Maine Coon Cats and Kittens

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The Maine Coon is one of the most popular and largest breeds of domestic house cats. The Maine Coon Cat is known for its playfulness and intelligence as well as its distinctive physical appearance.

By: admin Posted: August 16, 2007

The Mainee Coon Cat originated in New England and is the oldest natural breed cat in North America. The cat is often considered as America's first indigenous show cat. It is known as the gentle giant of cats.

Physical characteristics

For cats, Maine Coons are very energetic and large animals. The cats can weigh up to 25 pounds, however the average weight is between 13-20lbs for adult males and 7-11lbs for adult females. Male Maine Coons can grow past 40 inches long and the largest on record was 49 inches. Growth of the Maine Coon cat takes longer than other cats and they usually reach full size at the age of four or five.

The most common colors of the Maine Coon are brown with tabby markings, however the Maine Coon can come in a variety of different colors. Maine Coons have dense, medium long fur, with ruff or longer hair on their chests similar to the lion. The fur is usually very soft and their tails can be quite bushy.

Grooming is generally not necessary for most Maine Coons as they keep their fur in good order, however due to the quantity of hair and the length, most Maine Coons will benefit from one brushing session per week. Maine Coons large ears often give them their Lynx like appearance.

Behavioral characteristics

Maine Coon cats are a breed notable for their dexterity, intelligence and playfulness. The cats have a tendancy to utilize their front paws frequently, even curling their paws to pick up objects. Therefore, the Maine Coon can easily learn to turn on water faucets, open cabinet doors and pick up small objects. Many Maine Coons will drink or eat from their paws rather than the bowl.

Because of their good intelligence, Maine Coon cats are generally known to be one fo the easiest cat types to train. Maine Coons are often noted for their unique ability to trill their meows, ultimately sounding like a combination between a meow and a purr. Maine Coons prefer to eat in groups with humans or other cats and rarely eat alone. The Maine Coon is not noted for being a lap cat and generally does not enjoy sitting on a persons chest or lap, possibly because of their large size however this varies by the car.

6 Comments

1 year 7 weeks ago, 11:16 PM

deck

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harry

harry aged 6 months

1 year 7 weeks ago, 11:31 PM

ilovemyminirexCoco

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Wow, I bet your a proud pet

Wow, I bet your a proud pet parent! :)

1 year 4 weeks ago, 3:45 PM

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my girl

I have a 4,5 year old Mackerel Maine Coon girl named Skye. After my first cat Spooky got lost after moving to our new house I feared the worst. 6 Months later my husband asked me to please get a new cat, he couldn't stand seeing me so depressed over the loss of my Spooky. So off I went to search for a Norwegian Forest or a Maine Coon. Both breeds that really took my fancy.
In England, where we lived at that time, the breeders would advertise in the papers when they had new litters, so off I went and scoured the ads.
Law and behold, a breeder had just had a litter of Maines that would be ready to leave the nest in a matter of weeks. So I called the breeder and found that there were only 2 kittens left, the others were already reserved. I begged and pleaded with my husband to go and have a look that same night, I did not want to lose out. We drove there and when I saw the kittens I instantly fell in love, they were all so adorable. But one caught my eye, a little ball of fluff with tufts on her ears, mackerel colour but silver around her eyes. She had the most adorable face and demeanor. Although very aloof, as the breed is by nature, she was willing to play and very inquisitive. I decided there and then that this was the cat for me. Her mom and dad were both there and they were both silver, like all the kittens, but her. If I wanted her I had to make a deposit to reserve her, which we did. 2 weeks later I picked up my new little bundle of fun and she was 7 weeks old. At first she was very aloof and shy around everyone, but as time went by she became a real mommy's girl. At 6 months old she was swimming in the bath when I took a bath, climbed up my trousers when she decided that she wanted to be picked up and vocalised only when needed. Then I got a call from the vet. Spooky, who had been missing for a year now, and feared dead, was found! My husband and I drove to the vet and exlaimed at how incredibly fat she was. (she was as round as a barrel!!) We took Spooky home and introduced the 2 girls to eachother. The expected battle never happened. They just hissed at eachother from a distance and after a few days where sleeping happily together on the sofa.
In the time from this happening to me writing this 4 years have passed. Skye is allmost fullgrown now and unlike most Maines is a lapcat. She loves to lay on my chest at night when I watch T.V and purrs like mad when she is petted. She is still very aloof towards everyone else, she will only come to me for attention, something my husband is glad of because he is not a cat person.
We have also moved abroad in the timespan of 4 years to The Netherlands, with both the cats. Both now enjoy the outdoors of a quiet neighbourhood and the girls roam together claiming every garden as their own (to all the other cats' dismay) and Spooky even has a new friend; the mailgirl...

Although Skye has been groomed since I had her she has never enjoyed it. She will hiss, bite and claw and get very distressed. Fortunately now that she is getting a bit more mature she is calming down a bit and I end up with fewer battlescars after every grooming session.

1 year 1 week ago, 10:21 PM

deck

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maine coon skye and spooky

Nice story with a happy ending do you have any pictures of them .
Deck

1 year 1 week ago, 10:25 PM

ilovemyminirexCoco

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Deck,

Glad to see you're back here on petsDo. My Friend has a manie coon kitten and is she the sweetest little thing!

1 year 1 week ago, 11:35 PM

deck

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Thanks coco I love this site

Thanks coco I love this site even thou I may not have time to reply some times I do read the blogs
Deck

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