Origin of the Breed Maine coon
The breed is officially recognized by international organizations. The cat resembles a small lynx, massive and muscular, with a long and shaggy tail. Also known as the American Longhair, this cat breed has exceptional qualities and very good hunting skills. Maine Coons are known around the world as "Gentle Giants" . The longest measured forelimb was 123.2 cm - from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. His name was Stu, a male specimen from Pino, Havada. It is recorded in The Guinness records as " The longest cat in the world". The breed is distinguished by large specimens (males sometimes reach 10-15 kg, and females - up to 5-8 kg). The name of the floor comes from the combination of the name of the American state (from the English Maine- Maine) and the American raccoon bear (English-coon) - west of the tail feathers and the fur of the raccoon. The ancestors of the Maine Coon were long-haired cats brought to Maine by sailors in the 1850s. These cats have mated with the local shorthair cats. The descendants were large, massive cats with semi-long fur and voluminous shaggy tails resembling the tail of a raccoon. Cats develop thick, dense fur to withstand the extremes of Maine's winters. Already in the 60s of the 18th century, special exhibitions were held for Maine Coon cats and the breed became very popular as pets.
Character
Maine Coon cats have a kind personality and are very playful and friendly. They enjoy human company and make good pets. Probably because of their humble origins, they are often found curled up in the oddest of places. They enjoy the outdoors and therefore need a chance to climb and hunt. They also like walks, so you can walk them on a leash like a dog. Of course, you should make sure that the area you choose for a walk is relatively clean, like a meadow or a mountain. As a domestic cat walking outside you need to make sure you have the necessary vaccinations and external, internal deworming. Maine coon cats are intelligent and can be trained. They have a great emotional bond with their owner and understand almost everything. They are also social, musical and love to talk to their kittens and their owner.
Maine Coon cats are known for the delightfully quiet sound they make that resembles chirps mixed with purrs and meows.
The great passion of the Maine Coon breed is water. They are captivated by the water, love to wet their paws, talk in the water, dig in front of the water bowl, hang on the sink and follow the water drops. Perhaps this passion for the water was left over from their ancestors and their life on seagoing ships, where they were held in high esteem for their hunting skills.
The Maine Coon can and does love to swim, but that doesn't mean it's always in the mood for a bath.
Exterior and standard
The body of the Maine coon is elongated, large, with developed muscles. The head is relatively broad with a wedge-shaped, muzzle and square nose. The ears are large, slightly slanted and overgrown with hairs. The eyes are large, not very slanted, most often of golden, copper or green color. They have tall limbs and large oval paws. The paws also have tufts forming a snowshoe effect.
The tail is long and fluffy. The coat of fur is freely falling down. The coat is long and dense and consists of an undercoat covered with a substantial glossy and waterproof top coat. It is significantly shorter at the head and shoulders, forming a distinct "collar". The undercoat is soft to the touch and the topcoat is shorter and moderately oily to allow water to run off. In summer, the body fur is shorter than in winter, while there is no change in the tail. The standard allows different coloring and pattern of the coat.
Maine Coon feeding
We will give you guidance and advice on feeding your Maine Coon friend. We recommend giving dry and wet food mixed. Wet food can be tasty pouches, canned food and cooked meat. Every cat is unique and each has its own specific likes, dislikes and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and each cat needs to get 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The ratio of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health. So it's not surprising if a growing and energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in its diet than a less active senior cat.
Coat and Grooming
Considering its length, the Maine Coon does quite well with its coat, but it still needs frequent brushing to keep it in good condition. For example, once or twice a week. There are different periods and natural cycles with Maine coon fur. A baby's fur will be different because it is baby fur, it sheds and then unfolds its majestic ornamentation. During the different seasons, changes also occur with the fur of our Maine Coon friend. During the warmer seasons, molting begins and during the winter months, the coat becomes thicker and voluminous. We recommend bathing once every one, two or three months. It depends individually on your Maine Coon friend, whether he likes bathing or not, as well as on you how you will build it as a habit. The good thing about bathing is that it sheds most of the shedding fur and won't tangle in bunches. We recommend Grooming with an experienced specialist who will help you and show you how to handle it. As with all cats, regular vaccination once a year and parasite control monthly or every few months depending on whether your friend goes outside is recommended
