| What about a Maine Coon cat? | | | | adoption of the name "Maine Coon." Another legend |
| The much loved Maine Coon is one of the largest | | | | is that the cat was named after a ship's captain |
| breeds of domestic cat, known for its intelligence and | | | | named Coon who was responsible for the cat |
| playfulness as well as its distinctive physical | | | | reaching Maine shores. |
| appearance. The breed is one of the oldest breeds in | | | | The truth is much more boring, in the 17th and 18th |
| North America and originated from New England, | | | | centuries, domestic cats brought to the new lands, |
| making it America's first indigenous show cat. The | | | | from Europe faced very severe winters in New |
| Maine Coon Cat is regarded as "the gentle giant" and | | | | England, only the strongest and most adaptable cats |
| is known for a pleasant nature. | | | | survived. Through natural selection (as opposed to |
| Maine Coons are very large and energetic cats, | | | | selective breeding), the Maine Coon developed into a |
| sometimes weighing up to around 11-12 kilograms (25 | | | | large, rugged cat with a water-resistant, thick coat |
| pounds); the average weight is 6 to 9 kilograms | | | | and a hardy constitution. |
| (13-20 pounds) for adult males and less (7-11 pounds) | | | | These days, the breed has many more recognized |
| for females. Male Maine Coons may grow to a length | | | | colours, including black, blue, cream, red, tortoiseshell, |
| in excess of 1 meter (40 inches); the longest cat on | | | | blue tortoiseshell, white, smoke, silver tabby, brown |
| record is a Maine Coon 121cm (49 inches) in length. | | | | tabby, red tabby, blue tabby, cream tabby, and |
| Growth to full size often takes longer than for most | | | | bicolour. |
| cats, with Maine Coons usually reaching full size at | | | | The Maine Coon is usually a social creature and gets |
| age four or five. | | | | on with other cats, dogs, and children. These cats |
| The breed has a face with a square muzzle, a thick | | | | have great personalities and are a great cat breed |
| neck, large ears, big, rounded eyes, and a large, | | | | for family homes. |
| muscular body. The tail is long and relatively bushy. | | | | Due to their above-average intelligence, Maine Coons |
| The origin of the breed (and its name) has several | | | | are known to be one of the easiest cat breeds to |
| myths surrounding it. A popular story comes from a | | | | train. Maine Coons are known for their ability to trill |
| legend that a domestic cat released in the wilds of | | | | their meows, which sounds like a combination of a |
| Maine mated with a raccoon, resulting in offspring | | | | purr and a meow, and they tend to make this sound |
| with the Maine Coon's characteristics. Obviously | | | | when happy or startled. They rarely eat alone, |
| biologically impossible, this myth, bolstered by the | | | | preferring to eat in the company of other cats or |
| bushy tail and the most common coloring (a | | | | humans. |
| raccoon-like brown tabby) could have led to the | | | | |