Maine Coone: One of the Giant Domestic Cat Breeds

The Maine Coone is best known for being an enormous domestic cat. However, there is a lot more to this big cat than just being big. It is known as a very intelligent cat. It makes for a very playful pet. But, in spite of its playfulness, it is also a good family cat, having the reputation among domestic cat breeds of being the "Gentle Giant." In spite of its name, the Maine Coone is believed to originate in New England. It is among the first breeds of domestic cat to have originated in North America.

The Maine Coone has had some incorrect stories told about how it became one of America’s domestic cat breeds. For example, one story says that the cat is the result of years of living on its own in the harsh winters of Maine, mostly dying off except for the strongest few that continued to breed and created the sturdy outdoors, winter-tolerant Maine Coone we have of today. The reality is actually that some robust cats brought over from the northern regions of Europe by sea traders bred with the domestic cats already in New England to create the Maine Coone as one of the largest, and most durable of domestic cat breeds.

Contrary to the world of canines, where bigger is usually associated with less energy, the feline Maine Coone demonstrates that large domestic cat breeds can be packed full of energy. This energetic giant among domestic cat breeds can be as heavy as 12 kilograms, though typically the females will only be about half of that. It is recorded in more than one place that the male Maine Coone has reached lengths greater than one meter.

The Maine Coone has other interesting physical traits beyond just being big. This cat features a square muzzle, large ears, and a thick neck. It also has big round eyes. The cat isn’t just large, but actually quite muscular among domestic cat breeds. It has a long bushy tail.

In addition to being a gentle giant among domestic cat breeds, the Maine Coone has some other personality traits worth noting. It is an extremely social cat. In fact, it is unique among domestic cats in that it wants to be friends with everyone, from your dog to your infant child to you to your other cats. But don’t expect it to be friends with your pet mouse, hamster, or squirrel! They are also quite easily trained compared to other domestic cat breeds.