Beautiful white Maine Coon for cat lovers of this breed

Where did the breed come from?

An unusual and amazing Maine Coon breed. Its description, the name itself, literally translated as Manx cat, are very interesting. According to some data, the weight of the animal can reach as much as 15 kg.

Of all the known breeds, this is one of the largest, but despite this, the large Maine Coon easily gets along in the house and, I must say, gets along well with all its inhabitants. Harmonious relationships are achieved even with dogs. The length of the Maine is coon, the height of an adult is also large.

Cat sizes

Are Maine Coons as huge as they often say? What is the real height and weight of a Maine Coon?

It depends on who you compare these amazing animals with: if with other domestic cats, then yes, Maine Coons are simply huge! When with dogs and other predatory cats, then no, they are not very big!

When they tell you that there are Maine Coons weighing more than 30 kg, you don’t need to believe it, it’s a visual illusion! These cats are quite flexible, graceful and light-boned. They may appear very large in size due to their relatively thick coat, as well as the length of their body and tail.

The maximum weight of a Maine Coon was officially registered at 12 kg , no more. In length, this breed can reach a size of up to 1 meter (naturally, including the tail and body).

A little history

These kittens are known for their high intelligence and self-confidence. The very name of this breed translates as “cat raccoons”. Indeed, their coat is very similar to that of raccoons.

Thanks to climatic conditions, Maine Coon kittens have such a thick coat. In the places where representatives of this breed were bred, the main emphasis was on agriculture. And such animals helped in becoming excellent mouse hunters. Therefore, the goal of the breeders was to breed pets that would be huge in size and lead an active lifestyle. This is exactly how these kittens turned out.

Starting from the 50s of the 19th century, Maine Coons began to take part in various cat shows. Thanks to this, such animals have become quite famous in many large and small towns in America. This breed began to compete with other known species. They were as popular as Persian or Angora cats.

But already in the twentieth century, interest in such cats began to gradually fade away. These animals again became helpers in the household. And starting from 1953, the breeding of representatives of this breed began to be actively pursued again. Thus, cats have become popular again not only in the USA, but also in other countries and continents. They again began to take first place in the ranking of furry animals. Many people began to purchase them so that their pets would please their eyes and become friends for all family members.

Maine Coon, the description of the breed, perhaps encourages many animal lovers to find out as much information as possible about the pet. Thus, it is known that the approximate time when people started talking about the breed seriously was no less than half a century ago.

It is quite possible that the Maine Coon, whose video is very popular on the Internet, is the result of a successful crossing of short-haired cats living in New England, in Maine, with imported long-haired cats that came to the territory thanks to the movement of traders. However, this, again, is one of the well-known versions.

It was widespread in America in the nineteenth century. It is worth saying that at that time Maine Coon kittens, whose photos now cause delight among many, did not attract the public attention they deserved. And this lasted until the breed was presented at the exhibition.

It is known that the black Maine Coon received a winner's medal, which has been preserved to this day and is in the CFA club.

With the advent of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, cats with pointy ears again became unpopular, and interest in them fell sharply. What this is connected with is unknown.

But, a few years later, already in the mid-twentieth century, fans of the Maine Coon animal began to correct the situation. Their photos were collected and presented in specialized clubs.

And what pushed them to take such a serious step was the announcement that the breed could be considered extinct... Thanks to considerable efforts, by 1956 it was possible to create a standard for individuals of this breed.

Almost twenty years later, the club was considered a serious organization and was treated with due respect. Currently, the adult Maine Coon ranks third in popularity. At the same time, it is worth adding that the first two places belong to exotic cats, the interest in which is quite obvious.

Breed Features

Representatives of this species have a rather unusual appearance. They have a powerful build, graceful muzzles and tufted ears that make these pets very similar to lynxes.

Also, these cute animals have large and beautiful eyes. Although they are a little askew, this does not detract from the majesty of the representatives of this breed. Typically, their eyes are green, but can also be amber or golden. About Maine Coon cats in the description of the breed it is said that they have a rather powerful chest.

