The Maine Coon is America’s native longhaired cat. The breed, with its essentially amiable disposition, developed through a natural selection process where only the fittest survived. It should always be remembered that the Maine Coon developed basically as a “working cat” able to fend for itself in rough, woody terrain and under extreme climatic conditions. The Maine Coon is a large breed with big ears, broad chest, substantial boning, a long, hard-muscled, rectangular body and a long, flowing tail, and large feet with tufts.
Males are quite large with healthy weights that are usually around 18 to 22 pounds. Females are typically somewhat smaller at 12 to 15 pounds, but still larger than average for a cat. Their life expectancy is 12.5+ years.
Despite their size, the Maine Coon cat is sweet-tempered, gentle and friendly and gets along with just about everyone. They have a clown-like personality. While Maine Coons are highly people-oriented cats, they are not overly dependent. They do not constantly pester you for attention but prefer to “hang out” with their owners, investigating whatever activity you’re involved in and “helping” when they can. Most are not lap cats, but Maine Coons will stay close by you, follow you from room to room and wait outside a closed door for you to emerge. A Maine Coon will be your companion, your buddy, your pal, but rarely your baby.
Maine Coons are relaxed and easy-going in just about everything they do. They generally get along well with kids and dogs, as well as other cats. They are not as vertically-oriented as some other breeds, preferring to chase objects on the ground. Many Maine Coons will play “fetch” with their owners. Maine Coons develop slowly, and don’t achieve their full size until they are three to five years old. Their dispositions remain kittenish throughout their lives; they are big, gentle, good-natured goofs. Maine Coons rarely meow, instead most have a soft chirp or trill in a tiny voice doesn’t fit their size!
The coat of a young kitten tends to be thinner and shorter as compared to that of an adult Maine Coon. The mature Maine Coon has a two-layered coat which is shorter around the shoulder and longer around the underbelly, britches and ruff. Coat type/texture can vary based on the color and/or their ancestral lineage. Some have cottony, high maintenance coats that need daily combing and regular grooming. Others have a silky coat that doesn’t need as much attention. However, regular combing for all coat textures should be started from a kitten age and continued throughout their lives. The Maine Coon loves the attention and grooming, but some find it easier to keep them in a “lion cut” rather than keep up with the daily grooming.
Nails should be trimmed more frequently (once a week) when the Maine Coon is a kitten and less frequently (every 2-3 weeks) as an adult. As with any cat, regular teeth brushing is recommended. Talk to your vet for instructions and suggestions.
As with all cats, the Maine Coon needs proper protein and nutrients. A high-quality diet rich in higher protein and lower carbohydrates is recommended. After altering (spaying/neutering), they have a greater tendency to become overweight. Owners should be aware of both the quality and quantity of foods being fed. If the Maine Coon is fed a high quality, properly balanced diet, it generally only needs about 2/3 to ¾ of a cup of food per day.
As with all cats, it is important to give your cat fresh, clean water daily so they don’t hesitate to drink. If you worry about your cat drinking enough water each day, here’s a tip from some cat behaviorists – place the water bowl at least three feet away from any food.
The bottom line is, no one ever got a Maine Coon and later said, “It was nice but I think I’ll get a different breed next time.” Once a Maine Coon parent, always a Maine Coon parent. In fact, some may say that even non-cat-lovers will be converted once exposed to these endearing cuties.
If you are interested in one of our kittens, please fill out the adoption application