Red Maine Coon as one of the representatives of the giant cat breed

Maine Coon Size Standards

Upon reaching 15 months, the growth of the coon is completed and until the age of three they gain only muscle mass.
The weight of a male at one and a half years old can reach 8-10 kilograms. Girls are more modest in size - about 8 kilograms. Before reaching the age of one year, there are some females that can be similar in size to the males. The weight of a coon may change after spaying and neutering (for cats). This is caused by hormonal imbalance. For such cats, you need to select special food and monitor physical activity. You can often find information that coons have enormous height and weight exceeding 25 kg. This is a very persistent myth that is simply a myth and a fallacy. If a Maine Coon cat exceeds 12 kg, this may indicate problems with the health of the animal.

There are official records for the size of coons that were exhibited at exhibitions and competitions. The largest cat had a body weight of 15 kilograms. The physique of this breed is muscular and has a large head. They have characteristic tassels on their ears and a long fluffy tail.

Random color combination

For some reason, the color orange is traditionally considered in its pure form, but in reality it is rare. Most often, this shade appears in Maine Coons in white and red combinations, and forms combinations of various shapes and proportions:

1. Tortoiseshell color - alternating red and black spots over the entire surface of the Maine Coon's coat. It consistently appears in female cats, while male cats get it in the only case - if they have an extra X chromosome and the entire sex formula looks not XY, but XXY. In this variant, Oo genes are added to these two XX and the coloring becomes tortoiseshell. Maine Coon males with this color are born sterile.
2. Bicolor - a combination of white and red with a tabby pattern. The ideal color is a white chest, belly and paws on the inside. There may be a light, closed collar on the neck and a flame on the muzzle. The entire upper part of the Maine Coon (head, back, tail) should be covered with a basic red color. The genetic formula of red bicolors is written as aaOO/YD-Ss. The final gene designations Ss are responsible for white spotting.
3. Tortoiseshell bicolors combine the first two points, but in fact already show three colors - white, black and red.
4. A large group of cats with insignificant inclusions of white on the main red color is considered separately. The spots are classified as medallions, buttons, gloves, cap/saddle.

White-red (red) Maine Coons in any combination of colors look very elegant and even defiant. And if you add a powerful body, stern eyes and tufted ears to the portrait, you get an unusually beautiful large cat.

What is the weight of an adult cat and Maine Coon cat?

The size and weight of a kun depends on many factors. The state of an adult cat is established at birth. The size of the animal is affected by:

• Genetics. If the kitten's parents were large and in good health, there is a high probability that the kittens will also be of impressive size.
• Floor. Males are larger and taller than females. Males also grow faster than their female counterparts.
• The use of hormonal drugs in a cat during certain periods.
• Conditions in which kittens grow up.
• Stress factor. If an animal is constantly exposed to stress, the endocrine system of the animal suffers first, which negatively affects further growth.
• Proper nutrition. It must be balanced. By following proper nutrition, healthy and strong coons will grow up with the correct size and weight.

Typically, a cat stops growing and gaining weight at the age of three. During this period it should reach its maximum size. For a male, the weight can range from 9-12 kg, castrated individuals can weigh 13-16 kg. All cats should be between 7-10 kg. The height at the withers can reach 25-40 cm. The length of the body from the nose to the tip of the tail can reach 100 cm, that is, 1 m. The maximum length established by the kunas is 1.23 m.

Thoroughbred animals with a good pedigree will look larger and more massive than their counterparts. This is dictated by a special genetic exterior.

5 interesting facts about the biggest cat in the world

1. About 10% of Maine Coons have a sixth toe on their paws. This feature appeared due to a genetic mutation that affected up to 40% of the early representatives of this breed. The extra finger does not bother the cat in any way; on the contrary, he feels more confident if he stands on a loose surface. For example, in the snow.
2. A characteristic feature is thick fur in the belly and collar area and a gray-brown color. Nowadays, smoky, mackerel, tortoiseshell, cream, chocolate and Siamese colors have been bred, but the calling card of the breed is the color of the raccoon.
3. The furry giant starred as Mrs. Norris the cat in the Harry Potter films. Unlike the other three “colleagues” in the role, Pebbles responded to the command to “stand” and looked harmonious in the frame.
4. The Maine Coon was cloned. Julia from Dallas saved a DNA sample from her cat Little Nicky, who died at the age of 17. She paid $50,000 to have a commercial genetic research organization implant DNA into a cat's egg. The experiment was carried out successfully - the surrogate cat gave birth to a kitten that was very similar to the owner of the donor DNA. The pet inherited the gender, color and habits of his father.
5. The half-bred Maine Coon Velvet is the oldest cat in the world. He turned 27 years old in 2020. Now his fate is unknown, because on October 9, 2016, he ran out into the street through an open door and never came back.

