Maine Coons are the largest domestic cats. While there is a strong demand for miniature breeds among dogs, the opposite trend is observed among cats. People want to see at home, if not a tiger, then at least a lynx. Therefore, giant cats with tassels on their ears are in great demand.
Stories about Maine Coons and their unusual appearance do not make the right impression. Weighs 12 kg? Yes, we fed the yard Barsik up to 10 kg, just think. Oh, how wrong those of little faith are. Only when you see a cat about a meter long, without a drop of fat on his muscular body, in a cloud of luxurious fur, do you understand what a Maine Coon is.
Then there are questions that are funny for breeders - won’t he eat us? What about the dog? What about children? Should I feed him raw meat? And so on, endlessly. But my eyes are already burning, I can’t get rid of the thought - what if... I wish I had something like that!
Maine Coons became popular precisely because of their brutal appearance. This cat is an oasis of wild nature in a city apartment. Add to this their amazing character and ability to become a real companion - the high price of kittens has not stopped anyone for a long time, the army of Maine Coon fans is growing every day. A description of the Maine Coon breed will help you understand whether such a pet is right for you.
Author of the article: Olga Shiltsova, practicing veterinarian, author of the books “Dachshund of Fate” and “Tails of Fortune”
"Inhuman, sadist and maniac"
The attitude towards the heroes of any revolutionary era changes over time - if they are not subject to damnation and oblivion, then they will at least face harsh condemnation for their unsuitable methods of action.
At the same time, those condemning did not exist in the reality that befell their “defendants.”
Hungarian and Soviet revolutionary Bela Kun , or, in the Russified version, Bela Morisovich Kun, is one of those characters from the times of the Russian Revolution, from whom even many fans of leftist ideas are trying to distance themselves today.
Adherents of Imperial Russia and the White movement do not skimp on epithets - “the executioner of the Russian people”, “the non-human who drowned Crimea in blood”, “sadist and maniac”.
Comrade Bela Kun, for obvious reasons, cannot answer his accusers. He did not have such an opportunity at the end of the 1930s, when the wheel of the “Great Terror” rolled across him. But, based on facts from his biography, you can try to create a portrait of a real person, and not an image from a propaganda poster.
Maintenance and care at home
Firstly, you should take into account the fact that this is a large breed, so it needs a little more living space. Based on this, arranging a cat's corner for a pet requires a serious approach, since it determines how much the animal will be provided with the opportunity to burn calories. If an animal is deprived of the opportunity to spend time actively, it will quickly begin to gain excess weight, which can provoke the development of various ailments. As a rule, the life expectancy of a pet directly depends on this.
In order for an animal to please family members for many years, it must be provided with the following accessories:
- Pukhoderka.
- Non-metallic comb with wide teeth.
- Massage, non-metallic brush with antistatic coating.
- Shampoo-conditioner.
- Bath terry towel.
- Nail clippers or special tweezers.
- A special toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Ear cleaning solution or sterile petroleum jelly.
- With cotton swabs and regular cotton wool.
Maine Coons are one of the few breeds that respond well to being walked on a leash, so they can be walked like dogs. It is also necessary to take care of the safety of the animal by timely vaccination, as well as quarterly deworming. This is especially true if there are other pets in the house.
Important point! By walking a pet, the owner unwittingly exposes it to the risk of infection with ectoparasites.
Care and hygiene
As a rule, mandatory care and hygiene measures include monitoring the oral cavity, eyes and ears. That's why:
- Experts recommend removing natural discharge from the eyes daily using a damp cotton swab.
- Clean your ears regularly using special solutions or sterilized petroleum jelly.
- Once a month, ears are cleaned using cotton swabs, taking precautions.
- When feeding with dry factory food, teeth are brushed once a month, and in the case of feeding with natural food, then at least once every 2 weeks.
Due to the fact that the breed is distinguished by the presence of long and fluffy hair, it is necessary to properly and regularly groom it. The cat will have to be bathed once a week, and it is better to accustom the animal to such water procedures from an early age.
