07/22/2023
What makes mainc**n cats special amongst other cats 🐈!
Everything about the Maine C**n points to its adaptation to a harsh climate. Its glossy coat, heavy and water-resistant, is like that of no other breed, and must be felt to be appreciated. It is longer on the ruff, stomach and britches to protect against wet and snow, and shorter on the back and neck to guard against tangling in the underbrush. The coat falls smoothly, and is almost maintenance-free: a weekly combing is all that is usually required to keep it in top condition. The long, bushy tail which the cat wraps around himself when he curls up to sleep can protect him from cold winters. His ears are more heavily furred (both inside and on the tips) than many breeds for protection from the cold, and have a large range of movement. Big, round, tufted feet serve as 'snow shoes.' Their large eyes and ears are also survival traits, serving as they do increase sight and hearing. The relatively long, square muzzle facilitates grasping prey and lapping water from streams and puddles. Although the Yankee myth of 30-pound cats is just that, a myth (unless the cat is grossly overweight!), these are indeed tall, muscular, big-boned cats; males commonly reach 13 to 18 pounds, with females normally weighing about 9 to 12 pounds. Add to that two or three inches of winter coat, and people will swear that they're looking at one big cat. Maine C**ns develop slowly, and don't achieve their full size until they are three to five years old. Their dispositions remain kittenish throughout their lives; they are big, gentle, good-natured goofs. Even their voices set them apart from other cats; they have a distinctive, chirping trill which they use for everything from courting to cajoling their people into playing with them. (Maine C**ns love to play, and many will joyfully retrieve small items.) They rarely meow, and when they do, that soft, tiny voice doesn't fit their size!
Temperament
While Maine C**ns are highly people-oriented cats, they are not overly-dependent. They do not constantly pester you for attention, but prefer to "hang out" with their owners, investigating whatever activity you're involved in and "helping" when they can. They are not, as a general rule, known as "lap cats" but as with any personality trait there are a few Maine C**ns that prefer laps. Most Maine C**ns will stay close by, probably occupying the chair next to yours instead. Maines will follow you from room to room and wait outside a closed door for you to emerge. A Maine C**n will be your companion, your buddy, your pal, but hardly ever your baby. Maine C**ns are relaxed and easy-going in just about everything they do. The males tend to be the clowns while the females retain more dignity, but both remain playful throughout their lives. They generally get along well with kids and dogs, as well as other cats. They are not as vertically-oriented as some other breeds, prefering to chase objects on the ground and grasping them in their large paws -- no doubt instincts developed as professional mousers. Many Maine C**ns will play "fetch" with their owners. Description
The important features of the Maine C**n are the head and body shape, and the texture and 's**g' of the coat. The head is slightly longer than it is wide, presenting a gently concave profile with high cheekbones and ears that are large, wide at the base, moderately pointed, and well tufted inside. They are set well up on the head, approximately an ear's width apart. Lynx-like tufting on the top of the ears is desirable. The neck should be medium-long, the torso long, and the chest broad. The tail should be at least as long as the torso. One of their most distinctive features is their eyes, which are large, round, expressive, and set a a slightly oblique angle. Overall, the Maine C**n should present the appearance of a well-balanced, rectangular cat. Throughout their history there has been no restriction on the patterns and colors acceptable, with the exception of the pointed Siamese pattern. As a result, a wide range of colors and patterns are bred. Eye colors for all coat colors range through green, gold, and green-gold. Blue eyes and odd eyes, (one blue and one gold eye) are permissible in white cats. There is no requirement in the Maine C**n Standard of Perfection for particular combinations of coat color and eye color. Maine C**n owners enjoy the breed's characteristic clown-like personality, affectionate nature, amusing habits and tricks, willingness to 'help' with any activity, and easily groomed coat. They make excellent companions for large, active families that also enjoy having dogs and other animals around. Their hardiness and ease of kittening make them a satisfying first breed for the novice breeder. For owners wishing to show, the Maine C**n has reclaimed its original glory in the show ring.
Care and Training
We breeders recommend a high-quality dry food. Most cats can free feed without becoming overweight. Middle-aged cats (5-10) are most likely to have weight problems which can usually be controlled by switching to a low-calorie food. Many Maine C**ns love water. Keep a good supply of clean, fresh water available at all times. Most Maine C**ns can be trained to accept a leash. Maine C**ns are creatures of habit and they train easily if they associate the activity with something they want (they train humans easily too!).
>Frequently Asked Questions
●"How big do they get?"_ A full-grown female typically weighs between 9-12 pounds and males tend to be in the 13 to 18 pound range.
●"Do they need much grooming?"_ Maine C**ns do not need much grooming and a weekly combing is all that is usually required to keep the coat in top condition.
●"But I thought Maine C**ns had extra toes...?"_ Some "original" Maine C**ns were polydactls (had extra toes). However, modern purebred Maine C**ns are rarely polydactlys. This is because all cat associations automatically disqualify polydactyls from competition in the purebred classes. Because of this, most polydactyls were culled from the Maine C**n breed decades ago, and only a few breeders continue to work with them. Since the polydactyl gene is dominant, you can't get a polydactyl kitten unless at least one of the parents is also a polydactyl.
●"I think my cat is part Maine C**n. How do I tell?"_ The Maine C**n is America's native longhair cat; it evolved naturally in response to the New England climate. Your cat's ancestors might be similar to the cats that founded the Maine C**n breed. However, it's impossible to tell from just looking at your cat if it is related to the Maine C**n or to any other breed. Because the Maine C**n is a natural breed and hasn't been bred to extremes, there are cats all over the world that resemble the Maine C**n. The only way to tell for sure if your cat is a Maine C**n is to look at the pedigree.
●"Is that a Maine C**n? I thought all Maine C**ns were brown."Maine C**ns come in a wide variety of color combinations. The only colors you won't find are the Siamese-type colors.