Maine Coon Cat
The Maine Coon is an ancient cat breed originating from North East America. They are considered natives of the state of Maine. The breed is believed to have originated from breeding between pre-existing shorthair domestic cats and overseas longhairs (possibly brought in by the Vikings). It is an old breed that has become popular worldwide, especially in family homes.
Appearance
The Maine Coon is a large, semi-longhaired cat distinguished by its bone structure, rectangular shape, and coat.Their coats are smooth and shiny with necks furry and long bushy tails. They have a relatively long, square face with a stiff chin and large, pointed ears. Big ears allow better hearing of sound coming from specific directions.
The Maine coon also has an enormous ability to move its ears. They can move their ears probably 75 to almost 90 degrees. They have large, round, tasseled paws. They have large, round, expressive eyes.
Personality
Maine Coons are friendly cats with loving personalities. They enjoy the company of people, get along very well with children and generally get along very well with dogs. They are not typically lap cats but like to be close to you. Most Maine Coons will stay nearby, following you from room to room and waiting outside a closed door for you to come out. They are a talking breed that chirps at you as they demand food from you. Maine Coons are brilliant and can be taught to walk on a tightrope, perform tricks and play games.
A Maine Coon will be your best friend.
Height
Maine Coons are big cats, most weigh between 4-8 kg, but some can weigh more than 10 kg. Males are typically larger than females and reach their full size between three and five years of age.Color
The Maine Coon can come in a variety of colors and patterns. Eye color can vary from green to golden. White Maine Coons can have blue or bi-colored eyes (one blue and one gold).Living With a Maine Coon
Maine Coons are curious and love to be involved in everything you do. They can be very active at night and love water; some even spend most of their time near water bowls.Care
Because the Maine Coon is a semi-longhaired breed, they require regular grooming, but some individuals require more grooming than others.
You should keep your cat’s eyes and ears free of dirt to avoid the risk of infection.
In addition to annual vaccinations, you should provide your cat with the regular parasite and flea treatments.
You should raise your Maine Coon as a house cat to protect it from disease, attack, injury, and theft. However, Maine Coons love to explore, so leash training can be a great way to let your cat explore the great outdoors.
Feeding
Cats must be fed a high-quality diet that meets all their nutritional needs. We recommend feeding cats primarily a raw food diet, as in the wild.
Health
Maine Coon cats suffer from genetic health issues and other breeds.
The three main genetic health issues that affect Maine coons are Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and Pyruvate Kinase Disease (PKDef). Therefore, when adopting a kitten, check if the breeder can provide proof of testing.
Ask for test result confirmation; also, check to see if your breeder has recently tested their cats for FeLV/FIV.
