Cross Breeds

Are Maine Coon cats a special breed? We sure have a cat we adopted from a friends cat litter last year. ?

We want to know if our cat has Maine Coon cat or something in his breed. He is beautiful and quite entertaining!

Public Comments

1. Maine Coons are indeed a breed, that is why they have the name. But it's unlikely he's a Maine Coon unless he actually came from somebody breeding Maine Coon cats. That doesn't make him any less special! Enjoy him.
2. They tend to be big built and have med to longish hair..have like a tabby colour with white markings and are very personable..they like to be funny
3. Maine Coons are a very big breed of cats that where used to catch huge rats on boats as they went from port to port.A maine coon can reach 40 -45 lbs they are very cool cats but as I said very large this is a registered breed so you can find information on them on the web.Enjoy your new friend he sounds charming.
4. I have two maine coon cats. They are a recognized separate breed from AFC. Maine coons are large striped tabbies (mine are around 20 pounds each and they can go up to 27 pounds). They will generally have a ruff around the neck or "sideburns". They have a quiet "meow" and are extremely playful, often called "the gentle giants". Mine are extremely affectionate. The only problem is, because of their size, they can be quite destructive when they get the "romps". It is said that Marie Antoinette kept maine coons. The rumor is that hers were smuggled out of France to Maine in the US, hence the name.
5. They are absolutely a special breed
6. I have a cat that's part Main coon, they are beautiful cats! My cat has many colors on her (grey,black,brown,and white), she has loooong think hair and bright yellow, oval shaped eyes. She has a very bushy tail and her hair extends off her sides and stomach. Pure Maine Coons have a tuft of fur on the tops of their ears, kinda like a lynxs, though my cat doesn't have this. I'm not sure if this is just coincidence or what, but my cat has an "M" shaped marking above her eyes which the vet said is common in the breed.
7. Yes and there are many look-a-likes out there that resemble a Maine Coon type. But its a certain body type, coat, and head that makes a purebred Maine Coon a purebred.
8. Hello. There certainly is a specific breed of pedigree cat known as the Maine Coon. It is quite possible that your kitty is a Maine Coon/part Maine Coon. But, the only way that you can tell if your cat is 100% pedigree Maine Coon is by the birth certificate you get when you buy/adopt one. Without official registered papers from the breeder, the parentage cannot be proven. So, the cat/kiten cannot be classified as a purebred pedigree Maine Coon, unfortunately. Your kitty sounds lovely and very special and registered papers aren't needed to prove how handsome and wonderful your kitty is as every cat is as special and precious as the next, pedigree or non pedigree. here are some websites with photos and info on the Maine Coon for you to enjoy - http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=Maine+Coons&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8 http://www.maine-coon-cat-club.com/ http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/maine.html http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/articles/maine.html http://www.mainecoonguild.org.uk/ http://www.mainecoonbc.org/ All the very best and enjoy your hug fur bug.
9. we have a cat we adopetd i think 7 years ago and she is maine coon we think and she rocks!!! best cat ever ;)
10. Maine Coons are a distinct breed. There are myth and folklore that include - Marie Antoinette shipped them from France to Maine - Due to Captain Coon - Cats bred from racoon. Analysis of the situation probably points to the Maine Coon having developed evolutionarily from the Siberian and Norwegian mating with other cats local to Maine. Evolutionary effects over a few hundred years would have required the survival of larger and furrier cats in the harsh and wintry conditions of Maine. Maine Coons could be striped tabbies, calico, plain, etc. You may inspect that your Maine Coon has most of these attributes. Physical attibutes: - Its fur pattern just above the eyes on its forehead has a letter M (like McDonalds). - It has a thicker ring of fur like a picadil around its neck. - It has a mane or thicker fur or down from its breast down to its tummy. - It has a tail longer and bushier than other cats'. - In short, it is very furry. - It seldom meows, but its calls sound like loud purr or trill. It so rarely meows that you thought your cat was a racoon. - If it does meow, its meow has a rather high pitch - It did not stop growing until it reached four or five years old - It is large. It weighs more than 10 pounds for female adults and more than 15 pounds for males. At least twenty inches long from nose to anus for females. - The litter boxes sold in stores are too small for them. Personality: - They behave more like dogs than like other cats. - Unlike other cats, they run up to visitors and strangers. - Unlike most other cats who come to you only when they need to be fed, Maine Coons come to you for companionship. They may occassionally respond to calls from its dominant owner. - They are intelligent. They may successfully open door handles and knobs to get outside. They may successfully open boxes and containers. - They are responsive and quickly learn the spots they are forbidden to access. They are rather emotionally attached to its owners. - They may use their paws skillfully. - They like to climb to the highest spots possible in the room. - When active they gallop very fast from room to room. Otherwise, it may insist on lazing at a spot next to you. - They enjoy being hugged. You probably will find your Maine Coon waiting at the door when you return home from work or the mall. Regardless if you have a "certificate", in deferrence from "official maine coon" pride, if your cat has most of the physical attributes described above, you probably have at least a Maine Coon mix. I don't think anyone has done a genetic map of Maine Coons because to do that, we would have to do it for most breeds of cats to establish a differentiating pattern. If one day, a genetic map of cats is established, I suspect a Maine Coon map would have a wide "spectrum". Therefore, I don't think we need to worry about official declarations that bother pedigree owners but just be happy you have a very large, furry, friendly and strange cat. Just be careful, the next time you pick up your luggage bag to catch a flight. Make sure your Maine Coon has not successfully unzipped the bag and is hiding in there.