Maine Coon -- Is It The Right Breed For You?

For those dog lovers out there who want to own a cat, the Maine Coon cat breed might be right up their alley. These extraordinary cats -- who have an un-catlike personality -- have very high IQs. In fact, I’ve heard of them actually taking a leisurely dip in the family wading pool. Part dog, right?!

The Maine Coon is known as a gentle giant, which is not surprising, since these lovely cats weigh in at anywhere from 9 to 22 pounds. The breed has a squarish face, a thick neck, large ears, big, rounded eyes, and a large, muscular body. The tail is long and quite bushy.

Warm Fur Coat

This cat breed was first seen in Maine in the late 1800s and most likely developed its thick coat as a way to protect itself from the bitterly cold winters in that area. When the breed was first established, only the brown tabby color was recognized. This coat color and the Maine Coon's bushy tail gave it the look of a raccoon and it is probably this appearance that gave these cats their name. Today, this breed comes in many more recognized colors, including black, blue, cream, red, tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell, white, smoke, silver tabby, brown tabby, red tabby, blue tabby, cream tabby, and bicolors. Cats can have green or gold eyes, unless they are white, in which case, eyes can also be blue or mismatched.

A Hunting We Will Go

Although the Maine Coon is notorious for its excellent hunting abilities, they get along well with other cats, dogs, children, and just about every other type of animal. Well, almost, as they don’t like mice! A perfect cat breed for families, with their wonderful personalities, they are content being the only animal in a quiet household.

Chirping Kitty

If you want an extremely quiet cat, then the Maine Coon may not be the perfect choice for you. These cats are a bit on the vocal side. However, the mewling these cats make is a pleasant chirping sound that few people find to be annoying.

Frequent Grooming

With the long coat this breed has, it is no surprise that the Maine Coon needs frequent grooming. You should be prepared to thoroughly comb out your cat's coat at least twice a week. If the coat begins to develop knots and snarls, you may need to groom him even more frequently.

Healthy Breed

Overall, this descendant of hardy farm cats is a healthy breed. If your cat seems to be feeling under the weather, he most likely has a hairball problem. Of course, you should seek veterinary care to be sure he does not have any more serious problems. While you are talking to your veterinarian, you may want to consult him about feeding your cat a cat food with hairball control.

The Perfect Choice

Said to be the most popular breed of cats in the world, this intelligent and loving cat, might just be the perfect choice for you.