Maine Coon: Description Of The Breed, Character And Habits, Maintenance And Feeding, Weight By Month, Photo With A Person, Approximate Price, Reviews

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Maine Coon: history of the breed, features, care and breeding

People choose their companion animals, starting, in many respects, from the emotional perception of this issue. So, small animals cause affection, and large ones look majestic and formidable. This is especially true for the cat family. The most popular big domestic cats are representatives of the Maine Coon breed. And although in childhood they are as cute as other kittens, their size and weight quickly increase, and an adult male can weigh more than 8 kg. And special care is required for them. So keeping and even more so breeding Maine Coons is a matter that requires certain experience and knowledge. To rely on emotions alone, starting a Maine Coon, would be unforgivable frivolity.

Content

• 1 Maine Coon: history of the breed

• 2 Physiological features of Maine raccoon cats

  • 2.1 The main phenotypes of Maine Coons (photo gallery)
  • 2.2 Variations in Maine Coon phenotypes (photo gallery)

• 3 Biggest Maine Coons

  3.1 Very large Maine Coon Omar from Melbourne (video)

• 4 Character, intelligence, habits and habits of Maine Coons

  • 4.1 Intelligence
  • 4.2 Nature
  • 4.3 Features
  • 4.4 Socialization
• 5 How many Maine Coons live and what they get sick

• 6 How to care for a Maine Coon

  • 6.1 Feeding with industrial feed
  • 6.2 Feeding with natural feed
  • 6.3 Suitable toilet and fillers
  • 6.4 Hygiene procedures: clipping nails, cleaning ears, combing and bathing
• 7 What accessories are needed to keep Maine Coons

• 8 Maine Coon breeding

  8.1 Castration and sterilization

• 9 How to choose a kitten

  9.1 Where is it better to buy a kitten and how much it can cost

• 10 Owner reviews about the breed

Maine Coon: history of the breed

Maine Coon cat breed originated in North-East America, in Maine, USA. The ancestor of the breed is considered to be a cat named Captain-Jenks-from-sea-cavalry. He gained widespread attention at cat shows held in 1861 in New York and Boston.

At that time, the fashion for Maine Coons did not arise, but these large and strong cats took root among local farmers - they were highly valued for their hunting skills.

Maine Coons thrive in cold climates

In a literal translation, the name of the breed sounds like "Maine raccoon" and up to the present time in North America, Maine Coons are known as the Maine raccoon cat. There is even a version that these animals evolved from the relationship between raccoons and cats. But much more consistent is the opinion that the representatives of this breed came from mating tabby cats with the North American lynx.

According to scientific research, Maine Coons are an aboriginal breed, the characteristic genotype of their breed developed naturally, under the influence of the harsh climate of North America. In the second half of the XX century, due to their characteristics, cats of this breed began to gain popularity in North America and Europe. On the territory of the western republics of the former USSR, representatives of the Maine Coon breed were introduced in 1992.

By now, Maine raccoon cats are popular all over the world. Their breeding is a multimillion-dollar business, part of which is the popularization of the breed through all kinds of exhibitions and advertising in the mass media.

Maine raccoon cat in all its glory

Physiological features of Maine raccoon cats

These are the largest domestic cats. For an adult male, weight over 8 kg may be considered normal, but in some cases, an adult cat weighs 14 kg or more. The female's weight rarely exceeds 6 kg, although there are exceptions here.

A feature of this breed is a long growth period - the animal will need from 3 to 5 years to reach its final size. The average height of Maine Coons is 30–40 cm, body length - up to 1.2 m, of which almost 40 cm is the tail.

