The
name 'Maine' comes form
the North Eastern American
State where the breed
is thought to have originated.
The 'Coon' bit is a little
more difficult. The original
cats tended to be brown
tabbies, with very dark
back and a long flowing
tail, rather like a raccoon,
and people thought that
they must have evolved
from matings between domestic
cats and raccoons. This
is genetically impossible,
but this may have been
where the name came from.
There
are lots of legends surrounding
the Maine Coon's origins,
including one that they
originally came from Marie-Antoinette,
and were transported to
America from France for
safety at the time of
the French revolution.
However, it is far more
likely that the Maine
Coon actually evolved
from matings between domestic
shorthairs introduced
by early settlers and
angora types later taken
across the Atlantic by
seafarers. Only the best
of the breed survived,
mating to produce a hardy
animal, capable of living
in a cold harsh climate.
The
Maine Coon was originally
the American wild cat,
living mainly on farms
where it was held in high
esteem by farmers for
its ability to catch vermin.
The cat has all the points
of a typical hunter. It
has large eyes and ears,
essential for detecting
prey, and a big, muscular
body for catching them.
Being a cold climate animal,
it has a long silky shaggy
coat, short over the head,
becoming longer over the
back, stomach, legs and
ruff. This is not for
beauty, but for sheer
survival. There is a soft
undercoat, covered by
a harsher weatherproof
topcoat to keep the animal
dry. The shagginess acts
rather like layers of
newspaper; it traps air,
which helps to keep the
animal warm.
|
But
the Maine Coon's
pride and joy is
his tail, he is
often referred to
as 'the tail with
the cat on the end'.
The tail must be
at least as long
as the body and
is especially long
so that the cat
can wrap it around
its body. As show
by this photo. |
The
Maine Coon takes 3-4 years
to finish growing, and
people expect to see a
giant cat sitting in a
pen, when at fifteen months
they are still only babies.
Fully-grown females average
7-12lbs and males 10-18lbs,
granted a few do reach
the 20's. Most colour
combinations are accepted,
but cats aiming for the
show bench must not be
more than 1/3 white. Blue
or odd eyes are only permissible
in white cats. Colours
include solids, tortoiseshells,
tabbies (both Classic
and Mackerel), tortie-tabbies,
smokes and shadeds, all
with or without white.
Chocolate, lilac or Siamese
Points are definitely
not permissible. This
is because they are not
natural colours to the
area where the Maine Coon
originated.
Although
it is fairly new to the
British show bench, local
farmers at their own annual
cat show at the Skowhegan
Fair have actually showed
the Maine Coon in America
since the 1860’s, initially,
and Maine Coons from all
over the territory competed
for the coverted title
of "Maine State Champion
Cat". It is now the
second most popular breed
in America. In the mid
1980's it began to arrive
in Britain. In 1988 the
Maine Coon was granted
Preliminary Status with
the G.C.C.F. and in 1992
progressed to Provisional
Status. Finally, on 1st
June 1994, less than ten
years after the first
one arrived on our shores,
the Maine Coon was granted
full G.C.C.F. Championship
Status. It is now the
seventh most popular breed
being registered with
the G.C.C.F.
WHAT
IS IT LIKE TO OWN A MAINE
COON?
The
modern day Maine Coon
has a wonderful temperament.
They are very intelligent
and dog like in their
devotion and make loyal
and loving pets. Although
they look rugged they
have adapted to domesticity
and indoor living. As
kittens they are lively,
affectionate and full
of fun. You will never
be bored or lonely with
a Maine Coon as a companion.
Both kittens and adults
love the company of their
owners and readily mix
with other pets in the
household. A dripping
tap can turn them into
idiots, as they happily
spend hours catching drops,
without realizing that
they are slowly starting
to resemble a drowned
rat.
Perhaps
the most unique thing
to the Maine Coon is the
noise he makes. Rather
than the standard meow,
this cat "chirps",
a noise, which is difficult
to describe but once heard
is never forgotten!
A
Maine Coon has similar
care requirements to other
semi-longhaired breeds;
during the summer an occasional
brush is enough to keep
the coat in condition.
However, during a moult,
the cat should be groomed
daily to prevent the coat
knotting and / or the
cat swallowing too much
hair, which can cause
fur-balls.
