I WANT A MAINE COON!!

Instructions

ABOUT MAINE COONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Maine Coon is a massive cat with a powerful muscular athletic body in keeping with their impressive size. They have large, pointed ears held wide and tall and an intelligent expression. APPEARANCE ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The coat is long and thick and consists of an undercoat covered by a substantial glossy, waterproof top coat and have attractive tufts on ears and paws. Their tails are spectacular and should be at least as long as their body so they can wrap it around their body for extra insulation. PERSONALITY ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maine Coon cats have an affectionate nature and are very playful and friendly. They enjoy human company and this makes them excellent companions for someone who enjoys sharing their home with such an enormous cat. Maine Coon cats are noted for the delightful quiet chirping sound they make. HISTORY AND ORIGIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally hard-working ship’s cats, the long-haired ancestors of the Maine Coon who were quite possibly related to the Norwegian Forest cat, were brought to Maine by European seafarers in the 1850s. These cats mated with the local shorthair cats to produce offspring who were big, strongly built cats with semi-long coats and brush-like tails that resembled the tail of the raccoon - hence the name Maine Coon. These cats developed thick dense coats to withstand the extreme Maine winters and were much prized for their excellent hunting skills. Special shows were held for Maine Coon cats as early as the 1860s but the Maine Coon wasn’t imported into the UK until the 1980s. ENRICHMENT AND SPECIFIC NEEDS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- A clever, athletic cat who loves - in fact craves - human company, the Maine Coon is rather high maintenance as they need plenty of enrichment in the form of games with their owner that simulate hunting, plus opportunities to climb, jump and survey their territory from a variety of different heights and vantage points. For owners who are so inclined, the Maine Coon is surprisingly trainable and by using reward-based training methods and understanding how to motivate a cat, they can learn a surprising amount of trained behaviours - hence why they can often be seen in TV adverts! OUTDOORS OR INDOORS? ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is very much an outdoor cat who is athletic, needs plenty of enrichment and exploring opportunities, and will be unhappy with a life confined indoors. If owners are worried about their cat roaming or being stolen, they should cat-fence their garden or provide a very large outdoor run with plenty of ever-updated enrichment opportunities - although this will not replace free-roaming and so owners should ensure they spend more time giving their cat an outlet for their natural behaviours. This need should be considered before taking on a Maine Coon.