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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / February 2005Thanks for the Advice about Maine Coons
Hi Everyone Thanks for all the advice in response to my questions about Bengals and Maine Coons. I've decided on a Maine Coon, and am in the process of selecting a breeder (and especial thanks to Orchid for the excellent article on how to go about this). Cheers Bruce > Hi Everyone > > Thanks for all the advice in response to my questions about Bengals > and Maine Coons. I've decided on a Maine Coon, and am in the process > of selecting a breeder (and especial thanks to Orchid for the > excellent article on how to go about this). I'd be happy for you if it weren't for all the beautiful cats at your local shelter that will die because they have nobody to take care of them. The best cat is the one that needs you the most. Bruce, Why don't you go to http://www.petfinder.com, enter your zip code and select "breeds". You will find many Maine Coons at shelters near you that need homes. You should not encourage breeders by buying from them. There is no guarantee that you will get a healthy or friendly cat from a breeder. ---MIKE--- > Bruce, Why don't you go to http://www.petfinder.com, enter your zip code > and select "breeds". You will find many Maine Coons at shelters near > you that need homes. You should not encourage breeders by buying from > them. There is no guarantee that you will get a healthy or friendly cat > from a breeder. Amen Mike. Good advice! I got my Main Coon from a shelter and I've always felt that my kitty knows I saved him. He's the most lovable cat I've ever encountered! > Good advice! I got my Main Coon from a shelter and I've always felt > that my kitty knows I saved him. He's the most lovable cat I've ever > encountered! My Cheeky, too. She was in there for four months, and while I know she was happy to be fed and housed, I have never seen a happier, more grateful animal than she was when she walked out of the carrier and into my office. She just strettttttttched and smiled! > Good advice! I got my Main Coon from a shelter and I've always felt > that my kitty knows I saved him. He's the most lovable cat I've ever > encountered! Well, if you got him from a shelter, I doubt you'd know if he's a Maine Coon. Mind you, appearance-wise, Maine Coons are basically just big tabby cats - I suppose labelling 'em as Maine Coons at the shelter helps to shift units. Indeed, IIRC my ex-shelter cat was labelled as a Maine Coon mix. Then again, I thought he was so physically impressive that you could've labelled him as a Swiss Cheese Plant and I would've still adopted him. I did wonder why he'd languished at the shelter for the several (5?) months since he'd been rescued. The shelter staff also hedged a little when I inquired as to his long-term non-adoption. This turned out to be because he was Evil. Well, slightly evil anyway. He mellowed though, and now spends most of his time sitting on my lap, or reaching over the kitchen counter to flick any items in reach onto the floor (last casualty: one dozen eggs). I'm not sure what the point of this rambling is (well I do, I'm putting off going to the gym). Something like 'you can take a cat to the kitchen counter but you can't stop it breaking eggs', p'raps. Incidentally, I tend to prefer the fluffy-moggy pseudo-Maine-Coons to the real thing; there's often something about the face of the purebred versions that I don't quite like. E.g., at http://www.verismocat.com/htmscripts/lrgimg.htm, the bottommost cat looks a bit funny in the muzzle to me. On the flip side, I also have an aby, and I like their appearance and personality. Wouldn't get a Maine Coon from a breeder, but I would get (another) aby, if the muse struck. Waffle waffle, Steve. I noticed the ease in which this group labels their cats Main Coons so I went ahead and joined the action. My cat is definitely part main coon but he's got shorter legs which is from some other breed. Actually, I think the shorter legs are much cuter, IMHO. :) But he's a huge cat with the "M" on his forehead, long bushy tail and big body. Just a lug. A cute lug at that! It's not really a question of "ease". Maine coon cats simply are the American indigenous random-bred domestic long-hairs. The original CFA description of a "certified" Maine Coon required owners to certify that their cat was a long-haired cat whose parents were both long-haired cats. Period. Those cats whose owners went through the process became "official Maine Coons" and provided the breeding stock for all future generations. Breeders have fooled around with breeding the cats for increased size and other affectations, (including unfortunately hip dysplasia and some heart problems from inbreeding) but there's really almost no difference in the cats. The genetic material was widely distributed through the cat population a hundred years ago. > It's not really a question of "ease". Maine coon cats simply are the > American indigenous random-bred domestic long-hairs. The original CFA [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > almost no difference in the cats. The genetic material was widely > distributed through the cat population a hundred years ago. Tracy--could you include a snippet of the post to which you are referring? That way we know who you are talking to. Thanks. >Tracy--could you include a snippet of the post to which you >are referring? That way we know who you are talking to. >Thanks. I thought the Maine Coon was (1) the only true American breed and, (2) descended at least partly from the Norwegian forest cat. Cat-Boy is about 75% Maine Coon. Big, goofy, loving, smart, has the ear tips, snowshoe feet, bushy tail, pantaloons, and enough hair to make at least three cats. Loves everyone, but is specially bonded to me. -- Bogus e-mail address, but I read this newsgroup regularly, so reply here. "I thought the Maine Coon was (1) the only true American breed and, (2) descended at least partly from the Norwegian forest cat" They're the domestic long-hairs indigenous to the States. The early CFA registered as "Maine Coons" any cat whose owner certified that they were "a long-haired cat descended from two parents who were also long-haired cats". Hence the original breeding stock. Given the similarities between Norwegian Forest Cats and Maine Coons, it's a theory that the Forest Cats came over on the Viking ships to the Northeast and mated randomly with the local cats, distributing all the genetic material around - but it's not the kind of thing that can be proven.... > It's not really a question of "ease". Well, in context it was: Laura commented that the denizens of rpch+b will call their Big Fluffy Cats 'Maine Coons' with 'ease'. Which