NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Maine Coon

The Maine Coon is one of the largest breeds of domestic cat, known for its high intelligence and playfulness as well as its distinctive physical appearance. The breed is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America specifically native to the state of Maine (where it is the official State Cat)^[1]. This cat is known as "Maine Coon", "coon-cat", "Maine Cat" or (colloquially) "the gentle giant." The Cat Fanciers Association, Inc. ... The FÃ©dÃ©ration Internationale FÃ©line (or FIFe) is a federation of cat registries. ... The International Cat Association More commonly known as TICA is the worlds second-largest cat registry in North America. ... The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) is the organization that registers pedigreed cats in the United Kingdom. ... A breed is a domesticated subspecies or infrasubspecies of an animal. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... Endemic, in a broad sense, can mean belonging or native to, characteristic of, or prevalent in a particular geography, race, field, area, or environment; Native to an area or scope. ... Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area Ranked 39th - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (338 km) - Length 320 miles (515 km) - % water 13. ...

Origin

The Maine Coon is a natural cat breed that originated in Maine. A journal article was published about the coon-cat of the late 1800s stating: "... all of them come from Maine, simply for the reason that the breed is peculiar as yet to that State." "Coon-cats have been recognized as a distinct breed in Maine for so long that the memory of the oldest inhabitant runs back to their beginning." "You will find them in almost any village in that part of the world."^[2]

The Maine cat was recognized as a distinct breed of cat long ago and known as the "coon-cat" in the mid 1800s prior to the Civil War in recorded history and documented early descriptions of the Maine cat by a well known and celebrated Maine author who lived in that era prior to 1850^[3].

In the 17th and 18th centuries, domestic cats brought over on ships faced very severe winters in Maine, where only the strongest and most adaptable cats survived. "Natural selection (and climate) has had a significant effect on (longhair/Maine Coon) gene frequency in the 200-300 generations since domestic cats were introduced to America."^[4] The Maine Coon developed outdoors into a large, rugged cat with a water-resistant, thick, longhair coat and a hardy constitution. The fur coat developed outdoors into a coat that is particularly unique and distinct from other long-hair breeds.^[5] Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area Ranked 39th - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (338 km) - Length 320 miles (515 km) - % water 13. ... For other uses, see Natural selection (disambiguation). ...

Folklore

The origin of the breed (and its name) has several, often fantastic, folklore surrounding it - all coming from Mainers story-telling and dry sense of humor. One tale comes from this journal account of actual story-telling in 1901 by the down east locals.

"Strange to say, there are comparatively few people south or west of New England who know what a coon-cat is. If you ask that question `down in Maine,` however, the citizens will seem surprised at your ignorance, and will explain to you, in a condescending way, that the creature in question is half raccoon -- the descendant of `a cross between a 'coon and a common cat.`"^[6] Though biologically impossible, this false story, was the result of Mainer's good old leg-pulling and gullible tourists. According to that 1901 account (as you can see), these cats were still referred to as "coon-cats".

A related story is that the cat was named after a ship's captain named Coon who was responsible for the cat reaching Maine shores. This story comes from a Mainer named Molly Haley (prior to 1820) as her oral history^[7] of the cat’s name that was published in this 1986 Maine newspaper article.

(Born 1911 Lida Tarbox) "Her father's account of the Maine Coon goes back to his great-grandmother, Molly Haley, who lived on the Haley farm next to the Tarboxe's, just up from the `pool,`or gut where the Saco River and the Atlantic Ocean meet. This was before Maine became a state (1820) and when the four-masted schooners hauled cargo to Maine from around the world.

A cabin boy named Tom Coon, from which the `coon` cat purportedly gets its name, worked aboard the sailing vessel Glen Laurie. One of his jobs when ashore was to collect cats, which were then used to rid the sailing vessel of wharf rats. On one of these rat-catcher expeditions, Tom smuggled in a beautiful longhair. The safe harbor for both the first coon and her subsequent litter was the Tarbox farm at Biddeford Pool, where the Glen Laurie anchored to take on supplies at the Cutts store at the Pool. When the cabin boy became a captain, he continued to bring the exotic long-hairs to the farm during his ocean voyages." (Documentation of a whaling Captain Coon and his ocean-going family exists in the Maine State Library.)

