The Maine Coon is one of
the oldest natural breeds of North America. As the name indicates, the Maine
Coon cat originated in Maine. It was rumored at one time that the cat was the
result of a raccoon mating with a cat, hence the name "coon". (Which is
biologically impossible.) Legends go on to say that Marie Antoinette, while
planning to escape from the French Revolution, sent her beloved cats to be cared
for in Maine. Another legend is that long-coated cats were introduced to
coastal towns as trade goods by visiting seamen, and these cats bred with local
domestic cats, which eventually resulted in the Maine Coon Cat. The most widely
accepted theory is that short haired cats were brought over on ships by the
pilgrims. They were used to kill rats and mice on board the ships and then were
released on farms. Later, long haired breeds were shipped over for their
beauty. Some were thought to have belonged to a French Queen who had planned to
escape to America. The cats made it safely to their new home, however, the
queen was beheaded before she had her chance to escape. These long haired cats
are thought to have bred with the earlier short haired cats. Over the years,
through the process of natural selection, the Maine coon cat has developed.
Thus, the Maine Coon cat is the only long haired domestic breed which developed
naturally in the United States.
Only the traits which were essential to the rugged Maine Coon breed remained
with them. The shorter hair on the shoulders gets gradually longer on the back
and sides. This allows the cat to move through wooded areas and heavy
undergrowth without becoming entangled. The fairly stiff hair on the back and
sides of the Maine Coon is called "guard hair" . It serves as insulation from
the cold. The soft, fluffy rough around the neck and on the stomach allows the
cat to lie on the snow without sinking down into it. It also provides extra
warmth in the harsh northeastern winters.
The large tufted
ears allow the cat to have excellent hearing. The extra hair helps to keep the
ears warm. The feet are also large and well tufted between the paw pads. This
serves the cat well in the heavy winter snows. The feet act as snowshoes to
distribute the weight of the cat evenly.
The tail of the
Maine Coon is very lovely, indeed! But, it too serves a purpose. When the cat
lies down on the cold ground, it wraps its long, fluffy tail around its body
like a warm, insulated comforter. The tail also has another purpose. It helps
to coordinate the cats movements and assists him in making swift, sharp turns.
Typical Maine
Coons have extrovert personalities and are very playful and amusing, often
teaching themselves tricks. Even the older adult cats tend to keep their kitten
like personalities and playfulness. They love to be around their human
companions and participate with you whether you want them to or not! Especially
when it is time to make dinner, all of the cats magically become chefs! And
don't be surprised, while running water or filling up the bath tub, if you see
the cat either playing with your water or jumping in. We have had several
occasions where we have seen our cats jump into the bath tub water, though some
immediately jump out they will still sit on the ledge and swat at the water.
Most kittens are
fairly large at 4 months of age and will continue to grow rapidly until about
8-12 months. Then the growth will slow down some, but don't be fooled into
thinking your kitten is done growing. Full bone development is reached around 2
years of age, however they will continue to grow adding muscle tone and weight.
And, depending on the bloodlines, a cat will reach full maturity between the
ages of 3 1/2 - 5 years. Males are known to settle in about 20-22 lbs. and
females are slightly smaller.
~If you plan to show your Maine Coon here is a breakdown of the 100 show
points:
The head should be medium
sized with a squarish outline; gently concave in the profile, with curved
forehead and high, prominent cheekbones.
The coat should be heavy
and shaggy, with a silky texture. Short on the head, shoulders, and legs,
becoming gradually longer down the back and the sides shaggy on hind legs and
belly fur; full ruff.
The Body should be long
with substantial bone, large framed and well proportioned, muscular and broad
chested. Males are larger than females.
The Condition of the cat
should be healthy. Bright eyed, non-matted, clean pink eyes and sniffle free.
Penalties: The Maine Coon
is penalized for having a short or uneven coat; lack of undercoat; unbalanced
proportions; delicate bone structure; long thin legs; short tail; wide set or
flared ears; pronounced whisker pads; straight or convex profile; slanted,
almond- shaped eyes.
Only the traits which were essential to the rugged Maine Coon breed remained
with them. The shorter hair on the shoulders gets gradually longer on the back
and sides. This allows the cat to move through wooded areas and heavy
undergrowth without becoming entangled. The fairly stiff hair on the back and
sides of the Maine Coon is called "guard hair" . It serves as insulation from
the cold. The soft, fluffy rough around the neck and on the stomach allows the
cat to lie on the snow without sinking down into it. It also provides extra
warmth in the harsh northeastern winters.