Average statistical data on the weight of animals, depending on age:

Kitten age	Cat weight	Cat weight
Newborn kitten	100-140 g.	120-160 g.
1 Week	160-230 g.	190-250 g.
2 weeks	160-230 g.	190-250 g.
3 weeks	420-550 g.	440-600 g.
1 month / 4 weeks	560-680 g.	630-750 g.
2 months / 8 weeks	1.1-1.4 kg.	1.2–1.5 kg.
3 months / 12 weeks	1.7-2.4 kg.	2.8-3.6 kg.
4 months / 16 weeks	2.7-3.6 kg.	3–3.8 kg.
5 months / 20 weeks	2.8-3.9 kg.	3.2-4.2 kg.
6 months / 24 weeks	3.2-4 kg.	3.8-4.5 kg.
Seven months	3.6-4.7 kg.	4.2-5.6 kg.
8 months	3.8-4.9 kg.	4.5-6.1 kg.
9 months	4.1-5.8 kg.	4.6–6.8 kg.
10 months	4.3–6.5 kg.	4.8-7.2 kg.
11 months	4.3-7 kg.	5–7.5 kg.
1 year / 12 months	4.5-8.3 kg.	5.4–8.8 kg.
5 years	5–8.5 kg.	5.8–12 kg.

Maine Coon kitten, male, 3 months

Main phenotypes of Maine Coons (photo gallery)

Silver or smoky - the lower half of the hairs are not dyed

Solid or Solid - uniform solid color regardless of gender

Tabby - with a variety of chaotic patterns on the body

With white - the presence of white spots up to albinism, regardless of gender

Tortoiseshell - the color combines red and black, exclusively female

These phenotypes can vary in the following qualities:

• by the color of the main tone (black, blue, red, cream, black and blue-cream turtle, silver or smoke, white);
• by the type of white spot (van, harlequin, two-tone, with white);
• by the type of tabby pattern (marble or classic tabby, brindle tabby or mackerel, spotted, agouti factor, shaded, chinchilla).

Variations in Maine Coon phenotypes (photo gallery)

Adult Maine Coon, male, white solidus with heterochromia

Adult Maine Coon, male, red tabby tabby

Adult Maine Coon, male, silver classic tabby

Adult Maine Coon female, black tabby tabby

Maine Coon kitten, 3-4 months old, black tortie with white

The biggest Maine Coons

As noted earlier, Maine Coon cats can have impressive dimensions, even in comparison with their "fellow tribesmen". It almost entirely depends on genetics - thus the presence of large animals among the "distant relatives" and genetic mutations inherent in all species are manifested.

One of the world's largest Maine Coons lives in Finland, in the small town of Tuusula. The cat's name is Bond, but the owners affectionately named him Pikkis, which can be translated into Russian as "Kid". The cat's parents did not stand out for their special dimensions, but Bond himself weighs 16 kg, its length is 120 cm.

Maine Coon Bond, nicknamed Pikkis (Kid), in the arms of the owner

Information about such a giant appeared in various media in November 2017. Jan-Erik Bruun, the owner of the animal, happily shared photos of his pet and talked about his habits. Despite its size, the Kid has a very gentle disposition, loves attention and human company.

Jan-Erik Bruun and his Maine Coon Kid

Another large Maine Coon lives in Melbourne. His name is Omar. For some time, he claimed to be the "largest" domestic cat in the world and to enter the Guinness Book of Records. At the time of filing the application, the animal was only three years old, and it already weighed 14 kg, with a length of 120 cm. It is likely that it will grow up.

Very large Maine Coon Omar from Melbourne (video)

Maine Coon character, intelligence, habits and habits

Praising the impressive size of the Maine raccoon cats is "mainstream", but the real beauty of the representatives of this breed lies in their amazing intelligence and character.

Intelligence

In terms of intelligence, Maine Coons are not like most other breeds - they understand commands very well, are able to memorize many words, are sensitive to the intonation and emotional state of their owners; perform quite conscious actions, adjust to the rhythm of life, habits and daily routine of the owners.