Interesting fact! Maine Coons generally take well to water procedures, so there should be no problems with bathing. The animal is also bathed immediately before being shown at an exhibition, as well as during periods of molting.
It is advisable that the animal be bathed with its ears closed. To do this, they can be covered with cotton swabs. Bathing should be carried out using special detergents designed for bathing animals with long hair. At the same time, we should not forget about the fluffy and long tail of the Maine Coon. After applying the detergent and evenly distributing it over the surface of the coat, the soap suds are thoroughly washed off several times with plenty of water. The use of special conditioners allows you to obtain a much better appearance of wool. In addition, this will make the process of combing the animal easier.
What to feed
The diet of this breed should be approached very responsibly, taking into account the active metabolism, as well as the weight of the animal. It is very important that the diet is balanced in all nutritional components. In this case, it is advisable to give preference to ready-made factory feed of the highest class. Such, for example, as:
- Royal Canin;
- Eukanuba;
- Eagle-Pack;
- Nutro;
- Hills.
Dry factory food can be combined with canned wet food from the same foreign manufacturer. It is not recommended to feed your animal a mixture of food from different brands. Before purchasing such food rations, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the contents of the package. It is very important that the content of plant components is minimal.
You need to know this! When feeding natural food, it is necessary that the percentage of meat in the Maine Coon's diet is at least 75 percent. The missing 25 percent of the diet should be diluted with eggs, liquid cereals, vegetables, seafood, and dairy products.
It is very important that the Maine Coon’s diet includes greens, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements. If there is no need, then switching an animal from feeding on natural ingredients to feeding on ready-made commercial diets does not make sense, and is not recommended. In addition, it is not advisable to mix diets from different manufacturers.
Nutrition for purebred cats. Maine Coons
Diseases and breed defects
As a rule, this breed has a good, stable immune system, so Maine Coons are considered healthy and hardy animals. They tolerate well even the conditions of colder climatic zones.
The most serious diseases are:
- Heart problems associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which develops against the background of autosomal dominant hereditary processes. As a rule, such problems are observed in middle-aged and elderly animals. As the disease progresses, swelling of the pulmonary tissues occurs with sudden paralysis of the hind limbs. After such negative processes, the death of the animal occurs.
- Wall muscular atrophy appears in kittens three to four months of age and is caused by genetic factors. When moving, the animal's back part of the body sways, which with age becomes an obstacle to the animal easily jumping onto various objects located at a height.
- Hip dysplasia, which can affect both joints at the same time. It is considered a genetically determined disease that makes the animal inferior. As a rule, older animals suffer and in the initial stages it manifests itself in the form of noticeable lameness.
Polycystic renal disease is also considered a hereditary disease, although it occurs quite rarely. Such diseases or predisposition to them are determined as a result of genetic testing.
How the empire gave birth to revolutionaries
He was born on February 20, 1886 in Transylvania, in the village of Lele near the city of Sziladceh, on the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Bela's father was a rural notary, an ethnic Jew, and his mother, Hungarian by nationality, professed Calvinism. His origin largely determined the boy’s life path - from the very beginning of his life he faced humiliation on ethnic and religious grounds. Anti-Semitism in Austria-Hungary was commonplace, and little Bela experienced first-hand what it was like from childhood. He also received punishment from representatives of the Catholic majority for his mother’s religion.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, revolutionary circles were formed from such persecuted people, offended by injustice, both in Austria-Hungary and in Russia.
At the age of 16, Bela became a member of the Hungarian Social Democratic Party, actively involved in political life.
Even at the gymnasium, teachers noted that the young man had an undoubted talent as a writer. After leaving school, he entered the university's Faculty of Law, but interrupted his studies in 1904 and began working as a journalist in Kolozsvár and Nagyvárad.
In 1905, journalist and socialist Bela Kun actively worked to organize political strikes in enterprises in Transylvania. The workers' protests end in clashes with the police, and Bela Kun, arrested as the organizer of the riots, receives his first sentence - two and a half years in prison.