This breed is considered one of the few species of natural origin. Therefore, it cannot be said about these kittens that they were individually bred. Due to the fact that in the state where they were bred it is quite cold, such animals have a warm coat that protects their body well in the cold season.

Since such cats often walked in the snow, their paws are rough with fur between the toes, which also warms them.

Representatives of the Maine Coon breed can reach up to 110 centimeters in height. Their weight can be up to 4-8 kilograms if they are cats, and from 8 to 12 if they are cats. A purebred pet's head is slightly elongated, with raised cheekbones near the muzzle. They can live from 15 to 20 years.

When talking about representatives of a particular breed, it is extremely important to note their characteristics. The Big Maine Coon is also no exception and certainly attracts attention. Indeed, the peculiarity of the cat lies in its incredibly large size, long hair and muscular, strong body.

The shape of the animal's chest is rectangular. The animal's head is large, and its muzzle features are expressive. A powerful neck of medium length only adds to the animal's stature.

The characteristic features of a cat are its ears, which are pointed at the ends. It is by these that the Maine Coon breed is most often recognized. Black, red or any other color of this animal does not go unnoticed.

What else can you say about the favorite of many pets? Perhaps the fact is that the Maine Coon, videos of which are presented in large numbers on the Internet, has very beautiful, expressive eyes.

Their color is usually green or golden. And their peculiarity is a slight slant.

Paws, when it comes to Maine Coon, the description of this breed also deserves attention. Cats have them - long and strong, incredibly strong, such that they can definitely withstand the weight of an adult.

The hair tufts located between the toes are also a kind of feature of the presented animal.

It is quite possible that its development is a consequence of adaptation to the harsh Russian winters (as well as long hair). The Maine Coon's tail is very fluffy and also large, conical in shape. Its peculiarity is its pointed end.

Interesting fact about animal fur. Long in the main part, on the shoulders and head it is, on the contrary, very short. The longest hairs are observed in the abdomen, on the back and sides. The undershort also has a dense pile that does not allow cold wind to pass through.

Genetic diseases

Maine Coons are prone to certain genetic diseases, the risk of developing which, however, is not great if you buy a kitten from reliable breeders.

• Hip dysplasia is not a life-threatening disease, but it causes inconvenience and pain to the animal. Over time, it can develop into osteoarthritis.
• Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic and incurable disease in which neurons in the spinal cord die and muscles gradually atrophy.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a serious heart disease that can kill your pet.

With good care, the Maine Coon's life cycle usually lasts no more than 15 years. This is probably due to their significant size.

Maine Coons are quite expensive. The cost mainly depends on the pedigree, size of the parents and the exterior of these cats. But, when you decide to purchase such an interesting cat, then know: in her person you will find a full-fledged family member and a purring soft “cushion for the sofa.”

Character

Representatives of this breed become favorite pets for many people. Thanks to their huge shape and long hair, they have an attractive appearance. The character of such pets is flexible. They treat quite well both all members of the family in which they live, and other animals that live with them under the same roof.

If you want to buy a Maine Coon, then you should remember that they are quite calm. Kittens can simply sleep peacefully for a long time or lie next to their owner. They also love to play with all family members. These animals are prone to aggression in very rare cases.

Cats of this breed have a high level of intelligence. So, according to the owners of such pets, they will not steal food from the table or chew furniture. These animals clearly understand where the limit is between what they can do and what they can do, and what they cannot do at all.

Maine Coons, although they love to spend time with people, do not require special care or treatment. But, like many other pets, they cannot stand being alone, so leaving them alone for a long time is not recommended.

Smoky, silver

Smoky “coons” stand out from other representatives of the breed due to the color of their hair: its root part is perfectly snow-white. This distinguishes “smoke” from the blue, lightened color.