They are able to perceive and interpret even human body language - gestures, looks and sounds. Their body language is also developed. So, a light blow to the head means a particularly reverent attitude. Moreover, they communicate with the person, literally. In the communication arsenal of coons, there is not only the usual meowing, but also a wide range of other sounds that are completely atypical for cats - a kind of chirping, different squeaks, trills and many variations of purring.

The behavior of Maine cats directly depends on the quality of upbringing

Character

The key character traits of Maine Coons are accuracy, peacefulness and calmness. They are not at all inclined to Skodas, overturning things, doing something in spite of them. Thanks to their developed intelligence, they are perfectly aware of the boundaries of what is permissible and do not cross them.

It is generally accepted that cats consider everything around them as their property. But coons in this sense are an enviable exception - they divide all objects into their own and those of others, treating the latter very carefully.

Maine cats generally behave very carefully. They do not like to climb on cupboards or mezzanines, preferring to recline on a sofa or carpet. They prefer open spaces; like all predators, they instinctively seek to occupy a certain height in order to observe what is happening around.

Maine Coons are very similar in behavior to dogs.

Features:

These animals are very fond of water procedures in any of their manifestations. Swimming for Maine Coon is a real treat. Keep this in mind if you have an aquarium or other open containers of water.

Maine Coons are born hunters, so all extraneous animals within their reach will be caught, strangled and most likely eaten. At the same time, they are smart enough to be aware of the presence of other pets and not offend them, even birds and fish.

Cats of this breed are very playful, but they need a partner to play. If you have one cat, you should regularly play with him, or at least let him spend time with you. They do not tolerate loneliness, so it is worth taking care that the animal has something to occupy itself, fortunately, many different toys are sold today.

A lively mind provokes a very strong curiosity in Maine Coons. If you live in a private house and let your cat go for a walk, keep in mind that excessive curiosity can lead to sad consequences. And I can simply steal such a noticeable animal - you should not forget about this either.

Maine Coons are radically different from all other cats with their love for water.

Socialization

Cats get used to the owner very quickly. They carefully study their person, adapt to the peculiarities of his behavior, learn to understand him. They single out one "main" person, but easily accept other family members and pets.

Maine Coons have a clear separation of "friend or foe" - they ignore and even avoid strangers who come into the house. However, after several meetings, “acquaintance” still occurs, especially if the new person does not strive to touch the cat. Representatives of this breed generally do not like being picked up and put on their knees. Although these behavioral reactions may be different, if the coon is taught in childhood to be on his hands or knees. And sometimes animals themselves feel a desire to get closer to a loved one, but this still does not apply to unfamiliar people.

Maine Coons love children, take care of them and even endure children's pranks. It is still better to explain to the child that the kitty is alive, it can be unpleasant for her, she can defend herself. But often such problems do not arise - a developed intellect allows the kun to “forgive” a child much of what would be unforgivable for an adult.

By the way, Maine Coon males are excellent dads. They are directly involved in raising offspring - they are not even weaned from newborn kittens. Perhaps that is why they are indulgent towards human cubs.

Maine Coons are eminently social animals

How many Maine Coons live and what they get sick

The average lifespan of Maine cats is 12-15 years. Life span directly depends on nutrition and quality of care. These animals have excellent health, but there are a number of genetic diseases that are characteristic of the representatives of this breed:

• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
• dysplasia of the hip joints;
• spinal muscular atrophy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common heart disease that causes thickening (hypertrophy) of the left ventricular muscle, which makes it difficult to pump blood into the aorta and, as a result, creates an oxygen deficiency. An echocardiogram, ECG, or X-ray of the heart will help identify the disease.

Hip dysplasia in animals provokes weakness, lameness, pain and inability to jump, and muscle tissue degradation. To accurately diagnose this disease, they resort to x-rays of the hip joints - it is important to know that this procedure is contraindicated in animals under 2 years of age.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a hereditary neuromuscular disease, during the development of which the motor neurons of the spinal cord degenerate, leading to muscle atrophy. The first signs of the disease appear at the age of twelve weeks, characteristic symptoms: muscle weakness, lethargy, tremor. Over time, it becomes difficult for the animal to jump. Today, the only way to diagnose this disease is a special DNA test.

