Fun Maine Coon Facts For Kids

Maine Coon is the official state cat of the state of Maine in the United States. As per a folk lore, some of the beloved pets of Queen Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France were brought to America by Turkish Angora or Siberian cats.

She, too was expected to escape with them, which didn't happen. These Siberian cats were bred with some short-haired breeds, and therefore we have the Maine Coon.

These gentle giants are known for their hunting skills.

Initially, in the 18th century, the grey Maine Coon were presented as show cats. After the  long-haired breeds like the Persian cats were brought to the continent, there was decline in the popularity of this domestic cat.

In the 1950s, the breed became extinct. In the 1950s, the Central Maine Cat Club was created by Ethylin Whittemore, Alta Smith, and Ruby Dyer to make the Maine Coons cats popular once more.

Some of the most popular colors that these gentle giants are available in include white Maine Coon,  orange Maine Coon, brown tabby Maine Coon, calico Maine Coon, black Maine Coon cat. After the formation of the Maine Coon Cat Club in  1973, the interest to rescue breed rose steadily.

According to the registration of cats with Cat Fanciers Association, the Maine Coon cat is the third most popular breed.

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Maine Coon Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Maine Coon?

The Maine coon is one of the most popular cat breeds. It is one of the most popular domesticated cat breeds in the US. Maine coons are also known for their hunting skills. It has a very distinctive appearance. The cat breed is a very popular mouser and farm cat. The cats are known to have very big eyes.

What class of animal does a Maine Coon belong to?

The Maine coon is a mammal by class. As it gives birth to an off-spring of all other mammals. The cats are friendly, human-loving breeds who love to hunt. It is said it will hunt even if it is not hungry. This cat breed is ideal for farmlands as it has plenty of open space to hunt and roam.

How many Maine Coons are there in the world?

An actual number of the animals of this cat breed is difficult to get with regards to the population of the Maine coon. But due to its falling popularity in the 1950s, the cat breed had almost been declared extinct.

With concentrated efforts by some cattle lovers, the cat breed became popular, and its numbers increased steadily after the 1970s.

Where does a Maine Coon live?

The Maine coon can live comfortably in a house with a yard or farmland. As the cat breed loves to hunt and roam, it will not be advisable to have the cat in a closed apartment-like place.

What is a Maine Coon's habitat?

The Maine coon loves cold outdoor living. They are comfortable in farmland and houses with yards. The state of Maine is the original home of this breed. But it can adapt well to any climate as long as the cat has a cool place to relax in and lots of water. The breed is comfortable in humid places too.

Who do Maine Coon live with?

The Maine coon loves other animals and humans. They can live with other pets too. Maine coon personality makes it a very social animal and adjusts well to others. They are known to follow their pet parents around without being needy.

How long does a Maine Coon live?

The Maine Coon cat’s lifespan is 10-12.5 years. Some reports suggest that some cats have lived beyond 15 years. With proper care, a healthy diet, and an active play routine with toys and daily exercise, these cats can live a healthy and long life.

How do they reproduce?

If the queen (female Maine Coon) has progressed from proestrus to estrus, she will let the male touch her. The mating itself barely takes half a minute.

An escape route must be provided for the male cat after mating, as the female may react aggressively, which is normal and part of the process. For the first three days of estrus, the Maine Coon female can be mated up to three times in a day. This increases the chances of the Maine Coon becoming pregnant.

It’s common for a litter to have multiple fathers, and some breeders prefer to have more than one stud breeding the female to ensure fertility. A Maine coon kitten is quite adorable.

What is their conservation status?

The conversation status for Maine coon is of the least concern as it is a popular domesticated breed of the cat. The cat ranks number three in the registry of newborn kittens in the United States with Cat Fanciers Association, assuring us that the breed is much loved by its pet parents.

Maine Coon Fun Facts

What do Maine Coons look like?

The Maine coon looks like an attentive gentle giant. It has a prominent ruff along the chest and a well-built bone structure.

The body of the Maine coon is characteristic rectangular shaped with powerful shoulders and legs along with two-layered coats and a long tapering tail, much like a raccoon. Their eyes can be green, copper or gold in color.

The Maine coon is considered more like "dogs" among the cat species due to its playful, gentle personality. It has a two-layered coat with longer guard hairs over a silky satin undercoat, along with a long and bushy tail.

