About the Breed

Before visiting our cattery's web page, you have probably read something about Maine Coons. Or maybe somebody you know told you how wonderful these cats are. That is why I won't copy general information from other sources into this section, but rather share with you the main points about how this breed appeared so you have a better understanding of how certain character traits of the breed were formed.

According to the legend, Maine Coon is a cross between a cat and a raccoon from the state of Maine. Genetic scientists disagree with this legend though there are certain similarities between these cats and raccoons. Most of all, the love of water and outdoors. 

Maine Coons as a breed originated in US, in the state of Maine. Imagine a state fair in the mid-19th century where people came together to socialize, show their findings and skills, their best produce and animals. One day someone brought a Maine Coon's ancestor to demonstrate a beautiful wild cat with big keen ears, warm fur, and strong legs. These cats would hunt mice and birds, sleep in the trees, and they weren't afraid of coming close to people. People were charmed by the skills that these forest guests possessed. The cats with massive, long body and beautiful coat were excellent mousers and helped against rodent infestations. 

In return, people would feed the cats and even let them live in their yards.

The first Maine Coons were black tabby or tiger tabby which are now considered "wild colors."

No one can say for sure what formed the Maine Coon's personality – their absolute superiority over other felines, innate tact and serenity. Maine Coons appear huge, wild and menacing but they are actually one of the kindest cats in the world.

If you were lucky enough to meet this cat, you might have noticed that Maine Coon has a personality not typical for a cat. They are companion cats, and some people compare their personality with that of a dog.

One episode of our daily life. When we come home from work, we are usually met by a big crowd of cats and two poodles. Every single one of them is waiting to say hello and receive their portion of affection.

All our pets including two toy poodles love to walk in the back yard, lounge in the sun, and groom their coat. After hearing "come" or "where are my beloved cats", the cats come running even faster than dogs – that is how human-oriented these animals are. Maine Coons are not typical cats. They don't spend all their time on their own like most felines. They love humans and get on well with other cats and dogs.

Maine Coons will be eager to entertain you if you decide to play or train them. Our kittens are easy to train. On my page (....) you can find videos from new owners where they successfully train their cats and enjoy the process together. 

Maine Coon's Temperament

These cats are playful, affectionate, and curious. They look like kittens for a long time and match their owner’s rhythm of life which makes them equal family members. Maine Coons most likely won't sit on your lap which is actually a good thing considering their size. But they would be happy to sprawl nearby while you are busy with your own things. They like to lounge and stretch next to you in all their glory. While you are cooking in the kitchen, your Maine Coon will most likely sit nearby and supervise to make sure you do everything right. These cats are the best companions. In this regard they are similar to dogs – they constantly need someone to socialize with.

All Maine Coons share breed qualities, but each Maine Coon is different, and their personalities vary greatly. Each little Maine Coon kitten is a personality with a whole universe inside. I am yet to meet a cat with a temperament similar to someone else's. As early as week four after the birth I can observe what personality each kitten might have. Of course, genetics play a part, and parents' qualities and manners are passed on to the kittens. So, to understand what kitten is going to be the best fit and to make sure you will have the most enjoyable time together, I provide a questionnaire and ask you to tell me a bit about your lifestyle in the section (...). This will allow me to pick you a kitten that is 100% yours. If you are looking for an emotional support pet for yourself or you family member, I recommend getting a kitten from our cat Alex. Alex is a great support for our special needs son. He is always around and during hard moments will switch the attention to himself. There hasn't ever been a case of any of our cats showing their claws or scratching anyone even once in the history of our cattery. These cats are polite and tactful around small children, they will never touch a little one. If a cat gets tired of too much attention, they will just walk away. 

What does a real Maine Coon look like?

Maine Coon is a big cat with a rectangular body and strong limbs. They have luxurious semi-long coat, bushy tails, tufted ears, stern looks, and gracious gait. Due to the structure of the guard hair and moderately expressed undercoat, Maine Coon's coat hardly mats and doesn't require as much care as that, for example, of a Persian cat or a long-haired British cat. In cases when the coat does mat, looks messy and dull, or a cat doesn't groom well enough, there are reasons to be concerned. It's necessary to consult me or a vet and to have some preventative tests done. Absolutely all cat breeds shed except for hairless cats. Short-haired, semi-long-haired (Maine Coons), and long-haired cat breeds shed constantly, especially in the fall and spring. In order to have less hair at home and to avoid extra hair in a cat's stomach, it is necessary to brush cats throughout their whole life. The frequency of brushing depends on the type of fur of each animal. Some cats need to be brushed as often as possible. Once a week on a sofa is enough for others. A lot also depends on the humidity level in the room. The coat will mat faster on the stomach, around the neck, in the armpits and groin area.

Maine Coon's tail needs to be brushed much less than the rest of the body. Once a month is more than enough. A cat's tail is their main decoration and requires the most delicate approach. Cats are clean animals and groom themselves. If you decide to brush the tail, please, keep in mind that the fur in that area takes a long time to grow. Do not deprive yourself of the pleasure of enjoying this beauty.

To brush a Maine Coon, a regular metal brush is enough. When buying, make sure the brush doesn't scratch your skin – rake it over the inside of your arm. My cats love to brush themselves against the driveway in the back yard which looks hilarious. Or they find something to rub against and clean their coat. It can be a tree or some bushes. They basically groom themselves, so there's almost no fur around the house which does help me a lot with cleaning.

I posted photos and videos where you can see how that happens on my page and YouTube channel. When animals spend their time outside, wind will blow their undercoat out which is exactly what is supposed to happen in nature. If you have an opportunity to build even a small catio, where your pet can spend time outdoors, they will be very grateful for that. You will have less fur to worry about.                                                                      

If you don't participate in cat shows, wash your cat as needed.

Maine Coon's Weight

Maine Coon is the biggest cat but not the heaviest. They are long and tall. If we compare an 17lb British cat or a Ragdoll with a Maine Coon of the same weight, the Maine Coon will be twice as long and large. The size of the breed is achieved not due to the amount of fat but because of the long body and limbs. I am often asked how much an adult cat weighs and what a kitten would be like. Weight doesn't define the standard of the breed. What matters is the size of a Maine Coon. 

For this reason and because of the false idea about the weight, another frequently asked question is how much Maine Coons eat. They don't eat much more than an average cat. More about food and diet in the section (...). Maine Coons grow till they reach the age of three.

This breed has pronounced sexual dimorphism, so female cats are significantly smaller than male cats. The average weight of an adult female cat is 10-15 pounds, an average male cat is 15-20 pounds. Of course, there are exceptions, for both smaller and larger cats. Sterilized animals, as a rule, are heavier than breeders. There are more cats among them that exceed 20 pounds. 

I should warn you: when a kitten from our cattery joins your family, most likely in the future you will decide to get a second kitten because of the unique and amazing personality these beautiful, smart, graceful, and tactful cats possess.