Maine Coon – color, features of the breed (100 photos). Maine Coon cats are beautiful and energetic The largest Maine Coon in the world

The first thing that catches your eye when you see a Maine Coon cat is its impressive size, luxurious coat and majestic appearance. Of all the known varieties of domestic cats, the Maine Coon is the largest. The body length of an adult cat usually exceeds 1 meter, and the height is 30 cm and above. The body weight of males reaches 7-10 kg, the weight of females is 4-6 kg. The lifespan of these furry giants is from 15 to 20 years.

This species has a long, muscular body, rich coat and lynx-like ear tufts. The presence of thick and lush wool is due to the fact that the ancestors of modern representatives of Maine Coons lived in harsh weather conditions. The fluffy tail, voluminous collar and fluffy pants are also the result of adaptation to cold winters. A photo of a big Maine Coon cat literally fascinates with the beauty and nobility of this individual.

Origin of the breed

The homeland of this graceful breed is the American state of Maine, located in the north of the country in a cold climate zone that has much in common with Russian Siberia. There are many legends about the origin of this amazing species, most of which look quite plausible. Here are some of them:

• The Maine Coon is the result of crossing a lynx and an ordinary cat. The realism of this version is confirmed by the impressive size of the individual and the characteristic tassels on the ears.
• The second legend indicates that this species was the result of the merger of a raccoon and a cat. The raccoon-like color and voluminous, fluffy tail speak eloquently in favor of this version. However, from the point of view of physiological development, this option is impossible.
• The most truthful version is that no one purposefully bred this breed or crossed cats of different breeds. This gigantic feline species was formed absolutely independently, under the influence of the environment.

In conditions of low temperatures and snowy winters, only those cats that had long and warm fur, as well as wide and powerful limbs could survive. And farmers, from time immemorial, kept on their property exceptionally intelligent individuals who could easily find food for themselves.

American farmers of the mid-19th century preferred large individuals that coped well with rodents, were excellent hunters and were not distinguished by pampering.

Character and features

Despite his rather serious appearance, this large Maine Coon cat has a friendly disposition, combined with confidence and self-esteem. Characteristics of these cute giants:

• Friendliness is the most important feature of these big cats. They are very affectionate in their expressions, especially towards their owners and children. The largest domestic cat in the world is very active, brave and playful.
• Autonomy and independence. These traits are inherent in four-legged pets by nature, due to which they do not react too much to external stimuli, are very self-possessed and feel on an equal footing with humans.
• Equilibrium.

Not touchy. This wonderful breed completely lacks feelings of jealousy and resentment.

They are absolutely not vindictive and not annoying, as is often the case with melancholic people. By temperament, these Gullivers, for the most part, are sanguine.

Nutrition

For such a large and strong cat, food must be carefully balanced. The most important rule for feeding an animal is not to mix feeding types. There are only 2 approaches to solving this problem: feeding with feed and natural food.

Feeding your Maine Coon with ready-made food is very convenient because you do not need to prepare cat food, which will save a lot of time. Plus, ready-made feeds contain and balance all the beneficial substances and microelements.

Nutrition, based on properly selected ready-made food, clearly corresponds to the physiological needs of these large carnivorous predators.

It is important for adherents of natural feeding of furry pets to remember that a huge Maine Coon should eat foods that are as close as possible to natural cat food. When choosing meat for this mighty kitty, you need to follow the rule: poultry and rabbit meat first, and beef last. This is explained by the fact that hunting birds and rabbits is a more natural process than a cat hunting a cow. Not too fatty fish, raw or boiled, is perfect for feeding. Also, these furry giants are crazy about squid in absolutely any form.

Important to remember!

Regardless of the type of feeding, the animal should always have free access to clean water.

Care and maintenance

Big cats of the Maine Coon breed are quite unpretentious in care, despite their impressive size.

