OTHER NAMES: Gentle Giant
PERSONALITY: Amiable, gentle and dog-like
WEIGHT: Average of 9 to 18 pounds; males can weigh 20 pounds or more
LENGTH: About 19 to 30 inches
COAT LENGTH: Heavy and shaggy; silky with coat falling smoothly
COAT COLOR: Solid (white, black, blue, red and cream), tabby (classic, mackerel and ticked), bi-color (black and white, blue and white, red and white, cream and white), parti-color (tortoiseshell and blue-cream), parti-color and white (calico, tortoiseshell and white, blue-cream and white), shaded and smoke, and shaded/smoke and white
EYE COLOR: Varies according to coat color, but may be green, gold, green-gold, copper, blue or odd-eyed
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 15 years
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: United States
Characteristics of the Maine Coon Cat
Said to be dog-like in disposition, the Maine Coon cat is intelligent, friendly, and gentle. Laid-back and self-assured, these cats tend to take everything in stride and are great playmates for gentle children. They can usually coexist peacefully with other household pets, including other cats and cat-friendly dogs.
Maine Coons are sociable and inquisitive, and can usually be found wherever the action is in the house, inserting themselves into every interesting situation. Talkative but not overly loud, they express themselves through a variety of soft and melodious meows, chirps, and trills. They are quite trainable cats and enjoy learning tricks, responding well to positive training methods and tasty food treats. Despite the old stereotype, Maine Coons often love water and may play in it, bathe in it, dip their food in it, and even swim.
| Affection Level | High |
| Friendliness | High |
| Kid-Friendly | High |
| Pet-Friendly | High |
| Exercise Needs | Medium |
| Playfulness | Medium |
| Energy Level | Medium |
| Intelligence | High |
| Tendency to Vocalize | High |
| Amount of Shedding | Medium |
Appearance
The Maine Coon is a solid, rugged cat that is well-proportioned and balanced despite their massive size. They have muscular, long, rectangular bodies with broad chests. Their large, round paws have tufts of hair sticking up from the toes. The head is slightly longer in length than width, with high cheekbones, a distinctive square muzzle, and large, well-tufted ears. The Maine Coon cat coat is heavy and shaggy with a ruff on the chest. The breed comes in many different colors and patterns except for chocolate, lavender, and the Himalayan (pointed) pattern.
History of the Maine Coon Cat
The Maine Coon is believed to have developed naturally in the Northeastern United States. Though many legends persist about the Maine Coons having been bred from bobcats or raccoons, they are 100% housecat, descending from cats brought to America by settlers. The breed evolved to be quite large and hardy, with a thick, shaggy coat. These traits were necessary for the cats to survive and thrive in the harsh winters of the region.
Although Maine Coon-type cats were likely known throughout New England, they were especially popular in the state of Maine. Beginning around the 1860s, some farmers began exhibiting their prized “coon cats” at the Skowhegan Fair, which is the nation’s oldest consecutively held agricultural fair, dating back to 1818. Here, the predecessors to today’s modern Maine Coon breed competed for the title of Maine State Champion Coon Cat.
Maine Coon Cat Care
The Maine Coon cat’s long, shaggy coat is silky and slightly oily, a helpful feature that makes the coat water-resistant, allowing it to repel rain and snow, keeping the cat warmer and drier in inclement weather. Though long, the coat doesn’t shed excessively as long as you thoroughly brush and comb the cat regularly, at least once weekly. You may wish to bathe your cat occasionally to help the coat look and feel clean. Your Maine Coon probably won’t mind getting scrubbed down since most enjoy playing in water. Trim your cat’s nails regularly and look inside their ears once a week, cleaning them with a cat-safe ear cleanser if they seem dirty. Any redness or excessive dirt in the ears is an indication that it’s time to schedule a veterinary visit.
Maine Coons are typically active without being hyper. They enjoy playing and are even reported to love games of fetch, just like a dog. To keep your Maine Coon physically and mentally stimulated, engage him with playful toys like feather teasers or other favorite toys. Scratching is a natural behavior that is also mentally and physically enriching. To make sure your cat scratches in the right places (not the couch), set up approved scratching areas in your house with vertical scratchers (like tall posts or cat trees) as well as horizontal scratchers that lie flat on the ground (like cardboard or sisal scratchers).