30 September36266domestic cats Maine Cund longhaired cats
Maine Coon is a breed of cat from America. This breed is one of the most mysterious, beautiful and unusual. Maine Coon cats are distinguished by their large size, modesty and friendly disposition. The Maine Coon is not only a very beautiful animal that amazes with its chic appearance, but also an animal with a special character. In this article you will find a description of the Maine Coon breed, and also learn a lot of interesting things about the maintenance of the Maine Coon and its character.
Origin of the breed
Maine Coons began their history in Maine. However, their origin is still shrouded in mystery. The vast majority believe that Maine Coons are descended from raccoons.
The name Maine Coon translates exactly as “Raccoon from Maine.” Due to the similarity in color and tail shape, it is assumed that the first representatives of the breed originated by crossing a raccoon and a cat.
However, the presence of tufts on the ears and between the toes gives grounds for the second theory: the ancestor of the Maine Coon is the North American lynx.
A little history
These kittens are known for their high intelligence and self-confidence. The very name of this breed translates as “cat raccoons”. Indeed, their coat is very similar to that of raccoons.
Thanks to climatic conditions, Maine Coon kittens have such a thick coat. In the places where representatives of this breed were bred, the main emphasis was on agriculture. And such animals helped in becoming excellent mouse hunters. Therefore, the goal of the breeders was to breed pets that would be huge in size and lead an active lifestyle. This is exactly how these kittens turned out.
Starting from the 50s of the 19th century, Maine Coons began to take part in various cat shows. Thanks to this, such animals have become quite famous in many large and small towns in America. This breed began to compete with other known species. They were as popular as Persian or Angora cats.
But already in the twentieth century, interest in such cats began to gradually fade away. These animals again became helpers in the household. And starting from 1953, the breeding of representatives of this breed began to be actively pursued again. Thus, cats have become popular again not only in the USA, but also in other countries and continents. They again began to take first place in the ranking of furry animals. Many people began to purchase them so that their pets would please their eyes and become friends for all family members.
Maine Coon, the description of the breed, perhaps encourages many animal lovers to find out as much information as possible about the pet. Thus, it is known that the approximate time when people started talking about the breed seriously was no less than half a century ago.
It is quite possible that the Maine Coon, whose video is very popular on the Internet, is the result of a successful crossing of short-haired cats living in New England, in Maine, with imported long-haired cats that came to the territory thanks to the movement of traders. However, this, again, is one of the well-known versions.
It was widespread in America in the nineteenth century. It is worth saying that at that time Maine Coon kittens, whose photos now cause delight among many, did not attract the public attention they deserved. And this lasted until the breed was presented at the exhibition.
It is known that the black Maine Coon received a winner's medal, which has been preserved to this day and is in the CFA club.
With the advent of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, cats with pointy ears again became unpopular, and interest in them fell sharply. What this is connected with is unknown.
But, a few years later, already in the mid-twentieth century, fans of the Maine Coon animal began to correct the situation. Their photos were collected and presented in specialized clubs.
And what pushed them to take such a serious step was the announcement that the breed could be considered extinct... Thanks to considerable efforts, by 1956 it was possible to create a standard for individuals of this breed.
Almost twenty years later, the club was considered a serious organization and was treated with due respect. Currently, the adult Maine Coon ranks third in popularity. At the same time, it is worth adding that the first two places belong to exotic cats, the interest in which is quite obvious.
Breed characteristics
Maine Coon cats have a number of distinctive external features:
- elongated head
- wide-set large oval eyes
- powerful paws
- mandatory presence of tufts of hair between the toes
- voluminous tail, equal in length to the entire body
- thick long hair
- length from nose to tail tip - up to 1 meter
One of the most popular myths is the misconception about the weight of Maine Coon cats: their large size gives rise to the belief that they can weigh up to 20 kg. But such a weight has never been recorded before. Normally, an adult Maine Coon cat weighs from 6 to 10 kilograms, depending on gender.
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Color
The color has an incredible variety of shades, they are classified as follows:
- tabby - stripes of different colors on a background of different shades;
- solid – monochromatic color, available in white, cream, black, blue and red shades;
- smoky – smoky, comes in various shades: black, blue, chinchilla, silver;
- calico - distinguished by rare large spots on a white background;
- tortoiseshell - characterized by random multi-colored spots throughout the body.
There is an opinion that the character of these cats depends on their color, for example, black cats are flexible, tortoiseshell cats are restless, tabby cats are independent. Therefore, you can choose a kitten that is most suitable in color and characteristics.
Color variations
The original colors of Maine Coons were “wild” and “black tabby”, but later cats of other colors began to be bred:
- red is one of the most popular, a combination of light and brick or red tones
- white - light color without impurities or shades
- black - noble and deep color
- “black marble” is the most classic color, consisting of impurities and shades of black, white and gray in various variations
- “black smoke” - the color of a thundercloud, resulting from white hairs at the roots and black along the rest of the length
A Maine Coon of any color in the photo turns out to be a magnificent noble cat with a proud and formidable appearance.
Character and socialization
The breed is peaceful. Maine Coons are kind and do not harm owners, children, or kittens. They quickly get used to the owner, understand his mood and do not get bored. They like to monitor people's actions and adapt to their activity.
House guests are usually avoided or ignored as members of some other breeds, such as exotic cats. They approach and show interest only after observing.
Maine Coons are as social as Scottish Fold cats. They prefer the company of their owner to loneliness. They can choose one family member as their main friend, and play less with the rest. They are not overly intrusive. They can just sit next to you.
They have an easy-going character, do not hold a grudge and do not take revenge in any way. Not conflicting. Even if they are offended, for example, by a child, they simply leave and do not scratch.
