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The Maine Coon is one of the largest among
breeds of domestic cats and is often referred to as the “gentle giant” of
the cat fancy. It is lynx-like in appearance, yet gentle in temperament. It
is North America’s only natural longhair breed, and the state of Maine’s
official cat.
Description: The Maine Coon is a mixture of elegance and ruggedness,
wildness and gentleness. It is a large, semi-long-haired cat, with a shaggy
coat, large ears and a extremely long, full, plume tail; a “working” cat,
able to fend for its self in rough, woody terrain and under extreme climate
conditions, exhibiting exceptional strength due to heavy boning and sturdy
muscles. Maines are very slow to mature, not reaching full growth until
three to five years of age. Males weight between twelve and eighteen pounds;
females usually smaller. The Maine, however, should not be judged on
poundage and size alone. Without the large ears, high cheekbones, strong,
square muzzle, the long, strong rectangular body, firm legs and large paws,
and the extra-long bushy tail, the “look” is not there. The head shape is a
broad modified wedge, with rounded contours, wide nose and a square muzzle.
The strikingly large, wide ears are set well apart on top of the head, never
on the sides, and should not flare out. Lynx tipping and ear furnishings are
desirable. The eyes are large and oval. Legs should be of medium length. The
tail should be the same length as the measure from the base of the neck to
the base of the spine. The shaggy, uneven coat lies flat, having very little
undercoat. Toe tufts may be present, which some believe, aides the cats on
walking on snow. Maine Coons may be shown in all colours and patterns except
the pointed, sepia and mink colours.
History: Many believe the Norwegian Forest cat to be an ancestor of
the Maine Coon; indeed, some of the present-day Norwegian Forest cats in
Norway resemble the Maine Coon. Other believe them to be the result of
mating, in Maine, between semi-wild domestic cats and raccoons ( a genetic
impossibility), hence the name. Another story tells that a cat was brought
by ship to Maine by a certain Captain Coon, and that it escaped, lived in
the woods and with the semi-wild domestic cats. The breed probably developed
through a process of natural selection. Whatever the origin, it may be
surmised that breeders discovered these wonderful animals and carefully bred
them to preserve the look of the original “wild” Maine Coons.
There is little doubt that this breed has been around for a long time. Maine
Coons were exhibited in many of the early cat shows, one winning the 1895
Madison Square Gardens Cat Show. These magnificent cats fell from favor with
the arrival of the flashier Persians from Great Britain, only to come back
to full glory in recent years through the dedicated efforts of American
breeders. The earlier Maine Coons were often regarded with disdain, some
breeders referring to them as barn cats or alley cats. They did not have an
eye for the rugged beauty of this cat! In the 1950s Maine Coons were shown
once again and in the 1970s they started making a real comeback by winning
the Best in Show awards. The Maines of today hold their own with any other
breed. In the past, judges had been reluctant to award these rugged-looking,
unpolished cats, so different from the manicured, every-hair-in-place,
magnificent Persians. In today’s cat shows, Maines outnumber some of the
other breeds. The Maines are here to stay!
Temperament: Males tend to be very possessive of their owner and
extremely loyal. Females may appear, at times, to be grumpy, especially I
they can bluff you. They may first growl; if that doesn’t work, they will
“huff and puff”. Even small kittens can call this bluff, causing the twelve
pounder to slink away with tail between its legs. The females are excellent
mothers, which is just as well, as litters may number seven or eight
kittens. Maines are extremely intelligent and exhibit a keen interest in
their surroundings. These are mellow cats, amiable and ealy to get along
with when they know you. They give the impression of being kind and
considerate. They do not necessarily want to be held, but want to be close
to the person they love, following from room to room. Usually they will bond
with only one person and are completely loyal to that individual. Maine
Coons are usually very quiet, although when they see something as
interesting as a bug or bird, they many stand on their hind legs, like a
bear, and make a chirping sound. Many Maines will fetch and return an
object. They do not like to be restricted, yet, loving the outdoors, they
can be trained to walk on a leash. A Maine Coon will enjoy the snow and seem
to even enjoy getting wet. These are truly gentle giants; they own you, not
the other way around.
Information Supplied By
Southern Alberta Cat Fanciers - Rene Copeland
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