The story of the raccoon cat

Its name is a happy combination of originality and pragmatism: "coon" is the English name for the raccoon, an animal of similar size, with grey fur striped with black and a charming, distinctive mask. Rather than stopping at a vague resemblance between the two, popular imagination has invented a colourful legend, which holds it to be the fruit of an impossible love between a raccoon and a cat — on account of the characteristic tabby markings of its coat and its thick, ringed tail.

Between myth and reality

An equally evocative and improbable hypothesis holds it to be a direct descendant of cats that arrived in America aboard Viking ships. What is certain is that among the ancestors of the modern Maine coon are cats brought from Europe and Asia to the New World by 17th-century settlers. The selective breeding of the breed, however, began much later, and is probably the result of carefully planned crossings between the common American cat, the American Shorthair, and long-haired Angora-type cats, as well as a degree of natural selection that favoured a large cat with a semi-long, dense coat — two adaptations to a cold, damp climate.

The Maine coon conquers the world

The breed was well established and widespread by the late 1800s, to the point that at the first New York show in 1860 Maine coons were the most represented breed. The number of cats exhibited and bred declined, however, in the early 1900s, when the Maine coon had to compete with the spectacular Persian. In the 1960s the Maine coon regained the favour of breeders and the American public, and was recognised as an official breed in 1967 by the Canadian Cat Association; a few years later, both the CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association) and the TICA (The International Cat Association) ratified its standard.

The physical characteristics of the Maine coon

Today's Maine coon is very different from the first cats bred: it is imposing, stocky, and of gigantic proportions. The average weight of a Maine coon cat, which can reach up to fourteen kilograms, is around seven kilograms. Its most distinctive characteristics have been preserved and enhanced: it has tall legs with fur-tufted toes to prevent it from sinking into snow, as well as ears that, though large and wide-open, are protected by abundant tufts of hair. The coat has a characteristic natural "grease" that protects it from the elements.

The temperament of the Maine coon

Cats shaped by natural selection, long accustomed to fending for themselves without direct human assistance in finding food and shelter, tend to have a rather unpredictable temperament: some are sociable and affectionate, others more independent and wary. In pedigree cats, however, breeders have brought out the traits that make for pleasant cohabitation, such as sociability towards people, low aggression, and affectionateness. Thus, despite its wild appearance, the Maine coon is a sociable cat, moderately active yet very responsive, interested in everything happening around it. It is a great hunter, agile and athletic, an excellent climber, and appreciates having free access to the garden. When it comes to play, it prefers solitary games and does not always welcome the presence of strangers, especially if they are numerous and noisy. It is not very vocal, and expresses itself with a distinctive meow, almost a trill.

Tips and care

The Maine coon requires no special care or attention, thanks to its water-repellent coat. In general, it can quite easily rid itself of dead hair on its own and keep its coat in order. During the moulting period, it can be helpful to assist it with a wide-toothed comb a couple of times a week.

How much does a Maine coon eat?

Despite its size, it is a cat that does not eat a great deal, and is a creature of strong habit, which means it is often necessary to vary its food to avoid dangerous nutritional imbalances. For the three life stages of the cat — kitten (from birth to one year of age), adult (from one to 6–7 years) and senior (from seven years onwards) — specific diets exist.