Maine Coon is the biggest cat!
The biggest of all the cat breeds, the Maine Coon cat has a strong muscular body and long legs. The head has a squared-off muzzle and triangle ears held wide and tall. The fur is thick and dense and composes of an undercoat covered by an essential glossy, waterproof top coat. The fur on the head, shoulders, and neck is shorter and growth in length down the back and tail. The fur on the belly and pants is full and bushy. Also, there is a scarf, which begins at the bottom of the ears and is denser in males than females. The tail fur is long and fluffy. The ears have lovely tufted tips. The big paws also have tufts showing a snowshoe effect. The Maine Coon cat breed has a diversity of 30 or more colors. The eyes, also, may be yellow, green, gold or copper – in white cats, it is possible to have blue eyes.
Interesting historical facts
The ancestors of the Maine Coon cat were brought by seafarers in the 1850s, into the State of Maine, in America. This breed was a well-known mouse-catcher, farm cat and, probably, ship’s cat. The origin of Main Coon breed is a natural and little is known about that. Some breeders say the Vikings brought him to North America, others that he is the child of longhaired cats belonging to Marie Antoinette. Another probability is that sea captains may have brought longhaired cats that then mated with local shorthaired cats. The first published the reference to a Maine Coon was in 1861 and then a female Maine Coon was named Best Cat at a cat show in 1895 and the breed became very popular as pets.
The Maine Coon’s Personality
The playful and affable Maine Coon adapts quite well to many personalities, they are very good-natured and friendly. He is not naughty, but he likes being with people and has the habit of following them around. He will be joyful to receive attention, but if you’re busy he’s satisfied to just supervise your doings. If you close a door on him, he will wait persistently for you to understand the error of your ways and let him in. Perhaps because of their humble origins, they are frequently found curled up in the weirdest of places. He also keeps his proficiency as a mouser. And if you don’t have any rodent for him to haunt, he’ll retain his skills sharp by grabbing toys with his big paws. A Maine Coon also enjoys climbing as well as any cat but generally prefers to stay on the floor. They are very clever too and will successfully learn something new or play with puzzle toys that challenge his brain. Also, Maine Coon cats are noted for the delightful quiet chirping sound they make.
Facts about Health
The Maine Coon cat breed seems to have a high prevalence of such problems as:
- Hip dysplasia. In serious cases can cause lameness
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It is a form of heart disease that is inherited in Maine Coons. The breeder should make a DNA-based test which is available to identify cats that carry one of the mutations that cause the disease.
- Polycystic kidney disease. This is a slowly progressive heritable kidney disease that can result in renal failure.
- Spinal muscular atrophy. It is also a genetic illness that affects skeletal muscles of the body and legs. To identify carriers and affected kittens a test is available.
Ask the breeder about all these conditions before you buy a kitten. As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended.
Grooming
The Maine Coon’s coat has a silky fur and it is easily groomed for with twice weekly combing to move away from dead hair and distribute special oils for skin. Helpful grooming tools include a comb for removing hairballs and a grooming rake to pull out dead undercoat (FURminator may help with it). You should bathe a Maine Coon as necessary, which can range from every few weeks to every few months. If his coat looks fatty or his fur feels stringy, he needs a bath. You should brush the teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Of course, daily dental hygiene is better, but brushing once per week is best than nothing. You should сheck the ears weekly and if they look muddy, wipe them out with soft damp cloth or a cotton ball moistened with a warm water. The Maine Coon is very specific about bathroom hygiene, and a clean litter box will help to keep the coat clean as well. Also, it is a good idea to keep a Maine Coon as an indoor-only cat to protect him from illnesses and the other dangers. Maine Coons who go outdoors also run the risk of being stolen by someone who would like to have such a lovely cat.
We hope that this article was interesting and helps you find the useful information about the biggest cat – Maine Coon!