In promotional photos, the ginger cat is often portrayed as a selfish and cunning creature. In fact, ginger cats have a golden character. Maine Coons of this color are no exception.
In the photo there is a Chester cat from the Belocoon cattery
Maine Coon cat colors
Maine Coons come in a variety of colors.
Initially, cats had a black marbled color, which made them look like a raccoon. Over time, breeders began to need cats of all colors. Their work to suppress the genes responsible for color led to the appearance of cats of all colors: solid, brindle or tortoiseshell, and others.
Maine Coons come in different colors
Colors are classified by color, patterns, spots.
Plain
The selection work of scientists has made it possible to develop a Maine Coon breed with a uniform color. As a result of the suppression of genes responsible for color, white kittens appeared. The breed has a second name: solid.
Maine Coon
It means artificial, monochromatic. Most often it is possible to get black Maine Coons, with red cats in second place.
Black
Black Maine Coons come in solid colors and with lines on their fur. They appear on the neck and face of the animal.
Black Maine Coon
Depending on the pattern, cats are further divided into three types:
- brindle (vertical stripes run across the entire silhouette),
- marble (reminiscent of stains on marble),
- spotted (stripes are clearly visible).
Maine Coon
There are black Maine Coons with white spots.
The name indicates that the animal's fur combines equal amounts of white and black. Black Smoke cats have no stripes or spots. The coat color is white at the roots, darkening towards the tips.
Depending on the presence of hair of this color, varieties are distinguished:
- chinchilla (black hair up to 1/8 of the fur),
- smoky (even ratio of black and white wool),
- shaded (only a quarter of the hairs are black, the rest are white).
White
White coloring is rare for Maine Coons. Characterized by the absence of wool of other shades. Often white individuals have amazing eyes: blue, bright green, golden.
White Maine Coon
Representatives of the white color do not have characteristic stripes on the tail, but there are tufts on the ears. Kittens have small stripes on their foreheads, but these disappear completely when they reach adulthood.
Red (red)
For a kitten to be bright red, you need two red parents. Red Maine Coons come in solid colors. The name of the color depends on the type of stripes: classic, brindle, spotted, ticked, agouti or smoky.
Red Maine Coon
Kittens appear light and turn red with age. It is impossible to determine which gene will predominate.
Cream
Kittens are also born white; pink pigment begins to color the animal's fur only in adulthood.
Cream Maine Coon
Blue
Blue Solid is common among this breed. If there is no picture, then the gene responsible for them is suppressed. Pure color is rare. In the table it is indicated by one letter.
Smoky individuals are black or blue. The dominant color appears closer to the tip of the hair. At the roots, the hair looks snow-white. This feature of coat color is present in ginger cats.
Origin story
The history of the origin of all native cat breeds, including the giant Maine Coons, is shrouded in legends and myths.
The first hypothesis about how this breed appeared dates back to the times of the Vikings, when they conquered new lands. In the year 1000, warriors traveled on their boats to the New World, and with them the ancestors of Norwegian forest cats got there. However, the Vikings were soon forced to return to the old continent. But the cats stayed for a long time, and as a result of crossing with local cats, the Maine Coon appeared.
The second version dates back to the time of the French Revolution, when Queen Marie Antoinette planned her escape from Paris (1793). She sent her cats to Captain Samuel Clough's sailing ship in advance. The couple of monarchs did not manage to leave France, but the animals safely reached the shores of the United States in Maine. There the cats received new blood from local animals, which became the basis for the formation of a new breed.
Another legend says that Maine Coons are the offspring of a domesticated cat and a wild Manx raccoon.
Objective data about Maine Coons appeared only at the beginning of the twentieth century, when “The Book of the Cat” by the American Frances Simpson was published in 1903. In it, the author described in detail both her own pets and the animals that belonged to her friends. The beginning of the story dates back to 1861, which became the main starting point in the biography of this extraordinary breed. Then there are almost no blank spots left in the Maine Coon chronicle:
- Beginning in 1860, Maine farmers exhibited local cats during the annual fair.