Another story is a legend from an island dwelling mainer that the breed sprang from pet cats that Marie Antoinette sent to Wiscasset, Maine when she was planning to escape from France during the French Revolution. This story is told in "The Legend of Rosalind of Squam Island".^[8]

Nevertheless, most breeders today believe that the breed originated in matings between pre-existing shorthaired domestic cats and overseas longhairs, perhaps Angora types introduced by New England seamen, or longhairs brought to America by the Vikings.^{[citation needed]} Maine Coons are similar in appearance to both the Norwegian Forest Cat and to the Siberian. The Turkish Angora (Turkish: Ankara Kedisi) is a breed of domestic cat. ... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ... Common nickname Wegie Country of origin Norway Breed standards (external links) AACE, CFA, ACF, ACFA, CCA, TICA, FIFe The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed of domestic cat native to Northern Europe, and adapted to a very cold climate. ... The Siberian is a recognized breed of cat. ...

Physical characteristics

Maine Coons are very large and energetic cats, sometimes weighing up to around 11-12 kilograms (25 pounds); the average weight is 6 to 9 kilograms (13-20 pounds) for adult males and less (7-11 pounds) for females. Male Maine Coons may grow to a length in excess of 1 meter (40 inches); as of 2006, the longest cat on record is a male Maine Coon measuring 122cm (48 inches) in length.^[9] Growth to full size often takes longer than for most cats, with Maine Coons usually reaching full size at age four or five. The cat on the right of the picture is a Maine Coon. ... The cat on the right of the picture is a Maine Coon. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The most common color/pattern in the breed is brown with tabby markings. Maine Coons are recognized in all colors, including tortoiseshell, except for chocolate, lavender, ticked tabby, and the point-restricted ("Siamese") pattern. Eye color also varies widely. All patterns may have green, green-gold, or gold. Blue eyes, or one blue eye with one gold eye, are possible in white coat cats. They share similar facial markings, for example, a distinct "M" shape on the forehead. Image File history File linksMetadata Travismainecoon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Travismainecoon. ... A mackerel tabby, with vertical stripes and white socks. The characteristic M can be easily seen on its forehead. ... A tortoiseshell (technically tortoiseshell-and-white) cat. ...

Maine Coons have medium-long, dense fur, with longer hair, or a ruff, on their chests similar to the mane of a lion (which is why the breed is sometimes humorously called the "Mane Coon"). Their fur consists of two layers - an undercoat and an additional layer of longer guard hairs, which gives the breed their key physical feature. The fur is generally very soft. Maine Coons have long hair on the backs of their legs (called pantaloons or britches) and between their toes which helps to keep warm in the cold. They also have bushy plumed tails and broad, angular heads, squared-off muzzles and wide-set ears topped with tufts of fur (known as 'Lynx-tips'). Their tails can be so bushy that the Maine Coon has earned the nickname the 'tail with a cat attached to it'. Look up mane in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Lion (disambiguation). ... Undercoat can refer to: The down hairs in a mammals fur A layer of paint beneath the main painted surface This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Guard hairs are the longest, thickest hairs in a mammals coat, forming the topcoat (or outer coat). ...

Most Maine Coons keep their fur in good order without the need for additional human grooming. Maine Coons have large ears, which can be tipped at the end with fur. This is a common trait of a Maine Coon, giving them their Lynx-like appearance. Some Maine Coons may have tufts of fur growing from behind their ears on the sides of their heads. The appearance of these tufts can change over time, sometimes appearing quite large and sometimes being not all that noticeable.

