ORIGIN;
The ancestors of the Maine Coon were long-haired cats brought to the state of Maine (USA) by sailors from Europe and Asia in 1850, long-haired cats, which mated with local short-haired cats, which as The result gave cats of large size, long fur and strong constitution.
According to the FIFe (International Feline Federation) is one of the Feline Associations at European level in charge of regulating the breeding of purebred cats, the FIFe is in charge of identifying and grouping these animals according to their characteristics, Maine Coon cats are classified in the category II of long-haired and semi-long-haired cat breeds.
The Maine Cooon cat stands out for being a large, robust feline with a docile character. This feline is among the most popular giant cat breeds. Its tail is reminiscent of that of raccoons, for this reason it is known as Coon, diminutive of raccon, raccoon in English.
FEATURES:
Size:
The Maine Coon is the largest breed of domestic cat.
On average, males weigh 5.9 to 8.2 kg. and females weigh 3.6 to 5.4 kg.
The height of adults can vary between 25 and 41 cm. and can reach a length of up to 120 cm. including the tail, which can reach a length of 36 cm.
Head:
The head of a Maine Coon should be medium, square case with a slightly concave profile. He has high and prominent cheekbones.
The snout stands out for also being square in outline and a transition between the snout and the cheekbones can be seen.
The chin is firm, in vertical alignment with the nose and lower lip.
Ears:
Their ears are long, pointed, and large at the ends, wide at the base, and moderately pointed.
Bobcat-like plumes are highly desirable, as are tufts of hair on the ears that extend beyond the edges.
The ears should be located following a slight inclination outwards.
Eyes:
His eyes are large, wide and slightly oval, but not almond-shaped.
They show an especially rounded shape when they are wide open and are situated slightly towards the outer base of the ears.
The males stand out for having a muscular and very strong neck.
The breed displays an elongated body, medium-length limbs, and large, round, well-locked legs.
Body:
Muscular, rectangular in appearance, with a muscular neck in males and a broad chest. The females are much smaller than the males.
It tends to present greater volume thanks to solid bones and strong musculature.
Hair:
There is no relationship between the color of the eyes and their hair is resistant to water and snow, it is short on the head but it lengthens when it reaches the tail.
The tail should be wide at the base, tapering proportionally to the top, showing a full, flowing coat.
It has a silky texture and a body that falls smoothly.
The undercoat, the undercoat, is soft and very fine, and is covered by the thicker outer coat.
All colors are allowed, including all varieties of white.
The Maine Coon's coat should show a dense coat, short on the head, shoulders, and legs, but longer on the back and sides.
BEHAVIOR:
Maine Coons are usually loving, and like most cats, lazy, friendly, playful, and sweet.
Despite this, they are very agile and used for hunting mice, due to their natural ability to catch prey.
They are outdoor cats and enjoy the company of their own kind.
These are very sociable cats, who enjoy the company of their owners.
Due to their impermeability, some can tolerate water, and even play with it, something they do with great frequency, especially associating their prey or favorite toys with water.
To highlight the ability of these cats to produce meows of different shades and textures, and their eagerness to establish communication both with other animals and with the prey they hunt.
They are very docile and noble animals, many specimens of the breed never take out their claws when they play. This makes them very apt to be around children who want to interact with them.
To ensure that a feline in its adult stage is balanced and sociable, special attention must be paid to the socialization of the cat in its puppy stage, which begins at 3 weeks of life and ends around 7 weeks of age. Until then, the little one must stay with his mother and siblings, which will allow him to learn about feline language, game patterns and bite inhibition.
These are cats that love to play and have fun at all stages, including old age, they are considered extremely intelligent felines, capable of recognizing words and very varied commands.
Ownership of a Maine Coon is recommended for dynamic families, familiar with cats, which may or may not include children.
It is a very adaptable feline that will enjoy in different environments, but especially in rural houses, where it can explore and express its instinctive behavior without limits.
It is a particularly docile and well socialized cat, it does not usually present behavioral problems.
COST:
The prices of the Maine Coon vary according to the quality, the origin and the kennel in addition to its phenotypic characteristics.
The price of the Maine Coon is around 800 euros in a medium quality cattery, if it is a quality cat (Pedigree, vaccines, dewormed) the cost increases and they can cost up to 1,000 euros.
CARE:
The Maine Coon usually spends hours on his personal grooming, due to his long coat it will be advisable to spend a few hours a week brushing.
This routine will help us keep their coat clean and beautiful, but it will also help us detect any problems with the dermis, pain or the presence of parasites.
We can use a carding brush to comb it, and in the case of observing knots, we must previously use a small knot cutter, specific for felines.
We should not bathe him, since cats clean themselves, if we have accustomed him since he was a puppy we can also start a monthly bathing routine, with the use of chamù and specific conditioner for cats, which will help us keep his fur impeccable.
In order for it to express the natural behaviors typical of its species, we will have to provide you with a large litter box, as well as several scratchers of different types in which to sharpen its nails and carry out the typical marking behavior.
Finally, it will be very important to pay attention to the environmental enrichment of the feline, through feline structures, catwalks, catnip, water fountains or canvas tunnels.
Precisely due to its playful nature, hours of play with the owner cannot be missed, in which we can use fishing rod-type toys, food-dispensing toys, the use of catnip or simple toys.
Do not forget that a good game session should last between 20 and 40 minutes a day.
HEALTH OF THE MAINE COON CAT:
It is advisable to visit the veterinarian every 6 or 12 months to carry out a general examination and detect possible health problems.
The professional will guide us to properly follow the cat's vaccination schedule, as well as the internal and external deworming that must be carried out on a regular basis.
Preventive medicine is essential to ensure the good health of the feline.
Their behavior, their stools or the possible expulsion of hairballs, which can be prevented with the use of malt for cats, should be observed on a regular basis.
The most frequent diseases of the Maine Coon are:
- Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Hip dysplasia.
- pectus excavatum.
Following good care and applying preventive medicine guidelines, the Maine Coon's life expectancy is between 9 and 15 years.
NUTRITION:
They are cats that are characterized due to their size, the great variety and amount of food they eat.
Its diet does not differ excessively from that of any common cat, although its taste for shellfish stands out, which has certain addictive components in this type of animal.
If they are allowed to overeat and lead an extremely sedentary life, they can weigh up to 12 kilos, or more in extreme cases (morbid obesity), it is recommended to properly ration their food, in 2 or 3 daily meals.
Caring for a Maine Coon cat can be quite expensive due to its large size. Your diet must be based on high quality products, choosing a good product will affect your health, well-being and a radiant coat.
