Maine Coon
Maine Coon | |
---|---|
Other names | Coon Cat Maine Cat Maine Shag American Longhair[1] American Coon Cat American Forest Cat[2] |
Common nicknames | Gentle giants |
Origin | Maine, United States |
Breed standards | |
CFA | standard |
FIFe | standard |
TICA | standard |
ACF | standard |
ACFA/CAA | standard |
CCA-AFC | standard |
GCCF | standard |
Domestic cat (Felis catus) |
The Maine Coon is a large
The Maine Coon is a large and social cat, which could be the reason why it has a reputation of being referred to as "the gentle giant." The Maine Coon is predominantly known for its size and dense coat of fur which helps it survive in the harsh climate of Maine. The Maine Coon is often cited as having "dog-like" characteristics.[4][5]
History
The Maine Coon is one of the largest domesticated cats. It has a distinctive physical appearance and valuable hunting skills. The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 19th century, but its existence became threatened when long-haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century. The Maine Coon has since made a comeback, in 2020 becoming the third most popular pedigree cat breed in the world.[6]
Origin
Myths
Maine Coon cats originated in Maine. However, their lineage is surrounded by mystery,
Science
These myths and theories have long speculated that the long-haired Maine Coon cat has to be related to other long-haired breeds, due to their similarities in phenotype. And for the Maine Coon in particular, that it is descended from the Norwegian or Siberian Forest cat, brought to New England by settlers or Vikings.[7][8][9] However, phylogenetic studies showed that the Maine Coon belongs to the Western European monophyletic cat branch, but forms the closest relationship with the random-bred cat population in the Northeastern US (New York region).[10] This Western European branch also contains the Norwegian and Siberian Forest cat, but they fall under a different sub-branch. The Maine Coons are descendants of cats brought to New England by Puritan settlers in the 1600-1700s, and out of the European cats they are genetically closest to cats found in the United Kingdom.[8] It is not relatedness that makes them look similar to the Norwegian and Siberian Forest cats, but convergent evolution. These breeds all formed in harsh climates in which natural selection pressures for similar qualities.[8] Thick, long coats, toe and ear tufts, big bodies, and snowshoe-like big feet, are useful traits in all the harsh climates where these breeds originate from.
Cat shows and popularity
The first mention of Maine Coon cats in a literary work was in 1861, in Frances Simpson's The Book of the Cat (1903). F.R. Pierce, who owned several Maine Coons, wrote a chapter about the breed.[11] During the late 1860s, farmers located in Maine told stories about their cats and held the "Maine State Champion Coon Cat" contest at the local Skowhegan Fair.[12]
In 1895, a dozen Maine Coons were entered into a show in Boston. On 8 May 1895, the first North American cat show was hosted at Madison Square Garden in New York City. A female Maine Coon brown tabby, named Cosey, was entered into the show. Owned by Mrs. Fred Brown, Cosey won the silver collar and medal and was named Best in Show.[13] The silver collar was purchased by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) Foundation with the help of a donation from the National Capital Cat Show. The collar is housed at the CFA Central Office in the Jean Baker Rose Memorial Library.[12]
In the early 20th century, the Maine Coon's popularity began to decline with the introduction of other long-haired breeds, such as the
The Maine Coon was denied provisional breed status—one of the three steps required for a breed not yet recognized by the CFA to be able to compete in championship competitions[14]—by the CFA three times, which led to the formation of the Maine Coon Cat Club in 1973. The breed was accepted by the CFA under provisional status on May 1, 1975, and was approved for championship status on May 1, 1976. The next couple of decades saw a rise in popularity of the Maine Coon, with championship victories and an increase in national rankings. In 1985, the state of Maine announced that the breed would be named the official state cat.[15] In 2012 the Maine Coon was the third most registered cat breed with the CFA.[16]
Description
The Maine Coon is a large and sociable cat characterized by a prominent ruff along its chest, robust bone structure, strong jawline, rectangular body shape, an uneven two-layered coat with longer guard hairs over a silky satin undercoat, and a long, bushy tail.[citation needed]
Fur coat
The Maine Coon is a long- or medium-haired cat. The coat is soft and silky, although texture may vary with coat color. The length is shorter on the head and shoulders and longer on the stomach and flanks, with some cats having a leonine ruff around their neck. Minimal grooming is required for the breed compared to other long-haired breeds, as their double coat is mostly self-maintaining owing to a light-density
