Maine Coon Profile
Legend has it that Mary Antionette, upon hearing that the public deemed the monarchy no longer appropriate in a modern, progressive society (in 1793), attempted to flee the country and head to the US, where people were still living in the past.
She loaded up a ship with her favourite cats, but before she could board it, the French did what they do best and revolted. She was snatched, trialled and publicly executed, but her cats made it to Maine, where they set about breeding with the locals to produce what is now one of the largest cat breeds in the world: the maine coon.
It’s not true, but it’s a nice story.
Maine Coon Facts Overview
| Habitat: | Domestic, tolerant of cold weather |
| Location: | Mostly North America, but worldwide |
| Lifespan: | Around 11-12 years |
| Size: | Up to 40 cm (16 in ches) tall, 118 cm (47 in) long |
| Weight: | Around 12kg (25 lb) |
| Colour: | Brown tabby, black, white, blue, and cream |
| Diet: | Cat food |
| Predators: | Coyotes |
| Top Speed: | Slow (for a cat) |
| No. of Species: | 1 |
| Conservation Status: | Not Listed |
Maine coons originate from much later in the game than the French Revolution – around the 1800s, and are one of the oldest breeds of domestic cat in the US.
They’re also one of the largest and are both muscular and fluffy animals. They’re said to act a lot more like dogs than many other breeds of cat and can be easily leash-trained.
Unfortunately, their health is often an issue, and this results in a reduced longevity for the breed over average.
Interesting Maine Coon Facts
1. Maine coons are considered the largest cat breed in the world
One other myth around this breed is that it was brought over from Vikings, and is descended from the Norwegian forest cat, which does have the same tufty ears like the Maine coon. Genetic analysis shows that this isn’t the case, but it shouldn’t be needed to debunk a third origin story for the breed.
Before simple genetics was widely understood, people would talk of unusual hybrids, and the Maine coon’s third mythical beginning stems from the idea that a cat mated with a raccoon.
This pairing, while unlikely, is possible, but the idea that it would produce anything other than embarrassment for both parties is not. But the idea persisted on account of just how huge these cats are.
Maine coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds, and long-haired varieties look even bigger. Until the Savannah cat hybrid showed up in the ‘80s, this was the biggest and is still the heaviest purebred cat with a weight of up to 10 kg.
Adults can be over 40cm tall, with a dense, muscular body. And on top of their size records, they have been around for a long time too.
It’s likely this breed came out of European settler cats breeding with local varieties and the harsh selective pressure of a Maine Winter carving out a phenotype that works. When exactly this happened remains a mystery, but they have certainly been around in North America for a while.
2. They hold the record for the longest domestic cat
The longest domestic cat living measures 120 cm (3 ft 11.2 in). It’s a maine coon known as ‘Barivel’, as verified on 22 May 2018.
Barivel lives with his owner Cinzia Tinnirello in Vigevano, Pavia, Italy. 1
3. They’re one of the oldest cat breeds
This breed was first written about in 1861, by a guy who owned several of them. Local farmers began throwing together contests for the breed, in which they told stories of their Maine coons and competed for “Maine State Champion Coon Cat” titles.
By 1895, the first cat show arrived, and a Maine coon won second place. Quite aptly, the Cat Fancier’s Association ranks them as the second-favourite cat today. 2
4. They’re cold weather specialists
As a product of the cold weather, these cats have developed some adaptations that set them apart from the rest.
They have a dense water-resistant coat that’s thicker around the potential contact surfaces for snow.
Their thick and long tail is curled around their faces when at rest to provide further protection from the cold, and huge paws help spread the load like snowshoes as they walk.
Even their ears are insulted with the characteristic tufts on top.
5. They’ve got a lot of toes
Perhaps in relation to their large feet, this breed is prone to a condition known as polydactylism, in which they grow a toe that usually isn’t there.
Many of the original Maine coons possessed one or more extra toes, which perturbed the show folks to the point where it was banned in competition.
This led to a useful adaptation being almost entirely eradicated in the breed, while some private organisations worked against the trend to preserve it. 3
6. They’re “dog-like”
Owners claim that this breed is less like your ordinary cat and more like a pet dog since it displays numerous behaviours that commonly aren’t associated with the more aloof of the two favourite pet species.
Maine coons are said to form strong bonds with family members and remain loyal to them throughout their lives, even taking a while to warm up to strangers in the home.
They’ll wait by the door for owners to come home and give warm greetings when they do, offering and demanding lots of attention and affection.
They can easily be leash trained and taken for walks and will follow their owners around the house. These are clearly attentive and compassionate animals – characteristics that plenty of felines refuse to adopt. 4
7. They don’t live very long
Sadly, also like dogs, these animals don’t live quite as long as your average cat.
The average life expectancy for a domestic cat is around 14 years, and many live as long as 18-20. This isn’t usually the case for the Maine coon (though it can happen), who has a median age of around 12 and a common life expectancy of about 11.
Part of the reason for this is the plethora of health problems associated with the breed. Maine coons are known to struggle with cardiomyopathy, which shows up in around a third of cats tested, along with kidney and eye problems and arthritis.
Hip dysplasia and UTIs are often reported by owners, as well as breathing issues, showing that there is a price to be paid for purebreds, even when they’re this big and lovely. 5
8. They are the official state cat of ‘Maine’
This gentle giant originates from the US state of Maine, which is where it got its name.
As the cats popularity grew into the 2nd most popular pedigree cat breed in the world, Maine announced in 1985 that it would be named the official cat breed of the state!
9. Maine coons are more expensive!
Breeders will charge a minimum of $1,200 (£1,000) for a purebred ‘registered’ maine coon kitten. Sometimes the price can be over $2,000 (£1,500), based on the perceived sought-after features, characteristics and fur of the cat.
As the breed is the largest domestic cat breed, it’s of no surprise that they will also eat more than an average cat. So the cost to maintain them is higher than your average moggy.
Some owners will choose to feed their main coons on a raw cat food diet for health benefits, which again increases the ownership cost.
Maine Coon Fact-File Summary
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Felidae |
Fact Sources & References
- “Longest domestic cat living”, Guiness Book of Records.
- “Top 10 Breeds Built for Colder Temperatures”, Scratch&Patch.
- “The History of the Polydactyl Maine Coon”, Maine Coon Cat.
- Life with Maine Coon Cats (2022), “15 Ways Maine Coons Act Like Dogs”, Youtube.
- Dan G O’Neill (2014), “Longevity and mortality of cats attending primary care veterinary practices in England”, Sage Journals.