Maine Coon

A large fluffy body, a striped tail, cute tassels on the ears ... This Maine Coon is a large aboriginal cat of American origin. The unusual appearance of the pets gave rise to the myth that the genetic material of the American raccoon was used in their breeding. Fortunately, this is just a legend. Having got to know the Maine Coon better, you can understand that by nature it is a domestic cat to the bone. Although he still does not occupy some peculiarities of morals.

Characteristics of Maine Coon cats - character and habits

Maine Coon is distinguished by restraint and poise. These are phlegmatic animals, accustomed to contemplating life. For the most part, they are calm, practically do not show aggression, do not bite or scratch.

In a relationship with a person, Maine Coons maintain independence and independence. They are friendly and outgoing but do not like familiar relationships. Maine Coon will not tolerate if they try to pick him up, will reject attempts to wrinkle or cuddle. He sets the boundaries of his contact with the owner himself.

In his youth, the Maine Coon, like any kitten, is very active. He is not alien to the typical cat games and pranks: running around the apartment and even petty hooliganism in the form of thrown pots of flowers. Timely socialization and the upbringing of kittens are important measures that determine the future relationship between owners and their pets.

An adult Maine Coon cat prefers a more relaxed lifestyle. Most of the day, he prefers to doze, sitting somewhere next to the owner, to whom he is very attached throughout his life.

By nature, Maine Coons are excellent hunters and do not miss the opportunity to hone their skills during a trip to nature or to the country. The intelligence level of these cats is incredibly high (5 points out of 5 possible). Excellent memory, the ability to make decisions on their own are the necessary qualities to survive in the wild. Today these skills can be used in training. They are very trainable and able to master fairly complex commands. According to the level of assimilation of information, Maine Coons are compared with dogs.

Experts note that cats and cats differ not only in size but also in character traits.

Cats are more independent. Non-castrated individuals can show aggression associated with sexual behavior. Sexually mature cats actively mark the territory. Modern castration and sterilization will help correct the situation.
Cats are more affectionate and attached to their owner. They are excellent mothers and take good care of kittens, not leaving them unattended for a minute.

Maine Coons are unforgiving and not vindictive. They quickly understand what the owner's mood is and build behavior in accordance with it. Suitable for beginner owners

Description of the breed

Maine Coon is one of the most popular, but also unusual breeds. The main distinguishing features of the breed are funny tassels on the ears, an elongated muzzle, and a wise, almost human look. Behind a serious and not entirely benevolent look, there is a gentle soul. Maine Coons grow up late and retain their childish qualities for a long time - mobility, love of play. Maine Coon biorhythms are such that he is more active in the morning and evening. And in the middle of the day, he likes to indulge in daytime sleep.

The long, luxurious coat of pets is their main decoration and protection, but at the same time, it requires constant care. Like all aboriginal breeds, Maine Coons have good health potential. Maine Coons are unpretentious and hardy. Currently, there are several breed standards registered in various systems (TICA, FIFE, WCF). The descriptions of the exterior in them do not differ noticeably.

Appearance - what the Maine Coon looks like

The Maine Coon's appearance was greatly influenced by many years of life in the harsh climate of Maine. Here, in the conditions of long, cold winters, cats were forced to live and get food for themselves. The long, waterproof guard hair and thick undercoat provided good protection from the cold. Wide, well-pubescent paws helped to move through deep snow. The elongated shape of the head was needed to penetrate the holes of the rodents. Large body sizes gave an advantage when defending against enemies. All exterior features are described in detail by the breed standard proposed by the American TICA Association:

The large Maine Coon head has the shape of a modified wedge. The cheekbones are large and high. The frontal part is significantly rounded. The stop line is well defined. When viewed in profile, it can be seen that the bridge of the nose is a smooth arc. The muzzle is square. The chin is large, in line with the nose and upper lip. The nose is small and well pigmented. The pads of the whiskers (whiskers) are large.

The ears are medium in size. Set on straight, with a slight forward bend. The base is wide, approximately equal to the distance between the ears. The apices are moderately pointed and provided with tassels. The auricle is well pubescent. Long tufts of hair are visible from the inside.

