Catcoons

The Maine Coon is simply an excellent pet; their temperament is gentle and loving, and they will happily play with anyone willing to play back. The Maine Coon does very well in houses with children and other pets. They like hunt and are reported to be very adept mousers. If you have pet mice this fact should be kept in mind! The Maine Coon is an intelligent breed and many love to play games such as fetch. The Maine Coon has been described as hardy, good-natured, resourceful and fun; and if these are qualities you look for in a feline companion, the Maine Coon might just be the one you're looking for. They are sociable cats, eager to see what's going on in your household and "help out" as much as possible by being present wherever you are. If you endear yourself to your Maine Coon, it will provide you with a companion for life. The Maine Coon doesn't lose its gusto for playtime, even in old age, so you can be assured that even after 12 years there is a strong chance that your Maine Coon will still be active. If you decide to keep the Maine Coon indoors exclusively, make sure you provide a variety of opportunities for exercise so that it may stay healthy and vibrant.

Maine Coons weigh between 14 and 18 pounds. The Maine Coon is a larger breed of cat, its appearance is best described as rugged or sturdy. The Maine coon has a thick coat, and a proud ruff around its neck, with strong, muscled legs that end in little tufted paws, perfect for treading snow! It has tufted ears, making it look a bit like a Lynx! Its thick coat is traditionally long haired, making it well suited for cold weather. It is accepted in a variety of patterns and colors, white, black, brown, red and blue are not uncommon. The only colors and patterns not generally accepted for Maine Coons are pointed (like the Siamese coat pattern), lilac and chocolate. The "Coon" part of its name probably comes from this cat's big, puffed up tail that resembles the tail of a raccoon.

Originating in the United States, the precise history of the Maine Coon is not clearly known. A non-factual myth surrounding the origins of the Maine Coon is based on a story of a fantasy relationship between feline and raccoon. In truth the Maine Coon probably originated as a farm cat in the Northern state of Maine. It garners its name and look from extensive inter-breeding between shorthaired cats and long haired cats in this area. The Maine Coon's history may be much older than once believed, there is much lore and legend associated with the history of this remarkable cat. It is possible that their ancestors were traveling with the Vikings hundreds of years ago, as descendants of the Norwegian Forest Cat. It is also possible that the Angora was a foundation breed for the Main Coon as well. Today the Maine Coon is accepted by a variety of cat fancier clubs and registries, and is fairly common in the show ring. They are in fact the first indigenous American show cat!