Bela Kun. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
The cost of a purebred kitten
Those who have decided to get a handsome Maine Coon should remember that this pleasure is quite expensive. The cost of a kitten starts from 15 thousand rubles. However, for this price you can buy a cat without a pedigree. If the owners plan to participate in various exhibitions in the future, the cost of a kitten with a good pedigree can reach 120 thousand rubles. For a purebred kitten, it is best to contact special nurseries.
If a kitten is inexpensive, you should be very careful and be sure to follow the description of the breed when purchasing. Since many sellers breed kittens only for sale, they may not offer a purebred Maine, but a mixed breed, so you should first study photographs of Maine Coons and compare external data with the animal they offer for sale.
If the external characteristics match and the fluffy is cheerful and healthy, you can safely buy such a baby.
Russian captivity as a forge of Bolshevism
Bela was not embarrassed by this turn of events - he was ready for the fact that the struggle in which he was involved could cost his freedom, or even his life. But this readiness for his own death will eventually lead to his conclusion that he has the right not to take into account the lives of those who oppose him.
After his release from prison in 1908, 22-year-old comrade Bela Kun became one of the recognized leaders of the Social Democratic and labor movement in Transylvania.
The development of the revolutionary movement in Europe was seriously influenced by the First World War. The Hungarian socialist Bela Kun, drafted into the army of Austria-Hungary, found himself in Russian captivity in 1916 and was sent to the Urals.
It was there that he became closely acquainted with the Russian Bolsheviks and adopted their radical political program. He was actively engaged in self-education and in captivity managed to learn Russian - in addition to German and English, which he knew by that time.
After the February Revolution of 1917 in Russia, former prisoner of war Bela Kun joined the Bolshevik Party and actively worked among former Hungarian prisoners of war like him.
After the October Revolution, Bela Kun is already a prominent figure among foreign communists siding with the Bolsheviks. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Comrade Bela Kun was actively involved in the formation of detachments to fight counter-revolutionaries.
Question answer
Which empires collapsed as a result of World War I?
Characteristics of Maine Coons
In order to learn to distinguish a real purebred Maine from other cat breeds, you should know its features:
- Head slightly elongated. Unlike other cat breeds, in which it extends slightly in width. A large skull, rather high cheekbones and large ears, which always end in tassels. It is the presence of this important detail that distinguishes Maines from other cats.
- Their eyes are oval shaped. Coat color and eye color usually harmonize well with each other.
- The body is muscular and very large. Adult cats can reach 40 cm in height, and their length including tail is about 120 cm.
- The limbs are also distinguished by well-developed muscles. This breed is distinguished by the presence of long hairs between the fingertips.
- The tail is very long and fluffy. Its length can reach 36 cm.
- Maine cats have very long and fluffy fur. In addition, these cats have a fairly thick undercoat.
Socialist revolution. Hungarian version
In March 1918, Bela Kun and like-minded people formed the Hungarian Group under the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) from former Hungarian prisoners of war - the actual predecessor of the Hungarian Communist Party.
Meanwhile, the defeat of Austria-Hungary in the First World War led in November 1918 to the collapse of the empire and the emergence of the independent Hungarian Republic. In accordance with the course towards world revolution, Bela Kun and like-minded people go to Budapest to repeat the success of the Russian Bolsheviks.
The politician’s amazing energy and oratory skills do their job - the Hungarian communists manage to gain widespread support among the working class. In February 1919, one of the communist demonstrations in Budapest ended in clashes with the police and Kun was arrested again, this time on charges of treason.
Bela Kun speaks at a rally in Budapest, 1919. Photo: RIA Novosti
But the situation in Hungary remains unstable, so the communist leader, even while in prison, continues to lead the party and is looking for allies to come to power. The union of communists and social democrats in Hungary is helped by the Entente, which is trying to dictate to the authorities of the young republic the rules of conduct in domestic and foreign policy.
The offended pride of the Hungarians leads to the fact that on March 21, 1919, the government of the republic, which pursued a policy of concessions towards the Entente, resigns, and a new cabinet is formed by the Communists and Social Democrats, united in the Socialist Party.