Smoky options: black, blue, tortoiseshell. The suit has three types:

• regular – the hair is ½ dyed.
• shaded – the hair is ¼ white.
• chinchilla – the colored part is 1/8 of the hair.

Smoky color of Maine Coon:

If the smoky (with a snow-white “root”) coat has patterns, the color is called silver. The kitten is born light-colored; with age, the fur darkens and stripes appear on it. Breeders distinguish the future silver color from white by the shade of the iris. White animals have blue eyes, silver ones have greenish eyes.

Silver "kun":

Character traits

The Maine Coon, whose photos always turn out beautiful and attractive, has a calm disposition by nature. This animal is not aggressive and therefore gets along well with all other animals.

Due to their meekness, representatives of the breed may seem arrogant, but this is far from the case. In fact, they become very attached to their owner and feel sad when he is not at home.

With great pleasure, the Maine Coon, whose size is quite impressive, goes for a walk, allowing him to put on a leash. In general, the disposition of the representatives of the breed is cheerful and good-natured.

When an animal is in the mood, it is not averse to playing and having fun. We can say that until its very maturity, part of the animal remains a Maine Coon kitten.

The weight of the animal and its large size do not interfere with having fun and actively moving. And here it is worth saying once again that, despite their large parameters, the individuals are not fat; on the contrary, their body is very strong, hardy and muscular.

Particular attention should be paid to intelligence. The thing is that by nature this animal is very smart and intelligent.

It has an excellent memory and remembers voices and intonations well, and can recognize its owner from a thousand. If desired, this animal can always be taught various tricks and performing simple tricks.

Working with an animal is a pleasure. Moreover, cats love to walk in nature. You can safely take them with you out of town, on short trips. They also handle the road quite well.

Another unusual side of the cat is its melodic voice, which is also difficult to confuse with any other. Moreover, it is interesting that each individual has its own voice timbre, unlike the others.

Non-aggressive by nature, the animal easily gets along with children, appearing before them as a kind of friend.

But what these cats will not tolerate in their environment is rodents. It is quite possible that such rejection is associated with the brutal instincts still living in the Maine Coon, pushing him to hunt.

On the other hand, a representative of the breed will be simply indispensable for a house in which mice live. With its appearance, such a problem can be forgotten once and for all. The Maine Coon is very attentive to strangers, but he is in no hurry to let people get too close to him, waiting to see how the owner himself will treat the guest.

So, summing up the positive traits that are inherent in the Maine Coon, we can say that these cats by their nature:

• Non-aggressive;
• Obedient;
• Peace-loving;
• Friendly;
• Flexible;
• Calm;
• They respect their masters;
• Get along well with children;
• Not conflicting;
• Unpretentious in care;
• Attractive;
• Smart enough;
• Active;
• Cheerful.

And those who have already read the reviews of Maine Coon owners want to have a pet of this breed. Considering the number of pros and not a single minus, it is very easy to understand them.

Maine Coon cat breed

They are famous for their hunting skills and love to watch birds outside the window. Catching a mosquito or a fly will not be difficult for them. If you suddenly find mice in your country house, feel free to forget about them and leave this matter to them. A distinctive feature of a hunter is his extraordinary mental abilities. He, like the Devon Rex, will never touch small pets and birds that live in the same territory with him. Shows indifference to aquarium fish.

The owner will be pleased with the complete absence of the habit of stealing or begging for tasty things. They simply consider it beneath their dignity, and do not show any interest in their master's food. You can be calm about the contents of your plate, since this cat will never get into it.

Maine Coons are great singers. They have amazing vocal abilities. It is rare to hear them meow, instead they make gentle purrs, purrs and coos. If you have several cats of this breed in the house, you can feel like an inhabitant of the savannah or simply be transported to the night forest; They communicate so interestingly with each other and with the owner. Every human intonation is easily remembered by these cats, and it’s as if you are having a real dialogue with your pet.