Maine Coon eyes are large, oval-shaped. The outer corners are slightly raised towards the temples. The iris can be in all shades of green and yellow. White individuals with blue eyes.

The neck is of medium length, powerful, strong, with a well-developed muscular corset. Well pubescent. A luxurious collar is welcome.

The body is elongated. The format is rectangular. Thanks to the strong bones and developed muscles, the physique is athletic. A thin skeleton is considered a violation. The back is straight and long. The rib cage is well developed.

The legs are of medium length, very strong and muscular, easily carrying a large body. Paws are also large, very wide, and well-furred. Long tufts of hair between the toes are characteristic. The toes are well-knit, the pads are large, elastic, and pigmented.

The tail is long (equal to the length of the body to the base of the tail). Thick at the base, gradually tapering towards the tip. Kinks, bends are not allowed. In the normal state, it is in a semi-lowered state.

The following violations are characteristic of the shortcomings:

Disorders of the structure of the facial part: defects in the bite, too developed and protruding chin, pronounced hump at the end of the bridge of the nose, absence of afoot, too inclined ears, wide apart ears, too elongated and slanted eyes, rounded head.
Skeletal disorders: elongated limbs, thin bones, shortened or kinked tails. Short body, small body, polydactyly.
Deficiencies in coat and color. The short or sparse undercoat, no belly hair, equal length of guard hair.

American type

Maine Coons of the American type are considered classics of the breed. They have a natural confirmation that is especially appreciated by American breeders. The country is constantly working to increase the population of American Maine Coons. For breeding of this type, individuals with pronounced classic features of the exterior are selected.

Maine Coons of the American type have strong bones and well-developed muscles. They are characterized by a wide chest, athletic body. The American has small, high-set ears, rounded, eyes are only slightly elongated to the temples. They have a high, convex forehead, the transition to the front part is a smooth arc.

The special pride of the American Maine Coon is its richly pubescent luxurious tail, which plays the role of a warm litter in the winter season. Of all the colors among Americans, the most common color is tabby (forest color) with bright and contrasting stripes and a clear transition from light to dark tones.

European type

In the 70s of the twentieth century, Maine Coons first came to the countries of Europe, which was the beginning of the work on the breeding of another species - a special European type of cat. Breeders from Europe have set the goal of developing a Maine Coon variety with extreme features, previously uncharacteristic for cats of this breed.

Maine Coons of the European type have acquired a more elongated and larger body. Their foreheads became lower, and their muzzles were elongated and narrowed. The ears are larger and the legs are longer.

The European can be recognized by the changed shape of the eyes. They stretched out to the temples, which made the muzzle take on a predatory expression. The coat has become a little shorter (in particular, they lack a fluffy collar and pants).

For the European Maine Coon, a smoky gray color is more characteristic. Outwardly, Europeans have a more decorative appearance than the Americans - a native of the wild coasts of the North Atlantic.

The size

Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds. An adult cat reaches a height of 25 to 41 cm at the withers. And the length of the animal's body, including the tail, can reach one meter and twenty centimeters (body length without a tail is up to 90 cm). Maine Coons grow up to the age of 3-5 years (at 7-8 months the cat's teeth change).

The size of the body of the Maine Coon significantly stands out from other cat breeds, starting from the very birth.

The weight

An adult Maine Coon stands out among other cat breeds not only in height but also in weight:

The weight of an adult cat varies from 5.9 to 8.2 kg. After castration, animals still gain weight, reaching 12 kg.
The weight of the female is only 3.6-5.4 kg (after sterilization - up to 8.5 kg).

As you can see, these pets have significant dimorphism. Cats are about a quarter larger than cats.

Newly born kittens are much heavier than their counterparts of other breeds (the weight of a healthy kitten is 180-190 g). Babies gain significant weight every month. In general, the weight table looks like this:

Wool

Maine Coons are a type of semi-long-haired cat. The length of the guard hair is from 10 to 15 cm, and it is not the same on different parts of the body. The shortest hair on the head. It becomes longer in the back area and reaches its maximum length in the area of the tail and pants. In addition, the American subtype has developed decorating hair on the neck and nape.