Grooming

To ensure proper care for your raccoon cat, it is important to regularly brush its rich coat. For the combing procedure, it is enough to have 2 types of combs: with rare and frequent teeth. It is better to opt for a brush with natural bristles. The animal needs to be combed several times a week., in the direction of hair growth.

Caring for your ears, eyes and teeth

Maine Coon's largest cat requires standard care for his ears, which need to be cleaned at regular intervals. After this procedure, it is advisable to use antiseptic powder as a powder.

The corners of the animal's eyes should be wiped with chamomile infusion or special products sold in pharmacies for animals. This procedure is necessary to get rid of mucus and discharge.

Teeth brushing is a common procedure for cats of all breeds, and the animal must be taught to it from an early age.

The human essence is such that everyone wants to have the best, the biggest and the rarest. This also applies to the cat world. It’s not for nothing that new breeds of cats are developed every time to achieve their place in the Guinness Book of Records.

So felinologists do not sleep and create more and more types of cats each time, and each of them has its own characteristics.

When discussing the largest types of cats in the world, everyone evaluates them according to different parameters. For some, the size of large breeds depends on the length of the cat, for some weight plays a role, and for others the indicator is height.

Leaders in the nomination “Largest cat breed”

Today, two fierce rivals vying for the title of “largest domestic cat breed” are: the Savannah and the Maine Coon.

It is no secret that the third competitor intended to be a representative of the Asher family. But, as it turned out, this breed was a fictitious creation of a felinologist and, as such, does not exist, but was simply given out by Savannah under the guise of an allegedly new unique Asher individual.

After exposure, this participant was disqualified from the competition, but it is worth knowing about some nuances regarding this case. Indeed, to this day no court decision has been made regarding this breed.

A thorough genetic examination is being carried out to reveal the truth about the creation of the Ashera. The owner of this newest species, Brady, assures that these two cats are completely different breeds.

He explains that the only similarity between these breeds is the serval gene, and the Asher also contains the genes of an Asian leopard cat and a predatory cat (see).

I place – Savannah breed

Breed characteristics

• This species is considered a large cat in terms of weight, and is also distinguished by the height and length of its body.
• Weight: 12-15 kg (about the same weight as Maine Coons, although it is known that there are other representatives that reach more weight, about 20 kg).
• Height: about 60 cm.

One can argue for a long time about whether this breed belongs to the domestic representatives of its own kind, since it was generated by a combination of the African serval species with a simple cat. But if you think about it, the ancestors of most domestic pets were wild.

The heiress of this breed, a cat named Trouble, was the first to get into the Guinness Book of Records. Her height then reached 48 cm at the withers. Therefore, she had the title of the highest.

2nd place – Maine Coon breed

Description of the breed

• Maine Coons are not only large cats, but also charming pets with sharp tufts on the tips of their ears, like lynxes, fluffy fur and a variety of colors.
• Weight: from 8-15 kg.
• Height: up to 41 cm.
• Stewie, a purebred cat from this region, broke the record and became the longest cat in the world. The length from the tip of his fluffy tail to his nose was 123 cm.

III place – representatives of the Chausie breed

Description of the breed

• In addition to the above two legitimate contenders for the title of “biggest cat,” one can introduce a representative of the jungle cats, the Chausie breed (also known as Chausie or Houseie).
• Weight: reaches 18 kg.
• Height: 40cm.

The main goal for creating this breed by crossing the jungle cat and the Abyssinian (see all) was the idea of ​​the breeders to obtain a variety of domestic cat to protect wild cats from being imprisoned in captivity.

See also which one exists in the world, its weight and dimensions.

The goal was achieved and today the Shawzi gets along well with people and is quite loving towards them.

IV place - charming ragdoll cats

Description of the breed

• Although it differs in size from ordinary cats, it is difficult to call it gigantic. Considering that the big ones in this breed are mostly males, and not all of them.
• Weight: 9 kg.
• Length: 1 meter (record).
• These cats, especially their breed, are also called rag dolls. And all thanks to their genetically built-in passionless ardor, cuteness and non-aggressive behavior.