Cats of this breed have an entertaining way of “raking” the water in their bowl before they drink it. They can dig for something around the bowl and along the edges for a long time, as if trying to drive something away; they often continue their “excavations” in the water.

It is not uncommon to see Maine Coons picking up food from their bowl with their paw and putting it into their mouth, just like a human eating from a plate with a fork. It is amazing how, at first glance, paws that are completely unsuited for such a task cope with such a difficult task. These cats surprise with their ability to lift small objects from the floor, easily holding them in weight. Nothing is impossible for these cats: they can open interior doors and cabinet doors, and even turn on the water tap.

These cats love water. They are not afraid to bathe; they often turn over a tray of water and climb into sinks and washbasins. Despite their size, they are very fast. When necessary, Maine Coons behave quietly, retract their claws and step on surfaces softly and silently.

Interesting facts about animals

How to care for the breed?

Caring for the breed cannot be called difficult. Food for Maine Coons, for example, is the most common. No specialized additions are required here. You can buy it at any pet store.

What else? Every owner of a purebred Maine Coon cat should be careful about their fur. Since it is very long, it will get confused more often. To avoid this, it needs to be combed from time to time, but this must be done carefully so that the animal does not get hurt.

Particular attention to wool will have to be paid once every year - during molting. A cat can sharpen its long claws using specialized equipment, which can also be purchased at a pet store.

The Maine Coon, which still weighs more than a typical cat, deserves a special place in the house. You can select it at your own discretion, depending on the arrangement of the apartment and other factors.

If one of the household members has the desire and ability to do something with their own hands, you can create favorable conditions for the cat by building a specially equipped place.

By the way, you can also make the popular scratching post yourself, and it’s not very difficult to do. Otherwise, all the necessary equipment can be purchased ready-made in the store.

The furry owner will be very happy with his personal space, a soft basket in which he can sleep or just take a nap after a hearty lunch. You can also please your friend with soft toys. For moments of fun, a loud ball or a squeaky mouse is suitable.

However, it is worth noting that all this attracts young cats more. As they grow up, they become lazier and less agile; as a rule, they no longer have time for games.

Maintenance and care

In order for your Maine Coon cat to feel comfortable in your home, he will need to create favorable conditions. To do this you will need:

• The first step is to choose the right litter tray. In order for the cat to get used to it, for the first time, it is necessary to use such a benefit with short sides. This animal needs to be toilet trained from a very early age, especially if the pet lives with you in an apartment or house.
• The cat must have its own place to rest. Therefore, the owner must immediately make a special bed for the pet, which should ideally suit the pet, given its size.
• You also need to buy toys for these cats.

Such an animal needs to be bathed once every 3-4 months. Carry out a weekly combing procedure. Particular attention will need to be paid to the cat's eyes, ears and teeth.

All about the Maine Coon breed

Adaptation to a new home

If you take a kitten into your home, remember the main rule: it is impossible to forbid an adult cat what was allowed to her at a young age. Therefore, you need to immediately decide in what framework you will put your new pet. If you do not want your pet to sleep in the same bed with you, but to have its own place, equip a “cublo” for it in advance. For your kitten to feel safe, he needs warmth and a soft surface. It is advisable that the pillow be in a basket or box with sides - cats like to sit in cozy, but not completely enclosed places.

When you just brought a Maine Coon, do not rush to limit its movement, cuddle it and carry it with you. Let him look around and get used to the new smells. In any case, being separated from his mother will be stressful for him. The first few days the kitten will miss the cat.

The pet will gradually get used to people. If you often take him in your arms, then within a week you will become his new family. Avoid the temptation to take your kitten to bed for the first 2-3 nights. Most likely he will whine, but with a stranger his stress will only increase. In a few days he will get used to it and stop crying at night. Then you can take him in without fear of causing him emotional harm.