Maine Coons have several physical adaptations for survival in harsh winter climates. Their dense water-resistant fur is longer and shaggier on their underside and rear for extra protection when they are walking or sitting on top of wet surfaces of snow or ice.[18] Their long and bushy raccoon-like tail is resistant to sinking in snow, and can be curled around their face and shoulders for warmth and protection from wind and blowing snow. It can even be curled around their backside like an insulated seat cushion when sitting down on a frozen surface.[19]
Large paws facilitate walking on snow and are often compared to snowshoes.[18] Long tufts of fur growing between their toes help keep the toes warm and further aid walking on snow by giving the paws additional structure without significant extra weight.[19] Heavily furred ears with extra long tufts of fur growing from inside can keep warm more easily.[18]
Coat colors
Maine Coons can have any
Size
The Maine Coon was considered the largest breed of domestic cat until the introduction of the
In 2010, the Guinness World Records accepted a male purebred Maine Coon named "Stewie" as the "Longest Cat", measuring 48.5 in (123 cm) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. Stewie died on February 4, 2013, from cancer at his home in Reno, Nevada, at age 8.[24][25] As of 2015 the living record-holder for "Longest Cat" is "Ludo", measuring 46.59 in (118.3 cm). He lives in Wakefield, England, in the United Kingdom.[26] Large Maine Coons can overlap in length with Eurasian lynxes, although with a much lighter build and lower height.[27]
Polydactylism
Many of the original Maine Coon cats that inhabited the New England area possessed a trait known as
Polydactylism is rarely, if ever, seen in Maine Coons in the show ring, since it is not allowed by competition standards.[29] The gene for polydactylism is a simple autosomal dominant gene,[30]. The polydactylism are genetic problems which are not encouraged for breeding. [31] Polydactyly in Maine Coon cats is characterised by broad phenotypic diversity.[32] Polydactyly not only affects digit number and conformation, but also carpus and tarsus conformation.[33] The trait was almost eradicated from the breed due to the fact that it was an automatic disqualifier in show rings.[34] Some private organizations and breeders were created in order to preserve polydactylism in Maine Coon cats.
Health
Life expectancy
Pet insurance data obtained from a study during years 2003–2006 in Sweden puts the median lifespan of the Maine Coon at > 12.5 years. 74% lived to 10 years or more and 54% lived to 12.5 years or more.[35] An English study of patient records found a life expectancy of 11 years.[36]
Heart
Of all the Maine Coons tested for the MyBPC mutation at the Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Lab at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University, approximately one-third tested positive.[39] Not all cats that test positive will have clinical signs of the disease, and some Maine Coon cats with clinical evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy test negative for this mutation, strongly suggesting that a second mutation exists in the breed. The HCM prevalence was found to be 10.1% (95% CI 5.8 -14.3%) in this study.[40] Early growth and nutrition, larger body size, and obesity may be environmental modifiers of genetic predisposition to HCM.[41]
Kidney
Skeletal, joint and muscle
Hip dysplasia is an abnormality of the hip joint which can cause crippling lameness and arthritis. The cats most commonly affected with hip dysplasia tend to be males of the larger, big-boned breeds such as Persians and Maine Coons. The relatively smaller size and weight of cats frequently results in symptoms that are less pronounced.[43] X-rays submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) between 1974 and 2011 indicates that 24.3% of Maine Coons in the database were dysplastic. Dysplasia was more severe in bilateral than unilateral cases and with increasing age.[44]
Other
Maine Coons also seem to be predisposed to develop entropion, mainly on the lateral aspect of the eyelids, which can lead to corneal irritation and ulceration, and may require surgery.[45]
Gallery
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Blue tabby in snow
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Black Silver Classic Tabby
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7-month-old black silver tabby male kitten
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Black silver blotched tabby male
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Brown tabby
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Odd-eyed harlequin patterned black tortoiseshell and white male
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Red tabby kitten with large paws
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8-month-old cream silver tabby
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Red blotched tabby
See also
- List of cat breeds
- Norwegian Forest cat – Breed of cat
- Siberian cat – cat breed
- Puppy cat– Behavioral pattern found in domestic cats
References
- ISBN 9780670886395. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ^ "Maine Coon Cats". Animal-World. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- ^ "Breed information". Maine Coon Breeders & Fanciers Association. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
- ^ Robins, Sandy. "Training Day". Popular Cats Series. 2. Bow Tie Magazines: 118–125.