The density of the wool is also not the same. The upper back is covered with a tougher topcoat. A soft, downy undercoat is more developed on the sides and abdomen. On cold days, it warms, protects from wind and rain.

The structure of the Maine Coon's coat changes with the season. In summer, coons are covered with summer hair, it is shorter and lighter. By winter, they are covered with dense, thick wool with a more developed undercoat.

Colors

All variants of natural colors are allowed by the standard. Coons are characterized by a huge variety of colors. For better classification, four types are distinguished:

plain or solid;
striped or tabby;
smoky;
tortoiseshell color.

Of the monochromatic colors, black, white, red (red), cream, blue (gray), and silver colors are popular.

Among the tabby colors, there are varieties of classic (marble), brindle, ticked, as well as black marble and black marble on silver.

Of the smoky ones, blue smoke is very attractive (at the roots - the wool is white, the tips are blue).

Tortoiseshell color (like any tricolor) is inherent only in cats, but not in cats.

If we are talking about artificial colors that appeared in Maine Coons after carrying out selection experiments for crossing with other breeds, then they may not be accepted by the standards of various systems. These include color point, chocolate, lavender, tipping.

Life expectancy - how many Maine Coons live at home

With good care, a healthy lifestyle (balanced diet, physical activity, no stress), the Maine Coon will live an active and long life. The average life span is 13-15 years. But there are many examples when a pet lived for 18, 20, and even 25 years.

Are Maine Coon cats hypoallergenic or not? How often do they shed?

Like any longhaired cat, the Maine Coon sheds actively. Molting can be both seasonal and permanent. In addition, it can be associated with hormonal changes or health conditions.

Coon hair lives and develops in the follicle for about 25 days. After maturation, it separates from the hair follicle. The animal needs constant brushing. Otherwise, the fallen undercoat will become tangled.

Seasonal molting is a natural phenomenon that occurs twice a year during the off-season. During this time, the animal sheds most of its coat to prepare for summer or winter.

Age-related molting indicates hormonal changes in the body. This is a normal physiological phenomenon (possible causes are puberty, as well as pregnancy and childbirth in females).

Pathological molting can occur as a symptom of a particular disease. Most often it is a consequence of improper diet, allergic reaction, endocrine pathology. The hair loss associated with the disease is focal in nature. In a cat, the area of the ears or neck, the base of the tail, and the abdomen become bald.

Maine Coon is not a hypoallergenic breed. Cat allergy is caused by a special protein contained in all secretions (dandruff, saliva, urine) of the pet. Microscopic particles are released into the air during licking. Long hair in this case contributes to the spread of the allergen and is a reservoir for it (that is, it promotes accumulation). Before getting a Maine Coon cat, allergic people are recommended to do a test for this type of allergen.

Is the Maine Coon a friendly breed?

Maine Coons are naturally sociable and friendly. Thanks to their positive disposition, they can easily find a language with all family members, both young and old. All owners note the kind disposition of pets, which does not quite correspond to their formidable appearance. This does not prevent them from maintaining independence and independence.

Most cats are wary of strangers who come into the house. Having adopted a little, they become more supportive and can even allow themselves to be stroked, but no more. All attempts to hold in his arms or get to know each other more closely, Kun will reject with dignity.

Attitude towards children

Maine Coons do not mature psychologically for a very long time - until they reach the age of 3-5 years. And all this time they remain playful kittens and take part in children's games with pleasure. But even at this age, they do not welcome familiarity. In order for the relationship to work out, a small child will need to be explained that one should not drag the cat by the whiskers, tail, or sit on top of it.

Fortunately, aggression in these cats is extremely rare. Many owners note that during the entire time the animal lived in the house, it never released its claws or scratched anyone. Maine Coons are peaceful, patient, affectionate. But they know their worth.

How aggressive is the breed?

Aggression in the modern Maine Coon is extremely rare and is considered a behavioral disorder. The vast majority of representatives of the breed have a phlegmatic or sanguine type of temperament.