- Most of all, Maine Coons were valued not for their external qualities, but for their incomparable ability to hunt rodents - the large cat easily coped with the invasion of mice in grain barns.
- In 1895, 12 Maine Coons took part in the first national North American show - the cat Cozy from Maine was named the winner of this show.
Then history made an unpleasant zigzag - in the twentieth century, the large Maine Coon breed was almost destroyed by the expansion of the Persians and Turkish Angora cats. In 1911, the aborigines took a prize for the last time at an exhibition in Portland and disappeared from the field of view of felinologists for 40 years.
The big cats were rescued in the same place where their lineage began - in the agricultural regions of America. Farmers were indifferent to fashion trends, but they were concerned about the safety of the crop. So the Maine Coons did what they knew how to do best - catch rodents.
In 1976, the breed was completely restored, it returned to international exhibitions and from that time on never disappeared. Another 9 years later (1985), Maine Coons were recognized as the official state cat of Maine.
This is interesting! Red Maine Coons belong to the group of “talkative” cats. They masterfully control their voice and love to purr loudly, meow in every way, and sometimes even imitate the sounds of the surrounding nature.
Character and features
Of course, this incredibly beautiful animal, first of all, attracts with its appearance. However, his character is also interesting. The main features that the fiery red Maine Coon can boast of are usually listed by owners as:
- goodwill;
- friendliness;
- patience;
- loyalty.
Indeed, the character of these pets is very different from the general idea of cats. Their curiosity and mobility are especially interestingly combined with the size of adult individuals.
Many people compare Maine Coons to dogs. This breed actually exhibits several traits that are more commonly seen in canines. They get along well with children and are not jealous of other cats. These red animals are very sociable and treat others with special friendliness.
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Character
Experts and owners note the fact that the red Maine Coon is more intelligent compared to representatives of the breed of other colors. They are also endowed with ingenuity.
They are highly trainable, memorizing up to 20 commands. Maines have a very unusual voice timbre - melodic, which cannot be expected from such giants.
In childhood, “saffron milk caps” are good-natured and affectionate. They are devoted to their owners and simply love to spend time next to them. They are affectionate and patient with children, they are even called “nannies.”
At the same time, a red Maine Coon cat must have personal space. Females of this color are independent and independent. Pride is another sign of these beauties. They will never climb tables or beg for a tasty morsel.
Animals sleep in any convenient place. They can easily tolerate a change of environment - the main thing is that the owner is nearby. Training these cats will bring only positive emotions, because they easily remember and understand everything.
These cats cannot stand being alone. Therefore, it is worth providing your pet with toys for entertainment. It is also not recommended to allow coons to live on the street. Due to its curiosity, an animal can get hit by a car or into the hands of strangers.
Maine Coon: detailed description of the breed
In order not to mistake a mixed breed, which is often found among fanciers, for a genuine Maine Coon, knowledge of the complete characteristics of the Maine will be very useful. So:
- The shape of the head is slightly elongated in length, whereas in other breeds it extends in width. An uneven profile, high cheekbones and voluminous ears with high-set tassels. The presence of tassels is the most important distinguishing feature of the Maine breed.
- The eyes are set wide and shaped like an oval. The color of the eyes usually harmonizes with the color.
- The body is represented by well-developed muscles; animals are often large and very large in size. Long, wide shapes predominate.
- The paws are proportional to the body - just as powerful, with good muscles. There should be small tufts of wool between the pads on the paws.
- A voluminous and very fluffy tail, sometimes equal in size to the length of the entire animal.
- The Maine Coon's coat is thick and quite long. In the area of the muzzle and on the neck, the hair is of medium length.
- A medium-sized Maine Coon will have a total length (including tail) of 95-100 cm.