It is important to understand that all three diseases are the result of genetic mutations, so ask breeders to document the appropriate clinical examinations of litter parents before mating. Thus, the likelihood of these slugs in your pets will be minimal, but it cannot be completely ruled out, so it is very important to monitor the condition of the animal, its nutrition and properly care for it.

Maine Coon health is a consequence of genetic predispositions and proper care

How to care for a Maine Coon

Life with such a large pet requires serious discipline and responsibility from its owners. And if you admire the gorgeous look of the Maine Coon, you should know that behind this lies a lot of effort spent on caring for the animal and organizing proper nutrition for it.

Feeding with industrial feed

Maine Coon kittens are breastfed up to 2.5 months, but complementary foods can be started as early as one month old. Milk is mandatory for a kitten up to 2 months, so if he is weaned from his mother, he must be fed with goat milk or special adapted milk, which can be found in pet stores.

Do not give cow's milk

The frequency of feeding kittens up to 4 months is 5–6 times, in small portions, up to 6 months - 4 times a day, up to 10–12 months - three times a day, after which it is necessary to transfer the coon to two meals a day.

Kittens are usually fed with "wet" food, which makes up 50% of the diet up to six months of age. Optimal foods include Royal Canin's Maine Coon Kitten, Wahre Liebe's Junge, Mera Cat's Classic and similar. The recommended portions are usually indicated on the packages.

Remember that your pet's health primarily depends on its nutrition!

There is no need to save on the Maine Coon's diet, because the duration of its life and general physical condition depend on it

Commercial food for adult animals must be selected based on its quality. It is preferable to choose premium food for large cats - they usually contain at least 50% meat. Pay attention to the label - meat (protein) should be listed first in the list of ingredients. Quality food is considered to be at least 26% protein and 9% fat, and for lactating cats - 30% protein and 9% fat. Soy, cereals, corn and wheat gluten - all these ingredients are contraindicated for the animal, they lead to excess weight gain.

Experts give preference to such feeds as

• Bosch Sanabelle Grande;
• Eukanuba Mature Care Formula for Cats;
• ProNature 30 Adult for Cats.

When feeding dry food, it is necessary to monitor how much water the animal is consuming. Maine Coon should drink 25 ml of water per 1 kg of its weight per day. At the same time, every 50 g of feed eaten by the animal must record 150 g of water. It is generally important to monitor the water - Maine Coons tend to play with it, so the drink in the bowl should be refreshed at least daily using boiled or filtered water.

For the organization of the Maine Coon's nutrition, it is preferable to use industrial feed, but some owners, for various reasons, resort to natural nutrition. This is permissible, but it is important to carefully consider the diet of your pet, because its health directly depends on it.

Feeding with natural food

You can not feed cats any food from your table, cow's milk, sausage and smoked meats, raw meat or fish, pork in any form, bones, fatty dairy products, sweets, flour products, especially those containing yeast. Even if the animal eats all this willingly, this does not mean that all this will benefit him.

The cat's diet must be varied. It can include lean meat, optimally chicken, if you wish, you can pamper your pet with turkey, rabbit or beef. The daily portion of meat is 50–150 g, depending on the weight of the cat. The meat must be heat treated - either deep-frozen or boiled. This will minimize the risk of infection of the cat with worms and other parasites.

Meat is the main element of the Maine Coon's diet when fed naturally

It is not recommended to give fish at all, especially - river fish, as it contains many different parasites. If desired, you can give it boiled, no more than once or twice a week. From seafood, boiled shrimps are preferred.

