Maine Coon
The largest of the domestic breeds, and it takes four years to reach full size. Tufted ears, a tail like a raccoon's, and a chirp in place of a meow.
Photo by ginnylgorman, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Maine Coon is the largest domestic breed and North America's oldest natural one, developed in New England out of working farm cats. The coat is uneven by design: shorter over the shoulders, long and shaggy over the body, with a heavy ruff and a plumed tail.
Everything about it is built for a cold wet winter, including tufted ears, tufted feet and a coat that sheds water rather than absorbing it.
Temperament
Gentle, sociable and famously easy going, which is where the phrase gentle giant comes from. Maine Coons follow people about, involve themselves in whatever is happening, and are patient with children and dogs.
They are quiet for their size, chirping and trilling rather than meowing. They are also slow to mature, taking three to five years to reach full size, and they play like kittens for most of that.
Care and grooming
The coat needs a comb through two or three times a week and daily through the moult. It is long enough to mat behind the ears, in the ruff and around the britches if it is neglected.
The health question is the heart. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the main concern in the breed and the MYBPC3 A31P variant is the specific one, with published prevalence figures for the mutation running high. It has a DNA test and the parents should be scanned as well as tested.
Living and exercise
Space, sturdy climbing structure rated for the weight, and large litter trays, because everything has to be scaled up.
Hip dysplasia and spinal muscular atrophy also occur in the breed and both are worth asking about, the second having a DNA test. Twelve to fifteen years is the usual expectation.
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