V place – short-haired pixie-bob (domestic lynxes)

Description of the breed

The next, but not the last, representative of the cat giants is the artificially bred short-haired pixie-bob, the domestic lynx. These cats are not much different in appearance from lynxes.

They are like representatives of these animals, but in miniature: the same sharp tassels on the tips of the ears and color. And also the pixie-bot will have a short tail (5 cm, sometimes 7-10 cm)

• Weight: males - 8kg, females -5kg

VI place – representatives of the North, Siberian cats

Description of the breed

• Representatives of the breed are Siberian cats from Russia. Among their fellow tribesmen, they stand out for their size.
• Weight: for males the maximum reaches 12 kg, and for females up to 5-6 kg.
• The peculiarity of this individual is their external fluffy and nice appearance. They are like a big and bright ball of affection. At the same time, scientists guarantee that Siberian cats are among the hypoallergenic breeds, which means they do not provoke an allergic reaction in sensitive people.

Curious cases

One of the criteria for giant cats is also their weight. And in this case, the winner was none other than SpongeBob, who was included in the Guinness Book of Records under the category of the most plump cat.

His weight was 15kg. Today, this cat had to be put on a serious diet. And according to a certain decision of the book’s founders, this section of the record was withdrawn for the safety of the feline representatives, so that breeders would not sacrifice their health to win.

Over a long period of time, similar nominations were awarded several times, and the most impressive result was that of the Austrian cat Khiimiya. He weighed about 21 kg and subsequently died of obesity.

Of course, having the biggest cat in the house is nice and partly becomes pride, but the main thing is, first of all, love for the animal and caring for it.

Maine Coons are one of the most mysterious cat breeds, the history of which is shrouded in mystery and sometimes fiction. Meanwhile, these amazing creatures are very playful, have an excellent memory and a good attitude. So who are they? We'll find out soon.

The Maine Coon cat breed comes from the American state of the same name, Maine. It is assumed that the representatives of the felines received their name due to their external resemblance to ordinary raccoons: color, powerful physique, large fluffy tail and the characteristic sounds that young raccoons make, sounding from the lips of Maine Coons in the form of ringing trills and purrs. Literally translated from English, "Maine Coon" means "Maine raccoon", where the first word is translated as the name of the state, and the second is a residual from the American "raccoon", meaning "coon".

If we remember the legends, they are also associated with raccoons. According to one of them, the Maine Coon is the cub of a female raccoon crossed with a cat. The creators of the myth fuel their statements by the similarity of colors and tails of these two species. The second legend looks even more unusual and fun, since it attributes the origin of the Maine Coon to the North American lynx, just like the raccoon once, crossed with a domestic cat. Here the authors cite as evidence the cute tufts characteristic of Maine Coon ears, which they could have inherited from wild relatives. In fact, the breed of amazing cats is the result of the evolution of species, excluding the mythological component.

Maine Coon: detailed description of the breed

In order not to mistake a mixed breed, which is often found among fanciers, for a genuine Maine Coon, knowledge of the complete characteristics of the Maine will be very useful. So:

• The shape of the head is slightly elongated in length, whereas in other breeds it extends in width. An uneven profile, high cheekbones and voluminous ears with high-set tassels. The presence of tassels is the most important distinguishing feature of the Maine breed.
• The eyes are set wide and shaped like an oval. The color of the eyes usually harmonizes with the color.
• The body is represented by well-developed muscles; animals are often large and very large in size. Long, wide shapes predominate.
• The paws are proportional to the body - just as powerful, with good muscles. There should be small tufts of wool between the pads on the paws.
• A voluminous and very fluffy tail, sometimes equal in size to the length of the entire animal.
• The Maine Coon's coat is thick and quite long. In the area of ​​the muzzle and on the neck, the hair is of medium length.
• A medium-sized Maine Coon will have a total length (including tail) of 95-100 cm.

