maine Coons were the result of crossing Angora cats with domestic shorthaired individuals.
5. But many experts are confident that over the centuries the cat has evolved, gradually turning into a strong, hardy animal, getting used to surviving in harsh climatic conditions and getting its own prey.

Now, living in comfortable conditions, Maine Coons have turned into cute animals.

In the 1870s, some individuals entered European countries. People liked large cats with a good-natured disposition. They began to found interest clubs, hold exhibitions and conduct breeding work.

The Russians met Maine Coons in 1989 and they liked the cats.

Approximate cost of Maine Coon cats

For a purebred Maine Coon kitten you will have to pay 80 thousand rubles and there are more and more buyers. Cats of this breed must meet these requirements.

How to choose a kitten

Before approaching an acquisition as a commercial project, you need to think carefully. Becoming a breeder and selling kittens is not as profitable as it seems. But if you want to attend exhibitions, then choose a breed representative of the Breed class.

Are you purchasing a Pet-class pet for your soul? Feel free to start your search; remember, the cat will also need to arrange his home.

Take a stroll through the Internet pages of nurseries, publications that involve the sale of animals, for example, Avito. The main rule is never go to the poultry market for a kitten. There they sell litter from irresponsible matings; they are either sick or not pure breed.

Maine Coons can reach large sizes, which means you should carefully weigh the pros and cons and make an informed decision. After all, your life will change over the next 15 years. It will be necessary to provide the pet with sufficient territory, care and balanced premium food.

When choosing a new family member, pay attention to your parents. If they are small in stature, without a powerful chest and ear tufts, then you should not expect the kitten to have them either. The baby himself, regardless of gender, should look healthy, nimble, without lacrimation or other symptoms of illness.

Maine Coon breed standards

• The head is large and massive.
• The muzzle is square in shape.
• Sharply defined cheekbones are slightly raised, the nose is medium.
• The massive chin, when viewed from the side, is perpendicular to the line of the mouth and nose.
• The color of the almond-shaped eyes matches the color of the cat.
• Most often, there are tassels hanging from the tips of the ears, reminiscent of lynxes.
• The ears are filled with hair. Sometimes individuals of this breed do not have tassels on their ears.
• The body is muscular, with a well-developed chest. The outline of the figure looks like a rectangle. Luxurious and long tail. The paws are large, with hair between the claws.
• The Maine Coon's coat is hard, it is able to repel water, it is of a single color, but it can be smoky, spotted, marbled and even two-colored.

Maine Coon colors table with photos

Let's start with the fact that there are only two primary colors from which different shades emerge, black and red (red). The ticked one is considered expensive; it represents residual patterns of brindle color. That is, the letter M on the forehead, a barely visible collar and stripes on the paws.

A white Maine Coon with blue eyes looks noble, but a common disadvantage common to albinos is deafness. Therefore, when choosing, pay attention to whether the animal responds to the voice.

Character of Maine Coon cats

• Maine Coons will never scratch, even if a child hurts them. They can be friends with other animals.
• In addition, individuals of this breed are smart, resourceful and memorable animals. They train quickly, can fetch objects, open doors, and stand on their hind legs.
• Maine Coons are sensitive to their owner's mood and easily follow his rules. But their hunting instinct has not faded. Now, instead of mice, they “catch” small objects. Maine Coons need daily walks. They willingly walk in any weather, do not leave their owner and do not climb trees.
• These giants have a lot of energy. At the same time, cats are completely non-aggressive; on the contrary, they are friendly and cheerful. But this does not mean that Maine Coons are obsessive.
• These are very delicate cats. Your pet will show interest in guests and greet every new person with curiosity.
• Cats of this breed will always find a common language with children and other animals. The Maine Coon is particularly sensitive; it will always adapt to its owner’s mood, easily catching it. At the same time, he is always ready to keep company in outdoor games.
• Of course, training Maine Coons, like other cats, is very difficult, but teaching them something is quite possible.
• Well, toilet training them won’t be difficult at all.

Character

The predatory appearance of the Maine Coon is manifested not in aggressiveness, but in the icy calm of the king of beasts.

1. This breed is noble , reserved, and self-confident.
2. Despite their balance , mainks love to run, jump, and most importantly, learn new tricks!
3. Maine Coons get along well with children , are loyal to strangers (up to the first familiarity), but really need personal space. They love to fall asleep in unexpected places and positions, and also quietly watch their owner, sitting somewhere nearby, while he is cooking or working. By the way, mainkeys don’t ask to be “handled”.
4. The Maine Coon breed is unusually delicate and sensitive to its family, perfectly senses a person’s mood and always shows patience. These cats have an excellent memory: they remember words and intonations, understand the owner by a fleeting glance or gesture.
5. They also get along well with other cats , and when they find themselves in an unfamiliar environment, they behave as if they have lived there for many years. This breed even loves to play hide and seek with dogs.
6. Maine Coons usually do not destroy an apartment , do not steal from tables and do not beg - this is beneath their dignity. However, they are more hunters than any other breed. Therefore, it is better to limit them from proximity to fish or birds.

