Maine Coon cat breed characteristics

The Maine Coon is the largest breed of domestic cat. Its distinctive physiological characteristics include strong muscles, a heavy skeleton, and broad bones. The average weight of a female is 8 kg, and that of a male is 10 kg, but some specimens reach 10 and 12 kg, respectively.

These cats originate from America, but looking at this majestic animal with its proud posture, serious gaze, and thick fur, one gets the impression that it's a true Russian cat. Perhaps this impression stems from the striking resemblance to our equally charming Siberian breed. While lions, for example, have a unique mane, Maine Coons have a... tassels on the earsAnd if the lion is considered the king of beasts, then the Maine Coon is, without a doubt, the king of all cats on earth.

Characteristics of Maine Coons, description of the breed

Despite their playful nature, these huge cats look pretty scary:

• long muzzle with a strong chin and powerful jaws;
• large, wide-set, thoughtful eyes;
• wide nose, flat skull, medium-sized head;
• high-set large ears, widened at the base, with tassels at the sharp ends;
• the neck is muscular, of medium length;
• the body is long, muscular with a powerful back and a wide croup;
• limbs of medium length, powerful, paws large, rounded, hair between the toes;
• Light-colored representatives of the breed may have blue or different colored eyes, while the rest have eyes that shimmer with all shades of gold or green;
• the coat is silky, heavy, with a thick undercoat;
• The tail is quite fluffy, thick at the base.

Breed colors

The color of Maine Coons is quite varied, but they stand out the following basic shades:

• solid - one-color (red, blue, black, cream, white);
• tabby - various variations of "striping" from bright red to pale blue;
• Tortoiseshell - randomly located markings are visible all over the body;
• with white spots;
• smokies - smoky (chinchilla, silver, cameo, blue, shading, smoke, black);
• calico - large, sparse spots, etc. on a white background.

It's believed that a cat's personality depends on its color. Spotted cats are considered homebodies, while their tabby relatives are more independent. Tortoiseshell cats are temperamental and restless, and black cats are the most docile.

Character Description

Although Maine Coons may look stern and unapproachable in appearance, they are the most loyal, affectionate and friendly creaturesThe cat's voice, restrained, soft, and respectful, is a particular surprise to anyone new to this breed. And their melodic, gentle purr will leave no one indifferent!

Thanks to their excellent memory, Maine Coons are able to remember words and even entire commands, so if you utter a phrase and are met with your pet's penetrating and all-understanding gaze, don't be surprised.

Maine Coons can make excellent, loyal, and completely devoted companions for their owners, thanks to their kindness, calm, even temperament, and natural intelligence. Although they are incapable of intentionally causing harm or pain to household members, it's still not advisable to leave small children alone with a cat. After all, every pet has its own feelings and personality, and like people, jealousy toward the child may arise at first.

The breed's natural tact allows Maine Coons to have fun with other cats and even dogs without creating unnecessary disturbances or noise.

From the history of the breed

The Maine Coon breed (Maine raccoon cat) appeared more than one and a half centuries ago and is considered nnational pride of North AmericaThere are two versions of the origin of Maine Coons.

According to the first legend, the breed was created by crossing North American lynxes with domestic tabby cats. The main argument supporting this claim is the famous tufts on their ears, which have become the Maine Coon's signature feature.

The second legend tells of the incredibly tender love between a raccoon and a domestic cat, which resulted in the emergence of a breed of cats with a fluffy tail and corresponding habits.

However, official science rejects these romantic assumptions, citing serious evidence that crossbreeding is impossible due to fundamental species differences. Scientists have discovered that the breed originated as independent population of the feline metropolis North America. Over the years, the harsh North American environment has laid the foundation for this breed. This is why Maine Coons are quite powerful and physically fit animals, capable of hunting and surviving in harsh winter conditions.

These cats appeared in Russia relatively recently (in 1992), but have already gained immense popularity among the population. According to experts, these American giants have a generous soul and a purely Russian character—the cats are very emotional and completely devoid of envyThe sounds made by Maine Coons resemble harmonious American folk music—the songs of evergreen redwoods, prairies, and snow-capped peaks.

What is the difference between male and female cats?

Like all women, female cats of this breed are distinguished by a more gentle nature, but at the same time, they are more independent than male cats. A female cat, upon welcoming you home, will happily jump onto your lap, sing a sweet song, and even lick your nose. But all this will not last long. As soon as the cat receives a dose of love and affection from you and expresses delight at the return of its owners, it will immediately return to its urgent business.