Phlegmatic people prefer to be at rest most of the day. They do not differ in their aggressive or obstinate nature.
Maine Coons-sanguine love all household members and strive to participate in the life of the family. They are very curious and friendly.

Coons with a more lively temperament are less common. They can react unkindly to the situation, which will manifest itself as disobedience or ignorance of the owner. A possible cause of aggression is genetic disorders, mental disorders, hormonal disruptions, hidden trauma. Maine Coon aggression is often directed at a stranger.

A gratuitous attack for the Maine Coon is an extreme rarity. A one-off incident already gives cause for concern. In case of repetition, you will need to find out the cause of the violation and try to correct the situation.

Relationship to other animals

Maine Coon is a leader animal by nature. For this reason, collisions are possible between him and another pet living with him in the same territory. The big cat will try to defend the position of the leader. Its impressive size allows it to adhere with dignity not only in front of cats but also in front of dogs.

Small rodents and birds are not recommended to be kept in the same room with the Maine Coon, since nobody canceled the hunting instinct. Being in nature, they love to hunt birds. It has been proven that an adult Maine Coon can destroy all nests of small birds within a radius of up to 2 km. The hunting instinct of these cats is very strong.

Playfulness

Up to 3-4 years old Maine Coons remain kittens and, despite their large size, they are worn and played like babies. Since these animals love to sit at a height, an urgent need when introducing a pet into the house is the construction of a cat complex. This will provide him with an adequate level of physical activity from the comfort of his home. There should be various opportunities for the cat - climbing, sharpening claws, jumping, contemplating the world. While the owners are at work, an arsenal of toys and cat puzzles will help you not get bored

How does loneliness endure

Maine Coon values the society of people very much, so long loneliness is unacceptable for him. Lack of contact with the owner causes boredom and bewilderment, and even depression. If you need to leave for a long time, you should invite some of your friends to live with the animal in order to brighten up his loneliness during the absence of the owners.

Breeders recommend keeping Maine Coon cats only for those people who spend a lot of time at home.

Potential health problems

Maine Coons, like all aboriginal cat breeds, naturally have excellent genetic health. The tendency to a number of diseases was formed later, during the period of breeding work, when attempts were made to cross. Of the serious pathologies, the Maine Coon is diagnosed with:

heart disease (cardiomyopathy);
polycystic kidney disease;
dysplasia of the hip joint;
spinal muscular atrophy.

Diseases are diagnosed mainly in adulthood, and often at a later stage.

Coons are characterized by skin diseases, expressed in focal alopecia, peeling. The reason is improper care, too frequent contact with water, poor quality skincare products.

A properly organized balanced diet is important for the sensitive digestive system of Maine Coon. Overeating, which can turn into obesity, should not be allowed.

Urolithiasis is common in cats that don't drink enough and don't exercise enough. Sterilized cats are most susceptible to it.

In order to detect diseases in time and prevent their development, the Coon must be regularly taken to preventive veterinary examinations.

Kittens cost

When deciding to purchase a Maine Coon kitten, you should decide in advance which type of exterior is more attractive. Each of them is unique in its own way. American Maine Coons are distinguished by a stockier figure, round eyes, and a luxurious fur coat. Maine Coons of the European type have an elongated body, slanted eyes, a long tail, and pronounced tassels on the ears.

Kittens are sold at the age of 4-5 months. By this time, they are sufficiently socialized, trained to walk on the tray, and know their nickname. When choosing a pet, you should pay attention to a more active and curious kitten who is easy to contact. The appearance should also be at its best: shiny eyes, bright, clean coat, soft tummy.

High-quality maintenance of a Maine Coon kitten in the cattery is quite expensive, which translates into a considerable price for kittens. Representatives of the show and breed class (worthy successors of the genus, with an excellent exterior), as well as representatives of rare colors, are most highly valued. The cost of kittens, depending on the class, is as follows:

Pet-class kittens cost from 20 to 30 thousand rubles. (while male kittens are more expensive).
The cost of breed-class kittens is 40-50 thousand rubles.
Show-class kittens cost 50-100 thousand rubles.