An important distinguishing feature of the Maine Coon breed is the weight of the animals, which ranges from 6 to 10 kg. The average is between 7 and 9 kg. Cats, as a rule, are lighter than cats and gain about 6 kg of weight, but there are representatives of the “heavy” weight category - about 8 kg. The largest Maine Coon can easily reach a weight of just over 10 kg, which, due to its lush fur, looks much more voluminous, creating a false impression of a 15-kilogram cat. There are very widespread opinions about how much Maine Coons weigh, attributing incredible weights of up to 20 kg to cats. In fact, not a single case has been recorded in which the weight reached such figures. There is a standard system showing the dynamics of Maine Coon weight by month, which corresponds to the vast majority of animals.

Popular colors of Maine Coons

Maine cats abound in various colors, among which in the professional environment the main one is considered to be “wild” or “black tabby”, and all subsequent ones began to appear over time, gaining wide popularity among fanciers and breeders. Coon colors:

• red Maine Coon is one of the most popular colors with cream, brick or red colored fur, diluted with streaks of light shades;
• white Maine Coon - characterized by exclusively snow-white fur, without any additional shades;
• black Maine Coon - implies an absolutely even black color with the absence of other tint inclusions;
• Maine Coon black marble - a classic color, which is characterized by a design in the form of curls and continuous lines, made in a double color scheme;
• Maine Coon black smoke is an original color where the roots of the coat are painted white, and the subsequent length of the coat is exclusively black.

The black Maine Coons in the photo turn out excellent, embodying grace and showing off the rich coat of a timeless color. Red coons are no less photogenic, always able to cheer up with their sunny color.

Maine Coon: character and cat habits

Maine cats are distinguished by their balanced character and easy-going disposition, they are very sociable and have absolutely no selfishness in them. They enjoy spending time in the company of people, love active games or just lie nearby, purring loudly. Maine Coons are also big fans of taking photos together with a person. They strictly monitor their claws and almost never let them out, so when combing the fur, you don’t have to worry about scratches in case you hurt your pet.

A remarkable characteristic of Maine Coon cats is their ability to get along with other pets, which makes life easier for the owner in the event of a new addition to the animal family. True, you should not strongly provoke and have parrots or rodents in the house, since in this case the cats will trigger a hunting instinct, which they simply cannot control. But they will get along well with another cat or dog, as confirmed by breeders and numerous videos on the Internet.

The habits of Maine Coons, judging by the reviews of the owners of these charming creatures, are very diverse and depend on the individuality of the animal, regardless of its affiliation with the Maine. Some of them are partial to the cold water tap and, as soon as it opens, they admire the transparent streams with interest. Others, before drinking water, wet their paws in a bowl and lick the drops off them, and only then begin to lap them. And sometimes Maine Coons can learn to bring a certain object to their owner, such as a small light toy, if the owner has enough strength and patience to train the kitten.

Maine Coon Care

Since Maine Coons are very clean and constantly lick their fur, it is necessary to take care of special pastes that help remove hairballs from the stomach. If the body is not cleansed, the animal begins to suffer from constipation and cough, and the threat of intestinal obstruction becomes acute. It is also useful to grow grass at home, by eating which the kitten can independently help remove fur residue from the digestive organs.

It will be enough to brush your pet’s fur 1-2 times a week, but during the shedding period you need to brush more often. When working with long fur, fine-toothed combs with a metal base or brushes made from natural materials work well. Brushing a Maine Coon cat can be seen in the photo, which demonstrates different types of combs. Before the procedure, it is advisable to examine the kitten for possible tangles, so as not to accidentally cause pain to the animal. The most vulnerable places of maines are in the panties area, on the collar and on the sides. If matted hair forms, you can try to untangle it or carefully cut it out if you cannot separate the hairs.

