The largest Maine Coon in the world - an overview of the largest representatives of the breed

The longest

Maine - Stewie's coon (Mymains Stuart Giligan).
He lived in Reno, Nevada, and was included in the Guinness Book of Records due to his impressive length. At the time of registration of the record, the length of the cat from nose to tailbone was 123.19 cm, and the total length was 132.2 cm.

Perhaps for many such dimensions of a pet would be burdensome, but Stewie's owners say that he was very affectionate and kind, and it was impossible not to love him.

Stewie was diagnosed with cancer, his condition worsened after a course of chemotherapy, and the cat died at age 8.

What influences growth and development

To grow and achieve maximum performance, Maine Coons must be kept in a certain favorable environment. The development of a kitten can be influenced by a number of factors, the largest domestic cat depends on the following circumstances:

1. Genetic features. If the kitten's mother is in good shape, she is large and has a strong physical condition, then the growth rate of the kittens will be much faster.
2. Floor. The difference in height and weight depends on gender, the male grows faster than the female, so the cat is heavier than Maine Coon cats.
3. The use of hormonal drugs negatively affects weight gain and growth.
4. Hygienic conditions in which kittens are kept.
5. Impact of stress. If an animal regularly experiences stress, the influence of stress hormones negatively affects the endocrine system. Such exposure adversely affects growth. Kittens should have a full range of entertainment, and they also need to be protected from temperature changes and noise.
6. The mother cat's diet should be balanced. Compliance with this condition will allow you to raise healthy kittens with good weight gain.

The pedigree data of the parents is the main factor determining the size of the kittens

How to raise a big cat

There are several aspects that are taken into account if you want your pet to grow up to be a real giant.

1. Purebred breed. Good genetics produce excellent results.
2. Floor. Keep in mind that cats are always much smaller in weight and size than cats.
3. Parents' sizes. Large Maine Coons are more likely to give birth to a large kitten than their smaller counterparts.
4. Hormonal background. If a cat took any medications during pregnancy, there is a possibility that the treatment will negatively affect the height and weight of the offspring.
5. Feeding. With a balanced diet, a pregnant cat has a better chance of giving birth to a strong, healthy representative of the breed with an appropriate weight and height.

In fact, giant Maine Coon cats are a reality. Many people want to buy a future record holder and are very upset if this does not happen over time. But every cat is capable of giving its owner affection and love, and the Maine Coon is no exception in this case.

You shouldn’t chase big records, learn to enjoy your pet’s devotion, because it’s an incomparable feeling.

Did you like the article?

Reproduction

It is better to allow cats to breed when they are fully developed. They are ready at about 8 months.

Mating should be carried out without other animals and people in a calm environment. It is advisable to introduce the couple and move them together a couple of days before the intended mating. The cat is brought to the cat on the second day of estrus. If this is the first mating, the partner must be experienced. You can tell that mating has taken place by a change in behavior: either the cat begins to fawn over the cat, or he suddenly loses interest in her.

Pregnancy can be determined 20 days after mating. The average gestation period is 67 days, which is longer than other cats. At this time, you need to ensure good nutrition and avoid contact with infected people. When the belly grows, it is better not to pick up the cat.

Legends and Stories of the Maine Coon Cat

In addition to the “official” history of the origin of Maine Coon cats, a large number of other interesting legends and myths are disseminated in the media.

"TOBEY" Owner Miss Chaple

"LEO" BROWN TABBY Owner Mrs. P.Martin

MRS. BAGSTER'S ("DEMIDOFF")

Legend one

The most incredible and crazy legend says that the very cats that arrived on the American continent were crossed with the American lynx, from which they inherited their ears with tufts of hair at the tips, or with a wild raccoon, since they have the same coat color and excellent developed cat instinct.

Legend two

The second, no less famous legend, says that Maine Coons arose thanks to luxurious cats that Queen Marie Antoinette took with her on the ship when fleeing France during the revolution. She packed her most valuable things for the trip: luxurious furniture, expensive jewelry and, of course, her pets. However, the queen failed to escape - she was executed. The cats were taken care of by her captain, who took them to America, where the animals found new owners, housing and met short-haired cats. Thus, Maine Coon kittens began to appear.

