The Maine Coon: Monster or the Best House Cat Ever?

He smiles through over grown fangs with teasing blue eyes, letting off a yowl that could wake the dead. He opens the door, and with ease climbs the wall to steal my salmon dinner without a sound. He's a monster... No, He's my Maine Coon. Maine Coon's are one of the largest most intelligent breed of domesticated cat, not to mention they're a blast to own.

The Maine Coon has a disputed and interesting history. It's one the oldest breeds in North America, generally thought to have been introduced to the United States in Maine. One story of it's origin is that the Maine Coon is the offspring of feral cats and raccoons, supported by it's coon like tail and appearance, though this has been proven scientifically impossible. Another popular myth is that the breed came from pet refugees sent from France by Maria Antoinette when she planned the flee. However, the most probable origin of the Maine Coon is an interbreeding of pre-existing American breeds and Norwegian Forrest cats brought over by the vikings.[1] The vikings often took forest cats on their voyages with them using them both for protection (Yes, the Maine Coon is that large), and companionship. The Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forrest cat are so similar it takes a professional to tell them apart.

The characteristics however of a Maine Coon are impossible to miss. Maine Coons are large, rectangular, muscular cats, with enormous paws. They come in all variety of colors though a brown, black tabby resembling the coloration of a raccoon is the most common. Their fur is silky, soft and water resistant consisting of three layers. Maine Coons always have the tell tale tail, long and bushy, sometimes longer than the cats whole body, and often ringed with black. The have many adaptations for cold climates such as long tufts of fur between the toes, a lion like ruff around the neck, irregularly long teeth which sometimes extend outside giving the saber tooth effect, and lynx tips and/or ear muffs. They have boxy faces, and often don't reach maturity until four to five years of age. Eye coloration varies, but eyes are always large and expressive. [2]