An important distinguishing feature of the Maine Coon breed is the weight of the animals, which ranges from 6 to 10 kg. The average is between 7 and 9 kg. Cats, as a rule, are lighter than cats and gain about 6 kg of weight, but there are representatives of the “heavy” weight category - about 8 kg. The largest Maine Coon can easily reach a weight of just over 10 kg, which, due to its lush fur, looks much more voluminous, creating a false impression of a 15-kilogram cat. There are very widespread opinions about how much Maine Coons weigh, attributing incredible weights of up to 20 kg to cats. In fact, not a single case has been recorded in which the weight reached such figures. There is a standard system showing the dynamics of Maine Coon weight by month, which corresponds to the vast majority of animals.
Popular colors of Maine Coons
Maine cats abound in various colors, among which in the professional environment the main one is considered to be “wild” or “black tabby”, and all subsequent ones began to appear over time, gaining wide popularity among fanciers and breeders. Coon colors:
- Red Maine Coon is one of the most popular colors with cream, brick or red colored fur, diluted with streaks of light shades;
- white Maine Coon - characterized by exclusively snow-white fur, without any additional shades;
- black Maine Coon - implies an absolutely even black color with the absence of other tint inclusions;
- Maine Coon black marble - a classic color, which is characterized by a design in the form of curls and continuous lines, made in a double color scheme;
- Maine Coon black smoke is an original color where the roots of the coat are painted white, and the subsequent length of the coat is exclusively black.
The black Maine Coons in the photo turn out excellent, embodying grace and showing off the rich coat of a timeless color. Red coons are no less photogenic, always able to lift your spirits with their sunny color.
What can you call it?
A difficult choice for owners is what name to choose for a bright red cat or a girl cat. Owners of Maine Coons recommend taking a closer look at the new family member, studying his character and then naming him. The name of a red Maine Coon may differ from the one given to him in the kennel at birth.
Purebred cats have a passport with their name already indicated. The nickname consists of the name of the nursery, the name of the letter indicating the number of litters by mother and the name of the breed.
You can give a nickname that will match the color. For example, Leo or Twinkle (Spark - from English). The color of the pet can suggest other names:
- Red - red.
- Orange - orange.
- Goldie is gold.
- Fox.
- Fire - fire.
- Peach.
- Pink - pink.
- Fox.
- Ruby.
- Scarlett is scarlet.
- Ruddy is ruddy.
- Tabby.
Scottish names are very suitable for ginger cats, for example:
- Gregor.
- Maxwell.
- Hectorina.
- Kirsty.
- Lenox.
- Alice.
- Douglas.
The combination of playfulness of color (or tenderness - in the case of cream) and character traits - independence, masculinity - can be reflected precisely in the animal’s name. The main thing is that the name is sonorous, easy to pronounce and succinct. Maine Coons are close to dogs in their character and love of humanity; they need communication with people, and the easiest way to establish a connection with a pet is to call it by name more often.
Maine Coons are excellent at distinguishing intonations and human speech. It is better from a young age to teach the animal to respond to its own name, and not to sounds (for example, “ks - ks”).
Meet Pavel Volya's cat - Boomer and other star PURS (Part 2)
Pavel Volya from the Comedy Club has a large mega cat of the Maine Coon breed living at home. A huge black cat named Boomer, according to the comedian, weighs at least 20 kilograms and eats more food than Pavel himself did in his student years.
Of course, the artist is exaggerating - cats of this breed weigh on average 10-12 kilograms, and Boomer looks gigantic against the backdrop of the puny comedian. The cat's size also has its advantages, Pavel jokes - Boomer will never shit in his shoes, because he simply won't fit in them.
Katy Perry and her cats Krusty and Kitty Purry
The singer dreams of becoming a cat in her next life, wears cat outfits to concerts and enjoys communicating with her two pets - Kitty Purry (literal translation - something like “Purring Cat”) and Krusty.
Striped Kitty appears in the singer's videos and goes on tour with her. The cat even inspired Katie to create her own perfume, Purr, with a bottle cap in the shape of a cat's head. And the gray-and-white cat Krusty took part in the creation of the singer’s next fragrance, “Meow.”