"BLUE DANUBE" Owner Mrs. ERPierce

Romantic myth

There is an equally interesting romantic myth about a certain English captain nicknamed Coon, who always took his purring retinue of expensive cats on trips. On the banks, the captain sent his animals for a walk. A few days later, wherever the captain stopped, unusual large kittens appeared, which are considered the main ancestors of real Maine Coons. The owner of one of the farms, Lida Choate, became seriously interested in large ship animals and decided to start breeding them. Supporters of this version claim that she was the first breeder of Maine Coons, which were named after the captain.

The biggest cats in the world - what breed are they?

Fans of large cats are pleased with the news from the cat world - more and more breeds of domestic cats are being developed, the size of which reaches up to 1.5 meters in length, and their weight is not small - 10-15 kg. With such a “Murka” you don’t even need a dog!

Three breeds are competing for the title of the world's largest cats.

The Maine Coon (Maine Coon Cat) is a native cat breed descended from the long-standing "coon" cats found on the farms of Northeast America (Maine). The external similarity of these cats with a raccoon and their habitat gave the name to the breed - the May raccoon, or Maine Coo. Now Maine Coons are large domestic cats, distinguished by a kind and easy-going disposition, good appetite, large size and heavy weight, reaching 15 or more kilograms.

The color range of the breed is quite varied. If at first the natives noticed cats that were exclusively black in color, now you can find almost any color, from dark to light tones. The Maine Coon is the largest cat breed listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Stewie (that’s the name of the record holder) is 123 centimeters long from his tailbone to his head. His owner, Robin Hendrickson, considers him not just the longest cat, but the best animal in the world, gentle and smart. Stewie lives in America (Reno, Nevada).

Ashera is an artificially bred rare breed of cat. A cat with a leopard print color and impressive size (one meter tall and 15 kilograms in weight) has, oddly enough, a rather docile character and a calm disposition. This breed was originally developed by the British biotech company Lifestyle Pets in 2006. The Asherah is a mix of the African wild serval, the Asian leopard and the common domestic cat. Some consider this breed to be an offshoot of the Savannah, an earlier cross between the Serval and the domestic cat. Perhaps this is true. The breed received the name “Ashera” after the ancient pagan goddess.

Cats are beautiful, graceful and quite easy to care for. Such a kitten costs from $22,000, but even with that amount it is not so easy to get one into your family. It is necessary to fill out special permits and wait in line from several months to a year. The company does not raise many cats - only about 100 per year, so every “specimen” counts.

Happy owners of Ashera cats claim that their pets are simply ideal pets, despite all their external ferocity and wildness. They love children and enjoy playing and walking with them on a leash. Yeah! It is unlikely that anyone will dare to offend your little one if such a protector is next to her! In addition, geneticists have already developed an anti-allergenic Asher, but the cost of such a kitten will increase by 6-8 thousand dollars compared to a regular representative of the breed. Unfortunately, this new breed of cats has not yet been brought to Russia.

The Savannah is a cross between a wild serval and a regular domestic cat, bred in the 1980s. Unlike Asheras, cats of this breed have a pronounced hunting instinct, and therefore are quite dangerous at home. In the future, we plan to slightly “tame” the cats so that these beautiful exotic animals become a little more affectionate. Representatives of the Savannah breed are quite curious, intelligent, calm, and not aggressive.

The large size (up to 70 cm in height, 15 kg in weight) and the high cost of these cats do not stop their future owners from purchasing the desired kitten. By the way, representatives of this breed are frequent guests in the Guinness Book of Records. For example, the cat Trouble, whose owner is American D. Maraspina. At three years old, the kitty “overtook” all previous record holders, and reached a body length of 48 cm. Although, due to the characteristics of the breed, its weight is not so great - only 9 kilograms, because it is constantly on the move and runs no worse than a wild African serval. Another titled beauty of the same breed is the Scarlett Magic cat, her length is 44 cm.