Useful for Maine cats is the yolk of a boiled egg, chicken or quail. Be sure to include vegetables and herbs in your diet. Consuming zucchini, carrots, beets, pumpkin, broccoli, parsley, lettuce, and dill will allow your pet to get a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Cats enjoy stewed or boiled vegetables as an additive to meat.

Several times a week, vegetables can be replaced with rice or buckwheat, as well as medium-fat dairy products and natural yoghurts. It is also important not to forget about vitamin and mineral complexes, which should be prescribed by a veterinarian.

An adequate alternative to meat is by-products - chicken stomachs, hearts, liver, or similar parts of turkey, rabbit, veal or beef. They should also be deep-frozen before cooking. The by-products are boiled, passed through a meat grinder, mixed with a nutritional supplement (cereals or stewed or boiled vegetables passed through a meat grinder) and served in this form "to the slot". Animals tend to love it!

However, the Maine Coon does not need to constantly grind food: in the process of chewing, it develops the jaws and helps to strengthen the immune system. So by alternating gruel and vegetable porridge with meats, cut into medium pieces and mixed with any of the foods described above, you will provide your pet with a healthy and varied diet.

Maine Coon eats raw meat willingly, but only after deep freezing does it pose a threat to his health

Suitable toilet and fillers

Experts recommend initially taking the same tray for the kitten as it had in the nursery or from the breeders. This will make it easier for the animal to adapt to the new habitat. However, Maine Coon kittens grow out of their "children's" trays very quickly.

They like to dig around, so it's best not to choose open trays. An excellent option would be a closed tray box with a door. You can take a similar device suitable in size for indoor dogs. An added bonus of these trays is the odor-absorbing charcoal filters they are usually equipped with.

If for some reason there is no opportunity to purchase a tray, any plastic container with high sides will do. Baby bath, for example.

The choice of filler is an individual matter and depends on what kind of filler the animal had in childhood and its personal preferences - in some cases, it is not possible to retrain a cat for any other type of filler, except for the one to which he is accustomed. If the cat is less picky, then there is already a question of convenience for the owner. Clumping and silica gel fillers are optimal - they retain odor well, are economically consumed and practically do not spread around the apartment.

Maine Coons are very clean animals, so the litter box will have to be cleaned daily or even several times a day. It might make sense to consider purchasing an automatic cat litter box.

Better not to leave the toilet open if you have a Maine Coon.

Hygiene procedures: clipping nails, cleaning ears, combing and bathing

In representatives of the Maine Coon breed, claws grow very quickly, so they should be trimmed regularly once a week. The procedure is typical: it is necessary to lightly press on the cat's foot so that the claws are released, and using special scissors or nail tweezers, cut about 2 mm of the claw without touching the pinkish core.

This photo clearly shows the pinkish core of the claw, which should not be touched.

Ear cleaning should be done every 2-3 days. In a healthy animal, the inner surface of the ears is pinkish and does not show any serious discharge. The ears are wiped with ordinary ear sticks slightly dipped in hydrogen peroxide or a special ear antiseptic sold at pet stores. The design of the cat's ear is such that it is almost impossible to injure it during such cleaning, however, all movements should not be performed with excessive force. Some experts advise to wipe the auricles with a dry soft cloth, and then sprinkle with a little antiseptic. However, this is not necessary for healthy animals.

Combing is a special item of Maine Coon care. It must be produced at least once a week. For combing, you need a rare comb and an ordinary comb, always with rounded teeth. If you want your pet's fur to shine, use a natural bristle brush. During the moulting period, special attention should be paid to combing the Maine Coon's fur. The first molt begins at the age of 5–7 months.

It is necessary to comb the coons first with a rare comb, and then with a brush with thick teeth. It is better to start with the tail, move to the back and sides, then the chest and legs, and last of all the stomach.

On the tummy and inner surfaces of the feet, the coat tends to roll into mats. With regular brushing, this usually does not happen, however, if you find a mats and you cannot untangle it, cut it off boldly. Also, Maine Coons need to cut the hair under the tail and in the groin area, otherwise the feces can stick to the thick fur of the animal. Some delegate this specific operation to a specialist.