There have always been lots of polydactyl Maine Coons. While the Maine Coon may be polydactyl (having one or more extra toes on their paws), this trait, enjoyed by many, is not yet available in show cats - only in pet cats. This trait is finding a world-wide resurgence and is increasingly popular, as it seems to some, that the polydactyl Maine Coon exhibits even more dexterity and intelligence than the normal-footed. They are nick-named "snowshoe cat" because they can walk through snow more easily, but most often though, they are simply called polys. One of the polydactyl cats at the Ernest Hemingway House in Key West, Florida. ...

Polydactyl bloodlines have long been and continue to be registered to preserve these bloodlines of the breed. Modern show types are rarely polys. However, polydactyls are indeed behind many show champions around the world. The show type "breeds" still ignores the Maine Coon Polydactyl Standard and has culled this vast poly portion of the original gene pool (characteristics and features) from the show types.

The original poly incidence was estimated to be around 40%. Centuries ago it was highly likely that a poly cat from Maine would be a Maine Coon. Polydactylism was (and still is) a distinct visible indicator of a coon-cat's original, natural Maine heritage. Native Maine origin coon-cats still exist and are essential to the health and survival of the breed.

In a mating of heterozygous parents the kittens are 25% normal-footed, 50% heterozygous for polydactyly, 25% homozygous for polydactyly on average.^[10]

Behavioral characteristics

Maine Coons are a breed distinguished by high intelligence, dexterity, and playfulness. They have a tendency to use their front paws extensively (often curling the paw round to pick objects up) and as a consequence will easily learn to open cabinet doors, turn on water faucets, flush toilets, or pick up small objects. Some Maine Coons will eat, or even drink, from their paws, rather than from the bowl itself.

Due to their above-average intelligence, Maine Coons are known to be one of the easiest cat breeds to train. Maine Coons are noted for their ability to trill their meows, which sounds like a combination of a purr and a meow, and they tend to make this sound when happy or startled. When they do meow, it tends to be very high in pitch, in comparison to other breeds. They are noted for rarely eating alone, preferring to eat in the company of other cats or humans. Maine Coons are not known to be "lap cats" but of course, this may depend on the individual cat and some may prefer laps.^[11] A yawning cat Cat communication consists of a range of methods with which cats communicate with humans, other cats, and other animals. ...

Some Maine Coons enjoy playing with, but not usually in, water. They may dip toys in their water bowls before playing with them, or just tip the water bowl over. They may also skim their paws across the surface of their water bowl or dunk their paw in and drink water from their paws. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1728x2304, 1684 KB) My own cat, I took this picture myself I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1728x2304, 1684 KB) My own cat, I took this picture myself I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

Maine Coons can be very dog-like in their behavior. Playing fetch is a favorite game. As with dogs, they will bring their ball, drop it at the feet of their intended playmate and wait for the ball to be thrown. They will often accompany their owner on chores like getting the mail, walking the dog, and may also come when beckoned, even if outside. Maine Coons are typically very calm and listen to their owners.

Health Topics

Maine Coons are as a generality, very healthy and hardy. They thrive on better brands of cat foods and sometimes adding fish oils to the diet helps keep their coat and skin in top health. Maine Coon breeders have worked hard over many years to produce hardy, healthy and beautiful kittens. Almost all knowledgable Maine Coon breeders are able to avoid health problems because of significant new advances in veterinary medical testing in recent years. Past problems did include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, for a brief time: polycystic kidney disease (continues to be rare), and typical feline conditions such as gum inflammation or luxating patellas (are non-breed specific, and may occur in any feline.)

Mutation in the gene that codes for cardiac myosin binding protein C has been shown to cause Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in one particular genetic line of the Maine Coon cat population.^[12] Because this line is very popular with show-hobby breeders, approximately one third of Maine Coon cats tested for the mutation have tested positive, and have been removed from the breeding population, although this population sampling is most likely biased, because the high percentage of cats tested were related to that particlular line. Breeders now use the latest DNA sampling methods to improve the breed and ensure its excellent future. Many healthy and hardy Maine Coon lines now exist and the future of the breed is extremely bright. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is a disease of the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) in which a portion of the myocardium is hypertrophied (thickened) without any obvious cause. ...

