Some Fun Facts About Maine Coon Cats

Some Fun Facts About Maine Coon Cats

One of the most lovable and domesticated breeds, the Maine Coon cat is a prime choice to keep as a pet.

It is gentle in nature and loves to play around with you, making it a good choice for all those people looking for a pet that can brighten up their day.

There are plenty of interesting things to know about a Maine Coon cat. Following is a long list of fun facts to give you an idea as to why these cats are so amazing:

The Size Of The Maine Coon

You’ve probably seen pet cats here and there.

They’re often small, quirky with nothing you would deem out of the ordinary.

That is not the case with a Maine Coon cat. This breed has the characteristic of being large cats that can end up being twice the size and weight of any other ordinary breed.

They may not be the biggest of all cats as other large breeds also exist such as Ragdolls, but they’re still pretty big.

A male adult can weigh anything from 16 to 25 lbs. while the female can weigh from 11 to 20 lbs. There are recorded cases of these cats reaching sizes up to 42 to 47 inches.

So, these cats are absolutely perfect if you want a living, breathing replacement for a big teddy bear.

They’re Official

What makes the Maine Coon so unique is that it is actually an official cat (i.e. the official state cat of Maine). This breed is as legit as it gets.

However, they aren’t just adored in Maine alone.

The Cat Fanciers’-Association claimed that this breed was part of the top 3 most popular-breeds in the United States in 2015 and love for this cat extends all the way to Europe as well.

Thus, this breed is recognized as one that is above other breeds, at least in Maine.

The Origin Of The Maine Coon

There are many theories regarding where these cats come from.

Some are sensible while others are outlandish. They’re all fun so let me mention a few of the intriguing ones.

There was a popular theory that the Maine Coon was a result of raccoons mating with either semi wild or domesticated cats. It seemed plausible because of their size and the thick, furry tail. However, it was dismissed due to lack of evidence and the fact that there are genetic differences between the two species.

Another interesting theory relates them to the French Revolution.

Before escaping during this period, Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, sent her six pet cats to Maine.

The Maine Coon is considered to be a descendent of these cats. The most plausible theory, to date, is that long-haired cats started mating with short haired domestic cats and the Maine Coon was the result.

Popular belief also indicates that Vikings had brought these long-haired cats to America somewhere in the 1700s. Genetic testing supports this theory.

Yet another theory involves an English sea captain called Coon who is supposed to have loved these cats. They are good mousers and kept rodent aboard a ship under wraps.

The captain used to go ashore in New England with his cats who bred with the native felines.

Whatever story you choose, the Maine Coon has one of the most varied histories of any breed.

Variety Of Colors

Maine Coons are often considered to be brown or at least some particular shade of brown.

That is incorrect.

This breed can actually be seen in many different colors and a wide range of patterns, all of which are different from other Maine Coons.

Examples can include smoke, cameo, tortoiseshell, and so on. Variations know no bounds.

The Purebred cat organizations allow such colors and variations and disallows all those signaling that the cats are not purebred in terms of genetics such as lilac or a mud like, chocolatey color.

These colors indicate that the Maine Coon is more of a hybrid than a natural breed, and hence not a Maine Coon.

Winter Is Here? No Fear

Pet owners are always sentimental when it comes to their pets.

The harsh season of winter can be difficult to deal with and although cats have a thick layer of fur, it can only do so much. That is why they require warmth.

The Maine Coon, however, does not care about how cold the winter is.

The way this breed has evolved has allowed it to survive the coldest of winters with nothing but its natural traits.

They have large furry tails which they can wrap around themselves and large, tufted paws making it easier to walk in snow and keeping them warm.

The fur coat around their body has naturally developed to be thick in certain areas for example this coat is longer on the stomach area and the flanks which keeps the lower body warm when the cat sits on a cold area such as snow.

Harry Potter, The Cat That Lived

Anyone who has watched the Harry Potter movies knows exactly how much Argus Filch loved his cat.

No one, however, knew that his cat was played by a Maine Coon.

Its name was Pebbles and it was one of the 3 cats to play Mrs. Norris. Pebbles was found in SouthWest England and was a mama cat that had been neutered.

Although she did not respond to the difficult training like the other cats, she was thought to have her own charm and natural presence which is why she was given the role.

So, the Maine Coon is a breed that has made it to stardom!

Cloning

Even now, in 2018, cloning is a wild concept and it makes us think about how advanced the future will be.

Although a wild idea, it is not a new one. In 2004, a Maine Coon cat by the name of Little Nicky became the first ever cat to be cloned commercially and successfully.

People say they love their pets.

A woman named Julie, however, proved it. After Little Nicky died, Julie paid about $50,000 to Genetic Savings & Cloning, Inc., an animal cloning company based in California, to transplant her pet’s DNA into an egg cell.

The company made it happen and a kitten similar to Little Nicky in both appearance and attitude was born. If you think you love your cat, I recommend you chat with Julie.

Guinness-Book Of World-Records

Currently, the longest cat alive, measured at 46.6 inches, is a Maine Coon named Ludo.

This, however, is not the longest size a Maine Coon has reached.

Till 2013, a Maine Coon named Stewie held this title at an astonishing 48.5 inches, measured from the end of the tail all the way to the nose, and was also in this book.

Maine Coon cats are known to be large in size but they are also known to hold such records.

Another record holder was Corduroy, a 26-year-old cat that defied the typical lifespan of about 15 years. Although he was only partly Maine Coon, it still counts.

Water Lovers

Most cats tend to avoid water and will make a fuss when you try to clean them. Not Maine Coons.

This breed is known to love water and does not mind getting wet.

A reason could be due to their water repellent coat of fur or the fact that they have a playful nature.

The point remains the same that they love water and will not miss a chance to jump into it.

It’s A Polydactyl Cat

A polydactyl cat is one that has more than 5 toes.

Years ago, the Maine Coon breed had many such cats with 6 toes which was thought to support them when they walked on snowy areas.

Although a type of genetic mutation, it was not harmful in any way.

As time passed, such cats were slowly removed from being part of the ‘purebred’ class and this discouraged their owners to breed them.

Eventually, the total number of Maine Coons that were polydactyl has declined. They still exist but in very limited numbers.

Conclusion:

Maine Coons are wonderful animals and even better pets.

This breed has an amazing history of wild accomplishments and their unique traits and habits only make them more lovable. If you are looking to adopt a pet, a Maine Coon cat is smart idea!