I love Maine Coon Cats

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I love Maine Coon Cats

The Beautiful and Robust Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon Cat Breed Description

The Maine Coon is one of the largest breeds of domestic cat, known for its intelligence and playfulness as well as its distinctive physical appearance. The breed is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America and originated from New England, making it America's first indigenous show cat. The Maine Coon Cat is known as "the gentle giant."

Maine Coons are very large and energetic cats, sometimes weighing up to around 11-12 kilograms (25 pounds); the average weight is 6 to 9 kilograms (13-20 pounds) for adult males and less (7-11 pounds) for females. Male Maine Coons may grow to a length in excess of 1 meter (40 inches); the longest cat on record is a Maine Coon 121cm (49 inches) in length[1]. Growth to full size often takes longer than for most cats, with Maine Coons usually reaching full size at age four or five.

The most common color/pattern in the breed is brown with tabby markings. Maine Coons are recognized in all colors, including tortoiseshell, except for chocolate, lavender, ticked tabby, and the point-restricted ("Siamese") pattern. Eye color also varies widely. All patterns may have green, green-gold, or gold. Blue eyes, or one blue eye with one gold eye, are possible in white coat cats. They share similar facial markings, for example, a distinct "M" shape on the forehead.

Maine Coons have medium-long, dense fur, with longer hair, or a ruff, on their chests similar to the mane of a lion (which is why the breed is sometimes humorously called the "Mane Coon"). Their fur consists of two layers - an undercoat and an additional layer of longer guard hairs, which gives the breed their key physical feature. The fur is generally very soft. Maine Coons have long hair on the backs of their legs (called pantaloons or britches) and between their toes which helps to keep warm in the cold. They also have bushy plumed tails and broad, angular heads, squared-off muzzles and wide-set ears topped with tufts of fur. Most Maine Coons keep their fur in good order without the need for additional human grooming, but due to the length and quantity of hair, most will also benefit from a simple brushing once a week. While the Coon may be polydactyl, having one or more extra toes on their paws, this trait is generally bred out.

Maine Coons have large ears, which can be tipped at the end with fur. This is a common trait of a Maine Coon, giving them their Lynx-like appearance.

Maine Coon YouTube Plexo

Maine Coon Fun 1 point

Maine Coon & Mimi Cats 0 points

Saskakhan Maine Coon u Devon Rex 0 points

Baby and Maine Coon Cat Play 0 points

Maine Coon / Meet Mickey 0 points

OTI, MAINE COON CAT, PLAYING 0 points

Maine Coon Cat Temperament

Maine Coons are a breed distinguished by intelligence, dexterity, and playfulness. They have a tendency to use their front paws extensively (often curling the paw round to pick objects up) and as a consequence will easily learn to open cabinet doors, turn on water faucets, or pick up small objects. Some Maine Coons will eat from their paws, rather than eating from the bowl itself.

Due to their above-average intelligence, Maine Coons are known to be one of the easiest cat breeds to train. Maine Coons are noted for their ability to trill their meows, which sounds like a combination of a purr and a meow, and they tend to make this sound when happy or startled. They are noted for rarely eating alone, preferring to eat in the company of other cats or humans. Maine Coons are usually not "lap" cats (possibly because of their large size), and thus are generally not comfortable sitting on a person's lap or chest, though this may depend on the personality of the individual cat.

Some Maine Coons enjoy playing with, but not usually in, water. They may dip toys in their water bowls before playing with them, or just tip the water bowl over. They may also skim their paws across the surface of their water bowl. Maine Coons occasionally engage in mischievous behavior when bored, such as deliberately pushing things off tables and the tops of refrigerators with their paws.

Maine Coons can be very dog-like in their behavior. Playing fetch is a favorite game. As with dogs, they will bring their ball, drop it at the feet of their intended playmate and wait for the ball to be thrown. They will often accompany their owner on chores like getting the mail, etc. In addition, Maine Coons are also one of the only cat breeds that beat the intelligence of one or more of the top ten smartest dog breeds.