Diet for Maine Coons

When it comes to questions about what to feed a Maine Coon, breeders sometimes differ in their opinions, since some prefer to feed exclusively with food like Royal Canin, while others prefer natural food. But no matter what food you prefer for your pet, the main thing to remember is variety and quality, because the good health of your pet largely depends on nutrition. When calculating the weight of Maine Coons by month, try to meet the standards and do not give the animal large portions - this can harm its well-being.

When choosing food for your Maine Coon, preference should be given to high-quality varieties designed specifically for large cats. Many breeders try to organize Maine Coon nutrition using a variety of Royal Canin foods, which contain a full range of micro- and macroelements, as well as a vitamin complex, with which a kitten or adult cat will feel great. It is important to follow the feeding regimen, instructions for which can be seen in the pictures on the back of the food package. Balanced varieties of the Royal Canin line will provide large cats with a healthy shine to their luxurious fur, fill them with energy and help strengthen the immune system.

When composing your pet’s diet from natural food, you must remember that cats are carnivores and need to be regularly fed meat and fish. Lean parts of chicken, turkey, rabbit or beef are ideal. Maine Coon kittens, like adult representatives of the breed, will never refuse a raw piece of meat, chopped into small pieces and scalded with boiling water. But fish can be given exclusively in boiled form, preferably low-fat species. Be careful that your pet doesn't get any bones, as they can get stuck in the throat and cause a lot of trouble.

When an animal eats specialized food, its body receives all the vitamins necessary for development, but when the animal eats homemade food, it is imperative to choose a vitamin complex in addition to its diet. And also indulge in various cereals, vegetables (they can be mixed with meat), low-fat cream and kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt or cheese.

Good nutrition will allow the fur to be beautiful and shiny, and the pet to be healthy. Pay attention to meal times and do not try to make larger portions, guided by the Maine Coon weight chart by month. Large Maine Coon cats, whose photos delight many onlookers, can often suffer from obesity, which is dangerous for any animal. Feed your cats fully and in moderation, then the answers to questions about how long Maine Coons live will coincide with the real terms and the pet will be able to delight you with its presence from 12 to 15 years.

How much does a Maine Coon kitten cost?

Becoming the owner of a Maine Coon kitten is quite an expensive pleasure, since it involves costs not only for its purchase, but also for its further maintenance. The minimum cost of Maine Coons is about 45,000 rubles. If we talk about kittens that can take part in specialized exhibitions, the amount can rise to 120,000 rubles. In cases where the pedigree of a Maine cat is not particularly important, the animal can be purchased from numerous advertisements selling cats for 16-18 thousand rubles and even lower.

Of course, the purchase will be quite risky, since many sellers are focused on breeding for the purpose of sale, and therefore may not take special care in caring for the parents and the kitten itself. As a result, future owners are faced with the ill health of their small pet and, instead of joy, get trips to veterinary clinics. If the kitten is inexpensive, be careful when making a purchase and follow the description of the breed to avoid a mixed litter. Look at photos of the Maine Coon cat breed, compare the external characteristics with the kitten you are offered to buy, and feel free to buy a new furry friend for the whole family. After all, photographs of beautiful large cats do not leave anyone indifferent and, looking at a big bundle of joy, you immediately want to become the owner of this great happiness, no matter how much it costs!

These largest pets always attract attention. Maine Coon cats amaze at first glance with their combination of restrained power and external nobility. This incredibly attractive majestic cat has a powerful body with long fluffy hair, tufted ears like a lynx, and a long and beautifully furred tail. The breed is not the result of artificial selection; people have nothing to do with its appearance: Maine Coons remain the way nature itself once created them.

These largest pets always attract attention

The Maine Coon cat breed is a large, long-haired animal, weighing on average 4-8 kg for females and 8-12 kg for males, body length can be more than 1 m. Distinctive features of this large breed are ears with peculiar tufts and a beautiful long fluffy, often striped, like a raccoon, tail.

A Maine Coon cat lives on average 12-15 years, a female cat - 15-18. There are also centenarians who live more than 20 years.

