Maine Coon | Felis catus | Maine Coon facts and how to take care of them

 

        the Maine coon is the oldest cat breed native to America, and it’s possible the breed originated when the Vikings and other European sailors arrived in America with long-haired cats that were bred with native short-haired cats and voila the Maine coon breed was created. Considering this, it’s pretty sad to learn that Maine Coons almost disappeared not a long time ago. Once the stars of cat competitions, MaineCoon cats began losing their popularity in the 1900s, due to other breeds being brought in the country. They were even declared extinct in the 1950s. Luckily this didn’t turn out to be the case. Due to the extraordinary breeding efforts of a few Maine Coon breeders, these cats continued to exist. Nowadays, Maine Coons regained the fame they once held, being Us’s second cat breed in terms of numbers and popularity. You can truly say the Maine Coons were reborn from their own ashes. 

  

    They’re often called gentle giants, due to their loving nature. But, even if they’re very people-oriented, these cats aren’t needy or dependent. They like to hang out with their humans in an easygoing, laid back kind of way. Maine Coon cats may not be lap cats, but are calm, even-tempered, affectionate, and comical cats. Maine Coon cats are indeed big. Males weigh between twelve to eighteen pounds Big males can weigh up to 25 pounds and females’ weight is usually between 10-15lbs With this in mind, it might be a good thing they do not lap cats! Maine Coons are fascinated by water, perhaps because their thick coats are water-repellent and won’t become annoyingly soaked as easily as a thinner coat would. Some will join their humans in the shower briefly, or at least walk around on the wet floor after you get out. They’re bumpers. They love showing their affection by bumping their head against yours, a very cute behavior if you ask me. Maine Coons are laid back so they get along with kids or even dogs. But don’t go and get one just yet, as there's one thing you really need to consider before getting one, and we’ll talk about this little bit later. They have a reputation for being “dog-like,” but they’re also intelligent. As a result, most of them enjoy a good fetch game. Maine Coons love to bat things around the floor, but they’re not avid jumpers or climbers. So a cat tree might not be needed for your Maine Coon, saving you some bucks. Fun Fact: You may know that the longest cat that ever existed was a Maine Coon, but you’ll be surprised to learn that another Maine Coon named Missi holds the record for the longest whiskers. They measured a whopping 7.5 inches Maine Coon cats are Maine’s official state cat. And if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you might already know that Mrs. Norris, the pet cat of Argus Filch is a Maine Coon.

      Maine Coons come in every color and pattern you can imagine, except lavender, chocolate, or pointed like a “Siamese.” And if you can’t imagine many colors or patterns, know there are more than 60 possible color combinations. Now that's a lot of colors They live between 12 to 15 years. Not the longest, but still a good chunk of time. As we already know, they have long fur, which means that grooming them is a must. You absolutely must brush them twice a week, to avoid any hard to remove dangles. You’ll also need to bathe them once a month, not just using a regular cat shampoo, but also a degreaser. Before the shampoo. And they will require professional grooming a few times a year. If that sounds like too much of a hassle for you, we get it. But it also means that you and Maine Coonsmight are not a perfect match. And that’s ok, as there are plenty other cat breeds to learn about and also regular cats, that might not be of any breed, but will love you just as much. And if the last fact didn’t turn you off, you might be wondering, how much do they cost? Well, you should expect to pay anywhere from$400 - $1000 for a Maine Coon kitten in the US and about £500 in the UK. Don’t go for a lower price and look for accredited breeders. What’s your favorite fact about Maine Cooncats? Tell us in the comments below.