Top 10 largest cat breeds

The Maine Coon takes a worthy second place among the largest cats in the world. Representatives of the breed are the most popular and beloved giant cats, and it’s not for nothing that one of them became the face of the Purina brand. The North American Longhair is surpassed in size only by the Savannah, which is considered the most expensive cat breed - the price of a kitten starts at 4 thousand dollars.

The hot ten largest domestic cat breeds are as follows:

What to feed the giants

The weight gain of the largest Maine Coon in the world probably depended on the animal's proper and balanced nutrition. The diet for this breed can include both natural and commercial food. When offering your pet homemade food, you should remember that it must contain at least 50% meat. Vitamins, macro and microelements should help build the animal’s muscle mass.

When choosing commercial feed, it is recommended to give preference to premium food. Only such dishes are equipped with all the necessary elements that a Maine Coon needs.

Health and illness

The breed is distinguished by its endurance and unpretentiousness. Maine Coons are generally in good health, but like other purebred cats, they are prone to developing a number of genetic diseases.

It is important to carefully choose a kitten. Buy from trusted breeders with a good reputation. Require all documents for the kitten and tests for genetic diseases before purchasing. Be sure to take an interest in the health of his parents.

Hereditary pathologies:

1. Hip dysplasia . Can be passed on through several generations. Maine Coons with dysplasia avoid jumping and walk slowly. In severe cases it can lead to lameness. The disease can occur in a mild form, without causing pain or discomfort in the animal. To prevent the disease from progressing, you need to monitor your cat’s diet and avoid obesity and rickets. It is important to minimize the risk of limb injuries and avoid early sterilization of the animal. Low physical activity and lack of calcium in the diet contribute to the development of pathology.
2. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy . Heart pathology. The cause is a gene mutation. Detected by DNA tests. The dangerous disease can cause heart attacks and cause death. Factors that provoke the progression of the pathology: hypertension, endocrine diseases, oncology, intoxication of the cat’s body and lack of taurine in the diet. Some cats develop it due to the use of anesthesia.
3. Spinal muscular atrophy . It is characterized by muscle weakness that develops due to the death of neurons in the spinal cord. The disease is not fatal. Cats with this condition have difficulty walking and jumping. Detected by DNA tests. To alleviate the cat's condition, you need to keep it in safe rooms, do not walk with them. Be sure to monitor your diet so as not to cause obesity. Overweight cats have a harder time moving around.
4. Polycystic kidney disease . Hereditary pathology. Progresses slowly. Characterized by the proliferation of cysts in the kidneys. This can lead to kidney failure. Males and cats with this disease must be sterilized. Sick animals require constant veterinary care. The diet should consist of feed with reduced levels of protein and phosphorus.

The health status of Maine Coons is influenced by: timely vaccination according to age, regular antiparasitic and anthelmintic treatment, a balanced diet and the intake of vitamin and mineral complexes. It is also necessary to regularly show the animal to a veterinarian for preventive purposes.

On average, all therapeutic and preventive measures to care for a cat’s health may require from 4 to 5 thousand rubles per year.

Important!

In the first year of life, the cost of castration/sterilization surgery must be added to this amount: 1800 – 4500 rubles.

Selection of the Maine Coon breed

According to many breeders, the Maine Coon was artificially bred by breeders about 240 years ago.

The breed was bred in the North American state of Maine, which had fairly harsh, long winters. Due to harsh weather conditions, farmers tried to select the fluffiest kittens with a powerful and strong body, thanks to which they could lead a predatory lifestyle and easily endure frosts.

The modern Maine Coon, bred for breeding, has the same characteristics. Some pets have sharp and long fangs, with which they can easily capture even large prey. And thanks to its large ears and eyes, the animal sees and hears excellently. The ancestors of the raccoon cat had to move a lot in snowy areas, and therefore representatives of this breed have wide paws with tufts of long hair between the toes.

No matter how the appearance of Maine Coons reminds us of predators, we can only guess whether selection of animals took place in those days. But what is known for sure is that the raccoon cat is a truly indigenous animal from North America.

Breed standards

For the Maycoon breed, the current standards today are those created by:

1. WCF (World Cats Federation);
2. TICA (The International Cat Association);
3. FIFe (Federation International).

Each of these systems has its own nuances, but the general parameters are still similar.