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus is known for her love of animals - either a dog or a pig. But recently the scandalous singer got her own fluffy cloud - a snow-white kitten named Shanti Om.
The first word in the name of the Persian cat translates as “peace,” and Miley tried to make her pet famous throughout the world. He has every chance of becoming an Instagram star - his personal page @shantiombb already has almost 130 thousand subscribers. Charming Shanti lives like a king: her own room, three cribs to choose from, hundreds of toys and a private bathroom.
Victoria Bonya and the cat Sultan
Star and TV presenter Victoria Boni had a cat for 10 thousand euros. The exotic Savannah cat was not her first pet. She and her common-law husband Alex already had a cat, Luna, and only next to her could Victoria’s beloved one calmly fall asleep. But the cat died, and the couple immediately began looking for a replacement. The three-month-old exotic beauty immediately won the hearts of Victoria and her fans.
Even the nickname was chosen by the whole world. The options of naming the cat Cash (they gave so much money) or Schumacher (and it can be shortened to Shukher due to his playful nature) did not catch on. The exotic cat was named Sultan, but he soon had to be given away due to Victoria’s boyfriend’s allergies.
We invite you to check out the first part of our selection of celebrity cats, where you will see the furry pets of Karl Lagerfeld, Taylor Swift, Dita Von Teese and handsome Ian Somerhalder! PreviousPreviousRead another storyNext
Meet Pavel Volya's cat - Boomer and other star PURS (Part 2)
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Features of the suit
If your dream dog is a red Maine Coon, it will be helpful to know a thing or two about this color. So, any red Maine Coon kitten is a carrier of the Orange gene, which is located on the sex chromosome X and is mutational. The correct name for the red color in cats is red, that is, red. Red cats with cream color are born with the presence of the recessive color gene d, that is, the diluent gene. And in order for red kittens of a bright shade to be born, both parents need to be red.
In the photo there is a cat Samuel from the RUSSIANCOON cattery
The names of the red color of Maine Coons also have their own specificity. So, pure red color refers to solid colors, also known as solid. Red, divided into two types:
- Red or Red MCO d;
- Cream or Cream MCO e.
There is one more feature that ginger cats can boast of: this color is not solid. The patterned color is called tabby. Therefore, a red Maine Coon can have the following types of tabby colors:
- Classic, when wide stripes on the sides form spirals or marble patterns;
- Brindle, that is, there are vertical parallel stripes on the fur coat;
- Spotted. Small spots in the form of intermittent stripes;
- Ticked. The pattern is only on the face. Throughout the body, the hairs are colored in light and dark stripes. This coloring is also called agouti.
In the photo there is a cat Vlasta from the RUSSIANCOON nursery
Also, red Maine Coons can be smoky, that is, smokie. The smoky red color is called cameo. Often kittens with this color are born white, turning red with age.
What color Maine Coon is better to choose?
Color, as one of the main details of the exterior, determines the price of a Maine Coon, which is why kittens of the same litter cost differently. Buyer interest is due to two circumstances: the fashion for Maine Coons themselves and a certain color trend.
Now, thanks to the blue Maine Coon Non-plus-Ultra, which appears in commercials, blue solid cats have no competition. This is not surprising - blue solids look amazing, but they are also very expensive in nurseries.
Fans of mysticism and Bulgakov adore cats that are completely black, shell out fantastic money for them and give them infernal names. Slightly lower in the popularity ranking are white solid, snow-white Maine Coons, which might have been ahead of black ones if not for the persistent thesis about a potential hearing disorder.
Cream and red giants are also damn attractive, whose monochrome color slightly disturbs the residual tabby, which is why they still lose to black and blue solids.
If you need a cat with an aura of mystery, take a smoky kitten, whose fur seems to glow from within. Once you learn how to care for such fur, your pet will look no worse than the hyped blue Maine Coons.