Besides this, it is the female Maine Coons that are considered the best rodent hunters and are more aggressive toward them than cats of the same breed. Although cats, due to their intelligence, understand the difference between domestic pets and stray prey, it's still not worth risking your guinea pig or hamster, and it's best to keep them away from the predator.

Cats are more straightforward and simple-minded. They behave like faithful dogs, without leaving the owner’s side for a single step, but at the same time doing it unobtrusively.

Intelligence of the breed

Maine Coons are highly intelligent, fully in keeping with their size and appearance: these animals have a remarkable capacity for observation and possess unique cognitive abilities. Their actions are always logical and consistent. Some scientists even believe that members of this breed sometimes consciously perform certain actions, similar to Labrador retrievers or border collies.

Father cats take an active part in raising their kittens from the very birth, so when the offspring appear There is no need to isolate cats.

Maine Coon cats are very neat and consciously separate all household items into theirs and others', so they would never think of knocking a vase of flowers off a table with their mighty paw. Unlike ordinary cats, these giants dislike confined spaces and prefer not to climb onto shelves, mezzanines, cabinets, and other similar places. Moreover, their size makes this difficult.

Animals adapt easily and quickly to their owners, trying to learn their activity levels and habits in order to adapt to them. If, for example, you love playing ping-pong in the morning, rest assured: your cat will bring you the paddles in its mouth.

Socialization

Thanks to their gentle and reasonable nature, cats get along quite well with other animals in an apartment. They can make friends even with birds and dogs, and these kind giants absolutely adore children.

Maine Coons either ignore new people, such as your guests, or keep their distance. Over time, a cat can warm up to a stranger, but only if the stranger doesn't constantly pester or try to cuddle them. These beauties prefer to sit at their owner's feet and simply be close. They resist any attempts to pick them up or place them on their lap.

Cat training

To fully realize their potential, Maine Coons require close, constant interaction with their owners and are very demanding in training. Their trainability and canine devotion know no bounds.

ActivityRepresentatives of this breed lead a very active lifestyle, distinguished by their curiosity and agility, which does not diminish with age. Therefore, they need space to play.

Physical activity and walkingMaine Coons have well-developed muscular systems, so they require constant exercise to ensure adequate exercise. These gentle giants view play as a joyful hunt—they love to lie in wait for prey and sneak up on it. A remote-controlled car wrapped in soft fabric makes an ideal prey. This is done to prevent your pet from injuring their paws, fangs, and face on the plastic.

Maine Coons love walks and are completely unconcerned about weather conditions. They tolerate collars and leashes well, and it would never occur to them to climb a tree or run away.

Breed content

The Maine Coon is a huge cat that requires corresponding maintenance costs.

Cat nutrition

If you feed your pet only dry food from an early age, don't expect it to grow big. A Maine Coon's diet should consist of the following ingredients:

• high-quality canned food;
• premium or super premium food;
• quail eggs and cottage cheese;
• high-quality milk;
• seafood;
• boiled fish, chicken, lean beef;
• sufficient amount of fresh water.

Any food is necessary give warmCompletely eliminate pork from your Maine Coon's diet and avoid feeding it only meat—this can lead to darkening of the fur and subsequent hair loss.

Maine Coons should be fed in a ceramic or steel bowl with a diameter of at least 15-20 cm, a wide bottom, and a rubberized rim. Since Maine Coons love to drag their bowls around the house and drown their toys in them, it's best to purchase a special drinking fountain.

Maine Coon Care

Although Maine Coons have a luxurious coat, they don't require any special care. Simply treat them with insect repellent after each walk, wash them as needed, and brush them weekly with a metal comb.

Don't skimp on good cosmetics for caring for the ears and eyes of your pet, and don't forget to buy a special nail clipper with a limiter.

Give your pet a nice ball, as Maine Coons love to carry toys in their mouths, and ideally, a special house with a scratching post.

Regular cat litter boxes are not suitable for these giants, so it is better to buy a closed toilet with a “mat” in front of it.

The Maine Coon is a unique breed. Despite its predatory appearance, this domesticated lynx is a charmer at first sight. Once this cat has settled into your home, it will forever become a sensitive, devoted friend and a favorite pet of all household members.