Maine Coons are very active animals, so you can use this to speed up adaptation. Play with it with a lace, a ball, and your hands. If the new family member begins to actively interact with you, you are on the right track. Please note that if there are no other pets in the house, you will have to play with the cat for the next 10-15 years. Because they are full of energy and desire to run after a toy both at 3 months and in their second decade.

Adults find it more difficult to cope with parting with their previous environment. But if you take an animal from a shelter or from the hands of a competent felinologist, it will only rejoice at its new owner. You also need to take into account your character - a lot depends on it.

Training and education

You should try to accustom representatives of this breed to communicate with other people and animals as early as possible. As already mentioned, Maine Coons are cats that have a high level of intelligence, so you will need to take their training seriously.

They can be taught to perform many different commands by choosing the right teaching methodology. So, if an animal shows good results, then it needs to be encouraged. Price

If you want to buy yourself a Maine Coon, then first you need to check such a pet for the presence of various genetic diseases.

Recently, quite a few nurseries have appeared where you can choose a cat of this particular breed. They are expensive pets. So, for a Maine Coon the price can be from 200 to 2000 dollars.

5 interesting facts about the biggest cat in the world

1. About 10% of Maine Coons have a sixth toe on their paws. This feature appeared due to a genetic mutation that affected up to 40% of the early representatives of this breed. The extra finger does not bother the cat in any way; on the contrary, he feels more confident if he stands on a loose surface. For example, in the snow.
2. A characteristic feature is thick fur in the belly and collar area and a gray-brown color. Nowadays, smoky, mackerel, tortoiseshell, cream, chocolate and Siamese colors have been bred, but the calling card of the breed is the color of the raccoon.
3. The furry giant starred as Mrs. Norris the cat in the Harry Potter films. Unlike the other three “colleagues” in the role, Pebbles responded to the command to “stand” and looked harmonious in the frame.
4. The Maine Coon was cloned. Julia from Dallas saved a DNA sample from her cat Little Nicky, who died at the age of 17. She paid $50,000 to have a commercial genetic research organization implant DNA into a cat's egg. The experiment was carried out successfully - the surrogate cat gave birth to a kitten that was very similar to the owner of the donor DNA. The pet inherited the gender, color and habits of his father.
5. The half-bred Maine Coon Velvet is the oldest cat in the world. He turns 27 years old in 2021. Now his fate is unknown, because on October 9, 2016, he ran out into the street through an open door and never came back.

Price

The cost of the animal may depend on the place of sale, and you can buy a cat in a nursery or from a private owner. And, although the cost in the latter case may definitely be lower, it is not at all necessary that the animal will be purebred. In other words, with a private purchase there are significantly more risks. Another thing is nurseries.

Their addresses can be found on Internet resources, they are located in many cities and, in addition, there is the possibility of transportation. By dealing with nurseries, the breeder immediately receives several advantages.

First of all, he is confident that this is a real representative of the breed. Next, the purchase of an animal is accompanied by all the necessary documents and care tips.

They can also warn you about possible animal diseases and how they should be treated. Ideally, of course, if you feel something is wrong, you should immediately go to the veterinarian.

On the other hand, you can do something yourself, for example, cut off the damaged hair - in case of lichen, be sure to burn it, and treat the damaged areas of the skin with a specialized product. Unfortunately, this is true, and cats can get sick too, but it’s more difficult to tell them about it.

On average, the cost of a kitten can vary from $600 to $1,500.

Maintaining a white coat

If the cat's fur begins to turn yellow, which is especially noticeable near the eyes, then it is necessary to show the Maine Coon to a veterinarian, as this may be one of the manifestations of an allergy. In this case, the animal will most likely be prescribed treatment. Your doctor may also recommend changes to your pet's diet.

If you need to quickly eliminate yellowing, for example, before an exhibition, you can use special pastes or other means for bleaching the fur of white cats.

Also, when caring for an animal’s hair, it is necessary to use products designed for the care of white fur, which have a slight bleaching effect.

Below is a small selection of photos of these amazing animals.

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