Bicolors and harlequins are chosen much less often, which is due to the very unsuccessful play of spots, which do not always form an attractive pattern. And if you accidentally overdo it with white, you can fall out of favor with experts at exhibitions.
People who believe in omens will definitely choose a tortoiseshell-colored cat, which can bring harmony and happiness to the house.
Animal character
The animals get along well with both people and other pets in the house.
The large Maine Coon is popular among cat lovers not only because of its luxurious appearance and size, but also because of its set of characteristics that make living in an apartment comfortable for the owners. These include:
- getting along with family members and other animals;
- with distrust of strangers, non-aggressive;
- good-natured;
- understanding what is and is not possible;
- intelligence and nobility in behavior, they sense the owner’s mood well;
- harmless;
- understanding, easily gets used to the tray and scratching post;
- relative calm during the mating season, not noisy;
- Tolerant attitude towards water, loves to splash around.
Rules of care and hygiene
To keep your pet healthy, you need to properly care for it.
Cats should be brushed regularly with a fine-toothed metal brush. The procedure is carried out at least 2 times a week. If the animal sheds, it needs to be brushed every day. Be sure to comb your pet's tail thoroughly. You need to bathe once every 1.5-2 months. When washing, shampoos for long-haired cats are used.
You will need a large tray. It is better to take an open one or with a mesh. Due to the size of the cat, litter boxes will be uncomfortable. The animal may refuse to use them.
The eyes are cleared of mucus if necessary. The procedure is carried out using a cotton pad soaked in weakly brewed tea. It is prohibited to use chamomile decoction, since its use leads to hair loss around the organs of vision.
Ears with tassels will have to be cleaned of wax with cotton pads soaked in special solutions from veterinary stores or pharmacies. There is no need to use cotton swabs, since they can easily harm the animal and injure it.
Maine Coons are also famous for their cleanliness. Despite the long hair, which needs to be brushed once a week, it is difficult to find cat hairs in the house. Only during the molting period, which happens once a year, should you comb your pet every day.
A red Maine Coon will never eat from a dirty bowl. At the same time, he can play with a piece of meat for hours and then eat it. Wallpaper and furniture will not be touched if you immediately install a scratching post for your pet.
The animal feeds on meat and fish. For a shiny coat, you should give him boiled vegetables. Despite its size, there is no need to overfeed your pet. It is better to buy balanced cat food.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with Domestic Hedgehog: tips and recommendations for purchasing and keeping a hedgehog at home. How long does a domestic hedgehog live? Domestic hedgehog and hibernation: how to prepare?
Red maines, like their brothers, love water. You can safely bathe them every week using a special shampoo. But you need to get used to using a hairdryer from childhood.
Life expectancy is 12-15 years. In 2022, a cat who was half Maine was entered into the Guinness Book of Records, and at that time his age was 26 years old.
How to care for an adult pet's fur
A healthy pet's coat should be silky, shiny and flowing. Her condition is affected by:
- proper nutrition, balanced in the amount of vitamins and minerals;
- conditions of detention. For example, a sedentary lifestyle, poorly ventilated rooms and regular stress negatively affect the appearance of the coat;
- proper care. Coons need to be combed 2-3 times a week with a special comb and bathed once every few months with shampoos carefully selected at the veterinary pharmacy. At the time of shedding (it can be seasonal, or associated with hormonal changes in the body of cats aged from 6 to 12 months), the pet must be combed daily.
The world's largest Maine Coon
Few people know that the largest Maine Coon cat in the world, named Omar, lives in the British city of Melbourne. The animal's body weight is 14 kilograms, and its length is as much as 120 centimeters, which breaks all previous records, as reported by The Telegraph. The publication writes that the cat’s favorite treat is raw kangaroo meat.
The fact that the Maine Coon is the largest cat in the world has been known for a long time. The previous recorded record for the length of a cat's body - 118 cm - also belongs to a cat of this breed. However, Omara's owner decided to compete for championship in this category, sending her pet's measurements to a special commission in the hope that he would defeat his rival and receive the coveted title of the largest cat in the world.