The new government proclaims the creation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic and releases Bela Kun from prison.
Hopes for help from Soviet Russia did not materialize - at that moment all the forces of the Russian Bolsheviks were concentrated on the fight against the White movement.
Distinctive character traits
The character of Maine Coons is usually balanced and flexible. They are friendly, love communication and usually spend most of their time in the company of people. They also love to be played with, but they can also simply lie down next to their owner, emitting a cheerful purr. In addition, they are very photogenic and love to be photographed.
Another feature of this breed is that they get along well with other pets: cats and dogs. But you should be very careful with hamsters and parrots. These cats have a well-developed hunter instinct, so it is better not to provoke them. Many owners note that these cats are very smart and can even be trained. They can be taught to fetch small objects, for example, light toys, balls. It all depends on the patience of the owner.
Victory of the "land admiral"
In southern Hungary, with the support of the Entente, a counter-revolutionary government and the National Army were formed, led by the former Austro-Hungarian admiral Miklos Horthy . At the same time, the Romanian army invaded Hungary, also relying on the support of the Entente. The Hungarian Red Army was defeated, and on August 1, 1919, facing the imminent fall of Budapest, Bela Kun and other members of the communist government left the country for Austria. The Hungarian Soviet Republic fell after existing for less than six months.
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The defeat of the communists was a disaster for the country. Admiral Horthy, who came to power, accepted the terms of the Trianon Peace Treaty imposed by the Entente, according to which Hungary lost 72% of its territory and 64% of its population (including 3 million ethnic Hungarians), access to the sea and fleet, 88% of forest resources, 83% of iron production and 67% of the banking and credit system. Horthy himself subsequently received the nickname “land admiral.”
Surprisingly, the territorial losses to which Horthy was directly related formed the basis of his policy. The admiral instilled revanchist sentiments in the country, which ultimately resulted in Hungary becoming the most reliable ally of Nazi Germany in World War II.
After the defeat of the communists, Horthy's supporters launched a campaign of terror in the country, physically exterminating those suspected of sympathizing with the "Reds". The winners were not limited to this - the repression also affected national minorities, primarily Jews.
What happened in Hungary after the fall of the Soviet Republic must be discussed in detail, since this serves as the key to understanding the most famous episode from the Russian biography of Bela Kun.
Hungarian revolutionary figures (from left to right): Bela Kun, R. Pogany, Landler, B. Santo, T. Weltner. Photo: RIA Novosti
History of the origin of the breed
In the vastness of our country, a similar breed appeared quite recently, about 20 years ago or a little more. This happened when the well-known “Iron Curtain” fell and a mass of different, hitherto unknown breeds of cats and dogs headed towards us. The Maine Coon breed was no exception.
Interesting to know! If you believe the legend, then at one time there was a Captain Kun who preferred to travel with large long-haired cats. During the next voyage, some cats ran away from the deck of the ship, which contributed to the appearance of Maine Coons in various countries.
According to some information, the breed was first shown at an exhibition in Boston, after which the breed was forgotten for a long time, and undeservedly.
And yet, English farmers made a lot of efforts to preserve this amazing breed, which, in its breed characteristics, pointed to the American raccoon cat. Several decades ago, on the Isle of Man, which belongs to the English kingdom, a special coin was issued dedicated to the Maine Coon cat breed.
Crimea as a place for revenge
After returning to Soviet Russia, Comrade Kun again became involved in the Civil War, receiving in October 1920 an appointment as a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front, headed by Mikhail Frunze .
The Southern Front at that moment put an end to the defeat of Wrangel’s army in the Crimea. On November 16, 1920, Bela Kun became chairman of the newly formed Crimean Revolutionary Committee.
And in this post, Comrade Kun, together with Rosalia Zemlyachka , nicknamed “The Demon,” launched a campaign of terror against those representatives of the White Army who remained in Crimea, as well as against other “counter-revolutionaries.”
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The scale of this terror is described in different ways - some historians write about 50 thousand killed, others reach 300 thousand. You can also read heartbreaking details about “drowned barges with white officers”, about “200 thousand people shot in the back of the head and drowned with a stone around their neck.”