Maine Coon News Posts

Anderson: What to do with an unsociable cat
2012-05-25T12:45:00Z Anderson: What to do with an unsociable catBy Dr. Tim Anderson | Hawthorne Park Animal Care Center pantagraph.com Q: We have a 2-year-old black Maine Coon cat. We got her when she was 10 weeks old and she has been treated very well ...
Fascinating Feline Fact Forum
The largest domesticated cat is the Maine Coon, weighing in at up to 24 pounds. The oldest cat on record lived to be 37. Anatomically, cats are amazing creatures. Their whiskers are used to judge whether an opening is large enough for them to crawl ...
Ragdoll: tale of a floppy cat and an upcoming show
In a house with 14 Maine coon cats, Zorro is the only ragdoll, a unique breed with unique characteristics and his owner, Chris Willcocks, demonstrates where the critters got their name. Pick up a ragdoll and it flops like, well, a rag doll.
Good and bad pets for kids
Maine Coon: These cats keep their cool, even around rambunctious kids. Ferrets: These animals are cute but require special care and discipline. They can bite. Unless you have experience with them you probably don't want to bring them into a young ...

Maine Coon Cat Breed Origins

In the 17th and 18th centuries, domestic cats brought over from Europe faced very severe winters in New England, where only the strongest and most adaptable cats survived. Through natural selection (as opposed to selective breeding), the Maine Coon developed into a large, rugged cat with a water-resistant, thick coat and a hardy constitution.

The origin of the breed (and its name) has several, often fantastic, stories surrounding it. One comes from a legend that a domestic cat released in the wilds of Maine interbred with a raccoon, resulting in offspring with the Maine Coon's characteristics. Though biologically impossible, this myth, bolstered by the bushy tail and the most common coloring (a raccoon-like brown tabby) could have led to the adoption of the name "Maine Coon." Another story is that the cat was named after a ship's captain named Coon who was responsible for the cat reaching Maine shores, or that the breed sprang from the six pet cats that Marie Antoinette sent to Wiscasset, Maine when she was planning to escape from France during the French Revolution.

However, most breeders today believe that the breed originated in matings between pre-existing shorthaired domestic cats and overseas longhairs, perhaps Angora types introduced by New England seamen, or longhairs brought to America by the Vikings. Maine Coons are similar in appearance to both the Norwegian Forest Cat and to the Siberian. This may be attributed to convergent evolution - the shaping of unrelated species by similar environments, selecting for similar characteristics, resulting in similar animals.

Maine Coon Photos

satte Sommersause - summer feelings by Jorbasa
Maine Coon Cat by mick / Lumix
Tunnel cat by Takashi(aes256)
Oscar, mit sich und der Welt zufrieden - Oscar, being at one with the world by Jorbasa
Two cats Sleeping by barbourians
Two cats - one big one small by barbourians
Orange Cat by alana sise
Orange Cat by alana sise
Sie sagt, sie kommt in ein paar Tagen wieder! - She says, she comes back in a few days! by Jorbasa
Alien Alarm (2) by Jorbasa
Alien Alarm (1) by Jorbasa
Oscar beobachtet aufmerksam Amselmann Kurti - Oscar keeping an eye on Mr. Blackbird Kurti by Jorbasa
Oscar modelt - Oscar works as model. by Jorbasa
Ab hier beginnt mein Territorium! - From here begins my territorium! by Jorbasa
Oscar, gedankenverloren - Oscar, lost in space (1) by Jorbasa
Oscar, gedankenverloren - Oscar, lost in space (2) by Jorbasa
Was erregt Oscars Aufmerksamkeit? - What arrests Oscar´s attention? by Jorbasa
Hier bin ich wieder! - Here I am again! by Jorbasa
Dodo Plays with a Stick by J. Scotty Emerle
Oscar genießt die Sonne! - Oskar enjoys the sun! by Jorbasa
Cat and Mouse by Sarah @ pingsandneedles
Mistwetter da draußen an Ostern - bad Easter weather by Jorbasa
Oscar, mit sich und der Welt im Einklang - Oscar takes it easy! by Jorbasa
Katzentreffen - cat meeting (2) by Jorbasa
Katzentreffen - cat meeting (1) by Jorbasa
Upside down cat by barbourians
Stalker by J. Scotty Emerle
Dodo Holding his Paw by J. Scotty Emerle
Stalker in the Grass by J. Scotty Emerle
IMG_5208 by dvanzuijlekom
Do. Not. Want. by dvanzuijlekom
IMG_5210 by dvanzuijlekom
automatically generated by Flickr

