23 facts about Maine coon

1
Maine coon is the oldest American cat breed.

2
There are few theories stating the origin of a Maine coon.

The wildest theory states they are a crossbreed of a domestic cat and a raccoon. There are some who claim Maine coons descend from cats sent to Maine, U.S., by Marie Antoinette, who planned to leave France during the French Revolution. Both theories do not appeal to scientists.

The most plausible theory is that they are descendants of a crossbred of short-haired domestic breed and long-haired cats, brought to the U.S. by the European sailors, most likely the Vikings, in the 1700s. The genetic testing indicates they, in fact, descend from the Norwegian Forest Cat, native to Scandinavia.

3
Maine coons are massive cats, considered one of the largest true domestic breeds.

The average weight of a female Maine coon is 7 kg, while males weigh an average of 8 kg. Only the Ragdoll breed can surpass their weight, and weigh up to 10 kg.

However, it is not uncommon for a Maine coon to weigh over 13 kg.

4
Their body composition causes them often be mistaken for bobcats.

There are some vital differences, however, since bobcats are spotted, and have short, smooth tails.

5
Their fur consists of long, uneven hair, which is the longest in the neck area.

It gives the cat an even more massive look.

6
Maine coon tail is its signature feature.

Their tails are very fluffy, and usually as long as the cat itself.

7
An adult Maine coon can measure up to 40 centimeters.

The longest Maine coon, holding the Guinness World Record, was Stewie from Nevada, the U.S. He measured 123 centimeters. Sadly, he died of cancer in 2013.

8
There are 75 color and pattern variations of Maine coons.

9
Purebred Maine coons have gold or green eyes.

10
Their body composition makes them resistant to cold weather.

Apart from the dense, waterproof coating, and bushy, prolonged tail they can wrap around their body to hold the temperature, they have tufted paws that serve as snowshoes.

11
The average lifespan of a Maine coon is 12 years.

Properly taken care of, they can live up to 15 years.

12
The oldest living Maine coon was Corduroy from Oregon, U.S.

He was 26 when named the oldest living cat by the Guinness World Records in 2015. Sadly, a year later, he ran away from home, and after several weeks was presumed dead at 27.

13
They are called dogs of the cat world since they enjoy human attention and often follow humans around.

They also enjoy fetching and can be trained.

14
Maine coons are one of the best domestic breeds to keep around children.

15
Maine coons are the official state cat of the state of Maine, U.S., since 1985.

16
They shed excessively.

This is why they are one of the most allergenic breeds.

17
Maine coons are prone to genetic diseases.

The most common are polycystic kidney disease and hip dysplasia.

18
They are very chatty.

Apart from typical meowing, Maine coons often chirp.

19
Maine coons are often described in the literature.

The most popular Maine coon is Mrs. Norris from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.

20
The Maine coon was the first commercially cloned cat.

Little Nicky was cloned in 2004 from a DNA of a 17-year-old cat named Nicky. The procedure cost US$50,000.

21
They love jumping into water tanks.

This feature certainly distinguishes them from other domestic cats, and it is all thanks to their water-resistant fur.

22
A Maine coon named Cosie won the first American juried cat exhibition in 1895.

The event was held at Madison Square Garden in New York. To this day, Cosie’s medal hangs in the headquarters of the Cat Fanciers’ Association–one of the oldest and the largest cat registries in the world.

23
They are one of the most common examples of polydactyl cats.

Approximately 40% of Maine coons carry the polydactyly gene. However, breeders are actively taking steps to remove this harmless genetic anomaly.