Known as the « gentle giants » of cats due to their large bodies and sociable nature, Maine Coons are a breed to behold. Here are 12 facts about one of the world’s largest domestic felines.
Massive Creatures
Maine Coons are massive, which is why some people have mistaken pet Maine Coons for bobcats. They weigh between 4 and 7kg for females and between 6 and 8kg for males. Some say that the Maine Coon is the largest cat breed, but it actually falls somewhere between the Norwegian Forest cat, which can weigh up to 16 pounds, and the Ragdoll, which can weigh up to 20 pounds.
Colorful Origin Stories
As their name suggests, Maine Coon cats originate from the Pine Tree State. Thanks to their brown coat and bushy tail, a popular (but scientifically unfounded) explanation for the breed’s origin is that it resulted from mating semi-wild domestic cats with raccoons. Another theory suggests that Maine Coons descend from six pet cats that Queen Marie Antoinette sent to Wiscasset, Maine, as she planned her escape from France during the French Revolution. A less intriguing but more plausible story is that the furry kittens are offspring of short-haired domestic cats that bred with long-haired cats, possibly brought to America by Vikings or European sailors who landed in New England in the 1700s. As genetic tests indicate that Maine Coons actually descend from both the Norwegian Forest cat and a mysterious extinct domestic breed, Vikings are likely responsible.
« Dressed » for Winter
The Maine Coon evolved to survive harsh winters by developing features such as wide, bushy paws that serve as built-in « snowshoes » and a thick, bushy tail that it can wrap around its body when it’s cold. Their main feature is a dense, waterproof coat that is longer on the belly, ruff, and flanks. These shaggy parts keep the Maine Coon’s lower body warm when it’s sitting or walking on ice or snow. The fur is shorter on the shoulders, allowing the kittens to frolic in the woods without getting caught by tree branches or bushes.
Not All Maine Coons Are Brown
Maine Coon is often synonymous with its raccoon-like brown coat. In reality, they come in all sorts of colors and patterns, including smoke, cream, cameo, mackerel, and tortoiseshell. But Maine Coon owners do not breed cats of lilac, chocolate, or Siamese Seal Point colors – the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) disqualifies these colors as they indicate hybridization.
They Won the First Popular American Cat Show
One of the first well-known cat shows in America was held at New York’s Madison Square Garden in 1895. There, a Maine Coon brown tabby named Cosie won the event’s « Best Cat » award. Today, the silver collar and medal that Cosie won at that event are displayed at the headquarters of the Cat Fanciers Association in Alliance, Ohio. For a long time, Maine Coons were the most coveted breed in the country, until Persian cats became fashionable. After that, cat lovers stopped breeding the award-winning Maine Coon. The cat became so rare that some sources claim it was considered extinct in the 1950s. Enthusiasts joined forces to save the Maine Coon cat from obscurity, creating the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association in 1968. In 1976, Maine Coons were accepted as champions by the CFA.
Popular in Maine – and Everywhere Else
The Maine Coon became the official state cat of Maine in 1985, but it is also loved by cat enthusiasts all over America. In 2015, Maine Coons were the third most popular breed in the United States, according to CFA registration statistics. They are also highly appreciated in Japan and Europe.
A Maine Coon Starred in the Harry Potter Movies
A female Maine Coon named Pebbles was one of three kittens playing the role of Mrs. Norris, the pet cat of Argus Filch, in the Harry Potter films. Pebbles was a spayed mother cat that animal trainers « discovered » in a cattery in southwest England. It seems she wasn’t as receptive to complex training as the other cat actors in the film, but she was very good at walking across the set and stopping on command. Remember the shots of Mrs. Norris patrolling the halls of Hogwarts? That’s Pebbles.
A Maine Coon Was Commercially Cloned
In 2004, a Maine Coon named Little Nicky became the first pet to be cloned for commercial purposes. After Little Nicky’s death at the age of 17, his Dallas owner, Julie (who refused to give her full name to the media), preserved his tissues in a genetic bank. She paid $50,000 for California-based Genetic Savings & Clone, Inc. – a controversial company specializing in cloning dogs and cats – to transplant Little Nicky’s DNA into an egg. A surrogate mother carried the embryo and gave birth to a kitten that looked and behaved similarly to Julie’s precious kitten. From newspaper interviews, Julie was a happy customer. However, she won’t be ordering a Little Nicky III anytime soon. Genetic Savings & Clone, Inc. – which made headlines worldwide for producing the first cloned cat, CC, in 2001 – closed in 2006, apparently for financial reasons.
A Maine Coon Was the World’s Longest Cat…
Stewie, an 8-year-old Maine Coon, held the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest domestic cat before his death from cancer in 2013. When fully stretched out, Stewie measured 122cm from the tip of his nose to the end of his tailbone.
… and the World’s Oldest Cat
Technically, Corduroy – the feline currently holding the Guinness World Record for the oldest living cat – is only half Maine Coon. However, Corduroy’s lifespan of 26 years puts his purebred counterparts to shame.
They Love Water
Perhaps due to their dense coat that repels moisture, for one reason or another, Maine Coons love water. While other cats shy away from a full bathtub, a Maine Coon will likely jump right in.
Some Maine Coons Have Six Toes
Forget Hemingway’s cats, Maine Coons sometimes have six toes too. In the early development of the breed, Maine Coons were often polydactyl, meaning they were born with extra appendages on their paws. Some experts estimate that up to 40% of early Maine Coons had this feature. This came from a genetic mutation that, according to some, helped the cats use their paws as « natural snowshoes » during Maine’s snowy winters. Thanks to the rise of cat fancier associations, which disqualified polydactyls from competition in the purebred cat category, this trait eventually became undesirable. Owners stopped breeding polydactyl Maine Coons, and the number of six-toed kittens gradually decreased. However, some non-purebred litters still produce Maine Coons with extra toes.