Until 1988, taurine deficiency was a common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in all cats, including Maine Coons. Since the pet food industry started adding more taurine to cat food in the late 1980s, this kind of cardiomyopathy is rare. Taurine-related cardiomyopathy can be cured with the addition of the nutrient to the diet, but genetic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes a permanent thickening of the left ventricle and is not curable. Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic acid. ... Cat enjoying a mix of wet (canned) and dry cat food Cat food is food manufactured for consumption by cats from the age range of just a few months. ...

As with all breeds, well outcrossed pedigrees that are outcrossed in the early generations and outcrossed further in later generations are important to vitality, disposition, and longevity.

Further reading

References

is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 151 languages. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... Felinology is the study of cats. ... An Ancient Egyptian figurine of a cat, from the Louvre museum. ... Cats (Felis catus) are among the most common pets in the world. ... Cat anatomy is a branch of comparative vertebrate anatomy. ... A dogs paw resting on a hard concrete surface. ... In the anatomy of the cat, there are only two prominent, or great, head muscles, and these are the Masseter and Temporalis. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article refers to the anatomy of the deltoid muscles in the cat. ... There are four pectoral muscles in the cat: pectoantibranchialis, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and xiphihumeralis. ... The Trapezius muscles are a set of muscles found in cats. ... // Longitudinal plane section of ovary of cat embryo of 9. ... This cats coat allows it to blend in well with its environment The genetics of cat coat coloration, pattern, length, and texture is a complex subject, and many different genes are involved. ... Cats, like all living organisms, occasionally have mutations that affect their body type. ... Selective breeding in domesticated animals is the process of developing a cultivated breed over time. ... Cat enjoying a mix of wet (canned) and dry cat food Cat food is food manufactured for consumption by cats from the age range of just a few months. ... Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is a respiratory disease of cats caused by feline herpesvirus 1, of the family Herpesviridae. ... Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a virus of the family Caliciviridae that causes disease in cats. ... Feline panleukopenia, more commonly known as feline distemper, is a viral infection affecting cats caused by feline parvovirus, a close relative of canine parvovirus. ... Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that infects cats. ... Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), commonly known as Helen AIDS is a lentivirus that affects domesticated housecats worldwide. ... FIP-infected kidney showing inflammatory response Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal, incurable disease that affects cats. ... This article is about the fungal infection. ... Binomial name Ctenocephalides felis The Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is one of the most abundant and widespread fleas in the world. ... For the album by Whipping Boy, see Heartworm (album). ... Families Ixodidae - Hard ticks Argasidae - Soft ticks Nuttalliellidae - ????? ticks Wikispecies has information related to: Ixodoidea Tick is the common name for the small arachnids that, along with other mites, constitute the order Acarina. ... Feline asthma is a common allergic respiratory disease in cats, affecting at least one percent of all adult cats worldwide. ... Cat with noticeable jaundice from late-stage Feline Hepatic Lipidosis. ... Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a term that is used to cover many problems of the feline urinary tract, including stones and cystitis. ... Neutering, from the Latin neÅter (of neither type), is the removal of an animals reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part of it. ... Close-up of a declawed paw. ... Cat behaviour is how cats interact with other cats, animals, and environment. ... Cat senses are adaptations that allow cats to be highly efficient predators. ... A cat kneading a soft blanket Kneading (also known as treading the grapes.) is an activity common to all domestic cats whereby, when in a state of contentment, they push the surface on which they are standing with their front paws. ... The cat righting reflex is cats innate ability to orient themselves as they fall so as to land on their feet, often uninjured. ... Happy Cat Relaxed