Maine Coon Cat Health Issues

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle where the heart muscle of the left ventricle thickens and becomes stiffer than normal. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats causes heart failure, aortic thromboembolism, and sudden death in some cats affected with the disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be detected by cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography) of cats. The disease becomes detectable on a cardiac ultrasound between the ages of 1 and 7 years of age in Maine Coon cats. A mutation in the gene that codes for cardiac myosin binding protein C has been shown to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in certain genetic lines of the Maine Coon cat population. A genetic test for this mutation is available.[2] Approximately one third of Maine Coon cats tested for the mutation have tested positive for the mutation although this sampling of the population is most likely biased. It appears that another mutation responsible for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is also present in the breed. Responsible Maine Coon cat breeders, in an effort to reduce the occurrence of HCM, now screen their animals both for the disease long-term (via echocardiography) and for the mutation and make this information available to potential pet buyers.

In the past (up until 1988), taurine deficiency was a common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in all cats, including Maine Coons. Since the pet food industry started adding more taurine to cat food in the late 1980s, this kind of cardiomyopathy is rare. Taurine-related cardiomyopathy can be cured with the addition of the nutrient to the diet, but genetic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes a permanent thickening of the left ventricle and is not curable.

Other potential health problems include hip dysplasia and Polycystic Kidney Disease. Gum Disease is also more common in Maine Coons than in other breeds. However, Maine Coons are generally quite healthy and resilient animals.

Maine Coon Videos

Maine Coon Kitten and Baby Play 0 points

Maine Coon Fun 0 points

Maine coon cat Rosie 0 points

Baby Ella and Jasper the Maine Coon Cat Play 0 points

Maine Coon 0 points

Maine Coon Stuff on eBay

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Maine Coon Blog Posts from Google

Anderson: What to do with an unsociable cat
2012-05-25T12:45:00Z Anderson: What to do with an unsociable catBy Dr. Tim Anderson | Hawthorne Park Animal Care Center pantagraph.com Q: We have a 2-year-old black Maine Coon cat. We got her when she was 10 weeks old and she has been treated very well ...
Fascinating Feline Fact Forum
The largest domesticated cat is the Maine Coon, weighing in at up to 24 pounds. The oldest cat on record lived to be 37. Anatomically, cats are amazing creatures. Their whiskers are used to judge whether an opening is large enough for them to crawl ...
Ragdoll: tale of a floppy cat and an upcoming show
In a house with 14 Maine coon cats, Zorro is the only ragdoll, a unique breed with unique characteristics and his owner, Chris Willcocks, demonstrates where the critters got their name. Pick up a ragdoll and it flops like, well, a rag doll.
Good and bad pets for kids
Maine Coon: These cats keep their cool, even around rambunctious kids. Ferrets: These animals are cute but require special care and discipline. They can bite. Unless you have experience with them you probably don't want to bring them into a young ...

Maine Coon Videos

maine coon Y&L cats movie III - trento 0 points

Maine Coon 'The Stig' 0 points

Maine Coon Cat Backflips into 2007 0 points

cats in the garden 2 (maine coon) 0 points

A playful Maine Coon 0 points

Maine Coon Amazon Selections

Maine Coon Country Mug, Porcelain by Rosalinde (12 oz.)

Maine Coon Country Mug, Porcelain by Rosalinde (12 oz.)