Their ears have tufted edges and complement the breed's appearance which is quite similar to a raccoon.. The overall appearance of this long haired cat and its friendly temperament make it an ideal pet.

How cute are they?

The Maine Coons are cute cats despite their size. Their characteristic fur coat, large ears, and fluffy tail makes them appear extremely adorable. The Maine Coon personality is loveable making them ideal as a pet.

They love to receive attention, but they aren't needy. These pet cats do not like being touched and played with all the time, but they like being around you always.

This is a reason that they are always the stars in cat shows with their amazing personality. They will lay their head on the owners lap and enjoys the company of children as well as adults. Regular grooming is highly recommended.

How do they communicate?

The Maine Coon uses various ways to communicate with you as owners. It chirps to express their needs and emotions, displaying its characteristics.

Even when it wants food, treats, or fresh litter, or if it's in distress, they chirp and trill when they are happy and excited. The Maine Coon breed cat is known to talk a lot. They love to have a steady conversation.

You can train them to use certain cat words which will help you to understand them better and start that conversation. This also means that they can be trained for a variety of tricks if rightly done.

How big is a Maine Coon?

The Maine Coon is known as a gentle giant. The males can weigh more than 25 lb in some cases. They are known as the largest domesticated cat. Care must be taken so that the Maine Coon's weight doesn’t move towards obesity, as obesity may lead to other health issues.

How fast can a Maine Coon run?

The Maine Coon is a fast runner with a speed of 20-25 mph. Like all cats, they can run fast for a short sprint. It is a good idea to take them for a regular walk run combo for getting the much needed exercise. Regular training and grooming can help the owner make these cats sociable.

How much does a Maine Coon weigh?

Maine Coon weight varies. The Maine Coon weighs around 9-18 lb. There are male Maine Coons who weigh around 20 lb or more. Female Maine Coons weigh less than males.

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male Maine Coons are called tomcats. The female Maine Coons are called queens.

What would you call a baby Maine Coon?

The baby Maine Coon cat is called a Maine Coon kitten.

What do they eat?

The Maine Coon cat must be fed adequate protein as it is a large cat. The cat can eat meat, chicken, fish, and any other animal protein. You must ensure not to feed your cat in excess and give it a mixture of dry and wet food. The Maine Coon doesn't require any specific diet or specific food.

Are they slobbery?

Mostly a drooling Maine Coon is a happy, relaxed cat. When they are petted, or they are playing, they may drool. If the drool is excessive, it could be due to oral or dental health issues or any other health issue and must be checked by a vet at the earliest.

Would they make a good pet?

The Maine Coon cats will make an ideal pet for any family or individual. It is a loving, intelligent, and curious being who isn't needy or craves too much attention. The love to lay down with their head in the lap of the owner.

The cat is known as a gentle giant and has a personality of a dog too. The cat is an ideal addition to any family with pets. It is playful and caring towards children too.

Though, it must be remembered that different cats have different personalities and behavioral pattern. This cat requires regular training and grooming to lead an enjoyable life. Their intelligence patterns are quite unpredictable.

Did you know...

The Maine Coon mix loves to play with water. Most cats avoid water, but these beauties love it. One reason could be their high water-resistant coats.

They are very loyal to their pet parents and are very protective of their homes. They may not suffer from separation anxiety as they are intelligent enough to keep themselves busy with their toys and other things around the house.

They have substantial legs and powerful shoulders along with a muscular body. You must adopt or buy a Maine Coon cat only from a reputable breeder.

The origins of Maine Coon cats are still largely unknown.

Some Maine coon cats had six toes once. This character helped them move around in the snow with ease and hunt too. These days not many Maine Coons have the six toes, but it could be desirable.

Characteristics and health issues

The Maine Coon cats are known to be a healthy and hardy breed that adapts to any climate well. However, there are some genetic disorders and general health issues that the cat could face with time.

Hip Dysplasia is is a common ailment that may cause lameness. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart condition that is inherited by the Maine Coons. Polycystic kidney disease is also a heritable disease that slowly progresses towards renal failure. Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disorder which affects the skeletal muscle of the trunks and limbs.

Getting your own Maine Coon

The Maine coon cat is an ideal family cat. The Maine Coon cat brings joy and happiness to people of all ages.

You can buy one at $400-$1500 on average. They are ideal companions who are not clingy or needy but somebody who enjoys being around you at all times. They love spending time outdoors too and can adapt to any weather easily.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Maine coon coloring pages.

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