Maine Coon Cats Are the State`s Gentle Giants

PAGE 8
TOURIST NEWS, SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015
Maine Coon Cats Are the State's Gentle Giants
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The handsome Maine
coon cat is a longhaired
breed that is native to
Maine. Although it is one
of the oldest natural cat
breeds in the country, its
origins are shrouded in
mystery. Many theories
abound, mostly fanciful.
When Maine coon cats
first appeared in early cat
shows, the only information about the breed was
that it was from Maine
where it was declared the
official state cat in 1985.
With its tufted ears,
one theory suggests that
a house cat mated with a
bobcat – not impossible but
not likely.
Another theory, based
on the cat’s bushy and
sometimes ringed tail and
common brown tabby coloring, is that the breed
evolved from matings between feral cats and raccoons, which is biologically The longhaired Maine coon cat is one of the largest and most popular domesticated cat breeds.
impossible.
Another legend pur- boats bound for America around for centuries, since population onboard under
ports that cats originally be- as she was beheaded.
colonial times. Ships in control, and Maine coon cats
longing to Marie Antoinette
This much is factual: those days often brought are known for their excellent
were smuggled aboard Maine coon cats have been cats along to keep the rodent mousing talents. Sailors also
thought cats were good luck
onboard.
The most commonly accepted theory is that the
breed is descended from the
pairings of local domestic
shorthaired cats and Angora-type cats brought from
Europe by mariners, possibly a Captain Charles Coon
or 11th century Vikings.
The Maine coon is similar
to the Norwegian forest cat,
which is a descendant of cats
that sailed on Viking boats.
The first documented
Maine coon cat appeared
in the late 1860s when
Stewie, seen here with owner Robin Hendrickson, held the 2010 Guinness World Record
as longest domestic cat, measuring 48.5 inches from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail.
Coon Cats
continued on next page
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Coon Cats
continued from page 8
coon cats appeared in cat
shows in bigger cities.
Maine farmers also held
the Maine State Champion
Coon Cat contest at the
Skowhegan Fair.
In 1895, a Maine coon cat
was the winner at the first
North American cat show
held at Madison Square
Garden in New York City.
The breed was very
popular but began to lose
ground to imported longhaired breeds. After a win
in 1911, the breed was
rarely seen. It was declared
extinct in the 1950s, when
the Central Maine Cat Club
began a campaign to increase its popularity. It has
since made a comeback
and is now the third most
popular cat breed.
The longhaired Maine
coon cat is one of the
largest domesticated cat
breeds, weighing between
12 and 18 pounds, with
the females smaller. Their
bodies can stretch up to 40
inches in length.
“Stewie,” a Guinness
World Record holder in
2010 as the longest cat,
measured 48 1/2 inches
from the tip of his nose to
the tip of his tail. They are
slow growers, reaching full
maturity by age four or five.
The breed is well suited
to survive Maine’s long,
cold winters, which also
might explain why they
thrived in the state. Long
bushy tails provide extra warmth when curled
around their bodies.
The ears are more heavily furred inside and on the
tips than other breeds, and
their big, round, tufted feet
serve as snowshoes.
Their long thick coats
are partially water repellent. The fur is longer and
shaggier on their underside
and rear for extra protection when walking or sitting on top of snow or ice.
Early Maine coons were
often polydactyl, having one
or more extra toes on their
feet, which is a genetic trait.
One theory is that the
early European sailors considered polydactyl cats to
be good luck and more proficient mousers. It is now
considered unacceptable
in breed standards.
Maine coon cats still
possess dexterous use of
their oversized paws, able
to scoop up bits of food or
toys and clench their toes
around the item.
PAGE 9
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Maine coon cats are often polydactyl and have tufts on the
bottom of their paws.
Although tabbies are
the most well known,
coons come in many colors,
including solid, blue, red,
black and white. Lavender
and chocolate are not allowed in pedigrees. Eyes
are gold, green or bronze;
white coons may have blue
eyes or mismatched eyes
with different colors.
Fondly known as “the
gentle giant,” the Maine
coon is a large and sociable
cat. Known for its friendliness and playfulness, it is
considered to have a doglike personality.
Good family pets, coon
cats get along with other
pets and children. They
are independent, and are
not clingy.
The breed is known for
its intelligence and ability to
learn tricks. The Maine coon
is totally fascinated by water
in any form and enjoys playing with it. They like to dunk
toys in water bowls and participate in family activities,
such as gardening, bathing
and washing dishes.
Maine coon cats seldom “meow,” but have
a unique vocabulary of
their own, consisting of
yowls, chirps, harsh purrs
and trills. Maine coons are
known for being very vocal
cats and for “talking back”
to their owners.
Maine coon cats are
outgoing and loyal and
friendly additions to any
family and well deserve the
degree of popularity they
have attained.
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