Maine Coon cattery

"Absolute-effect" (Moscow)
CountryLynx.RU (Tver region)
"Bartalameo" (Kiev)
"Country of Gullivers" (Ivanovo)
"Crystal Orchid" (Moscow)
"FROM SOVA" (Crimea)
"Yaroslavl pride" nursery (Yaroslavl)
"Tri D" nursery (Moscow)
"Stark" nursery (MO, settlement Kraskovo)
"House in Raksi" nursery (St. Petersburg)

Need for care

Maine Coon cats need standard grooming procedures for any longhaired cat. Care for the coat should be done regularly. Cats are combed twice a week with a comb and massage brush. At the same time, hairs are captured along the entire length, paying special attention to careful combing out of the undercoat. It will be more difficult to remove the mats.

The Maine Coon should be washed once every two to three months. As a rule, they love this procedure and take it calmly. It is important to use only high-quality shampoos so as not to cause a reaction on sensitive skin.

Maine Coon's external auditory canals are periodically cleared of ear discharge. To keep the auricle always soft pink, the auricle is also cleaned with a soft swab and gently massaged.

Eyes should also be wiped with a swab dipped in a mild antiseptic, such as a weak solution of boric acid or lotion. Move from the outer corners of the eyes, paying particular attention to the inner corners. Sour eyes are a sign of an eye infection. In this case, the Maine Coon should be shown to the doctor.

The Maine Coon quickly grows unusually sharp and has strong claws. A large nail clipper or pruner is required to handle the claws. There should be several scratching posts in the house since the pet loves to sharpen its claws about everything it sees.

Balanced feeding is very important for the Maine Coon. The main emphasis is placed on protein foods that support performance and build muscles. The diet for cats with sensitive digestion should be carefully selected. Maine Coon is good for beef, rabbit, turkey, or chicken (if not allergic). As a supplement, sea fish, quail eggs, dairy products (cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir), cereals, and vegetables will be useful.

When feeding dry food, you should choose only high-quality food with high protein content. Royal Canin produces specialized food for Maine Coon cats, Royal Canin Maine Coon Adult. Among other brands, you can choose the following:

Happy Cat Large Breed;
Sanabelle Grande;
Mera Finest Fit "Giant";
Bozita Feline Funktion Large dry food;
Brit Care Tobby I'm a Large Cat.

Maintenance cost

Given the large size of the Maine Coon, it can be understood that a rather large amount of money will be spent on maintenance every month. Costs begin with the purchase of a basic kit. In order for the purchased items to last longer, you should pay attention to high-quality ones.

House for a large breed cat - 6,500 rubles.
Tray - about 2,000 rubles.
Clumping filler Pi-Pi-Bent Classic - 550 rubles. (packing 10 kg, enough for 2 months)
Bowls for food and water - 1,000 rubles.
Large scratching post "Kotomaster" - 2,400 rubles.
Harness for walking - 2,000 rubles.
Large carry, if you have to travel to the vet - 1,730 rubles.
Toys - about 500 rubles.

Total: 16 680 rubles.

Game installation (you may have to make to order) - up to 16,000 rubles.

Total: 32 680 rubles.

Nutrition

When feeding with dry food, the costs will be as follows:

A package of food for Maine Coon cats Royal Canin Maine Coon Adult (4 kg) costs 2,757 rubles. This amount of food is enough for a pet for a month.

When feeding with natural food, a cat will need about 7 kg of meat for 300 rubles per month. per kilogram:

7x300 = 2 100 rubles.

Additionally, about 2,000 rubles will be spent on food per month.

Total: 4 100 rubles. per month.

Veterinary

In the event that the pet is healthy, spending on veterinary medicine will include the cost of an annual preventive examination and other preventive procedures:

Annual medical examination of a cat, including an external examination, a general blood test, an ultrasound scan, selection of a diet, recommendations of a veterinarian - 8,000 rubles.
Annual vaccination with a complex imported vaccine - 1,700 rubles.
Preventive deworming - 500 rubles.
Sterilization - 2,500 rubles.

Total: 12,700 rubles.