The largest Maine Coons in different countries

• One of the largest Maine Coons is considered to be Rupert from Australia, who weighed as much as 9 kg at 3 years old. The cat gained popularity in 2013, when he was brought to an exhibition.

This is interesting! Rupert is not obese, his body is toned, and his large weight is due to pumped up muscles and a strong bone structure.

• The largest Maine Coon in Russia is considered to be the Moscow giant Garfield, who, with a length of 117 cm, weighs about 13 kg. But so far not a single Maine Coon has been included in the Guinness Book of Records.
• The longest Maine Coon, Stewie, lived in the state of Nevada in the town of Reno. His total length is 132.2 cm. Despite his large size, he was very kind and affectionate.

This is interesting! Stewie lived only 8 years because he was diagnosed with cancer. After chemotherapy, his condition worsened sharply and he died.

Feeding

You can feed the Maine Coon like other purebred cats. The only caveat is that Maine Coons are large and active animals, they need a high-calorie diet. And the daily feeding rate will be greater than for small and medium breeds of cats.

Both natural food and ready-made food are suitable for feeding Maine Coons. What to feed is up to you, but do not forget about the basic requirements: the diet must be balanced, contain vitamins and essential minerals.

Natural nutrition

If you choose to feed with natural products, you need to create a balanced diet of meat, fish, meat products, vegetables, dairy products, and vegetable oil.

The basis of the diet (80%) should be meat products:

• beef (peritoneum, cuts from the head);
• rabbit;
• turkey;
• chicken drumsticks and thighs;
• heart;
• chicken liver;
• chicken heads (without beak);
• chicken necks (without skin);
• stomachs;
• tripe (beef);
• lung;
• cockscomb;
• pork nickels;
• fish (salmon, trout, mackerel);
• seafood (squid, shrimp).

The remaining 20% ​​comes from additives:

• vegetables: cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, pumpkin;
• quail eggs;
• hard cheese;
• dairy products;
• low-fat cottage cheese;
• bran;
• olive oil;
• dried kelp.

Experienced Maine Coon owners prepare a meat and vegetable mix from these products, package it in bags and place it in the freezer. One package – for one day. The daily norm is 250-300 grams.

Important!

With this method of feeding, you will need from 3200 to 5500 rubles for a month.

How to give natural products correctly

• Chicken necks are beaten with a hammer.
• Grind by-products in a meat grinder.
• Cut the meat into thin strips or pass through a meat grinder.
• Vegetables are grated on a fine grater. Served raw or stewed.
• Cheese is grated.
• The fish is cut into small strips.
• All meat and fish products are mixed, cheese, vegetables, a little kelp, bran, and cottage cheese are added. The resulting mixture is frozen in portions.
• Before serving, defrost the meat and vegetable mix and add olive oil.
• Fermented milk products can be added to a serving of food or poured into a separate container.
• Fish and seafood are given once every 5 days.
• Eggs 1 time every 3 days.

Feeding with industrial feed

The brand of industrial feed is selected individually. The only requirement is that the food must be for large breed cats. Preference should be given to feed of the premium, super-premium and holistic classes.

The daily feeding rate is calculated in accordance with the markings on the original packaging and depends on the age of the animal, its weight and activity. The average adult Maine Coon weighs between 7 and 10 kg. 65 -100 g required. feed per day.

The pet industry produces special brands of food for large cats that are best suited for feeding Maine Coons.

The best brands of feed:

1. Orijen Cat Six Fish Grain Free;
2. Acana Regionals Grasslands Cat Grain-Free;
3. Carnilove Adult Cat Large Breed Duck & Turkey Grain-Free;
4. Brit Care Tobby I'm a Large Cat – Duck & Chicken Grain-Free Hypoallergenic;
5. Royal Canin Maine Coon.

Important!

With this method of feeding, you will need from 3100 to 6500 rubles. monthly.

Read about food:

• list of top cat food manufacturers;
• Hills cat food reviews;
• reviews about Royal Canin for Maine Coons;
• reviews of Akana cat food.