Cat Playful Cat Aggressive Cat Cats communicate a variety of messages using cat body language. ... Two cats fighting A play cat fight between two house cats (This page deals with fights between cats. ... A yawning cat Cat communication consists of a range of methods with which cats communicate with humans, other cats, and other animals. ... Two cats with a text book. ... A purr is a sound made by some species of felines and is a part of cat communication. ... Species See text. ... Rescued feral kittens Most feral kittens have little chance of surviving more than a few months and are vulnerable to starvation, predators, disease and even flea-induced anemia[1][2]. Here, kittens from two feral litters are fostered by a domestic mother. ... For other uses, see Black cat (disambiguation). ... Typical cat show benching cage in the US. Cats wait here until called to the ring. ... Animal hoarding is a human behaviour that involves the keeping of higher than typical numbers of animals as pets without having the ability to properly house or care for them, while at the same time denying this inability [1]. Along with other compulsive hoarding behaviours, it is linked in the... Cat meat is meat derived from cats. ... A cat registry is an organisation that registers cats for exhibition and breeding purposes. ... The Cat Fanciers Association, Inc. ... The FÃ©dÃ©ration Internationale FÃ©line (or FIFe) is a federation of cat registries. ... The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) is the organization that registers pedigreed cats in the United Kingdom. ... The International Cat Association More commonly known as TICA is the worlds second-largest cat registry in North America. ... A cat breed is an infrasubspecific rank for the classification of domestic cats. ... The Abyssinian is a natural breed of domesticated cat believed to originate from one Egyptian female kitten called Zula that was taken from a port in Alexandria, Egypt, by a British soldier and brought to England. ... The American Curl is a breed of cat with unusual ears. ... The Balinese is a breed of oriental cat with long hair and Siamese-style markings, or points. ... The British Shorthair is a domesticated cat that is said to resemble a teddy bear. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The term Bombay cat is used to refer to two different breeds of cat. ... The Chartreux is an internationally recognized breed of domestic cat from France. ... A Cornish Rex is a breed of domestic cat. ... The Devon Rex is a breed of cat that emerged in England during the 1960s. ... Country of origin Russia Breed standards (external links) TICA The Don Sphynx is a Russian breed of hairless cat. ... Egyptian Maus are a medium-sized short-haired cat breed. ... Breeders crossed the American Shorthair with the Persian in the United States around 1960. ... Front view of a Himalayan cat Side view of a Himalayan cat The Himalayan, also called colourpoint persian, is a breed of cat with extremely long, fluffy fur, and the blue eyes and the points of a Siamese. ... A Calico (called Mi-ke) Japanese Bobtail cat The Japanese Bobtail is a breed of cat with an unusual bobbed tail more closely resembling the tail of a rabbit than that of an ordinary feline. ... The Javanese is a recognized breed of cat. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Common nickname Wegie Country of origin Norway Breed standards (external links) AACE, CFA, ACF, ACFA, CCA, TICA, FIFe The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed of domestic cat native to Northern Europe, and adapted to a very cold climate. ... The Ocicat is a new and still-rare breed of cat which has spots resembling a wild cat and the temperament of a domestic animal, named for its resemblance to the ocelot. ... The Oriental Shorthair is a breed of cat. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Peterbald is a breed of Russian hairless cats. ... The Ragdoll is a breed of medium longhaired cat. ... The Russian Blue is a type or breed of cat that has a silver-blue coat. ... The Savannah is a hybrid domestic cat breed. ... The Scottish Fold is a breed of cat with a natural mutation to its ears. ... The Siamese is one of the first distinctly recognised breeds of Oriental cat. ... The Siberian is a recognized breed of cat. ... The Singapura is a recognized breed of cat. ... See also Sphinx (disambiguation) See also Peterbald Sphynx The Sphynx (aka Canadian Hairless) is a rare breed of cat. ... Tonkinese are a medium-sized short-haired cat breed distinguished by points as with Siamese and Himalayans. ... The Turkish Angora (Turkish: Ankara Kedisi) is a breed of domestic cat. ... The Turkish Van is a rare, naturally occurring breed of cat from the Lake Van region of present-day Turkey. ...

Contents