Character of the breed
In order to better understand what kind of cat you take into your home, it is worth remembering that at one time Maine Coons were especially popular among hunters and also served as home guards.
These are very loyal cats to their owner, reminiscent of dogs in disposition. They are distinguished by a high level of intelligence and a desire to communicate. Curiosity allows them to remain funny pets until old age.
The main thing in keeping a Maine Coon is to remember his need for freedom. Excessive activity does not allow them to remain locked up for long.
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Despite their noble origin and thoroughbred, Maine Coons need constant walks in the fresh air. This is not a decorative pet, but a wild and independent cat.
They get used to the harness and leash quite quickly, tolerate temperature changes well and can walk in any weather: water-repellent thick fur and powerful paws will protect them in rain and snow.
Price
The cost of the animal may depend on the place of sale, and you can buy a cat in a nursery or from a private owner. And, although the cost in the latter case may definitely be lower, it is not at all necessary that the animal will be purebred. In other words, with a private purchase there are significantly more risks. Another thing is nurseries.
Their addresses can be found on Internet resources, they are located in many cities and, in addition, there is the possibility of transportation. By dealing with nurseries, the breeder immediately receives several advantages.
First of all, he is confident that this is a real representative of the breed. Next, the purchase of an animal is accompanied by all the necessary documents and care tips.
They can also warn you about possible animal diseases and how they should be treated. Ideally, of course, if you feel something is wrong, you should immediately go to the veterinarian.
On the other hand, you can do something yourself, for example, cut off the damaged hair - in case of lichen, be sure to burn it, and treat the damaged areas of the skin with a specialized product. Unfortunately, this is true, and cats can get sick too, but it’s more difficult to tell them about it.
On average, the cost of a kitten can vary from $600 to $1,500.
Maine Coon diseases
Breeding in harsh conditions has made representatives of this breed very hardy, however, they also have some possible diseases.
Pelvic dysplasia is the most common disease. The animal experiences pain with any activity, becomes inactive, and lameness may appear. Your pet can get sick at any age; treatment will require expensive treatment, possibly surgery. This disease is hereditary, so when buying a kitten it is better to immediately request x-rays of both parents.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart disease characterized by thickening of the ventricular wall. It can also be inherited.
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Spinal muscular atrophy can be detected in a kitten only by external signs, since this disease is not accompanied by pain. General dystrophy is observed, the animal acquires an unnatural, “swaying” gait.
Owner reviews:
Catherine. These cats are amazing. There are five animals in our house: 3 dogs, an ordinary cat and a Maine Coon girl, Assol. He is friends with everyone and does not show any aggression. But most of all he loves me and his male dog. Although, despite all her kindness, her character is not simple - she carefully protects her personal space from everyone. He is reluctant to pick him up and immediately tries to run away. Despite the popular belief that she loves water, she is afraid of it. Bathing is a real tragedy for us. During the last one, I was so badly skinned that I needed stitches. Assol is very smart, she understands what I tell her. We love her very much!
Hope. We have a red head, he is almost a year and a half old. He loves to sit on the table in the room and considers this his rightful place. Although we bought him a large cat complex, he sits there much less often. It’s interesting how he purrs and talks to us, although he has an independent character, he loves communication. We bought him from a good nursery, his pedigree is excellent, we have him shaved, but we took him as a pet for castration for 40 thousand rubles. I recommend this breed to everyone, you can’t help but love them.
Denis. We have a reed Maine Coon named Banifatsiy or simply Banyusha. He is 11 months old and already weighs 7.3 kg. He eats everything except dairy products, I had an allergic reaction to them, I don’t give them anymore. This is a huge, affectionate lump that greets me near the door when I enter the apartment. We sleep together, he nuzzles me and sniffles. Loves to play with rustling objects, balls and napkins.
Olga. When I went to a cat show, I fell in love with this breed. I saved up some money and bought myself this miracle. Marble-black girl, very beautiful, everyone who comes admires her. So sociable, she always follows me with her tail, no matter what I do. She is still small and very hooligan. When I put on makeup in the morning, he steals cotton swabs, sniffs them and tries to take out my makeup bag. We bring beauty together))) He eats a lot and goes to the toilet too. She’s growing before our eyes, so I think I’ll soon need to change the tray to a basin) and we also go for walks, I’m teaching her to use a leash, at first she didn’t like it, but now she’s getting used to it.
Maintenance and care
Long, thick hair and an active lifestyle often lead to the formation of mats. Your pet requires constant brushing and grooming. However, it is not recommended to take him for a haircut, because the abundant coat protects him from weather conditions.
Again, the “hunting” past also determines nutritional needs. The diet of cats must include natural meat in sufficient quantities, and it will also be useful to use supplements - calcium and taurine.
As for the appearance of the cat, in addition to constant brushing, they need to periodically trim their claws, and also be sure to purchase a scratching post.
Of course, freedom-loving Maine Coons can adapt to living in urban environments. But do not forget about the restless nature of these animals - create comfortable conditions for them to release energy.
Photo
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In custody
Cats are naturally very intelligent creatures. It is not for nothing that for some time in their history they were wild, had no relation to humans and, despite this, existed perfectly well. Now times have changed, and cats are more attached to people. The person takes care of them, feeds them.
Having taken on such responsibility, be sure to fulfill it to the end. Not just love your animal, but also respect it, listen to its desires and interests. Only then can mutual understanding arise between the owner and the pet, and this is very important. After all, the whole point is that cats feel well on a subconscious level.
Their intuition is quite developed, and it is simply impossible to deceive it. That is why, even in a large family where everyone loves their pet, the cat is more attached to one person, the one whom it considers its owner, who cares and looks after it the most. A cat's love is always mutual, and the Maine Coon breed is no exception to this, but rather, on the contrary, a clear confirmation.
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