This Maine Coon has already been thoroughly combed out and shaved, just look at this mountain of wool

Maine Coons are very fond of swimming, however, as is the case with other cats, this procedure should not be abused. One bath a month is enough. During shedding periods, you can double the frequency of bathing. If the veterinarian has not prescribed any specific shampoo for your pet, feel free to use any means for this breed.

It is advised to bathe the cat after the claws have been cut, the ears have been cleaned and the fur has been combed out. When bathing, make sure that no water gets into the ears of the animal. After bathing, dry your pet with a cotton towel. You do not need to dry the cat with a hairdryer - give him the opportunity to lick and dry on his own.

What accessories are needed to keep Maine Coons

To ensure a comfortable life, the Maine Coon needs:

• couch - you can try to make it yourself or buy a ready-made version, for example - a house with a staircase; Coons love when their territory is on a hill;
• a toilet tray is a very important accessory, we have already examined its features;
• scratching post - again, you can try to make it yourself or buy a ready-made version, the main thing is that the size of the scratching post is commensurate with the dimensions of the animal;
• toys - any small objects, such as balls or mice, that do not have parts that can come off during the game;
• bowls - containers for food and water; they should be roomy and hygienic; preference should be given to glass, steel or ceramics; For a Maine Coon, a sippy dog is an excellent water bowl option.

My kun kitten on a special design with a bed and a scratching post

Maine Coon breeding

Male Maine cats are ready to mate when they reach 7–8 months, but the optimal age for the onset of sexual activity is one and a half years. Females are ready to mate after the third estrus. This framework is advised not to violate. For a cat, pregnancy after the first or second estrus can result in health problems in the future and weak offspring. For males, early mating is fraught with the same. This is a consequence of the longer, in comparison with representatives of other breeds, the formation of the organism. But it is also impossible to tighten with viscous, otherwise problems may arise at the level of behavior, as a result of inexperience.

Unrelated animals are knitted for the first time with experienced members of the opposite sex. To find a partner, they contact a feline club. An alternative option is local cat shows, where pedigree animals are presented and you can get to know their owners. For serious breeding work, both the cat and the cat must have a divorce grade of "very good" or higher, otherwise the kittens will not be considered purebred.

Immediately before mating, it is necessary to examine the animals by a veterinarian, including for the presence of genetic diseases. Animals should be progistogenic and vaccinated against rabies, chlamydia, panleukopenia, lichen, rhinotracheitis and calcivirosis.

Often breeders strive to mate coons of the same phenotype to obtain predictable offspring.

A mating agreement is concluded between the owners of the animals, where the names of the animals, mating conditions, terms of payment, actions in case of a failed mating, as well as expenses for the maintenance of kittens, the procedure for their documentation and registration are indicated. Copies of pedigrees and medical records of both animals are attached to the contract.

Mating takes place on the territory of the cat, at this time the owner of the male bears full responsibility for the cat. The cat is brought on the second day of estrus along with a tray, bowls and food. It is clear from the cat's reaction whether mating will take place or not; if the animal shows an active interest, this is a good sign, and if it remains indifferent, ignores the female and leaves at the first meeting, the cat can be taken home.

Even if the cat is interested, it takes from a couple of hours to several days to get to know each other. The animals are preliminarily trimmed with claws so that they do not hurt each other in the process. Mating usually occurs at night, when there is a minimum of distracting sounds and other disturbing factors in the house. Maine Coons can mate up to 15 times during the day.

Whether the mating took place or not is determined by the behavior of the animals - if the cat fawns on the cat and lets itself be licked, then the mating has taken place. In total, the cat is left with the cat for up to four days. If the male has lost interest in the female earlier, then the mating is over. Until then, it is not advised to separate the animals - this can cause them psychological trauma. But you should not delay the mating process, so it is important to act according to the circumstances.

