With its imposing size, long hair and plume-like tail, you’ve probably heard of the Maine Coon. It may even have occurred to you to find out more about this breed of cat, or even to adopt one yourself. The Maine Coon has everything it takes to be the ideal domestic cat, aside from its surprisingly attractive appearance.
Where does the Maine Coon come from?
If the legend persists in saying that the Maine Coon is the result of a cross between cats and raccoons (racoon in English), the logic wants rather that it descends from cats coming from the Norwegian forests, having followed the Vikings in their travels. This would explain the resemblance he has with these Nordic long-haired cats capable of withstanding very cold temperatures.
Other hypotheses confront each other as to the arrival of the Maine Coon. Some assume that the Maine Coon is a cross between Marie Antoinette’s Angora cats, while others believe that it came from exotic countries and became the Maine Coon by crossing with local European cats. If none of these hypotheses can finally be confirmed, we know at least that the Maine Coon owes its particular physique to its distant origins, that’s something.
The Maine Coon was discovered in the United States in the 19th century, and has since been the subject of numerous exhibitions and beauty contests. Recognized as an official breed around 1970, it was not until 1981 that the Maine Coon arrived in France and became a real success with individuals in 1990. Since then, the Maine Coon has become one of the favorite cats of the French and is one of the first cat breeds produced in France.
The character of the Maine Coon
The Maine Coon is a real success with individuals, especially families with children. Despite its imposing appearance, this cat has a gentle character and is very affectionate. Both curious and playful, it will not reject your children’s attempts to get close to it, quite the contrary. Calm and patient, it will appreciate the attentions, the caresses and the moments of play with the family. Sociable, it also adapts to the presence of other animals, whether cats or dogs. Neither frightened nor aggressive, it will gradually find its feet in your family.
Easy to domesticate and train, the Maine Coon is not likely to damage your home and is not the type to run around your house for long periods of time. You can even teach him simple commands and even familiarize him with walking on a leash. The Maine Coon is the perfect intermediary between a cat and a dog, and is an unparalleled gentle dog.
The Maine Coon’s physique
The Maine Coon is perhaps the most impressive of the domestic felines, reaching a height of 1 meter and a weight of 10 kg. This cat has powerful muscles and a broad chest, giving it a rectangular appearance.
The Maine Coon’s muzzle is strong and pronounced, sometimes with a small hump that reinforces its character. Its ears are large and straight, and have small tufts of hair and feathering at the tips that soften its rather hard appearance. There are also tufts of hair between his toes, reinforcing the wide and stable appearance of his legs. Its long-haired plume tail is long and folded towards the shoulder blade.
The coat varies in length throughout the body, with long hair on the tail, neck and breeches being preferred. Most often marbled brown or brown tabby, the Maine Coon can also have a white, blue, black or red coat.
The Maine Coon in everyday life
With a life expectancy of between 14 and 20 years, it’s important to take good care of your Maine Coon so that it can stay with you for as long as possible.
This cat can live in an apartment, but because of its size, it needs to be exercised. If you are a city dweller, you may want to consider walking your cat on a leash. If you have the possibility, the ideal is that it can in a vast space to be able to spend, with perches of various sizes (house, enclosure in a garden, etc).
As for food, it is advisable not to force on the fatty food, but to keep a food adapted to the kittens during the first 3 years of its life. The growth of this cat is, indeed, longer than the one of cats of less corpulence. Thereafter, feed him like any other cat, with kibble or pate enriched with animal proteins. Emphasize fatty acids, which are perfect for ensuring a long, silky coat.
Finally, don’t forget to take care of his coat. Since the Maine Coon has a long and dense coat, it is advisable to brush it regularly to prevent it from ingesting hair when grooming. You should also think about giving your Maine Coon a little shower from time to time to give his coat a shine.
Now you know everything there is to know about the Maine Coon and perhaps the desire to finally have your own has grown stronger. However, you should know that this breed is not within the reach of everyone, since it costs between 500 and 1700 $ to get one registered with the LOOF.
