| Maine coon cats are an American classic, a | | | | teeth. All of these traits would have given them |
| contribution to our history and culture that only | | | | an advantage against competitors as well as |
| Maine could provide. This hardy, handsome breed | | | | predators.Maine coons, with their heavy coats, are |
| of domestic cat was established at least 150 | | | | well suited to the harsh New England winters. |
| years ago, and its unique characteristics | | | | Adult Maine coons have a three-layer coat; in |
| developed as it adapted to Maine's own unique | | | | winter, their undercoats thicken. They have long |
| characteristics. And as America has become a | | | | guard hairs to keep off the snow and repel |
| nation of animal lovers, the Maine coon has only | | | | water, and a long, bushy tail to wrap around |
| become more appreciated.Maine coons are one of | | | | themselves for warmth. Maine coons have large, |
| the oldest natural breeds in North America and | | | | furry feet (all the better for walking on snow); |
| are regarded as a native of Maine. "Around the | | | | furry, tufted ears that stay warm against the |
| origins of the Maine Coon cat swirls a fog of | | | | cold; and extremely long whiskers, which help |
| legend and conjecture as obscuring to reality as | | | | them stay clear of brush that may entangle their |
| the fogs of its homeland," says Marilis Hornidge in | | | | long fur.According to the Maine.gov website, |
| That Yankee Cat--the Maine Coon. "Of the many | | | | "Maine coons' voices set them apart from other |
| legendary tales of the Coon cat's beginnings, the | | | | cats; they have a distinctive, chirping trill."Initially |
| one most completely discredited is the best | | | | appreciated for their rodent hunting skills, they |
| known, the mating of the raccoon and the | | | | were also highly admired by the families of Maine |
| domestic house cat. This is, of course, a physical | | | | for their friendly personalities and high intelligence, |
| impossibility."Most Maine coon breeders believe | | | | and began to take on an important role as pets. |
| that the breed originated from matings between | | | | As they became a more important part of New |
| pre-existing shorthaired domestic cats and | | | | England culture, it became a popular pastime for |
| longhaired types brought to America from | | | | families to admire, pamper, and brag about their |
| overseas by New England seamen or by Vikings. | | | | cats.In the mid-19th century, the Maine coon |
| We know from history that the old sailing ships | | | | became a special exhibit at many county fairs in |
| kept cats for rodent control, and Maine was a | | | | Maine, thus becoming America's very first "show |
| commerce area, so it is not difficult to imagine | | | | cat." Maine coons come in almost all colors; |
| how this could happen.Maine coons are tall, | | | | although the classic brown tabby may be the first |
| muscular, big-boned cats, with a long, rectangular | | | | that comes to mind, they can be red tabby, silver |
| body and deep chest. Males commonly reach 13 | | | | tabby, tortoiseshell, black and white--almost |
| to 18 pounds; females, normally about nine to 12; | | | | anything except the Siamese pattern and a few |
| they may continue to grow until three to five | | | | others.As Cat Fancy Magazine says, "Maine coons |
| years of age. They have long muzzles and long | | | | are a furry piece of American history."Lisa J. |