All about Maine Coons: character, care, conditions of detention, nutrition and more

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The life hacker talks about the traits of character, nutrition, care and more.

general information

• Breed name: Maine Coon (Manx raccoon cat).
• Country of origin: USA.
• The weight: in cats - up to 5–7 kg, in cats - up to 12–13 kg.
• Height at withers: from 25 to 41 cm.
• Average life expectancy: up to 14-15 years old.
• Average price: 10-50 thousand rubles and more.

What Maine Coons look like

Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds. They come from the American state of Maine. There the breed formed naturally. The name translates as "Manx raccoon". Of course, they have no direct relationship, but there is some similarity in color.

The harsh climate in which the Manx cats originally lived was reflected in their appearance. Their coat is thick and silky, and in winter the undercoat becomes denser. The tail is long and fluffy, there are tassels on the ears, powerful paws, and tufts of wool between the toes.

They have retained some of the habits from the wild life. So, some Maine Coons do not drink like ordinary cats. They first dip their paw into the water and run it over the surface, spilling a lot of contents. It is believed that once upon a time they always did this. After all, before drinking, for example from a puddle, it was necessary to disperse the leaves and other debris from the surface. And Manx cats also love to "bathe" their toys in a bowl.

The size of these animals is quite solid, and the length from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail is about a meter. By the way, it is this breed that holds the title of the longest domestic cat. For the absolute champion from the Guinness Book of Records Longest domestic cat ever, this value was 1 meter 23 centimeters.

What is the character of Maine Coons

These animals are very calm, balanced and peaceful. Despite their stern appearance, aggression is extremely rare.

How Maine Coons get along with adults

Cats of this breed quickly become attached to people and sincerely relate to them. Maine Coons love to be in the company of a person and suffer if they are left alone. However, they are not intrusive and will not require constant attention. They just need to be somewhere nearby and watch what is happening.

How Maine Coons get along with children

Maine Coons are affectionate and sociable animals. They willingly make contact with the child and participate in games.

Nevertheless, it is worth making sure that the children do not offend the cat and do not hurt him.

How Maine Coons get along with other animals

Maine Coons get along pretty well with dogs and other cats. Of course, at first meeting, not everything can go smoothly. If pets start showing aggression, just be patient and give them time to get used to each other.

Problems can arise when keeping furry pets with rodents and birds. Their cats are perceived as game and will certainly want to hunt.

What conditions of detention are required for Maine Coons

Mainx cats need enough space to live comfortably. They love to run and jump, so they are likely to feel cramped in a small room. And Maine Coons are happy to frolic in the water, drink from the tap and can relax in a sink or bath with drained water.

Prepare everything you need before bringing your kitten home. Your pet will need bowls for food and water. You can't do without a tray. Install it in a bathroom or other room where the animal will always have free access.

Separately, you should think about the leisure of the future pet and his own sleeping place. A good option is a play complex with a house, ladders and high shelves. Before purchasing, make sure it is securely attached and strong enough to support the weight of a non-miniature animal. Additional vertical or horizontal scratching posts are also desirable, which will protect your furniture from encroachment.

Maine Coons are curious and active animals. Carried away, for example, by hunting for a passing bird, they can fall out of the window. To avoid such accidents, you need to put strong nets on the windows that will withstand the onslaught of large cats. This advice is also relevant for residents of the first floors, because an accidentally jumped out pet can get lost and get lost.

Also, be prepared for the cat to actively explore the entire living space, climb on cabinets, cabinets and window sills. Therefore, when the pet appears in the house, do not leave fragile things where they can easily be dropped. It is likely that the cat will show interest in wires as well. Therefore, it is better to put them in boxes or just use special deterrents.

How to feed Maine Coons

The easiest option for a cat's diet is ready-made foods, which are dry and wet (spiders, canned food). It is better to stop the choice on complete products especially for Maine Coons or just large cats. Such food contains the right amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

It is better to select ready-made feeds taking into account the age of the animal, as well as other factors: pregnancy and lactation, sterilization, a tendency to allergies and diseases.

You can also give natural products, including meat, offal, cereals and more. But this does not mean at all that the pet needs to be treated with ordinary food from the human table.

When a kitten first appears in your house, at least for the first time feed it with the food that the breeder has recommended and that is familiar to the pet. Over time, the diet can be gradually changed, if necessary.

Regardless of the chosen diet, constant access to clean drinking water is also required.