- ^ "Maine Coon Synopsis". American Cat Fanciers Association. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
- ^ "The Cat Fanciers' Association Announces Most Popular Breeds for 2020". The Cat Fanciers' Association. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ a b "History, Legends and Myths of the Maine Coon". Maine Coon Rescue. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Are Maine coon cats really from Maine?". 27 January 2023. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Turner, Pam (15 May 2022). "What is the Difference Between a Maine Coon, A Norwegian Forest Cat, and a Siberian?". www.catwiki.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- PMID 18060738.
- ^ Simpson, Frances (1903). Chapter 28: Maine Cats (PDF). Cassell & Company, Limited. pp. 325–331. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2008. The Book of the Cat
- ^ a b c d Frew, Gail. "Breed Article: America's First Show Cat – The Maine Coon Cat". Cat Fanciers' Association. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ "Maine Coon Cat Article". Cat Fanciers' Association. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- Discovery Communications. Archived from the originalon 13 June 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
- ^ "Title 1, § 217: State Cat". Maine State Legislature. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
The state cat shall be the Maine Coon cat.
- ^ "The Cat Fanciers' Association announces most popular cats!" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ a b "The ACFA Maine Coon Standard". American Cat Fanciers Association. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
- ^ a b c d "The Maine Coon: Cat Breed FAQ". Cat Fanciers. 2003. Archived from the original on 3 November 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
- ^ a b "The origin of the Maine Coon". PawPeds.com. The Scratch Sheet. 1976. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ "Choosing a Maine Coon". PetPlace.com. Intelligent Content Corp. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
- ^ TICA Breed Standard. 21 January 2019. p. https://www.tica.org/maine-coon-breeders?view=article&id=1194:the-maine-coon-breed&catid=48.
- ^ "Maine Coon: A gentle giant" (PDF). Royal Canin. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
- ^ "Maine Coon cat" (PDF). Cat Fanciers Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ "World's longest cat dies in Nevada". CBS News. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ^ Valois, Erin (20 October 2010). "World's longest cat revealed (and other notable animal world records)". National Post.
- ^ "Longest domestic cat (living)". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ISBN 0-8018-5789-9. Archivedfrom the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ "Maine Coon Polydactyl Breeders". tica.org. 6 August 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- ^ King, Lucinda. "So what happened to the Maine coon polydactyl?". Maine Coon Polydactyl International. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
- ^ Grindell, Susan. "Polydactyl summary". Maine Coon Polydactyl International. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
- ^ Grindell, Susan. "The effects of polydactyly". Maine Coon Polydactyl International. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
- ^ Lange, Axel, Nemeschkal, Hans Leo, Müller, Gerd B. (2014) Biased polyphenism in polydactylous cats carrying a single point mutation: the Hemingway model for of digit novelty. Evolutionary Biology, 41 (2), 262-275, 29, 2014
- S2CID 34145481.
- ^ Grindell, Susan. "Incidence [of polydactyly] in the original breed population and today". Maine Coon Polydactyl International. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
- PMID 19780926.
- PMID 24925771.
- PMID 10377082.
- PMID 21306647.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions about the test for the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Mutation". Washington State University. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ "Myosin-Binding Protein C DNA Variants in Domestic Cats (A31P, A74T, R820W) and their Association with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy" (PDF). vetogene.it. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- PMID 23001953.
- S2CID 43268867.
- ISBN 978-0-470-09530-0.
- S2CID 4355779.
- OCLC 1143827380.
Further reading
- Bass, Sharyn P. (1983). This Is the Maine Coon Cat. Neptune City, New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-867-8.
- Hayman, Tracey K. (2001). Maine Coon Cat. Dorking, England: Interpret Publishing. ISBN 1-84286-011-9.
- Hornidge, Marilis (2002). That Yankee Cat: The Maine Coon. Gardiner, Maine: Tilbury House. ISBN 0-88448-243-X.