The official state cat of Maine is — you guessed it — the Maine Coon
. This plus-size cat, adorned with
a beautiful neck ruff, dainty britches, tufted feet that resemble snowshoes and a big, bushy tail that he can wrap around himself when he naps is likely the oldest cat breed native to America.
Did You Know the Maine Coon is Sweet and Friendly?
You may have heard that he’s called a Maine Coon because he’s the result of a cross between a cat and a raccoon. While it’s fun to imagine such a pairing, it’s not biologically possible.
The Maine Coon is a big lug. He has a muscular, big-boned body and weighs 9 to 18 pounds. You may have heard tell of 30-pound behemoths, but any Maine Coon that reaches that size is probably grossly overweight.
The Maine Coon is sweet and friendly, with the typically curious cat nature. He loves his family but isn’t demanding of attention. He’ll follow you around and show an interest in what you’re doing, and if you’d like to give him some lap time, well, he’s all in favor of that, too. This is one of those cats who gets along with everyone, including dogs and other cats. He enjoys playing fetch and is willing to learn to walk on a leash, making him a great choice for anyone who travels frequently and would like to bring a feline companion along.
Maine Coons communicate with a chirping trill rather than a meow, an incongruous sound coming from a gentle giant. They are well suited to any home with people who will love them and give their gorgeous coat a weekly combing. Keep them indoors to protect them from cars, diseases spread by other cats and attacks from other animals.
Other Quick Facts About the Maine Coon
Maine Coons are friendly and get along with everyone, including children, dogs and other cats.
The Maine Coon has a long, beautiful coat, but it usually doesn’t mat and requires only weekly combing.
The Maine Coon coat comes in an amazing variety of colors and patterns, including a wide range of solids, tortoiseshell, tabbies, tabby with white, and parti-color (two colors).