Price of kittens
Having learned about the record holder, many dream of getting a pet of impressive size and are interested in: how much does a Maine Coon cat cost, is such a “purchase” affordable?
There are rumors that cats of this breed are bred by entrepreneurs in order to make large profits from their sale. It should be noted that organizing such a business requires, firstly, large investments, and secondly, it is unlikely that people who know nothing about breeding purebred Maine Coons would simply risk their funds. Without spiritual aspiration and professional knowledge, such a business would not have lasted long, much less won the respect of breeders around the world.
Maine Coon cats have ancient roots, and in order to pass on the gene for their native “wild” color and aristocratic manners, breeders need to seriously try.
In addition, specialists in their field are constantly working to breed subtypes of the breed of the most unusual and original colors, showing extraordinary creative and professional abilities.
Let's find out how much a Maine Coon kitten costs and what its cost depends on. Several important factors influence price formation:
- breed qualities of appearance and character;
- purebred, confirmed by good pedigree;
- gender of the kitten;
- dimensions and color of the animal;
- merits of the cat's parents;
- funds spent on feeding and veterinary care for the mother cat and newborn kitten;
- location (naturally, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, for example, cats will cost slightly more than in Siberia, the Urals and other regions remote from the capital);
- kitten delivery service (if you order an animal in a remote city, you will pay more than if you brought it yourself).
As you can see, it is impossible to say exactly how much the Maine Coon breed costs.
In any case, Maine Coons are not cheap; you need to be prepared for this immediately when choosing a kitten. If we talk about purebred babies from nurseries with a good pedigree, then they cost an average of 35-40 thousand rubles. Individual representatives of the breed with the original color or descendants of the best lines can cost much more.
Babies “from amateurs” cost an average of 10-15 thousand rubles. Usually, these are kittens without documents that appeared as a result of mating according to the type: you have a cat, I have a cat, and let’s breed. When selling, they often say that they didn’t do the paperwork on purpose, they say, there’s a lot of hassle, but potential buyers (far from all the details of the breeding business) are happy: kittens are cheaper, and they don’t need paperwork, because they take a kitten for the soul. In fact, kittens without documents are not representatives of a particular breed and in the circles of professional felinologists are considered outbred.
Mixed-breed kittens are usually sold inexpensively - up to 5,000 rubles. The price depends on external data, similarity to Maine Coons, as well as the integrity of the breeders.
Maine Coon red color, color and character
In promotional photos, the ginger cat is often portrayed as a selfish and cunning creature. In fact, ginger cats have a golden character. Maine Coons of this color are no exception.
In the photo there is a Chester cat from the Belocoon cattery
Breeding issues
Mating, caring for a cat during pregnancy, and proper delivery require responsibility from the breeder and an understanding of the peculiarities of these processes.
- Estrus. The age at which the first heat occurs varies from person to person. Puberty occurs late in Maine Coons. The norm is considered to be a time period of seven months to one and a half years.
- Preparing for mating. Before the first mating, they are tested for infections, given a comprehensive vaccination, dewormed, and the cat is treated for fleas and parasites.
- Knitting. It is carried out in the territory of the male. The cat is left for several days with a tray, a supply of food and other necessary things. The optimal time is the second or third day after the start of estrus.
- Pregnancy. Gestation of kittens lasts 65-68 days. During pregnancy, the cat should receive a balanced diet, vitamin supplements, and be regularly examined by a veterinarian.
- Childbirth. Maine Coons have a well-developed maternal instinct. Childbirth is usually easy, without complications. A small amount of red-brown discharge during the week after birth is considered normal.
If your cat continues to have strong contractions for one to two hours but is unable to give birth, you should call a veterinarian. Specialist intervention is required in case of intense bleeding, a sharp increase or decrease in temperature.