Contrasting black rim and handle. Artwork by Vladi more...0 points

Cats - Maine Coon - Light Switch Covers - double toggle switch

Cats - Maine Coon - Light Switch Covers - double toggle switch

Maine Coon Light Switch Cover is new and handcraft more...0 points

Porcelain Lamp with Maine Coon Cat

Porcelain Lamp with Maine Coon Cat

This finely decorated white porcelain and gold ban more...0 points

Cats - Maine Coon - Mugs

Cats - Maine Coon - Mugs

Maine Coon Mug is new. Why drink coffee out of an more...0 points

Maine Coon Links

Cat Fanciers: Maine Coon: Cat Breed FAQ
Showcases history, characteristics, temperament and breed description while covering care, training and breeder information.
Maine Coon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Maine Coon is one of the largest breeds of domestic cat, known for its intelligence and playfulness as well as its distinctive physical appearance. ...
Cat Fanciers' Association: Breed Profile: Maine Coon
An indepth look into the Maine Coon breed, the native American longhaired cat.
CFA Breed Standard: Maine Coon
Breed standard description from the Cat Fanciers' Association.
Maine Coon Cat: Breed: Answers to FAQ's and Articles
Searchable public service site with articles on personality, how-big, colors, care, with Pictures of National Winners.
Maine Coon: FBRL Breed Page
Information, links, and international breeder contact information for the Maine Coon cat breed.
Breed Article: Maine Coon
An indepth look into the Maine Coon breed, the native American longhaired cat.

Main Coon Cat Rescue Groups

URL of Maine Coon Rescue:
http://mainecoonrescue.com/

URL of Maine Coon Rescue Email List:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mainecoonrescue/


UR of Petfinder listing:
http://www.petfinder.com/pet.cgi?action=1&pet.Shelterid=NY316
Maine Coon Rescue
304 First Avenue WestFranklin, KY 42134
Email: rescue@mainecoonrescue.com

Arizona Maine Coon Cat Rescue -- Division of SAFE


Breed: Maine Coon


Catchment: Arizona

URL: http://www.azmccr.org/
View available cats: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/AZ202.html


Address: 9123 North 115th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85259

Contact: Allysa Fallert

Phone: (480) 892-4093


Email: afallertsprint@earthlink.net



 
Paws of Gold Feline Rescue

  Catchment area: Northeastern USA

Homepage:


http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/NY396.html


Address: PO Box 561, Greenfield Center, NY 12833

Phone: (585) 786-8777


Email:
clarie@frontiernet.net


Phone: (206) 782-2616



Cat
Purebred Rescue (CPR)


Catchment area:
Washington state and British Columbia, Canada

Homepage:
http://www.catpurebredrescue.org/


Address: P.O. Box 1363; Kent, Wash. 98035-1363


Email: info@catpurebredrescue.org



CFA Purebred Rescue
- Helping breed rescue
efforts across the nation!

What is your view on declawing cats and what are some alternatives you have found for reducing destructive scratching?

Austin Web Designers
Lensmaster

Austin Web Designers wrote

I had to declaw my cat because she was scratching all over, but I do think declawing is a bit cruel for the pet. The problem is, cats don't always stick to the sratching post!

Austin Web Designers

ReplyPosted December 09, 2010

Lensmaster

cangyray wrote...

Great lense! I had a stray that resembled a maine coon. I don't know for sure if he was a full breed, but he was wonderful no matter what he was. I have debated on the declawing for years. Finally decided it was not right for my kitty. He hates the outside and refuses to go past the threshold, but things happen and I want him to be able to fend for himself if he were to get lost. Without claws, he could not climb to get away from predators or to find food. He could not defend himself except for biting. He could not feed himself except for scavaging.

ReplyPosted October 05, 2010

Lensmaster

bakerwoman wrote...

Declawing is cruel and inhumane. People who wants to declaw cats do not deserve to own them.

ReplyPosted September 26, 2010

Lensmaster

cat_mama wrote...

I think declawing is inhumane and should be banned. Scratching posts and toys will help the cat avoid boredom. This is a great lens, very informative!

ReplyPosted February 09, 2010

Lensmaster

orchidimages wrote...

Wonderful lens, my husband and I raised and showed Maine Coons in the 80's. We now share our home with just one. An adopted (and neutered) black and white boy named Captain who we adopted through a rescue. Keep up the good work.

ReplyPosted November 29, 2009

Lensmaster

orchidimages wrote...

