Maine Coon Cat Data Heart
Maine Coon cats are a longhaired, massive cat breed that may weigh as much as 18 kilos. These cats are more and more fashionable as a result of their stunning coats, which are available all kinds of colours and patterns. They are often loving and affectionate to individuals they know, however can be fairly impartial. They’re hardy, sturdy cats, properly suited to harsh climates and with a sort and mild disposition and dependable nature.
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Maine Coon Historical past
These massive shaggy coated cats had been discovered way back to the 1800’s in Maine, New England. They had been employed as ship’s cats, catching mice and customarily offering firm to these aboard. The earliest revealed reference was to a black and white Maine Coon cat in 1861.
We don’t know for sure who introduced Maine Coons to North America initially. And though there are many theories, none of them appear to have a foundation in recorded texts. So we simply can’t make certain.
One principle is that they had been bred from the lengthy haired cats owned by Marie Antoinette, smuggled to america by an aide who hoped to save lots of her. We could be assured that the title Maine Coon was most likely derived from the breed’s tail markings, which resemble a raccoon’s ringed tail.
Altering fashions
These pretty cats had been very fashionable within the late 1800s and early 1900s, with Maine Coons proving fashionable entrants at cat reveals and reveals. Nevertheless, they grew to become much less prevalent because the years progressed and fashions and tastes moved for some time to different breeds just like the Persian and Siamese cats. In recent times, nevertheless, the breed’s recognition has as soon as extra risen up.
The Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Affiliation (MCBFA) was shaped in 1968, and right this moment the breed is as soon as once more an enormous participant at cat reveals in addition to household pets. Sadly, their numbers dwindled dramatically within the intervening years, which means that these bred right this moment have come from a small group.
The MCBFA now has a membership together with over 200 breeders. However this comparatively small gene pool could have contributed to the upper than common occurrences of well being issues on this stunning breed.
Maine Coon Persona
These massive cats have a character to match. And that character is a significant purpose for the breed’s present rise in recognition. They supply firm with out being too pushy. And though vocal at occasions, they don’t seem to be normally excessively noisy.
They’re completely happy being petted and typically sitting on laps, though they’re normally happier simply being in shut proximity to you. They’re additionally largely tolerant of youngsters’s consideration, making them an incredible playmate for wise older youngsters underneath supervision.
Their canine like devotion to their households is usually accompanied by an aloofness with strangers. Nevertheless, they do are typically prolific hunters. And as massive cats, they are able to catch bigger prey than you would possibly anticipate! That is one thing to concentrate on in case your furry pal can be spending time exterior.
Measurement And Weight
Some of the hanging issues about these beautiful cats is their measurement. One of many largest breeds of cat, an grownup Maine Coon cat will normally weight wherever as much as 18 kilos for a male, and round 14 kilos for a feminine.
Common full grown weight is from 10 to twenty kilos. These cats normally attain maturity from three years of age, a bit slower than different smaller cat breeds. Whereas the biggest measurement may even go above 20 kilos, this isn’t ideally suited. With additional weight comes the potential for extra well being issues. Particularly to think about are these issues associated to their hip joints, which additional weight can exacerbate.
Colours And Coats
Eyes can vary in color, including green, blue, gold, or copper. They tend to be more rounded than other cat breeds, and very large. There are a wide range of coat colors as these have by no means been restricted of their breeding packages. Stable, bicolor and a wide range of tabbies are all potentialities.
Grooming Your Maine Coon
Grooming is one thing you will have to think about when adopting a cat or kitten. These aren’t low upkeep coats and if depart your cat to take care of their very own grooming necessities, you may find yourself with a badly matted cat.
Combing your cat’s fur twice every week with a chrome steel comb will assist to maintain it tangle free. It’ll additionally eliminate a few of the unfastened hairs, grime and ensure it stays trying good and glossy.
The breed is pretty straightforward to deal with, which makes brushing doable with out an excessive amount of fuss for many house owners. Simply keep in mind to comb very gently, not tugging on the tangles sharply however with repeated mild strokes.
In case you are bringing residence a kitten then get them used to being combed from the primary week they’re with your loved ones. Brief day by day periods beginning with three or 4 mild strokes with a brush are greatest.
Your cat’s coat gained’t want grooming right away, however the sooner they’re used to the motion, the extra doubtless they are going to be to tolerate it as an grownup cat.
In case your cat will settle for little cat treats from you when you do it, that can assist to make the expertise extra fulfilling for him and extra more likely to be accepted on future events.
Are Maine Coons Hypoallergenic?
Maine Coons do shed. Combing will assist scale back the quantity of fur which is scattered round your own home, in addition to the frequency of hairballs. Even with frequent grooming, you’ll doubtless must put money into an excellent pet hair vacuum cleaner to maintain up to the mark
Many potential cat house owners that suffer from allergic reactions are continually looking for a very hypoallergenic cat breed.
Nevertheless, the unhappy truth is that there aren’t any completely, no-holds-barred allergenic cats. It is because the issue is just not totally with fur or shedding, however quite with the cat’s saliva. And all cats lick!
On high of that, it should be famous that longer haired cats aren’t beneficial for individuals who have allergic reactions. So the Maine Coon might be not your best option when you have allergy issues already.
Then again, we do recommend this text for extra in-depth steering to “hypoallergenic” cat breeds that could be higher for these with allergic reactions.
Well being Issues
There aren’t an infinite variety of purebred Maine Coon cats round. Within the early 1900s, this dwindled very low certainly. Low populations trigger low genetic variety. Which means some genetic well being issues are pretty widespread throughout the breed.
- Hip dysplasia
- Feline hypertropic cardiomyopathy
- Spinal muscular atrophy
Lifespan
The one examine that we presently have which regarded particularly at Maine Coon lifespan reveals a mean of 11 years. These cats ranged as much as 19 on the highest finish of the spectrum.
Nevertheless, the pool was fairly small, so we must always take this with a pinch of salt.
Discovering A Good Breeder
Should you determine to convey a Maine Coon kitten residence, you will have to perform a little research to discover a good breeder. The most effective breeders will most likely have a protracted ready record, so that you gained’t be capable of decide up a kitten instantly.
It’s crucial to seek out breeders which comply with moral greatest practices, put the well being of their cats and kittens first, conduct well being assessments, and perceive the significance of socialization.
Test the dad and mom have been well being examined, and that the breeder takes excellent care of the mom and has a function for her past making kittens. She ought to be a treasured pet, or an adored and properly handled present cat.
Maine Coon Value
Value is a sticky topic, as a result of these stunning, charismatic cats don’t come low-cost. Kittens from an excellent breeder will most likely be costlier. The breeder could have had appreciable outlay on paying for well being assessments for his or her queen, and a stud price for the fitting associate for her.
A kitten will value you something from $400 to $1000 within the US. Costs differ significantly relying upon the place the breeder is situated, what well being assessments their cats have undergone and what function they’re breeding for.
Rescue
One other solution to get one in all these pretty cats into your life is to search for a rescued cat.
It’s typically doable to get your arms on a Maine Coon rescue, in case you are fortunate. A pal of mine presently shares his life with one such stunning kitty. Many Maine Coon sort cats in shelters aren’t purebred, however nonetheless could have most of the traits of the breed.
Your greatest probability is with a rescue society that makes a speciality of the breed. Basic cat rescue organisations can have cross breeds and sometimes pure bred Maine Coons as properly.
In case you are particularly searching for a purebred, you will have a protracted wait in your arms, however combined breed cats will come together with extra regularity.