If the animal's health or non-compliance with breed standards does not allow serious breeding, it is better to think about sterilization or castration. Judging by the reviews and opinion of veterinarians, this reduces the risk of developing many diseases, increases the life expectancy of the pet, and has a beneficial effect on its character.
Types of red colors
Maine Coons have red fur that comes in different shades and color combinations.
Red
The darker and richer red coat comes in several varieties:
- Solid – uniform dark red or “brick” color. The muzzle, limbs and tail may be decorated with vague patterns.
- Brindle - stripes or spots of a darker shade are visible on the red body.
- Smoky - each hair is transversely divided into two shades: the base is lighter, the tip is darker red.
- The red and white color is bicolor - the number of white and red areas of the coat is approximately the same, van - almost the entire body is white, only the ears, head and tail are red, harlequin - several red spots are chaotically scattered throughout the body.
Cream
A lighter, pastel version of the red color. It is also called peach. Like red pets, peach ones have blurry patterns on the body, limbs, head, and tail. There are practically no Maine Coons with a pure, solid red coat.
If the patterns are clearly visible, the color is called tabby. If the hairs are white at the base, then the color is called cream-silver (or cream on silver). There are smoky individuals in which the patterns practically do not appear, but the hairs at the base are light. Peach bicolor cats are red with white spots.
Appearance
In different standards, the description of the exterior and character of the Maine Coon breed is not too different. Let's take the European WCF system as a basis, as the most common.
Description of the breed according to the WCF standard
- Body. Muscular, elongated and wide. Rectangular.
- Rib cage. Wide.
- Head. Medium size. Almost square in shape with high cheekbones.
- Scull. Massive.
- Muzzle. With curved profile.
- Nose. Middle length.
- Chin. Massive. Located in line with the upper jaw and nose.
- Ears. Large triangular ones. Planted high and upright. With or without tassels on the tips. The presence of tassels is desirable.
- Eyes. Slanting, oval, widely spaced. The eye color should be in harmony with the color of the cat.
- Neck. Middle length.
- Limbs. Out of proportion to the body, large and muscular.
- Paws. Large, round. There are tufts of fur between the toes.
- Tail. Fluffy and big. Wide at the base, tapering towards the tip. The length of the tail can reach at least the cat's shoulders.
- Wool. Fluffy and very thick. Waterproof. The hair in the head and neck area is of medium length. It is desirable to have a “mane” in the neck area. The “pants” and belly are decorated with long, thick undercoat.
- Color. Solid colors (black, white, red), merle, tortoiseshell, tabby (brindle), tricolor are allowed. Unacceptable: chocolate, lilac, fawn, cinnamon (cinnamon), color point.
- Weight. adult cats can reach up to 9-12 kilograms.
- Height at the withers. From 25 to 45 cm.
- Average life expectancy. Cats – 14 – 16 years old. Males – 12 – 15 years old.
Interesting Facts
The longest Maine Coon in the world is a ginger cat named Stewie. From the muzzle to the tip of the tail, the length is 123 cm. And three-year-old Rupert is considered the heaviest - 9 kg (since the cat is young, he will be even larger). We are talking about normal weight without signs of obesity.
Some sources contain information that Maine Coons reached a weight of 12-15 kg. This error is due to the fact that the first mentions of this fact were written in pounds. And then they were directly converted into kilograms.
Manx cats are one of the few that live in groups. They get along well with dogs, birds and their own kind. However, the natural instinct of a hunter is unlikely to allow him to live peacefully next to rodents.
Red-colored Maines are excellent actors. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay starred the cat Buttercup, who did an excellent job in his role. There was also a picture with the participation of the fiery coon “Red Dog”, where the cat was constantly “sorting out” the relationship with the dog.
Maine Coons are good-natured and sweet creatures. Red representatives of this breed are distinguished by increased intelligence, charm and bright color. They, like rays of bright light, illuminate everything around and radiate goodness and love. These are truly aristocratic cats: both in appearance and in habits.