The Maine Coon is not the “usual” cat. It looks like an imposing, elegant and majestic specimen , with a scrutinizing, attentive and in some ways intimidating gaze, as it shows a wild feline DNA. In reality, he turns out to be a faithful and affectionate friend of man , with whom he establishes curious communicative relationships.

• Origins of the Maine Coon cat
• Morphology of the Maine Coon breed
• Psychology of the Maine Coon cat
• Maine Coon Care

Origins of the Maine Coon cat

The origins of this cat are somewhat unknown.  Its presence was reported relatively recently, in 1800, in the state of Maine (USA).

Given its size, it has been called ” the Maine raccoon ” (literal translation of its name) because according to legend it is the result of the cross between lynx and raccoon . In any case, it is an unverifiable theory, so much so that other hypotheses approach it to the Norwegian forest cat , which landed in the United States through the voyages of Viking ships.

Morphology of the Maine Coon breed

It is a large-sized cat , with a strong bone structure and a weight that can reach 11 kg; it is no coincidence that it is defined as the giant of cats.

To characterize it is the long and thick hair  especially on the collar, on the legs, abdomen and tail; all colors are allowed, red, white, cream, black, blue. The coat is shiny and waterproof. The Maine Coon also lets itself be washed easily, because it appreciates bath time as a direct interaction with its owner.

The structure of the body is “rectangular”, with a broad chest and harmonized by a correct weight control. The legs are also muscular , with large, rounded feet and long, spaced toes, excellent prehensile tools.

The muzzle is particularly expressive and recalls that of wild felines such as the lynx , with pointed ears that are straight and hairy even on the inside and eyes with a penetrating gaze, of a golden yellow or copper green color.

Psychology of the Maine Coon cat

The Maine Coon is an extremely intelligent and affectionate cat with its family. He is able to differentiate the levels of interaction and behavior with the various members that make it up, demonstrating great balance and patience with children.

It needs to socialize and is often prone to meowing , a factor to be taken into consideration for those who decide to familiarize themselves with this breed; in short, he is a real talker!

Maine Coon Care

The Maine Coon is in excellent health and their life expectancy is around 15 years of age. Special attention as a precaution: an ultrasound every 2 years to monitor any hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , a pathology that can affect this cat breed.