- Highly active and inquisitive cat
- Sociable and dependent cat
- Somehow talkative cat
- Larger stockier cat breed
- Requires grooming every day
- Outdoor cat
- Great family cat
Pet Card
- Living Considerations: Good in multi-pet households, not hypoallergenic
- Size: Large, with males weighing from 5.5 to 7 kilograms and females weighing from 4 to 5.5 kilograms
- Coat: Shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach, smooth, shaggy
- Temperament: Loving, intelligent, adaptable
- Grooming: Weekly
- Shedding: Yes
- Vocalisation: Highly vocal, with sounds ranging from meows and trills to chirps and cheeps
Personality
Maine Coon cats have a sweet nature and are very playful and friendly. They enjoy human company and make good pets. Possibly because of their humble origins they are often found curled up in the strangest of places. They enjoy outdoor life and so need a chance to climb and simulate hunting. Maine Coon cats are noted for the delightful quiet chirping sound they make.
History and Origins
Country of Origin: USA
The ancestors of the Maine Coon cat were longhaired coats brought in to the State of Maine, in America, by seafarers in the 1850s. These cats mated with the local shorthair cats. The offspring were big, strongly built cats with semi-long coats and brush-like tails that resembled the tail of the raccoon, hence the name Maine Coon. The cats developed thick dense coats to withstand the extreme Maine winters. Special shows were held for Maine Coon cats as early as the 1860s and the breed became very popular as pets. The Maine Coon cat was imported into the UK in the 1980s.