Maine Coon weight by month

To understand what health condition a pet has, veterinarians have developed a special table that can be used to check its body weight.

How much do Maine Coons weigh: table by month.

Coon kittens grow very quickly and gain weight rapidly. When they reach 4 months, they can be the size of a normal adult cat. The pace of development slows down over the years and stops altogether after three years.

Birth weight

Kittens of this breed are larger in size compared to other cats. A newborn kitten weighs 120-170 grams, but for example, a Persian kitten weighs only 80-100 grams. If we take into account the average size, the usual weight of a coon kitten reaches 140 grams. In many ways, this figure may vary depending on the size of the entire litter. If there were five kittens, the weight could be within 130 grams, if there was only one kitten - 160 grams. The more kittens in the litter, the less their body weight will be.

Adaptation to a new home

If you take a kitten into your home, remember the main rule: it is impossible to forbid an adult cat what was allowed to her at a young age. Therefore, you need to immediately decide in what framework you will put your new pet. If you do not want your pet to sleep in the same bed with you, but to have its own place, equip a “cublo” for it in advance. For your kitten to feel safe, he needs warmth and a soft surface. It is advisable that the pillow be in a basket or box with sides - cats like to sit in cozy, but not completely enclosed places.

When you just brought a Maine Coon, do not rush to limit its movement, cuddle it and carry it with you. Let him look around and get used to the new smells. In any case, being separated from his mother will be stressful for him. The first few days the kitten will miss the cat.

The pet will gradually get used to people. If you often take him in your arms, then within a week you will become his new family. Avoid the temptation to take your kitten to bed for the first 2-3 nights. Most likely he will whine, but with a stranger his stress will only increase. In a few days he will get used to it and stop crying at night. Then you can take him in without fear of causing him emotional harm.

Maine Coons are very active animals, so you can use this to speed up adaptation. Play with it with a lace, a ball, and your hands. If the new family member begins to actively interact with you, you are on the right track. Please note that if there are no other pets in the house, you will have to play with the cat for the next 10-15 years. Because they are full of energy and desire to run after a toy both at 3 months and in their second decade.

Adults find it more difficult to cope with parting with their previous environment. But if you take an animal from a shelter or from the hands of a competent felinologist, it will only rejoice at its new owner. You also need to take into account your character - a lot depends on it.

Why does a Maine Coon kitten not gain weight?

As soon as the owner notices a discrepancy with the body weight table, it is worth seeking help from veterinarians. Insufficient recruitment can be caused by a number of reasons:

• lack of vitamins;
• non-compliance with energy balance;
• the kitten is stressed;
• genetic or acquired diseases of the kitten.

If a cat gives birth to small newborn kittens, they may develop more slowly and take longer to reach the required weight and body size. Larger ones develop much faster than their smaller peers. Small size is often due to genetics.

Sometimes there are situations when just small kittens are born. This can be called a genetic failure; it cannot be corrected. You should not give your kitten any supplements that affect growth on your own. All drugs should be prescribed only by a veterinarian and if there are compelling reasons for their use.

Why can a Maine Coon lose weight?

Body weight standards affect the portion of food that domestic coons should receive. If suddenly your pet begins to lose body weight, this may indicate the presence of health problems. It is important to take action in time and contact a veterinarian. Typically, there are many reasons for weight loss:

• change in diet or diet;
• poor nutrition;
• use of low-quality products;
• worms or other parasites;
• hereditary factors;
• hormonal imbalances;
• poor animal hygiene;
• serious illnesses.

At the first signs of weight loss, it is worth paying attention to the animal’s diet. Perhaps it is not receiving enough necessary nutrients. If there have been no changes in the diet, the cause may be the stressful state of the coon. In any case, weight loss is most often due to health problems. In this case, only specialists can help and immediately prescribe adequate treatment.

Material on the topic: all about the character and habits of Maine Coons.

Maine Coon kitten.

Factors influencing growth

Factors that influence the growth and development of the Maine Coon can be divided into two types - internal and external. Internal ones include:

• The growth rate of a kitten depends on the breed and its purebred. The higher your birth weight, the more you will gain weight in the future.
• Gender of the kitten. Boys grow faster and gain weight.
• Genetic predisposition. With a high degree of probability, parents of large sizes will have kittens of corresponding sizes.
• The combination of mom and dad's genotypes creates the kitten's own genotype. This is a unique organism that can have its own individuality.
• Hormones. The use of medications can affect the animal's body weight.

There are also external factors that have a significant impact on weight gain and growth of the Maine Coon. These factors include the hygiene of the animal and the conditions in which it lives. The attitude of the mother cat towards him greatly influences the growth of a kitten; sometimes a cat may deprive one of its cubs of attention and care. A newborn kitten should gain 10 grams in weight. in a day.

