Maine Coon Cat

The Maine Coon cat is the second most popular breed of cats, just behind the Persian cat, in the United States. It is the only "home grown" breed of cat, having originated in the state of Maine. The exact ancestry of the Maine Coon is a little bit murky. The cats brought into the US by sailors are thought to have been either the Norwegian Forest Cat, or the Angora. It has even been suggested that the original Angoras had belonged to Marie Antoinette.

The Maine Coon is the largest breed of domestic cat. The typical weight is 15-20 pounds. They are also a very long cat, often reaching 40 inches in length, with the longest on record being 48 inches! They also have the longest whiskers of any breed. The paws are large and flat, sometimes called snowshoes, and can have extra toes. The fur is very thick, having two under layers and one top coat. It is of medium length. Grooming should be done once or twice a week. The coat coloring can be in any of the tabby colors, with a very long tail with ringed coloring, which gave it the raccoon look for which it is named. The ears are large and tufted, and are one of the defining features of the Maine Coon.

Besides it's beautiful appearance, it is the personality of the Maine Coon that has contributed to its popularity. The Maine Coon was a very popular cat in the country because it is an excellent mouser and climber. This means that in a family home, they love to play and to climb. The more time you can play with them, the better they will like it. A good climbing gym is a very good idea as well to keep your cat happy. The Maine Coon is a very friendly, good natured cat. It gets along well with both adults and children. They also get along well with other cats. If they are going to be living with a dog, it is a good idea to try to introduce the cat to the dog when the cat is very young.

The Maine Coon has very few, if any, inherent health problems, but like all pets should be vaccinated and have check ups with the vet on a regular basis. As stated, grooming can be done just once or twice a week, and will usually be treated by your cat as a special occasion.

All in all, the Maine Coon cat has all of the traits that make it a wonderful family pet.