Maine Coon Cats

The first mention of the Maine Coon is made in Francis Simpson's, "The Book of the Cat" in 1902.

Maine Coons can weigh up to 30 pounds with an average weight of 17+ pounds. Their body mass is spread evenly throughout their long slender body. Slender cats can weigh 9-14 pounds but can still look the same as a more substantial set. Weight should not be guaranteed. Their massive tails can measure up to 16 inches in length. Some remark they are more tail than a cat. The longest Maine coon cat living measures 120 cm (3 ft 11.2 in) and was achieved by Barivel (Italy), as verified on 22 May 2018 by Guinness Book Of World Records.

Polydactyl Maine Coons are in fact Maine Coons not a different breed nor a cross of breeds. CFF and TICA have accepted the Polydactyl Maine Coon into championship status. Pterodactyl (from the Greek: poly = many, daktulos = fingers) is a common trait in cats inherited as an autosomal dominant. It is a naturally occurring genetic variation that occurs in many animals as well as in humans. Although the trait had been observed earlier, the first official scientific recording of pterodactyl was in 1868.

Maine Coon Cat ears are like that of a wild “Lynx Cat” with tufts of fur located on the ends. They have ears that are built for maximum warmth in the harsh winters of Maine. Their ears are covered in thick tufts of fur. Ear Tips and ear tufts are interchangeable terms used to describe the fur found located on the ear’s ends. Thick ear tips add a very distinctive wild-looking physical appearance to the Maine Coon.

Properly grooming a Maine Coon depends on the fur texture, age, lifestyle and overall health. Some long coats never tangle, while others mat overnight.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Cats evolved as hunters that consume prey that contains high amounts of protein, moderate amounts of fat, and a minimal amount of carbohydrates, and their diet still requires these general proportions today. Cats also require more than a dozen other nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids. Their systems are set up to metabolize a natural diet high in moisture, high in protein and very low in carbohydrates.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-CRX) or PRA is a group of degenerative diseases that affect these photoreceptor cells. With this disease, the cells deteriorate over time, eventually leading to blindness in the affected cat.

Polycystic kidney disease or PKD is an inherited condition in cats that causes multiple cysts (pockets of fluid) to form in the kidneys. These cysts are present from birth. Initially, they are very small but they grow larger over time and may eventually disrupt kidney function resulting in kidney failure.

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM is a condition that causes the muscular walls of a cat’s heart to thicken, decreasing the heart’s efficiency and sometimes creating symptoms in other parts of the body. Although the cause of HCM has not been clearly identified, the fact that the condition is more prevalent in certain breeds (including Maine Coon, Ragdoll, British Shorthair, Sphynx, Chartreux and Persian cats) and that mutations of several cardiac (heart) genes have been identified in some cats with this disease suggests that genetics plays a role.

Explaining the difference between Smoke, Shaded, and Shell is a tad bit complicated. But once you know the basics it really not as confusing as you might think. If you would like the most simplified explanation these three types are all caused by the “inhibitor gene” sometimes called the “silver gene”. Each varies in the amount of color left to the coat.

Spinal muscular atrophy is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder that has been identified in Maine coon cats, and is similar to human spinal muscular atrophy. How is Spinal muscular atrophy inherited? This is an autosomal recessive condition, meaning two copies of the mutation are required for the cats to lose their vision. Dam and sire must both be carriers to produce affected offspring. Carriers have one copy of the mutation. Carriers are not affected.