In case of illness, if the pet has to be admitted to the hospital, the costs are as follows:

A day of stay of an animal in a hospital costs 5,500 rubles. (this includes examination, consultation, infusion therapy, injections, local treatment, taking tests). A weekly hospital stay will cost 38,500 rubles.

Grooming

The costs for home grooming are as follows (if you care for your pet's coat yourself):

A set for combing long-haired cats (massage brush, comb with sparse long teeth, comb with frequent, shorter teeth) - 1,200 rubles.
Nail clipper - 633 rubles.
Royal Groom shampoo for long-haired animals - 599 rubles.
Lotion for ears Pchelodar - 267 rubles.
Cliny eye lotion - 259 rubles.

Total: 2 958 rubles.

Professional grooming (going to the grooming salon):

The “complex care” procedure, including bathing, haircut (optional), claw trimming, hair mask, ear cleaning, drying costs 2,400 rubles.

Exhibitions

The total cost of participation in the exhibition depends on the size of the entrance fee, the class of the event, how many cats will participate in the event, the number of days of presence, and transportation costs. Approximately, the cost of participation in the exhibition will look like this.

Exhibition fee - 2,500 rubles.
Veterinarian certificate - 600 rubles.
Preparation of an animal - 3,000 rubles.
Exhibition tent - 5,000 rubles.
Folding tray, filler, lounger, diapers, water, food - 3-4 thousand rubles.
Participation in rings and shows - 500 rubles.

Total: 15 600 rubles.

In the event that the owner or breeder plans to participate with several animals, the cost of participation may increase up to 100,000 rubles.

Should I have a Maine Coon in an apartment?

A large Maine Coon will feel great in a spacious house, where there is a lot of space, air, and light for him. Ideally, there is also an adjoining territory where the cat can run freely, hunt, and bask in the sun.

But apartment maintenance for these cats is also acceptable. True, in this case, the owners will have to work hard to ensure a sufficient level of physical activity for their pets. You will need to organize regular harness walks. Maine Coon is very fond of traveling, going out into nature. And for home warm-ups, the cat is made a game complex with a large number of levels, surfaces, ladders.

Pros and cons of the breed

The owners of these luxurious animals love their pets. They can talk for hours about their good nature, calm dignity, lack of aggressive features. Most owners fearlessly leave children with these good-natured giants, knowing that they will not offend. And the appearance? It is simply impossible to stop looking at them! This look is full of dignity, luxurious fur, cute tassels on the ears ... Often, Maine Coons delight with very rare and beautiful colors. In addition, they are not vindictive, not vindictive, they do not impose their society, they easily accept the lifestyle of the family in which they live. Once in the country, the Maine Coon catches mice perfectly.

Of the negative qualities - the relatively high cost of content. The animal can only be fed with expensive quality food that does not irritate the digestive system. Long hair must be looked after very carefully. They do not always eat neatly and may spread the filler with their paws. Maine Coon excrement is always abundant and smells unpleasant. Adult Maine Coons can get sick, so medical examinations are a mandatory annual procedure.

History of the breed

According to historians, Maine Coons were separated into a separate breed about 200 years ago. It is an aboriginal breed, native to northeastern America, Maine. How was the breed bred and why did the cats get such a strange name? Maine coon means men sky raccoon (raccoon from Maine). Indeed, there is a belief that the breed was bred artificially, as a result of crossing a cat with a raccoon. This idea was suggested by the unusual exterior of cats - a large body, thick hair, an elongated muzzle, a fluffy tail with stripes. But this is just a legend.

In fact, the ancestors of modern Maine Coons are cats that arrived in Maine with the first settlers. Having found themselves in difficult conditions of existence (the state of Maine has always been distinguished by harsh, snowy winters), they went through a difficult path of evolution. The most viable was the largest cats with a thick developed undercoat and strong paws. It was easier for individuals with a long muzzle to hunt for rodents, ruining their burrows. Those who successfully adapted to the conditions of existence left viable offspring.

The first owners of the ancient Maine Coons were local farmers who appreciated cats for their tenacious claws and unique hunting abilities. In the 19th century, big cats were first shown at the cat show in Boston, where they made a splash. This served as a starting point for their further development.

