Big Maine Coon Cat

What is not to love about a big Maine Coon cat? They're oversized balls of fluff that enjoy mousing and being companions for their owners, and they have great dispositions. These cats are at home in almost any environment from the freezing winters in Maine to strutting their stuff at a Cat Fanciers Association show.

The Maine Coon is America's only native long-haired cat. Its origins are not specifically known, but it is believed that some of the breed's ancestors traveled on merchant ships from Europe to America as mousers. These cats were likely left behind on occasion after a ship had docked in harbors along Maine's seaboard. Breeding with with native short-haired cats eventually led to the proto-type for the Maine Coon.

The Maine Coon is one of the largest domestic cats. Male cats may reach a weight of 25 pounds, while the females can weigh as much as 18 pounds on average. As for length, the nickname "runaway freight train" says it all. According to the 2006 Guinness Book of World Records, the longest cat was a purebred Maine Coon named Verismo Leonetti Reserve Red. "Leo" as he is better known, was 48 inches long and weighed in at a hefty 35 pounds at the time he set the record.

Over the last few centuries, the Maine Coon has evolved into a breed that can cope with the harsh winters along the Atlantic seaboard. This breed developed a fur coat that has three distinct lengths and purposes. There are two undercoats; one is a downy fur that helps keep the cat warm during cold winters, and the second undercoat is longer hairs that serve to retain heat. Finally, the third or topcoat consists of long guard hairs that easily shed snow and rain. This hair is coarser than the other two coat layers and is usually very glossy on well-groomed cats. Kittens grow this longer topcoat as they develop into full-grown adult felines.

While Maine Coon cats may come in any color or pattern, the most prevalent is brown tabby. Unacceptable colors, for fanciers that want to show their magnificent cats, are lavender, chocolate or Siamese patterns.

There are several unusual features that big Maine Coon cats share: large fluffy tails and furry toes. The fluffy tails that may measure up to eight inches in diameter or more, help the cats keep warm in cold weather as well as help them balance their hefty bodies in deep snow. Tufted feet give the cat an appearance of having snowshoes and help him easily walk through drifts of snow.

Many of the original Maine Coon cats from New England have multiple toes; this is known as polydactalism. For purebred breeders, this is an undesirable trait and is reason for disqualification at a Cat Fanciers Association show. However, there are breeders that are trying to keep the polydactyl trait alive in the breed for historical reasons, and the resulting litters are not shown.

The Maine Coon cat has few health problems despite its size. However, the following ailments are seen in the breed:

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) – This is a form of heart disease. It is a progressive disease and is most often seen in the males of the Maine Coon cat breed. Even if a cat tests positive for this disease, he may never develop the characteristics of the disease.
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy – This is a genetically inherited muscular disease. Animals may be tested for this disease as kittens. A kitten with this disease will exhibit symptoms as early as three months of age. Animals with the disease have a considerably shortened lifespan.
• Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) – This is a genetically inherited, progressive kidney disease that eventually leads to renal failure. Symptoms for the disease occur in older animals. A blood test can be administered to test for this disease.

If you're looking for a loving and unique animal to add to your household, consider adopting a Maine Coon. These cats get along well with children and other pets, and they are often referred to as "gentle giants". Even if your little kitten grows into a really big Maine Coon cat, it will still be a welcome guest on any lap.

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