The fact of pregnancy can be accurately ascertained after three to four weeks. In total, breeding cats bring no more than 3 litters in 2 years. For males, no more than 2 pairings per month are optimal.

Feline family of the same phenotype - with a 95% probability one of the kittens in the litter of such parents will be completely white

Castration and sterilization

It should be noted right away that castration is the removal of testicles in cats or ovaries in cats with the inability to have offspring and a lack of hormonal desire to reproduce, and sterilization is the removal of the uterus in cats or tying the spermatic cords in cats. When sterilized, the animal is unable to bear offspring, but continues to be sexually active, with all the ensuing consequences. Sterilization is rarely used, and in the mass consciousness, cat sterilization is understood as the castration of females.

The decision to castrate an animal is taken either due to the inability to equip its sexual life, or after 5-6 years of active sexual activity, in order to maintain health. The latter is especially true for females.

Castration of cats is carried out as soon as the animal begins to "walk" - its behavior changes, the cat begins to mark the territory and loudly inviting meow. This usually happens at 7-10 months. At the same age, it is customary to castrate cats, before the first estrus. This significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer.

Gaining excess weight after castration is a very common misconception.

How to choose a kitten

Before choosing a kitten, take a look at its parents. This will give a rough idea of the weight and size of the animal in adulthood. When choosing, it is also important to understand whether you are going to breed or not. There are three classes of kittens in any breed:

• for home;
• for breeding;
• for exhibitions.

There are many breed standards that are used in various feline systems, the largest of which are TICA, WCF and CFA. As a result, the classification of a kitten depends on which felinological club the breeder belongs to and is determined by means of registration - establishing compliance with the breed qualities. The cost of kittens directly depends on the class.

Maine Coon kitten for breeding, female, blue cream ticked

The main attention is paid to the power of addition of the kitten, the size of its legs, the density and length of the tail - it should reach the shoulder blade. Also, kittens should have high, erect ears and a correct head with characteristic features - a "square" muzzle and a small crease on the bridge of the nose. But the "branded" brushes - an optional element, although desirable.

There are two main types of Maine Coons: European and American. The former have a longer tail and body, an elongated muzzle, and large tassels on the ears. The second are larger, squat and stockier.

Maine Coon males are larger than females by an average of 2-3 kg, they have a more straightforward and independent character. If you are interested in weasel and the ability to comfortably keep the cat on your lap - take a female, they rarely weigh more than 6 kg and are much more affectionate.

The optimal age of a kitten for purchase is 3 months. By this age, he has completely switched to solid food and is accustomed to the tray. He was given the primary vaccination and was probably already introduced to brushing, bathing, and clipping. At the same time, behavioral reactions are still formed at 3 months, so the animal lends itself well to education.

Like other cats, Maine Coons love to sleep well.

Where is the best place to buy a kitten and how much it can cost

Advertisements for the sale of kittens can be found on the Internet and pet stores. But you need to buy a kitten only from professional breeders with all the necessary documents: passport, pedigree, medical certificates of parents. The seriousness of the approach will also be indicated by the agreement on the transfer of the animal, which the breeder will give you for signature - this is a prerequisite for all felinological clubs.

To reach out to breeders - visit cat shows or search the Internet for contacts of local feline clubs.

The price of a kitten "for home" starts at $ 300, for "breeding" - from $ 1000. Prices vary greatly depending on the breeder.

Maine Coon kitten, one and a half months old, looking out of the box

Reviews of the owners about the breed

It is about this coon that we are talking about in the review that is above

It is about this cat that we are talking about in the review above

Maine Coons are not just big cats, but also a big responsibility. Choice, education, nutrition, care - all this will require a lot of effort and money from you. But in return you get an amazing animal - warm and gentle, intelligent and sociable, playful and independent. There are no analogues in the cat kingdom.