Below the picture you will find an interesting article about what breed of Scottish Fold cats it is. At the same time, learn from this article how to dissuade your cat from messing around in the apartment.

1. These cats have a melodic, like a chirping voice , which they give quite rarely, preferring to calmly and silently look at their surroundings.

Maine Coon - characteristics and features of the breed

• Maine Coons love water. They will not miss the moment to swim in the pond with their owner or splash around in the shower.
• Maine Coons will not steal other people's food or from their owner's table.
• These cats can make sounds that can be mistaken for a human voice. They purr like birds chirp.
• Sometimes Maine Coon kittens are born with one extra toe on all their limbs.
• The main distinguishing feature of Maine Coons is, of course, their weight. Adults can reach fifteen kilograms. Moreover, their development occurs very slowly, ending only by the age of five.
• The head of the Maine Coon is large and wide to match the size of the body.
• The ears are large and close set.
• The eyes are expressive and large.
• The Maine Coon's coat is long and silky; the length of the coat increases on the hind legs and belly.

See a large selection of names for Maine Coons

Standard

Maine Coons have always been strong, agile and hardy cats. It costs them nothing to run a race with the neighboring dog for half a day, and in the evening to catch all the mice in the house and play with the owner.

However, we are talking about a large, if not huge, cat, and its playful nature does not prevent it from looking quite intimidating:

• medium head, flat skull, wide nose;
• long muzzle with strong jaws and chin;
• muscular neck of medium length;
• the ears are large, wide at the base, set high and distinguished by tassels at pointed ends;
• large, thoughtful, wide-set eyes;
• eyes can shimmer in all shades of green or gold, light-colored individuals can have blue or different eye colors;
• The cat's body is muscular, long, with a wide croup and a strong back;
• the limbs are strong, of medium length, the paws are rounded, large, with hair between the toes;

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• The Maine Coon's tail is thick at the base, long, and very fluffy;
• The coat is heavy, silky, with abundant undercoat.

A healthy cat should look strong and strong, but keep in mind: Maine Coons finally develop by the age of 4-5.

Breed colors

Maine Coon fur can come in an incredible number of shades, hence the complex classification of colors. However, let’s highlight the main ones:

• tabby - “striping” of wide variations and a spectrum of colors - from pale blue to bright red;
• solid – plain (white, cream, black, blue, red);
• smokies - smoky (black, blue, smoke, chinchilla, shading, cameo, silver);
• with white markings;
• tortoiseshell (random spots on the body);
• calico - rare large spots on a white background, and others.

There is an opinion that cats with black hair are especially easy-going, tortoiseshell cats, on the contrary, are restless and temperamental, and tabby cats are more independent than their spotted “colleagues” - homebodies.

Pet care

Their care is minimal.

1. Cats shed throughout the year, so they need to be brushed every 3-4 days. Particular care should be taken to comb the belly and under the arms, as tangles may appear there. They will have to be cut off. You will have to comb your Maine Coon with a metal brush with rounded teeth so as not to damage the animal’s coat.
2. You will have to carefully care for your furry pets. They definitely need to be bathed. Moreover, this procedure will have to be carried out approximately once every seven days during the molting period. When the shedding is over, you can move on to bath procedures every two months. You can’t do without combing the wool. This also needs to be done regularly.
3. Cats are washed in a deep basin or in a bathtub. You can bathe them 2-3 times a month. Bathe using baby shampoo and conditioner to moisturize the skin. The wool usually dries on its own, but you can dry it with a hairdryer.
4. Keeping the animal
5. Food must contain all nutrients. The optimal food is only premium food with vitamins. They should be given to cats in consultation with a veterinarian, so that there are no more and no less vitamins than the cat needs.
6. You need to buy a large tray for the animal, with rounded sides of 10 cm. The cat will fit completely in such a tray, and the filler will not spill out and will not be carried around the apartment. The filler must be changed daily.
7. Maine Coons like to be seen from above. Therefore, you will need to install a strong and durable structure, similar to a tree, in your house. Then the pet will climb on it and rest. Large cats will only need a small house where they will feel comfortable.
8. It is not advisable to cut Maine Coons. They are cut only if a lot of tangles have formed, then the tail, paws and head are not cut. A haircut is required before the exhibition. In this case, it is advisable to invite a professional master.
9. If an individual of this breed is languishing from the heat, the owner will comb it with a special comb, having first read the rules so as not to damage the animal’s fur.

Features of care and education

This breed is quite easy to train, but you need to immediately show what can be done and what is prohibited. Makecoon cats are susceptible to training. If there are small children in the house, they will become caring nannies. Even when a child causes inconvenience to a pet, he will patiently endure such hardships of life. The same cannot be said about other representatives of the cat family.

It is important to never show aggression; these fluffy beauties are vulnerable and feel irritation through intonation. By the way, males love to raise their offspring.

