CHILDREN’S WORLD – PETS – CATS II - Maine Coon

Maine Coon The Maine Coon owes his name to the state of Maine and the last name of the man who probably brought him to North America. In the early 18th century Captain Coon may have brought this cat from Europe to America, and there is also an unlikely theory that the Maine Coon is the result of a mating between a cat and a racoon, and that the name comes from that. The ship’s cat has been common on ships in the 18th and 19th centuries to catch mice and rats. Cats killed rodents aboard ships and how common they were shows the saying “rats are first to leave a sinking ship”. The Main Coon became the official state cate of Maine. The climate there is damp and harsh, so unlike other cat breeds, Maine Coons have a heavy water-resistant medium-long fur, with tufted ears, paws and cheeks, reminding of the lynx. Their hair is easily cared for and requires combing at least twice a week. Their coat has a silky texture but it is heavy and suitable for all weather conditions. The Maine Coon is a majestic cat breed and they can come in a variety of colours and pattern, apart from chocolate, purple and cinnamon. Maine Coons can actually be any colour or pattern, except pointed like the Siamese. Maine Coons are among the largest cats: most weigh about 8 kg and males can be up to 10 kg. Once a ship’s cat, today this breed is among the world’s most popular pets, due to their good and affectionate nature. They enjoy the company of other animals and adore children. The Maine Coon is one of the oldest cat breeds in the United States and first registered as a breed in 1851 in the book called The Book of the Cat. New breeds around the turn of the century almost ended its popularity, but later the breed regained its popularity owing to its superb characteristics and devoted fans and today the Maine Coon is among the 10 most popular cat breeds in the United States. Today they are unavoidable at international cat shows.