The breed standard characterizes the body of a Maine Coon cat as elongated, close to a rectangle, with a wide chest and a medium-length neck. Characteristic parameters of the breed listed by the standard:

• medium-length, strong paws;
• massive large head;
• vertically standing pointed ears;
• long coat with thick undercoat, short on the head and shoulders;
• Acceptable colors: black, white, red, tortoiseshell, cream, blue and blue-cream.

Maine Coon: origin of the breed

The similarity with a lynx and a raccoon has given rise to many different versions about the origin of the Maine Coon breed, including genetically impossible ones: the alleged crossing of semi-wild cats - the ancestors of modern Maine Coons - with a lynx or raccoon. This widespread misconception about the origin of the breed remains in its name. In North America, the homeland of this breed, large domestic animals were called Manx raccoon cats. Maine is the name of the state of Maine, considered the birthplace of the breed, coon is a particle from the English name of the raccoon - raccoon.

The breed standard characterizes the body of a Maine Coon cat as elongated, close to a rectangle, with a wide chest and a medium-length neck.

At first, the large domestic cat on New England farms helped owners protect the harvest from pests by catching various rodents. The owners of these unusual animals began organizing exhibitions of their pets in the mid-1850s. Representatives of the breed began to move from farms to homes in big cities in America, competing in popularity with Angora and Persian cat breeds.

By the beginning of the last century, the excitement around the exotic breed began to decline. Purposeful selection and breeding of Maine Coons began only in the mid-1950s. In 1953, the Central Breeders Club was opened, and later the Maine Coon Breeders Association appeared. Official breed nurseries began to open in virtually all countries of the world. Since then, the Maine Coon breed has aroused great unabated interest.

Maine Coon cats: features of the breed (video)

Gallery: Maine Coon cat (25 photos)

Maine Coon character and behavior

Cats that seem ponderous in appearance are actually very mobile, energetic and active. For a normal existence, they need space for games and an active lifestyle as a cat.

This is not a couch cat. She, obeying her natural hunting instincts, will happily tirelessly track down and catch a toy mouse or ball. Playing with a Maine Coon is always exciting, it brings pleasure to both the cat and the owner.

Maine Coons have an easy-going character and get along well with their owner’s family and other pets. Aggression is not inherent in this breed, but cats identify strangers unmistakably and maintain a distance of distrust in their attitude.

Cats that seem ponderous in appearance are actually very mobile, energetic and active.

Maine Coons are highly intelligent. They remember not only a person’s words and intonations, but also their correspondence to certain situations. From the outside, it seems that the cat understands the owner not just from one word, but from one glance. The Maine Coon cat enjoys learning a variety of tricks, especially if this training itself takes place in a playful way.

These cats have very sensitive hearing: being somewhere at the opposite end of the house or even in the yard, the cat will instantly rush to the owner’s call, be it a soft command or a conventional sound.

The sounds that Maine Coons make are never similar to the piercing screams of cats of other breeds. This is a quiet musical purr, unexpected for such a large animal. Moreover, this purring has a very individual tone; it is almost impossible to find 2 Maine Coons purring in the same voice. They emit not only the characteristic cat purr - it can sound something similar to a bird chirping, squeaking or trilling.

Usually the Maine Coon chooses a secluded place where it will not be disturbed. At the same time, they always remain somewhere close to the owner. If the owner is busy with some kind of work, the Maine Coon sits next to the person, constantly watching what the owner is doing for hours. Maine Coons are capable of falling asleep in the most unexpected place, in a seemingly uncomfortable position, but in fact both the place itself and the sleeping position are very comfortable for the cat.

