Maine Coon
Temperament:
*A Gentle Giant
*People Oriented, but not Dependent
*Relaxed
*Amusing
*Companionable
"Maines reach full size between three and five years of age."
Maine Coons are as well loved for their purrsonalities as for their rugged good looks.
These Down East, down-home cats are robust, peaceable and gentle. Playful and unfailingly
good natured, this cat remains kittenish throughout its entire life- the perfect pet for
active families. |
| Head: Large; high cheekbones, squared muzzle |
| Eyes: Large, round, slightly slanted and wide apart; usually green, gold, or copper;
white cats may have blue or odd eyes |
| Ears: Large, wide at the base; well tufted |
| Body: Medium to very large; sturdy, large boned, muscular, broad chested |
| Coat: Heavy and shaggy, smooth and silky; longer on the ruff, stomach, and breeches |
| Tail: Long, bushy, tapered |
| Patterns: Nearly all colors and patterns |
Breed History: Considered the first native American longhair, the Maine Coon is one of the oldest
natural breeds in North America. A number of fascinating legends add to its charm.
One theory held that the Maine Coon resulted from a cross between a raccoon and a cat-
which is how the "Coon Cat" got its name. This legend was supported by the Maine
Coon's bushy tail and its often raccoon like coloration- but, in fact, the cross is
genetically unfeasible. Another colorful theory holds that the Maine Coon descended from
six longhaired cats sent to Wicasset, Maine, by Marie Antoinette before she was to be
smuggled out of France before the French Revolution. Still another folk tale traces the
Maine Coon back to a sea captain named Coon, who brought Persian and Angora cats to North
America and so introduced the longhaired gene to the New World.
Today, the consensus is that the Maine Coon descended from matings between shorthaired
American cats and longhairs brought from overseas- either Angoras used as rat catchers by
New England seamen or ancestors of the Norwegian Forest Cat brought by the Vikings. |
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