Greetings, dear friend! I hope you are well and in a better mood than I am. It’s a gloomy day here, with much rain and wind. We had the same weather yesterday, and the rain is forecast for tomorrow. I need to write a letter of complaint to our weatherman.
I remember when we were all in our beautiful house; how cozy it was, whatever the weather outside. Mum used to light the fire in the chimney and put on some interesting DVDs, usually about birds or big cats. We all gathered around, watching in awe and marveling. Life was beautiful then.
But let’s not sink into depression; life always has positive and negative aspects, says Mum.
Today, I want to tackle Maine Coon Cats' behavior. Cats, much like dogs, also exhibit breed-specific characteristics and behaviors, though these traits can sometimes be less pronounced than in dogs. Here are some general Maine Coon breed-specific traits, although some are disputable, according to Mum’s experience.
Maine Coon cats, one of the largest domesticated cat breeds, have a rich history and a set of distinctive characteristics:
Origin and History
The Maine Coon hails from Maine and is known as a popular mouser, farm cat, and ship's cat as far back as the early 19th century.
The breed's exact origins are unclear, with theories ranging from Viking introductions to descendants of longhaired cats belonging to Marie Antoinette.
Maine Coons were first mentioned in literature in 1861, and a female Maine Coon won Best Cat in 1895 at a show in Madison Square Garden.
They were popular until the early 20th century when their popularity waned with the introduction of Persian and Siamese breeds. However, they regained popularity in the 1960s.
Physical Characteristics
Maine Coons are large, with males often weighing 18-22 pounds and females 12-15 pounds. They don't usually reach full maturity until four years of age.
They have a muscular, rectangular body, a long tail, and a shaggy double coat, which is dense on the stomach and rear. They also have long whiskers and tufts on their ears and toes, adapting to cold environments.
Their coat can come in various colours and patterns, except for pointed (colourpoint) patterns.
Personality and Behavior
Maine Coons are known for their sweet-tempered, gentle, and friendly nature. They are not overly demanding of attention but enjoy being part of family activities.
They are playful and retain a kitten-like love of play into adulthood, with males showing more silly behaviour than females. My Daddy Uddy was undoubtfully the champion when it comes to silliness.
Maine Coons are intelligent, can be trained, and are known for their mousing skills. They enjoy interactive play and can adapt well to different environments.
Health and Lifespan
The average lifespan of a Maine Coon is about 12-15 years. This statement can be broadly disputed - some other sources state that Maine Coons have the longest lifespan among all cats. I’m prone to believe it. My little Maine Coon family was around me for over 18 years, some of them even 20.
They are prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart condition, and polydactylism (having extra toes). We didn’t see any of those.
They are big gourmands, demanding food nonstop, but none in our family was fat, probably because they were so playful, always on the move.
Their long coats require regular grooming, and I remember Mum fighting with the knots daily.
Fun Facts
The world's longest cat on record was a Maine Coon named Stewie, measuring 48.5 inches. My Daddy Uddy was 47.5 inches long.
Maine Coons were once considered the only longhair breed native to the U.S.
A Maine Coon cat starred in the Harry Potter movies as Mrs. Norris.
In conclusion, and in my opinion, Maine Coons are not just large but also the most fantastic breed. They all loved me, and I miss them tremendously.
I’m delighted to announce that our book Paws, Tails and Tales is now available on all Amazon marketplaces. I say “ours” - seven of my Twitter friends have participated in it, sending me their beautiful, heartwarming stories. Thank you, Munch, Maggie (Scribbles), Holly, SquakynBB, Biscuit, Charlie, Tommy and, of course, Cilla @OutwoodsCat, whose Mum did the beautiful illustrations!
Their names are indicated inside the book and on Amazon (when you log in via the Web).
We all hope you will enjoy reading our stories!
I still have two stories to share here on my blog, about Tommy’s adventure and Daisy’s story, but as this newsletter is quite long, they will wait until later this week.
Until then, I wish you a wonderful evening!
Your loving writer,
Freddy.
So honoured to be part of this book ❤️
We enjoyed reading the information on Maine Coon Cats. They are such an interesting and beautiful breed. Thank you.
Thank you for including Daisy’s (my grand cat) story in your latest book. There are so many wonderful tales out there and we are honored you chose ours. My daughter will be thrilled when she discovers this. It’s will be a Christmas surprise for her.
Stay well Freddy and family. Just two more weeks of our best behavior so that Santa Claus comes. Sending everyone our love ❤️
Love, Squeaky, BB and Mom