is probably true. (...) > generations. Breeders have fooled around with breeding the cats for > increased size and other affectations, (including unfortunately hip > dysplasia and some heart problems from inbreeding) but there's really > almost no difference in the cats. Heh. You mean apart from the 'size and other affectations'..? S. >>Good advice! I got my Main Coon from a shelter and I've always felt >>that my kitty knows I saved him. He's the most lovable cat I've ever >>encountered! chen counter but you can't stop it breaking eggs', p'raps. > Incidentally, I tend to prefer the fluffy-moggy pseudo-Maine-Coons to > the real thing; there's often something about the face of the purebred > versions that I don't quite like. E.g., at > http://www.verismocat.com/htmscripts/lrgimg.htm, the bottommost cat > looks a bit funny in the muzzle to me. > Waffle waffle, > Steve. I think that's just the way his fur's falling. He's definitely got the face of a fully male, I-still-got-mine! cat. The cat just above has the same muzzle, but his face fur blends into his muzzle better. Well, at least that's how I see it. >>> Good advice! I got my Main Coon from a shelter and I've always felt >>> that my kitty knows I saved him. He's the most lovable cat I've ever [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > same muzzle, but his face fur blends into his muzzle better. Well, at > least that's how I see it. Ah, replying to my first post. Actually, I poked around a bit at that link. Did you see the bit about Leo (the orange tabby)? He's 35 lbs - NOT overweight - and 48 inches long! Egads, and I though Mouse was big (18# female, no fat). Leo is, not surprisingly, in the Guiness Book of World Records as the world's longest cat. (...) > Ah, replying to my first post. Actually, I poked around a bit at that > link. Did you see the bit about Leo (the orange tabby)? He's 35 lbs - > NOT overweight - and 48 inches long! I did. He does look a bit lardy to me though. Steve. > Ah, replying to my first post. Actually, I poked around a bit > at that link. Did you see the bit about Leo (the orange tabby)? > He's 35 lbs - NOT overweight - and 48 inches long! Egads, and > I though Mouse was big (18# female, no fat). Leo is, not > surprisingly, in the Guiness Book of World Records as the > world's longest cat. Big kitty! Though not remarkable when it comes to Maine Coons. What I thought *was* remarkable was the litter of 12 kittens!! Whoa!!  SignatureCheryl > > Good advice! I got my Main Coon from a shelter and I've always felt > > that my kitty knows I saved him. He's the most lovable cat I've ever [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > or reaching over the kitchen counter to flick any items in reach onto > the floor (last casualty: one dozen eggs). What a cutie! My Buddha, who is very Contemplative and Philosophical, when in a certain mood, while lying on a lap will reach out a tentative paw and give things (like, for example, a shoe) a little exploratory tap, as though she wants to make quite sure she knows what it is. > I'm not sure what the point of this rambling is (well I do, I'm putting > off going to the gym). Something like 'you can take a cat to the > kitchen counter but you can't stop it breaking eggs', p'raps. He really must be a big boy to reach the counter top like that! > Incidentally, I tend to prefer the fluffy-moggy pseudo-Maine-Coons to > the real thing; there's often something about the face of the purebred > versions that I don't quite like. E.g., at > http://www.verismocat.com/htmscripts/lrgimg.htm, the bottommost cat > looks a bit funny in the muzzle to me. I see what you mean. > On the flip side, I also have an aby, and I like their appearance and > personality. Wouldn't get a Maine Coon from a breeder, but I would get > (another) aby, if the muse struck. I have to confess to Abysinnian Worship. I have wanted one since I was a child and read about their distinctive fur. But I can't bring myself to buy from a breeder so I have to worship them from afar. > I have to confess to Abysinnian Worship. I have wanted one since I was a > child and read about their distinctive fur. But I can't bring myself to buy > from a breeder so I have to worship them from afar. Surely there must be breed rescue organizations? Maybe you could get one and still provide a loving home for an unwanted cat. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* (...) > What a cutie! My Buddha, who is very Contemplative and > Philosophical, when in a certain mood, while lying on a lap > will reach out a tentative paw and give things (like, for > example, a shoe) a little exploratory tap, as though she > wants to make quite sure she knows what it is. Pfft, probably just wants to see if it's made of chicken. (...) > He really must be a big boy to reach the counter top like that! Actually I'm a dwarf and my counter is only 6" high. Well, Big Cat's nose gets to 1-2" below the surface when he's standing tall, and when he hooks a paw over he can reach surprisingly far - a couple of inches, at least. Important things to remember: do not leave bricks near the edge of the counter. Or hand grenades. > > Incidentally, I tend to prefer the fluffy-moggy pseudo-Maine-Coons to > > the real thing; there's often something about the face of the purebred [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > I see what you mean. Seems consistent with the breed profile (http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/standards/maine.html): 'is visibly square, medium in length and blunt ended when viewed in profile. It may give the appearance of being a rectangle but should not appear to be tapering or pointed. Length and width of the muzzle should be proportionate to the rest of the head and present a pleasant, balanced appearance. The chin should be strong, firm and in line with the upper lip and nose. When viewed in profile the chin depth should be observable and give the impression of a square, 90-degree angle. A chin lacking in depth, i.e. one that tapers from the jaw line to the lip, is not considered strong, firm or desirable.' I think it's this sort of squareness and 'overemphasis' that I'm not fond of. (...) > I have to confess to Abysinnian Worship. I have wanted one > since I was a child and read about their distinctive fur. But I > can't bring myself to buy from a breeder so I have to worship > them from afar. You could always steal one. Or make a coat for a moggy, out of rabbit fur. S. I have a year 1/2 old maine coon (Xena),and a year 1/2 old rag doll (max) and as much as I love the maine coon, I would look into getting a rag doll. > Hi Everyone > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Cheers > Bruce
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