Maine Coons are intelligent cats that can be great family pets. Did you know that the Maine Coon was once threatened before it rose to become one of the top three pedigreed cat breeds in the world? This post will disclose ten incredible facts about the Maine Coon.
1. Maine Coons rarely meow
Cats are known for their meows, but the Maine Coon rarely does so. The Maine Coon is a very vocal cat and would make different sounds ranging from trilling to chirping and would only meow if it is taught to do so. The Maine Coon would instead use other sounds to communicate its need. For example, when the Maine Coon is hungry, distressed, or wants attention, it chirps continuously to make its wants known.
2. Maine Coons are known for their large size
The Maine Coon is the largest non-hybrid cat breed, and it is also one of the largest breeds of the cat in the world. A male Maine Coon can weigh about 15 to 25 pounds, while a female can weigh between 10 and 15 pounds. Maine Coons are so big to the extent that more than two cats of the breed have held the Guinness World record of the world’s longest cat at different times. Stewie (one of the cats that held the Guinness record) measured 48.5 inches right from his nose tip down to the end of his tail.
3. Maine Coons are very intelligent
Although they are not the most intelligent cat breed, Maine Coons are known to be naturally curious and also possess an above-average intelligence level amongst cats. The advantage of this is that they are very easy to train; it is well known that cats are difficult animals to train. A lot of other facts show the intelligent level of the Maine Coon, e.g., they are sociable, and this demands intelligence, which the Maine Coon is known for. They also show intelligence by being careful around their owner when they sense that their owner is busy.
4. Maine Coons are great family pets
Maine Coons have a lot of qualities that make them great family pets. They are intelligent, which means they can socialize with other pets and people. They are friendly, affectionate, and goofy, which means that they can be raised alongside children without having issues. The Maine cat is also extremely loyal and obedient to its owner, such that it is rare to find an aggressive Maine Coon.
5. Maine Coon’s coats are made for the winter
A Maine Coon has a dense layer of fur. This fur coat consists of multiple layers, which are the undercoats and the guard hairs. The undercoats consist of fine and long hairs, while the guard hairs are the long, glossy, and coarse hair seen on the body of the cat. The extra layers of fur on the cat’s body mean that the cat is able to endure icy weather conditions as it is able to insulate itself.
6. Some Maine Coons are born with six toes
On average, Maine Coons are born with five toes on each of their fore paws and four on their hind paws, but some are found to have six toes on each paw. While it is not a common occurrence now, there was a period when 40% of the Maine Coon’s population had six toes on each leg. A Maine Coon with 6 toes is called a polydactyl Maine Coon. The extra toes are caused by extra appendages on their paw when they were born.
7. Maine Coons love water
Domestic cats do not like water, but that is not so for the Maine Coon, as the majority of the breed loves water and would often spend a lot of time playing with water. It was even included as a part of its unique traits by some breed specialists. It is possible that their partial water repellent coat plays a role in their love for the water.
8. Maine Coons have a very long tail
Maine Coons are larger than the average domestic cat; hence it is no surprise that they have a longer tail than the average cat. The Maine Coon’s tail measures about 16 inches long as compared to the 12 inches of an average cat. This long and bushy tail helps the Maine Coon in a number of ways. It aids their originally dense coat in insulating their bodies by wrapping it around itself. It also aids in balance.
9. Maine Coons are among the oldest breeds of cats that still exist
The origin of the Maine Coon is unclear, as there are many stories that talk about this breed. This cat breed, though, started appearing in cat shows in the 19th century. This makes it one of the oldest cat breeds still existing today.
10. Maine Coons are Maine state’s official cats
The Maine Coon became the official cat of the state in 1985. This is no surprise as the cat originates from the state. The name of the cat was also derived from the state’s name.