The Maine Coon cat breed was bred by breeding methods, which means it is necessary to provide complete care:

1. It is necessary to walk strictly on a leash, as the cat may be seriously harmed due to excessive friendliness.
2. From a young cat's age, do not allow him to climb high and jump down, as the pet may be injured due to its weight. With age they become more clumsy, but their interest in hunting does not disappear. Coons are excellent mousecatchers and require a lot of space to maneuver.
3. To prevent tangles from appearing on your pet’s fur coat, you need to groom its fur several times a week. Buy a brush with rounded teeth; you need to brush it constantly.
4. If problems with grooming may arise, then bathing is a pleasure for the cat.
5. Trim the claws as you sharpen, from once a week to twice a month. Use the most gentle version of the instrument so as not to injure blood vessels.
6. Clean your ears with a cloth soaked in boiled water.
7. Keep routine checkups with your veterinarian to monitor your oral health.

Health and disease of Maine Coon cats

Maine Coons have good health. They suffer only from hereditary diseases that cannot be cured. Therefore, you should be more careful when buying a kitten. It is necessary to inquire about the health of mom and dad, because diseases are transmitted from parents.

1. Heart disease, when the heart may suddenly stop or an embolism may occur.
2. Pathology of the spinal cord leads to atrophy of the spinal muscle. The cat's disease is detected after 6 months and then the muscles are destroyed.
3. With polycystic kidney disease, a kitten is born with cysts in the kidneys.
4. Pathology of the hind legs. Then the cat limps. Gradually she becomes disabled.
5. To prevent serious diseases, cats should be vaccinated.

Choosing a kitten

You should only buy a kitten from a trusted breeder or nursery. It is also useful to observe the situation in the nursery. If cats are not kept in cages and can freely communicate with their relatives, then there is a high probability that the kitten is a purebred.

No need to buy kittens. if other breeds are bred in the nursery. Then the kitten may contain an admixture of another breed.

You definitely need to look at the documents of his dad and mom.

Maine Coon weight gain chart:

World record for size among the breed

Coons are superior to many cats not only in intelligence and friendliness, but also in size.

Their weight reaches 13 kg, and their length is 120 cm. Females differ significantly in size: they are no more than a meter long and weigh up to 8 kg.

Animals from European and American nurseries differ in the same way. US breeders consider the size of the cat and the quality of its coat to be the priority characteristics. In Europe, the emphasis in selection is on the dominant features of the breed: the shape of the eyes, tail, ears, and, among other things, the presence of the famous tassels.

The largest representative of this breed, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, was the cat Stewie from Nevada. The length of his body from nose to tailbone is 123 centimeters. The owners claim that it would be difficult to find a kinder and smarter giant. Stewie died several years ago, so the championship title was vacant.

Kittens of this breed grow up to 4-5 years. Therefore, Rupert, a handsome Australian who is only 3 years old, has every chance of breaking Stewie's record. Kira Foster, the cat's owner, claims that she feeds him kangaroo meat, so when he matures, he will become the new world champion. Rupert's current weight is 9 kg and his length is 121 cm.

Ludo, the “gentleman in white gloves” from Britain, is not far behind him. His length at 4 years was about 119 cm.

Stewie the Cat

Rupert the Cat

Cat Ludo

Owner reviews:

• Olga: They have a very loud purr, and also “chirp” to attract attention, or search for each other. Apparently, they can also be trained, although everything takes time. Maine Coons are noisy. When guests with children came to us, they were scared of our “Devil” cat, it was fun))
• Masha: The only thing I would like to say is that you may have to look after them sometimes. Mine hate being groomed, but otherwise the cats end up being clumps and clumps of fur that then have to be cut out if I don't.
• Anastasia: We had 2 Maine Coons, the 1st was a boy and he was huge, and of course the most gentle, affectionate, soft little bundle you could ever meet. He lived for 18 years and besides, when he was about 16 years old, he developed diabetes (the veterinary nurse showed me how to give the injections, and then everything was fine), he had no health problems at all. Now we have a girl, she is 6 years old. She is very moody, does not tolerate being petted and is the loudest cat I have ever known! She has no health problems.
• Andrey: We have 2 Maine Coons, a kitten and a mature cat. I would say that an older cat is very self-sufficient and will never seek out human company. However, the kitten goes crazy when hugged and cuddled - he sleeps most of the night on his arms, shoulders, knees, snoring loudly. It's full of playful madness. They are more susceptible to disease - keep vaccinations up to date. Buy from a reputable and trusted breeder.

Top 10 largest cat breeds

The Maine Coon takes a worthy second place among the largest cats in the world. Representatives of the breed are the most popular and beloved giant cats, and it’s not for nothing that one of them became the face of the Purina brand. The North American Longhair is surpassed in size only by the Savannah, which is considered the most expensive cat breed - the price of a kitten starts at 4 thousand dollars.

The hot ten largest domestic cat breeds are as follows: