Maine Coons are considered the oldest breed of cats in North America. They're considered a "Natural breed" since people had little or not involvement in the creation of this lovable giant. As the name implies, this cat originated in the state of Maine. There are all sorts of stories about where they actually came from, the most popular being that the Coon cat sprang from the six pet cats which Marie Antoinette sent to Wiscasset, Maine when she was planning to escape from France during the French Revolution. Another popular myth, though totally debunked at this time is that Maine Coon cats resulted from the mating between fereal cats and raccoons. This theory was made popular by the Maine Coon's long, fabulous tail, which is barred in most casses.
Maine Coons are among the largest of the cat breeds. Excluding the newer breeds that resulted in crossing domestic cats with wild cats, Maine Coons are the largest. The biggest cat in the Guinnes book of world records was a Maine Coon cat, who weighed 35lbs and was 48 inches long. Most male Coons weigh in at about 13-20lbs, and females generally weigh less. Un-altered males and females do grow larger then altered cats. Because these cats are so large, they are also slow to mature, reaching full growth at 4-5 years old. They also can delelop hip problems, but a good diet, and plently of exersize helps prevent this.
Since the breed came from Maine, these cats are built for cold weather. They have a double coat, and both their ears and feet are well furred. The thing most people think about when they think about Coons is the magifisant "mane", or ruff on these cats, or perhapse the tufts on the ears. Another thing that sets these cats apart is their tail. These tails are very long, usually at least the length of the body, if not longer. They are also well furred, and tapper off at the end.
The coat on a Coon is in three different lengths. The have long fur from their haunches (Called Britches) and as well as thier ruffs and tails. Their shoulders actually have short fur, almost like a saddle. The rest of the body is covered in fur that is just a tad bit shorter then that on the haunches. Despite this massive amount of fur, Maine Coons require only the average amount of brushing. A good brushing once or twice a week is usually enough. Most Coons love to be brushed, so it's really not that difficult. They also don't shed more then a short hair cat, save for durring spring and fall. The fact that they are so large, and the length of the fur does make it seem like they shed a lot, however. It's also recomended that Coons get bathed every now and then, since their thick coat can cause skin irritation sometimes. Giving a Maine Coon cat a bath is actually really easy for a cat, despite their size. Coons absolutely love water, and many will end up soaked if you leave a faucet dripping.
This love of water may be because, or the reason behind the historical use of, Maine Coon cats as ship-cats. They're so water-friendly, their feet are partially webbed.
As a working cat, they're fantastic mousers. Maine Coons are also amasingly gentle for their size, earning the title "Gentle Giants". Most Coons are not lap cats, though they all love to be with their person. Coons tend to be a one-person cat, but that does not mean that they are stand-offish to others. They do well with other animals, including dogs and small animals. It's probibly not a good idea to let a pet mouse or rat out around a coon, however, since they are known as effeciant mousers.
Here are some Maine Coon pics. The cats in these pictures are mine, and none of them are full grown. Two are mix-breeds from local shelters, and the other two are purebred show cats.
Dolly, a coon mix, showing off her tail and fluffy-ness.
Mukki (Moo-key) grooming a puppy
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Mukki failing to fit into a dog bed. He's a little over a year and already over 20lbs. You can see the different length fur in this picture really easily.
Oliver (the creame) and Belle (rescue cat) Showing Coon-atude while I cleaned. and yes, we buy litter in bulk.
Coons are some of the sweetest cats, many being dog-like, loving a good game of fetch, or willing to be trained. But, since they are so large, you should put some thought into it before you get one. Let me put it this way... a coon can stand on the floor and reach the counter in the kitchen to steal without climbing up. Big cats, BIG STRONG cats. Yes, the breed is usually very gentle, but much like large dogs, they don't always realize that they're just too big for things....like sleeping on your pillow (head).
There are a lot of Maine Coon mixes in shelters, as the breed was really popular a while back, so if you want to know more about the breed, or are looking into getting one, check with your local shelter to see if they have more information. Breeders are also a good source, but beware breeders avertizing their cats based on size; Coons should take a long time to mature, and are not bred for size, so a breeder saying "My cats are huge" is likely not breeding properly. They are an expensive breed!
Any questions? Feel free to ask. I'll see if I can answer, or get you in touch with someone who can.
~Sprig
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