Kuchiki Byakuya (Bleach)

Byakuya Kuchiki is the 28th head of the noble Kuchiki clan, one of the four great noble families in Soul Society. He tries to behave like an aristocrat: he always seems serene and apathetic towards other people, even when he is actually worried. He is also extremely calm in battle and is rarely surprised by even the most unexpected situations.

Byakuya is popular among women and was voted first in the "Captain We Want to See on the Cover of a Photo Album" poll conducted by the Shinigami Women's Association.

He loves Japanese cherries, night walks, spicy food and bananas, but does not like sweets. He wears a standard captain's uniform along with a white headdress called a kenseikan (symbolizing his noble title as head of the Kuchiki family) and a white scarf made by master weaver Tsujishiro Kuroemon III.

The scarf is made of silver-white lightweight silk and is a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation to the head of the family. Forty-five houses can be built for the price of just one such scarf.

Record holders

The largest Maine Coon in history had a body length of 123 cm. The tail was 41.5 cm long. This cat had a gray-smoky color, and the record itself was recorded on August 28, 2010. His name was Stewie, he lived in the USA, in the state of Nevada. Another record holder lived in Australia, his name was Omar. He weighed 14 kg. It had a length of 120 cm.

Maine Coon record holder.

One of the most sensational records concerning this breed lived in Australia and had similar dimensions.

The largest cat by weight lived in the USA. He reached a weight of 16.5 kg, and did not have any health problems that could cause such a body weight.

No artificial records

In order to achieve records, many owners begin to overfeed the cat or even introduce special hormonal supplements to quickly gain height and weight, thereby harming its health. Large weight impairs the functioning of the heart, liver, digestive tract, and also leads to metabolic disorders. This way the animal can die much faster. All this led to the fact that many international exhibitions and competitions canceled awards in this category.

Katy Perry and her cats Krusty and Kitty Purry

The singer dreams of becoming a cat in her next life, wears cat outfits to concerts and enjoys communicating with her two pets - Kitty Purry (literal translation - something like “Purring Cat”) and Krusty.

Source: fastcult.ru

Striped Kitty appears in the singer's videos and goes on tour with her. The cat even inspired Katie to create her own perfume, Purr, with a bottle cap in the shape of a cat's head. And the gray-and-white cat Krusty took part in the creation of the singer’s next fragrance, “Meow.”

Source: instagram.com

Useful tips and tricks

The most important task for the owner of a Maine Coon kitten is to create the right diet for him, which will ensure the normal growth and development of the animal. For coons, natural food is preferable as it is most suitable for them. Veterinarians consider poultry, rabbit, and beef to be the most appropriate. Milk can be given to small kittens; it is not suitable for adults.

Now a number of manufacturers offer specialized food for their owners. They are produced keeping in mind the body weight and size of this cat breed. Such food can be combined with natural food. Veterinarians do not have a consensus on what type of feeding should be chosen. Each owner determines this independently for his pet.

Character and habits of the breed

These big cats are friendly and seek human contact. In character they resemble dogs. They easily become attached to their owners and love affection and attention. Cats get along well with children of preschool and primary school age, tolerate their games and will never scratch or bite.

Coonlets reach sexual maturity later than representatives of other breeds. Only by the age of 2 do these cats become adults. They remain playful for a long time, so it is necessary to have constant access not only to bowls of liquid and food, but also to toys.

The Maine Coon will also get along with other pets. They will not show aggression, but will indicate their boundaries in front of other pets.

Cats of this breed are self-sufficient. They know how to have fun on their own, in the absence of a person, so even busy, hard-working people will find such a pet suitable.

Cats have a hard time being separated from each other for a long time. It is necessary to provide the animal with the opportunity to occupy itself during the absence of its owners. If a person is busy with household chores, the cat will not interfere, but will prefer to be nearby.

Animals are moderately active. They love to relax on sofas next to their owners. Maine Coons are good hunters. With their help you can get rid of mice and rats. Until the animal turns 5 years old, it remains active.

Then gradually the cats begin to devote less and less time to games. The hunting instinct, however, does not weaken. Even old cats continue to persistently hunt down their prey and destroy rodents.

Representatives of the breed are characterized by high intelligence. Pets quickly understand what is allowed and what is prohibited. They almost never steal food from their owners, and rarely tear up furniture or wallpaper. Cats understand the mood of their owners. If a person is tired or angry, the cat will not bother him.

These cats are not afraid of water and enjoy swimming.

For communication they use not only meowing, but also squeaking sounds and chirping. Cats also use body language. They often butt their owners' heads to express their love and devotion.