Maine Coon

These are the cats that explored the world with the Vikings, protecting the grain stores on land and sea, and which are believed to have left their progeny on the shores of North America as a legacy to the future.

These lovely cats are really two for the price of one, they can differ so greatly in looks from summer to winter. Some time in the spring they take off their "winter underwear," the downy undercoat that provides warmth, and the long non-tangling outer guardhairs that act as protection from rain and snow. The contrast can be quite extreme. The inner-ear hair that deflects the wind and snow (and can be three to four inches long, curving out and around the ear like flexible racing stripes) remains all year. The tail is always magnificent, being as much as twelve inches or more when fanned to its fullest. Perhaps the most impressive part of the coat is the mane. On a fully mature cat, i.e. one over five years of age and which is challenged by the most adverse cold weather, the mane is nothing less than spectacular. It is long, dense and very, very impressive! This, unfortunately, may disappear in the spring, but rest assured that it will begin to lengthen again as the days begin to shorten.

These cats are designed by Mother Nature. They appear in coats of most colors, from pure white to deepest coal black, with every possible coat pattern and color combination in between, with the exception of the colorpoint colors as seen in the Siamese or Persian-Himalayan such as seal point or chocolate point. Darker cats require less coat to keep warm since they absorb more heat from the sun. Lighter cats tend to have fuller coats with more undercoat. Some colors change from light to darker tones with the seasons. Mother Nature is so thoughtful! And, finally, because they are a natural breed, their mature size will differ from line to line.

Is their Norse name accurate? Yes, the skogkatt, meaning forest cat, really did come out of the Scandinavian forests some time in the last 4,000 years. However, they are not feral but are among the most people-oriented cats. Of course their personalities differ, depending upon the type home in which they spend their early kittenhood. As with any other breed, a kitten handled and petted by many loving people from birth and which has been exposed to children, cats and dogs will be different from one born and raised in an isolated area with limited human contact.

A question frequently asked is about the care the long coats require. As one breeder is fond of saying: "Mother Nature does not have hairdressers in the deep woods, so she did not design the cat to require the daily attention necessary to some other longhaired breeds." Very little, if any, combing is required for non-show cats, but is recommended during spring shedding.

The Forest Cat was presented to the CFA Board for registration acceptance in February 1987, and in 1993, these wonderful works of art from nature were accepted for full championship status.

Large, rugged, long-bodied longhair with long, heavy and silky coat, large ruff and bib and luxuriant plumed tail. All coat colors and patterns are permitted except the Siamese pointed coat (in Britain chocolate and lavender are also disallowed). Preferred coloration is the patched brown classic tabby. Legend has it that the Maine Coon is a racoon/cat mix though the genetics of this is impossible.

One of the oldest natural breeds in North America, the Maine coon is second only to the Persian in popularity. This made-in-America breed is prized for his large size, sweet personality and silky all-weather coat. Considering the breed's intelligence and clown-like antics, it's no wonder that this cat ranks No. 2 among America's top favorites.

History and Origin

Maine coons have been on this continent since colonial days. They probably came over from Europe with the first settlers of the New World, since cats were often kept on sailing ships to control rodent populations. While there exists no actual evidence of where and when they arrived, some entertaining myths surround the breed's arrival. One such tale claims that Maine coons are descendants of longhaired cats owned by Marie Antoinette. According to the story, Captain Clough smuggled the queen's cats and other belongings to America in preparation of the Queen's rescue from her rendezvous with the guillotine. Unfortunately, he was only successful in rescuing her cats.

However they arrived, Maine coons carved their place in the New England countryside alongside the early colonists. Given Maine's severe winters, those initial years were hard on both felines and humans. Only the strongest and most adaptable cats survived. Through natural selection, the Maine coon developed into a large, rugged cat with his water-resistant coat and hardy constitution.

The Maine coon was an early favorite in the emerging American cat fancy in the late 1800s. In the early 1900s, however, cat fanciers of the era abandoned Maine coons for Persians, Angoras and other exotic imports. By 1950, the breed had all but vanished. Fortunately, a small group of breeders kept the breed alive.

Appearance

One of the largest domestic breeds, male Maine coons weigh in at 12 to 18 pounds, while the "petite" females range from 10 to 14 pounds. The heavy, water-resistant coat, shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches, makes the cat appear even larger.

Since the Maine coon is the result of "survival of the fittest" adaptation, the breed is muscular and broad-chested with substantial, muscular legs and large, well-tufted paws suitable for walking in Maine's winter woods. Slow to develop, the Maine coon takes 3 to 4 years to reach full size and weight.

Although brown tabby is the most common color and pattern, Maine coons come in many color schemes. In fact, all colors and patterns are accepted except chocolate, lavender, the Siamese pointed pattern and any of these combinations with white.

Personality

With their large, powerful, muscular bodies and powerful jaws, it's a good thing Maine coons are gentle giants. They are, in fact, jumbo-sized packages of love and devotion. Sweet and good-natured, Maine coons are completely loyal to their beloved humans. They generally bond with one person or family and are forever devoted to those favored few.

The only thing small about Maine coons are their voices. It's hilarious to hear tiny high-pitched squeaks coming out of Paul Bunyan-sized bodies. Like most cats, Maine coons spend much of their time snoozing, but when in action they are agile and lightning fast. Since their ancestors made their living as mousers, they are zealous hunters and enjoy playing with catnip mice and other prey. They particularly enjoy interactive toys in which their humans take part. Fetch is a favorite game.

As befits former seafarers, Maine coons are fascinated by water. They enjoy dabbling their feet in their water bowls, drinking from running faucets and walking around the still-wet shower or bathtub. This fascination doesn't extend to bath time, however.

Grooming

Since the Maine coon's coat has a silky, all-weather texture and is water resistant, the fur doesn't mat as easily as a Persian's would. Regular grooming is still needed, however. To keep the Maine coon looking sharp, comb two or three times a week with a good quality steel comb. During the fall, when they shed their summer coats, and spring, when they shed their heavier winter coats, additional grooming is usually needed.