All these data, however, look, to put it mildly, doubtful. What is found in the Soviet archives indicates that we are talking about several thousand executed, and not about tens and hundreds of thousands.
What is undeniable, however, is that there was terror, and Comrade Bela Kun had a direct connection to it.
His reasons lie on the surface - having lost in Hungary, where Horthy flooded the country with the blood of communists, Bela Kun took heartfelt revenge on his enemies in Russia.
This, of course, is inhumane, but absolutely in the logic of the revolutionary views held by the Hungarian communist. And, frankly, in this he was no different from Admiral Kolchak , who also did not put the lives of his political opponents at a penny.
At the same time, many Bolsheviks did not like Bela Kun’s methods, which would later affect his fate.
Soldiers of the Hungarian Red Army - participants in the battles against the interventionists and White Guards in Soviet Russia, 1919. Photo: RIA Novosti
Special habits
The Maine Coon has interesting habits that distinguish it from other cats:
- Interest in water. Representatives of the American breed differ from others in that they are not at all afraid of water. They like to swim and play with water in a bucket. This behavior is due to the history of the development of the breed: the ancestors of Maine Coons were ship cats. These cats also drink interestingly: they don’t immediately start lapping up the water, but first wet their paw with it and lick it, as if testing it.
- Good hunting skills. Maine Coons easily deal with mice, rats and even unwary birds. The hunting character is due to evolutionary features: the forest ancestors of modern favorites were excellent hunters, adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of the northern United States.
- Love for walks. Maine Coons can be taken out of the house on a leash - this is another similarity between representatives of the breed and dogs. The main thing is to walk in a quiet and secluded place, away from city noise and busy roads, so that the animal does not get stressed.
When buying a Maine Coon, you need to understand that its character is unique, not like other cats. A pet cannot live without tactile and emotional contacts. A person who does not have the opportunity to communicate and play with a cat every day is better off getting another animal that is less in need of attention.
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Comrade Stalin is unhappy
In the 1920s, Bela Kun remained an influential figure in the international communist movement, serving as a member of the Executive Committee and Presidium of the Comintern. In this capacity, he tried to organize revolutionary actions in Germany and Austria, but failed. In Austria he was even arrested, but thanks to a noisy campaign in his defense raised in the USSR, he was released and deported to the Land of the Soviets.
In the mid-1930s, clouds began to gather over Bela Kun. A supporter of the world revolution in the confrontation between various political groups in the Bolshevik Party, Comrade Kun did not agree with the line of Comrade Stalin . In the fall of 1936, he lost his posts in the Comintern and the Communist Party of Hungary. In return, he received a post at a publishing house, where he worked on literary translations from Hungarian.
Such a career decline became the last intermediate step before arrest for many famous heroes of the Russian revolution who did not see eye to eye with Joseph Vissarionovich. This happened with Bela Kun - in the summer of 1937 he was imprisoned in Lefortovo prison on charges of espionage and leading a counter-revolutionary terrorist organization.
The henchmen of People's Commissar Yezhov , who carried out the “Great Terror,” did not have any reverence for the former revolutionary heroes. According to the testimony of those who happened to see Bela Kun in prison, there was no living space left on him from the beatings and torture.
On August 29, 1938, Bela Morisovich Kun was sentenced to death by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR. The sentence was carried out on the same day.
Bela Kun and Kliment Voroshilov in Moscow, 1925. Photo: RIA Novosti
Who is Maine Coon suitable for?
Maine Coons can live in city apartments, but it is ideal to keep such a pet in a country house with its own enclosed territory, or go with your pet to the countryside during the warm season. These active cats need to exercise a lot to avoid gaining excess weight and keep their muscles toned. If you live in an apartment, decide right away what is more expensive for you - a cat or repairs.
The Maine Coon is not a couch cushion. These are active cats.
The breed is suitable only for people with high, stable income. You can’t save for several years for the kitten of your dreams and hope that the expenses will end there. You should choose a Maine Coon from a reputable cattery to avoid genetic health problems.
