History of the village
Like most breeds, the name Maine Coon refers to a specific geographical area – Maine in North America. The second part of the breed’s name, Coon, was only given to the breed in the 20th century, when Maine cats were observed to resemble badgers. The English word for badger is Racoon and the short colloquial version is Coon.
However, Maine is the second home of the Maine Coon. Felinologists are unanimous in claiming that all relatives of the American domestic cat were brought to the American continent from the Old World.
Why Maine? Because it is a coastal state with a maritime boundary defined by the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline of the state has many convenient bays, which is what saved Maine from becoming a major port centre, and that is where many cats from different countries arrived on ships. So they didn’t come secretly, like rats, but as pets of passengers or crew members.
The cats came in different colours, eyes – different eyes, body shape – different body shape. In those days, cats did not immediately move into homes, but maintained a free-living lifestyle. Large areas of the state are covered by forests and mountains. Maine has many rivers and lakes. These natural conditions are where the Maine cat breed originated. In a short evolutionary process, Maine Coon cats developed a relatively large, muscular body and coat to protect them from harsh environmental conditions. By the end of the 19th century, these cats had spread throughout the state and beyond.
Description of the breed
Maine Coons are considered to be the largest domestic cat breed. Adult cats can weigh between 10-12 kg and the average male is around 6-8 kg.
Like all large cats, Maine Coons mature very slowly, reaching physical maturity at the age of 4 years.
Maine Coons are not only large and muscular, but also very long.
Like the body, the head and tail of the Maine Coon are very impressive. The cat’s head isvery massive, with a sharply set chin and high cheekbones. No domestic cat has a skull of this shape, and a small minority do not have a similar one. These are considered to be the longest fringes of any cat breed, even compared with Siberian, Norwegian Forest and Persian cats.
And no cat has a tail like the Maine Coon! The length of the tail is greater than the length of the body itself. The fur on the tail visually enhances its appearance.
This shape and size makes the cat look very graceful, but at the same time surprisingly large.
The coat of the Maine Coon is also striking. It prevents cat lovers from confusing the Maine Coon with Siberian or Norwegian cats, which is, in fact, very offensive to lovers of this breed. However, unlike these breeds, Maine Coons do not have such a luxurious fur collar, and have a shorter coat on their neck and shoulders.
On the back and uthe skin coat is long enough. Like other breeds developed in harsh climates, the Maine Coon coat has two layers: a thick undercoat and a tough hair with excellent water-repellent properties. This is why Maine Coons like to rest and sleep in ventilated areas to avoid overheating.
Maine Raccoons at home
Maine Coons have a very menacing look and the urge to pet them is very rare when they are in the house. However, with this exterior, Maine Coons have an exceptionally calm character and a balanced psyche. It is not for nothing that they are often called gentle giants. A Maine Coon will not offer you its company until you invite it in. These cats have one more quality that all owners agree on – a unique voice. You will rarely hear from a Maine Coon the meow so familiar to our ears. These cats communicate with themselves with human-like purring sounds.