Having survived several ups and downs, Maine Coons have firmly established themselves as one of America's most beloved cat breeds. And this event was marked by the creation of the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association in 1968. In Europe, the first Maine Coons appeared in the 70s of the twentieth century.

Interesting facts about Maine Coon cats

Maine Coons are repeatedly mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records. They hold first place in many nominations among domestic cats: the longest body (123 cm), the longest whiskers (19 cm), the longest tail. Finally, they are the longevity leaders among cats. Maine Coon named Velvet lived for 27 years.
Maine Coons are often born with many fingers (polydactylism). It is believed that among cats living in the wild, there were a lot of carriers of this mutation (up to 40%). It has been proven that the presence of a mutated gene does not in any way affect the general health of animals.
Many coons love to swim. They cannot live without new experiences and adore walks with the owner.
Maine Coons are the first cat breed, one of which has been closed.
It is interesting to hear how the Maine Coon meows. Despite their impressive body size, many coons have delicate voices. When communicating, they emit a kind of cooing, not very reminiscent of a cat's meow.
They are very prolific. The litter can contain up to 10 kittens.

Owner reviews

Elena: Our Delia is a very talkative girl. Something is constantly purring or meowing. She is very active, moves a lot, but inaccurately. It rushes like a small tank, demolishing everything in its path. Very curious and stubborn. Leskovac loves to be stroked and purrs gratefully in response, which is strangely combined with her majestically gloomy pug. Sharing is very lively, interesting, it is never boring with her.

Lydia: Having entered the house, the cat immediately learned where her tray was and did not allow, subsequently, a single incident. Immediately I realized where you can eat and drink water. So I got a black ponytail that accompanies me everywhere. I had to move very carefully so as not to step on. She literally burst into our lives. She likes it when everyone is there. Constantly demands attention and purrs without ceasing. When I sit down to work, he jumps onto the table and plays with the cursor, overlapping the screen. Likes to lie on a hill and watch, but never dropped anything. All vases and decor items are intact.

Sergey: We had 3 cats. By nature, all good-natured, obedient, playful, talkative. But they all have one drawback - they did not like their hands. Now we have Sema. He is very sociable, he walks behind me, watches everything. At first, I tried to lead a nightlife - I slept during the day, played, and ran at night. Gradually weaned him from this. In general, this is a very smart cat, he has learned to bring a stick like a dog. I can responsibly declare: Maine Coons are wonderful cats in every way. I love this breed.

Similar breeds

The Siberian cat has a lot in common with the Maine Coon. This is also a very large cat with half-length hair (the weight of an adult male reaches 8 kg). The creation of the breed was attended by Norwegian forest cats brought to Siberia by settlers, as well as representatives of local breeds adapted to the harsh climate of Siberia. The offspring obtained after crossing turned out to be very viable and healthy. Modern Siberians are real beauties. In many ways, they are similar in appearance to Maine Coons. They are very developed physically. The fluffy coat makes them even more massive. They are distinguished by intelligence, excellent hunters. They are affectionate to the owners but do not like strangers. They adore children, play with them with pleasure. Not aggressive at all.

Norwegian forest - another large cat breed (an adult cat reaches 10 kg). Representatives of the breed delight the owners with excellent health, stable psyche, high adaptogenic abilities. They do not require complex maintenance. The breed was born in the forests of Scandinavia in the 16th century. Angora cats that came to the north from Ankara are considered their ancestors. The southern beauties had to significantly change their physique, the structure of wool and claws, and habits in order to survive in the harsh conditions of the north. Modern Norwegian forestry is balanced, unemotional, and non-conflicting. Keeps the boundaries of personal space very strictly. Despite affection for their owners, cats may show a craving for wildlife. They strive for independence, love to hunt. In the family, their friendliness extends to all members, including small children and animals.

Similar breeds include mestizo-kittens obtained from crossing Maine Coon with cats of other breeds. This is a Fold Maine Coon - a cross between a Maine Coon and a Scottish Fold; short-haired Maine Coon, obtained after crossing Maine Coon with a British. A smooth-haired kitten can also be born from the union of a Maine Coon with a Bengal cat