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The history of the appearance of raccoon cats
The origin of the Maine Coon is surrounded by many myths. And all thanks to the large dimensions, tassels on the ears and the interesting color of these cats.
Photo of an adult Maine Coon
The three most popular legends are:
- One of the ancestors of the Maine Coon is the North American lynx: hence the large size and tufts on the ears. And some are sure that one of the ancestors of the breed is a raccoon - from it the animals allegedly inherited a chic tail, a unique color and the name of the breed (“coon” - raccoon in English). However, genetic scientists have long dispelled this myth: neither lynxes nor raccoons interbreed with cats.
- After the start of the French Revolution, at the end of the 18th century, Queen of France Marie Antoinette planned her escape. Her faithful servant, Samuel Cloa, helped her in this: he prepared the ship and loaded onto it the queen’s belongings and jewelry, as well as her favorite long-haired cats. The escape plan failed, the captain fled to America on that same ship. As a result, crossing the queen's favorites with American shorthair cats marked the beginning of a new breed - the Maine Coon.
- Legends tell of a captain nicknamed Raccoon, a great lover of cats. His love for these animals was so great that at least ten Angora, Persian and other cats went with him on every voyage. The captain often visited the coast of America, where he placed kittens born during his travels. And so a new species appeared on this continent - Maine Coons or “Raccoon Cats”.
Marie Antoinette was a big cat lover
In fact, representatives of the breed are Aboriginal cats: they live in a certain area in the natural environment and appeared as a result of natural selection. Such animals are adapted to life in certain climatic conditions. This is their main difference from breeds specially bred by humans - selective breeds.
Important! The ancestors of modern Maine Coons were bred by Maine farmers (hence the first part of the breed's name), solely for the purpose of exterminating rodents.
Thanks to the harsh climate of their habitat, over time the animals acquired wool that did not allow cold and damp to pass through. The abundance of trees gradually made raccoon cats excellent tree climbers, and thanks to their wide paws they could move freely through snowdrifts. To protect their ears from frostbite, nature gave Maine Coons their famous lynx tassels.
The Maine Coon kitten also stands out from other kittens
Basics of raising a Maine Coon
Cats are wayward and freedom-loving animals. That is why it is common to believe that raising them is a waste of time and effort. Perhaps this opinion is partly true, but not in relation to Maine Coons - raising them is quite simple.
The educational process must begin at an early age. As a rule, by the time kittens are sold, breeders have time to accustom them to a scratching post and litter box.
Maine Coons, like all cats, do not need a leader, so you should not expect them to obey commands unquestioningly. At the same time, these pets are sociable and feel good around people. Coons are not prone to disobedience and hysterics. They are not vindictive or vindictive, like Siamese cats, for example.
Maines lend themselves well to education using the method of encouragement and prohibition: due to their natural intelligence, they quickly understand what is possible and what is not.
Important! Under no circumstances should you physically punish your pet for bad behavior. Even a spanking is out of the question!
The only acceptable method of punishment for bad behavior is a spray bottle of water at room temperature.
You can go the other way and end up with a positive effect from a negative one. For example, if your pet allows itself to climb onto the table, you can place strips of tape on the tablecloth with the adhesive tape facing up. This should quickly wean the curious coon from climbing where it shouldn’t. And to protect chairs, curtains and wallpaper, you can use citrus scents. They are neutral for humans, but cats don’t like them.
Sometimes, a tray that is not cleaned in a timely manner or is in plain view of everyone can provoke the pet to look for a more secluded and clean corner to relieve itself. Therefore, always a clean litter box is a prerequisite for comfortable coexistence between humans and cats.
Majestic representative of the breed
The Maine Coon is a unique animal, unlike any other. Up to three years of age, they can behave like kittens, but at the same time, up to this age they can and should be raised well. Such a big, warm and noble pet will delight its happy owner for many years.
However, those who decide to have such a pet must consider everything - from organizing a base for games to selecting a tray and filler. In addition, it should be taken into account that the Maine Coon requires a lot of attention, care and financial investment.