How to care for Maine Coons

The long, soft and fluffy coat of these animals is not prone to tangling, but it should not be left without care. It is enough to comb out Mainx cats about once a week and a half, and during molting - in spring and autumn - more often, otherwise mats may appear. So that the procedure does not cause trouble, it is better to accustom the kitten to this from an early age.

During the shedding period, it is also advisable to give malt-pastes, which remove the swallowed wool from the intestines and stomach. Without this, the pet may become clogged with hairballs.

Periodic, about once every 3-4 months, bathing will also help in maintaining an excellent look. This will not be particularly difficult, because Manx cats are not at all afraid of water. For bathing procedures, it is better to use special products that will not harm and provide full care for the skin and wool.

Pet's ears should be checked regularly, and cleaned only if they are heavily soiled. To do this, buy safe lotions at the pet store and put a couple of drops in your ears. Give up cotton swabs, they can easily injure the animal. Eyes should also be wiped with special products if there is dried discharge in the corners.

How to train Maine Coons

Maine Coons are quick-witted and rather intelligent animals. They even learn some simple tricks that dogs usually do. For example, a cat can be taught to sit, give a paw, walk to a place and more.

It is better to start with the simplest commands, and turn the process itself into a fun game. It is also important to have patience and a treat to reward the animal. Do not tire or overload the cat with training, 5-6 repetitions are enough every day. Be sure to give a tasty treat for completing the command and do not scold your pet if he does not succeed in everything.

To make it easier for the pet to assimilate the material, you can use a clicker - a special miniature device that emits a sound when pressed. The algorithm is simple. Press the button every time the cat performs the correct action, and immediately give the treat. Over time, the pet will learn how easy it is to make goodies.

Take note?

Tips for cat lovers: how to keep your house clean and your cat healthy

What are Maine Coons sick

Cats of this breed are robust and in good health, but they also have a genetic predisposition to certain diseases. What Are The Common Maine Coon Health Problems (Full Guide).

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heart disease in which the walls of the ventricles thicken and, accordingly, their internal volume decreases.
• Hip dysplasia is a musculoskeletal disorder that sometimes causes lameness and other problems with walking.
• Polycystic kidney disease is a slowly progressive hereditary kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure.
• Spinal muscular atrophy is a hereditary neuromuscular disease in which the nerve cells of the spinal cord are affected and, as a result, muscle weakness and muscle atrophy occur.

And one more nuance. Maine Coons sometimes have polydactyly, that is, extra toes. This does not affect the health of animals, and they can participate in exhibitions.

There are also common diseases that do not depend on the breed, but on the characteristics of the content, nutrition and other factors. Maine Coons are susceptible to them in the same way as any other domestic cats. Among them are diseases of the genitourinary system, infectious, skin and not only.

Look?

5 reasons why cats love boxes so much

What to look for when buying a Maine Coon

You can buy a kitten at the exhibition, in the cattery, and even through the site with ads. The price depends on many factors: the city (for example, in the capital, kittens are offered at a higher cost), the class of the animal, gender (males are often more expensive), age (grown kittens are usually cheaper) and even color.

Before buying, you should decide why you need an animal. If you just need a domestic purr, take a look at kittens of the "pet" class, they are usually sold already neutered or with an indication of the obligatory performance of this operation in the contract. If you want to raise a potential champion with multiple titles, then your class is "show". Not interested in exhibitions but planning on breeding? Choose the "breed".

Moreover, in any case, the animal must be healthy. It is imperative to pay attention to the presence of vaccinations against viral diseases, the first of which is done at about two months, and the second after another three weeks.

When making a deal, make sure you receive a complete set of documents:

• a sale and purchase agreement that confirms your right to own the animal;
• a veterinary passport with information about the vaccinations already made, this document indicates not the thoroughbred, but the health of the kitten;
• a metric (in fact, this is a birth certificate) indicating detailed information about the animal, issued by the club.

Another document that you will need if you plan to engage in breeding work or participate in exhibitions is the pedigree. It lists 4–5 generations of the animal's ancestors. The document is also issued by the club of the breeder. You can issue a pedigree yourself for an additional fee, if you make a request based on data from the metric.

If the seller has not given any documents for the animal, first of all, you need to take care of the veterinary passport and make sure that all scheduled vaccinations are made in a timely manner. You can also confirm your belonging to the breed, for this you need to contact the club of cat lovers or take part in an exhibition in the class of pets in order to get an expert opinion. But forget about the pedigree, as it is impossible to make it on a kitten "without parents".

Read also ??

• How to properly care for domestic cats
• How to raise a dog properly
• How to find a missing cat and never lose it again
• How long do dogs live and how to extend their life?
• How to learn to understand your cat