Wonderful lens, my husband and I raised and showed Maine Coons in the 80's. We now share our home with just one. An adopted (and neutered) black and white boy named Captain who we adopted through a rescue. Keep up the good work.

ReplyPosted November 29, 2009

Lensmaster

davidms wrote...

gum disease is indeed a common problem in this breed. in fact many cats have this problem. But humans do to. For humans, the hydrofloss can be beneficial.

I wrote a book on the whole subject of gum disease : What You Should Know about Gum Disease

This problem is very common among many species of animal.

ReplyPosted November 14, 2009

cherokee
Lensmaster

cherokee wrote

my maine coon sunny a male wasn't even 3 and he had arterial thrombosis (ATE) it is a disease that struck without warning one second he was fine the next paralyzed in both hind legs my vet told me there was nothing that could be done. Sunny was such a sweet beautiful little guy and his death has been so very hard. my husband & I have been crying since we saw he couldn't move his leg's & then we had to put him to sleep. I have since found that there are treatments but not when it is too late. Is this a common disease in maine coon male cats???? I cant think of going thru it again but i miss his so much he was like my child and I couldn't protect him. I am currently looking for another but I need to know if this is common or was it just a freak of nature... I need input please help me... thanks Cherokee cherrybear2thou@aol.com

ReplyPosted November 04, 2009

Leslie Bell
Lensmaster

Leslie Bell wrote

Declawing is unthinkable, and therefore not an option. I honestly have no solutions for dealing with the scratching, other than to have inexpensive, second-hand, easily-replaced furniture. I have four cats. Scratching happens. The joy these four give me far outweighs occasionally needing to replace a chair or two.

ReplyPosted July 27, 2009

Lensmaster

JeanC_ducky wrote...

I have a Maine Coon mix who is a complete doll. I have never quite cared for small delicate kitties, so Rum Tum fits the bill as a gentle (mostly) giant and is such a sweetie.

Lots of great info here on Maine Coons, several thumbs up.

On the declawing issue, NEVER!!!!!! Kitties can be trained to not (or at least not while you are looking) claw the furniture so declawing

ReplyPosted January 13, 2009

Lensmaster

One4Nell wrote...

Enjoyed your lens. I love Maine Coons too...I have a cat that has similar traits. I don't believe in declawing. I found a way to reduce destructive scratching. It took patience, and just spending a lot of time with my cat during the early training period. I provided several scratching sites around the house that were designated as his property(such as the cardboard scratching boxes, scratching posts and scratching areas on his cat tree). Any time he would scratch in an inappropriate place, I would immediately pick him up and take him to one of his designated scratching sites and demonstrate what to do. He began using his scratching sites, but would also try to use other places. I had a water squirt bottle ready and would squirt him immediately when he scratched in the wrong place. Using this practice, the squirt bottle was the enemy, not me. It took a few times but he has learned to use only the designated scratching sites.

ReplyPosted June 14, 2008

Lensmaster

fledgling wrote...

Great Lens! a very beautiful, and interesting breed. Your lens has great content, for people curious, or interested in this breed. I did one on a wallboard years ago. Good job, 5 stars for you!

ReplyPosted March 01, 2008

Lensmaster

DrDog wrote...

Thanks for this important info!
Gayle, author of Dog Debarking.

ReplyPosted June 14, 2007

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  • JimDickens Mar 11, 2012 @ 8:31 pm | delete
    We have two Maine coons and love them
  • europenews2009 Feb 1, 2012 @ 2:03 am | delete
    Such a nice lens about maine coon cat breed your information is good about maine coon.
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  • janecamron Jan 24, 2012 @ 5:44 am | delete
    cats, they are such adorable pets. Love to have a cute one in my house. wedding ring sets
  • joashsmith Sep 9, 2011 @ 3:50 am | delete
    very cute.. love to have one..
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  • ClaudeKinney Apr 27, 2010 @ 11:20 pm | delete
    Hey, I discovered your lens while searching on squidoo, your article looks extremely important for me. I'll add a backlink and bookmark your web page. Keep up the good job!

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  • Monkeybear Aug 16, 2007 @ 3:59 am | delete
    hiya, Cool cats

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