Breed History 

Maine coons are an old breed of cat originating from North Eastern America.  They are regarded as a native of the state Maine. It is believed the breed originated from breeding’s between pre-existing shorthaired domestic cats and overseas longhairs (possibly brought over by the Vikings). They are an old breed that has become very popular across the world, particularly in family homes. 

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Appearance 

The Maine Coon cat is a large semi-longhaired cat, distinguished by bone structure, rectangular shape and flowing coat. Their coats are smooth and glossy, they have neck ruffs and long bushy tails. They have a relatively long, squared muzzle with a firm chin. Their ears are high set, with pointed tips. They have big, rounded, tufted feet. They have large round expressive eyes.

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Personality

Maine coons are very friendly cats with loving personalities. They are a laid-back, easy going breed with lots of love to give. They enjoy the company of people, are great with children and generally get on very well with dogs. They are not typically lap cats but love to be close to you and hangout. Most Maine Coons will stay close by, will follow you from room to room and wait outside a closed door for you to emerge. They are a talkative breed that will chirp at you requesting food and attention. Maine coons are very intelligent and can be taught to walk on a lead, do tricks and play fetch. A Maine Coon will be your companion, your best friend.

 

Size

Maine coons are large cats, most weigh between 4-8kg, however some can weigh 10kg plus.  Males are typically larger than females, and they reach their full size between the age of three and five years. 

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Colour

Maine coons come in a variety of colours and patterns. Eye colour can vary from green to gold. White Maine coons can have blue or odd eyes (one blue and one gold).

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Grooming and care

Since Maine coons are a semi-longhaired breed they require regular grooming, however some individuals will require more grooming than others. You must keep your cats eyes and ears free of wax and dirt, to prevent the risk of infection. 

 

You must provide your cat with regular worm and flea treatments, in addition to annual vaccinations.

 

Keep your Maine coons litter box clean as they can be very particular about their bathroom hygiene. 

 

You should keep your Maine coon as a house cat to protect them from disease, attacks, injury and being stolen. However, Maine Coons do love to explore, so harness trainnig can be a great way to let your cat explore the great outdoors. They also appreciate catios.

 

Feeding

Cats need to be fed a high-quality diet that meets all of their nutritional needs. We recommend feeding the cats on a primarily raw food diet, like they would have in the wild. 

 

Health

Maine Coon cats, along with other breeds, have been known to suffer from genetic health problems. The three main genetic health problems affecting Maine coons are Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Pyruvate Kinase Disease (PKDef). Therefore, when you are purchasing a kitten make sure you check that the breeder can provide proof of testing. Ask to see test result confirmation and ideally the testing has been completed by a registered veterinarian.

 

Also, check that your breeder has recently tested their cats for FeLV/FIV. 

 

Living with a Maine Coon

Maine coons are very inquisitive and like to be involved in everything that you are doing. They can be very active at night and play zoomies around the house. Maine coons love water, some will even play in their water bowls, splashing water across the floor.