Maine Coon: maintenance and care

When it is planned that a small Maine Coon cat will soon settle in the house, by this time his future place of residence should be equipped for him and the following should be prepared:

1. A bed measuring at least 90x60x20 cm (factory-made or built with your own hands).
2. Spacious litter tray (for a kitten, the cat litter box should not have very high sides).
3. It is advisable to choose the litter for the toilet that was in the nursery for easier adaptation of the animal.
4. The scratching post is large, corresponding to the size of the breed.
5. Toys for a kitten must be safe, soft (mice, balls), without small parts (buttons, feathers) that can be torn off and swallowed during play.
6. Bowls (ceramic, glass or steel) are hygienically safe and spacious enough.

Maine Coons need regular walking outside. It’s good when this happens on the territory of a summer cottage. Cats walk calmly, not trying to get out of the fenced area. In urban environments, you need to find a safe place to walk and take your pet out on a harness. Leaving the apartment is permissible only when all necessary vaccinations have been completed.

Caring for the gorgeous Maine Coon coat is easier than it might seem at first glance. You need to comb the coat 1-2 times a week, and daily during shedding. To bathe Maine Coons, they use special shampoos for long hair. The unique wool is capable of self-cleaning, for this reason the bathing procedure is not carried out very often - 4-5 times a year.

The cat's eyes need care: they are wiped with a swab dipped in boiled water. Dental care is carried out with a special brush and paste; earwax is carefully removed from the ears using pharmaceutical cotton swabs.

Comparison of cats, cats and kittens of the Maine Coon breed (video)

What and how to feed a Maine Coon

First of all, you need to learn information about what you should absolutely not give to your pet:

• chicken and fish bones;
• raw pork, fatty meat;
• spicy, salty, fried, fatty, smoked and any seasoned foods, sausages;
• potatoes and legumes;
• human vitamins and medicines.

Maine Coons can be fed with natural or prepared industrial food. Ready-made food is selected according to the age and weight of the pet. Extra-premium food for large breed cats is preferred; it contains at least 50% meat.

Natural food does not imply that this breed of cat eats from a human table - this is unacceptable and dangerous for the health of the pet. A healthy cat diet consists of:

• daily portion of meat: chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef (for disinfection, the meat is pre-boiled or frozen for 5-7 days);
• vegetables: zucchini, carrots, broccoli, beets, pumpkin;
• greens: parsley, lettuce, dill;
• bran;
• fish (frozen sea fish is given no more than 2 times a week, raw or boiled).

Fermented milk products of medium fat content: kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese and cereals (rice and buckwheat) are alternated instead of vegetables and bran as an addition to meat or fish. Cereals and dairy products are not included in the daily diet - this can cause Maine Coon obesity; they are given 2-3 times a week.

The diet must contain vitamins and minerals; which ones and in what proportions are prescribed by the veterinarian. Drinking water should be boiled or filtered, change it 1-2 times a day.

One type of food is used for feeding kittens, and another for adult cats. In the first 9-12 months, a kitten needs more nutrients for rapid growth. After reaching one year of age, they are transferred to food for adult cats. Kitten food is used to feed pregnant and lactating cats.

Health, diseases and vaccinations

The largest cat is in good health, but they often have a hereditary predisposition to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia and spinal muscular atrophy.

The cat may not be in the mood and may react to weather changes. But it should be shown to a doctor if:

Vaccination for Maine Coon cats is similar to the vaccination schedule for dogs. The first vaccination is given at 2 months, the second at 3 months, the third at 1 year, then annually. 10 days before vaccination, antihelminthic drugs are given. In some cases, you need to provide proof of vaccination (a note about it is entered in a special column of the veterinary passport): transportation of the animal, mating, participation in an exhibition, placement in a hotel for pets.

Interesting facts about Maine Coon cats

• A newborn Maine Coon cat weighs 120-170 g, kittens of other breeds - 70-120 g.
• Previously, there were up to 12 kittens in litters, now usually no more than 5-7.
• The Maine Coon is a unique animal, adapted by nature itself to live in severe frost conditions. This is confirmed by its appearance: a special design of paws that allows it to walk in the snow, a thick fluffy tail in which the cat can wrap itself like a scarf, dense water-repellent wool that reliably protects from the cold.
• Maine Coon loves water. Other cats stay away from bodies of water, but the Maine Coon cat is able to voluntarily give herself a bath.

