History
The Main Coon cat is an American original cat breed, and certainly one of the oldest domestic US cat breeds. It is believed that the breed originated in New England, particularly Maine, from cats first brought over from Europe by settlers in the 1600s. The cats would have had to survive the harsh New England winters, which were even longer and harsher in the colonial period than they are today. Cats that were large, rugged, and had thick, water-resistant coats would have been favored by their environments. There are a number of legends as to how the Maine Coon Cat breed originated. One legend is that a housecat bred with a raccoon-which, is, of course, genetically impossible. Another legend has it that Maine Coon cats are descended from pet cats of Marie Antoinette that were somehow shipped to Maine while she was trying to escape Revolutionary France. Today, breeders speculate that the breed is the result of interbreeding between local shorthair cats and longhair cats
Characteristics
Large, sturdy and with a thick double coat, this breed is well able to stand the sometimes harsh climate of New England. Maine Coons may in fact be distantly related to the Norwegian Forest Cats with which they share some characteristics. The breed tends to be somewhat slow maturing, frequently these cats will not reach their full development until they are three years or older.
They are intelligent, playful, energetic cats that often display kitten qualities well into maturity. Maine Coon cats generally do not desire a lot in the way of petting. This not to say that they are unfriendly, in fact Maine Coons are very much people cats, that form very strong attachments to their owners. They are exceedingly curious, and love to try and get involved with anything you may be doing. Many Maine Coons even follow their owners from room to room, and in and out of the house.
People that are unfamiliar with the Maine Coon, often think them to be a huge ferocious cat when first meeting one. The breeds thick, long coat does tend to make Maine Coons seem to be bigger than they are, although mature males can indeed be quite large. The truth is that these are very gentle cats that make marvelous pets, and soon become family members. These cats are very tolerant and get on fine with children, but as with any breed, there are exceptions. Easy to train, and unfussy eaters, (they do require a copious amount of fresh water,) owners find them problem free, and easy to care for. An excellent hunter and renown for its mousing and ratting capabilities, this longhaired cat is often employed as a farm cat, to keep the rodent population in check.
Very robust heavy boned cats, with long bodies and square muzzles; Maine Coon cats were developed by nature to withstand the harsh New England winters. The males weigh in at up to 22 pounds, averaging at about 14 pounds, females tend to average 10 to 12 pounds. Stories of Maine Coons of 35 pounds or more, are just that, stories. Unless of course, it is a very overfed kitty! Their coats are long, silky and very water resistant, with the hair generally longest on the stomach and britches. Unlike other longhaired breeds, such as the Persian, M.C.'s do
not require a lot of grooming, a once a week combing should, in most cases, be enough.
Temperament
While Maine Coons are highly people-oriented cats, they are not overly-dependent. They do not constantly pester you for attention, but prefer to "hang out" with their owners, investigating whatever activity you're involved in and "helping" when they can. They are not, as a general rule, known as "lap cats" but as with any personality trait there are a few Maine Coons that prefer laps. Most Maine Coons will stay close by, probably occupying the chair next to yours instead. Maines will follow you from room to room and wait outside a closed door for you to emerge. A Maine Coon will be your companion, your buddy, your pal, but hardly ever your baby.
Maine Coons are relaxed and easy-going in just about everything they do. The males tend to be the clowns while the females retain more dignity, but both remain playful throughout their lives. They generally get along well with kids and dogs, as well as other cats. They are not as vertically-oriented as some other breeds, prefering to chase objects on the ground and grasping them in their large paws -- no doubt instincts developed as professional mousers. Many Maine Coons will play "fetch" with their owners.