By: sofia - 8 September 2016, 09:45
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Maine Coons are the largest domesticated breed of cats in the world. They are one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, specifically native to the state of Maine, where it is the official state cat. They are pretty much the closest thing to a lynx that you can own as a pet without having to worry about your well-being.
Robert Sijka is the talented photographer who captured these magnificent cats. “My passions are cats and photography, I do my best to combine these two things as good as possible.” said Sijka. Check out this amazing Maine Coons photoshoot!
There are no records of the Main Coon’s exact origins
Source: Robert Sijka
There are no records of the Maine Coon's exact origins and date of introduction to the United States; so many competing hypotheses have been suggested. The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 19th century, but its existence became threatened when long-haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century.
One of the most popular cat breeds in the world
Source: Robert Sijka
Nowadays, Maine Coons are one of the most popular cat breeds in the world. They are large and sociable cats; this is why they are known as "the gentle giants". Maine Coons are characterized by a robust bone structure, rectangular body shape, a silky flowing coat and a long, bushy tail.
They have many “dog-like” characteristics
Source: Robert Sijka
The breed's colors vary widely, with only lilac and chocolate disallowed for pedigree. They are known for their intelligence, playfulness, and gentle personality; the Maine Coons have many "dog-like" characteristics. They can suffer from certain health problems such as feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia.
They are mythical creatures
Source: Robert Sijka
The ancestral origins of the Maine Coon are unknown; there is only speculation and a few folk tales. One of these folk tales involves Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, who was executed in 1793. The story goes that before her death, Antoinette loaded Captain Samuel Clough's ship with her most prized possessions, including six of her favorite Turkish Angora cats that reached the shores of Maine.
They were known as “Coon’s cats”
Source: Robert Sijka
There is a folk tale that involves Captain Charles Coon, who kept long-haired cats aboard his ships. Whenever Coon's ship would anchor in New England ports, the felines would exit the ship and mate with the local feral cat population. When long-haired kittens began appearing in the litters of the local cat population, they were referred to as one of "Coon's cats".
This is a very interesting myth…
Source: Robert Sijka
There is a myth that was trait-based, but genetically impossible; some people believe that the modern Maine Coon descended from ancestors of semi-feral domestic cats and raccoons. This myth is likely based on the common color of the breed (brown tabby) and its bushy tail.
The most accepted hypothesis…
Source: Robert Sijka
The generally accepted hypothesis among breeders is that the Maine Coons descended from the pairings of local short-haired domestic cats and long-haired breeds brought overseas by English seafarers or 11th-century Norsemen.
They look like the Norwegian Forest Cat
Source: Robert Sijka
The connection to the Norsemen is seen in the strong resemblance of the Maine Coon to the Norwegian Forest Cat, another breed that is said to be a descendant of cats that traveled with the Norsemen.
They have been popular cats in America
Source: Robert Sijka
The first mention of Maine Coons in a literary work was in 1861, in Frances Simpson's “The Book of the Cat”. During the late 1860s, farmers located in Maine told stories about their cats and held the "Maine State Champion Coon Cat" contest at the local Skowhegan Fair.
Their tails can’t sink in snow
Source: Robert Sijka
Their long and bushy raccoon-like tail is resistant to sinking in snow, and can be curled around their face and shoulders for warmth and protection from the wind and blowing snow and it can even be curled around their backside like an insulated seat cushion when sitting down on a snow or ice surface.
Their large paws help them walk on snow
Source: Robert Sijka
Large paws, and especially the extra-large paws of polydactyl Maine Coons, facilitate walking on snow and are often compared to snowshoes. Long tufts of fur growing between their toes help keep the toes warm and further aid walking on snow by giving the paws additional structure without significant extra weight.
Many Maine Coons had extra toes on the feet
Source: Robert Sijka
Many of the original Maine Coon cats that inhabited the New England area possessed a trait known as polydactylism (having one or more extra toes on the feet). While some sources claim that trait is thought to have occurred in approximately 40% of the Maine Coon population in Maine at one time, little evidence has been given to substantiate this claim.
The largest breed of domestic cat
Source: Robert Sijka
The Maine Coon is the largest breed of domestic cat. On average, males weigh from 13 to 18 lb with females weighing from 8 to 12 lb. The height of adults can vary between 10 and 16 inches and they can reach a length of up to 48, including the tail, which can reach a length of 14 inches and is long, tapering, and heavily furred, almost resembling a raccoon's tail.
They are slow to physically mature
Source: Robert Sijka
The body is solid and muscular, which is necessary for supporting their own weight and the chest is broad. Maine Coons possess a rectangular body shape and are slow to physically mature; their full potential size is normally not reached until they are three to five years old, while other cats take about one year.
The longest cat in the World
Source: Robert Sijka
In 2010, the Guinness World Records accepted a male purebred Maine Coon named "Stewie" as the "Longest Cat" measuring 48.5 in (123 cm) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. Stewie died 4 February 2013, from cancer at his home in Reno, Nevada, at age 8.
Their coat is soft and silky
Source: Robert Sijka
Maine Coons are long-haired, or medium-haired, cats. The coat is soft and silky, although texture may vary with coat color. The length is shorter on the head and shoulders and longer on the stomach and flanks with some cats having a lion-like ruff around their neck.
They don’t need much grooming
Source: Robert Sijka
Minimal grooming is required for the breed, compared to other long-haired breeds, as their coat is mostly self-maintaining owing to a light-density undercoat. The coat is subject to seasonal variation, with the fur being thicker in the winter and thinner during the summer.
They can have many colors
Source: Robert Sijka
Maine Coons can have any colors that other cats have. Colors indicating crossbreeding, such as chocolate, lavender, the Siamese pointed patterns or the "ticked" patterns, are not accepted by some breed standards.
Brown tabby is the most common pattern
Source: Robert Sijka
The most common pattern seen in the breed is the brown tabby. All eye colors are accepted under breed standards, with the exception of the occurrence of blue-colored or odd-eyes (two eyes of different colors) in cats possessing coat colors other than white.
They can survive harsh winters
Source: Robert Sijka
Maine Coons have several physical adaptations for survival in harsh winter climates. Their dense water-resistant fur is longer and shaggier on their underside for extra protection when they are walking or sitting on top of wet surfaces of snow or ice.
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