Attention, TODAY only!

Affectionate purring fluffies are the dream of every child and a way to relieve stress for any adult. Cats are the only domesticated animals in the world that were domesticated by choice. Their grace is captivating, and their love of freedom and rebellious disposition are attractive. Even despite the peculiarity of this animal, cats live in almost every family, and their warmth and softness is tempting to touch.

Cats are not record holders in size among animals, and this is of no use, because then they would not be so common, but at the same time, the impressive uncharacteristic dimensions of pets attract even more. The largest breeds of domestic cats today are officially recognized as Maine Coons and Ashers, but their representatives are not the only record holders.

Weight record

The fattest cat in the world Himmi's pet is rightfully recognized. His weight was 21 kg, which allowed him to get into the Guinness Book of Records, but, unfortunately, posthumously. The fact is that the cat was too lazy, and this provoked such weight gain. He died at the age of 10 from respiratory arrest, because before that he simply could no longer move on his own. The fat man's waist circumference was 84 cm. Himmi's record-holder predecessor was the cat Spice, who weighed 20 kg.

The officially registered record holder for length among cats is representative of the Maine Coon breed. A cat named Stewie measures 132 cm from the tip of his nose to his tailbone, which allowed him to get into the Book of Records at the age of five. According to the animal's owner, American Robin Hendrickson, her pet is the most gentle and affectionate creature, despite its impressive size.

Record size

For a long time, representatives of the breed held records for the size of domestic cats. Maine Coon. They are also called:

• Maine cats;
• Maine raccoons.

This is due to the fact that the first cats of this breed were externally of a characteristic color - black tabby. Adults can reach a weight of 10 kg, and are similar in appearance to their wild forest relatives. The characteristic tufts on the ears and the structure of the skull will not allow the Maine Coon to be confused with any other breed, and their majesty and look visually increase the real dimensions of the representatives of the breed.

Today The largest Maine Coon lives in Australia. The cat named Rupert is 3 years old and already weighs about 9 kg. It will seem to many that such a weight is within the acceptable range for the breed and there is nothing special about it, but Maine Coons gain weight for more than one year. Most likely, the pet will increase its weight by half over the next few years, which brings it significantly closer to the record, and this is without progress towards obesity. The fact is that the impressive size of Rupert's cat is just a natural constitution and well-developed muscle mass.

Recognized record holders

Together with Maine Coons, they are recognized as the official record holders among domestic cats. representatives of the Ashera breed. They appeared relatively recently thanks to the efforts of American geneticists under the leadership of the English entrepreneur Simon Brodie. Leopard cats, as the breed is also called, were obtained by crossing the Serval and the Asian leopard predator. Since the purpose of the experiment was to create an ideal creature, the resulting animal was named after the goddess.

The appearance of the largest cat is exotic and menacing, although its character is very affectionate and peaceful. The cost of such a pet today exceeds 20 thousand dollars, but with the kitten itself, each owner receives:

Tallest cat

Despite the fact that Ashers are officially recognized as the largest cats, they can also compete with him. representatives of the Savannah breed, which in reality weigh more than 15 kg. This breed was developed back in the 80s by crossing a wild African cat and a domestic cat. Absolutely all representatives of the breed are very active, despite the fact that they eat little.

The record holder in height is a representative of the Savannah breed named Trumble - the cat's height is 48 cm, but she weighs only 9 kg. Trumble was entered into the Book of Records at the age of three and lives with her owner in the United States of America.

Conclusion

Domestic cats are distributed all over the world thanks to people who never cease to improve them, constantly breeding new breeds. Large and small representatives of the species have been living next to people for more than 10 thousand years, but their character is still fully understood. The skilled furry hunters number 256 breeds worldwide today, but who knows how many there will be in 10 years and what they will look like.