The Maine Coon, named after the state of Maine in the United States, is one of the three largest cat breeds in the world.
The length of an adult Maine Coon cat can reach about 120cm, and the heaviest can reach 18kg. Males are slightly larger than females. Maine Coons are muscular, and well-built, with large, round feet, making them good hunters.
However, it develops slowly and generally takes 3-5 years to fully mature. The holder of the Guinness World Record for the "Longest Cat" is Stewie, the Maine Coon cat in 2010, whose body length reached 123cm.
Many people's dream is to own a Maine Coon cat because of their "gentle giant" nickname. But before you make an impulse purchase, you should understand the pros and cons of this cat. Read on to learn about this cat.
Pros of Maine Coon cats:
1. Good looks
The Maine Coon cat looks graceful, luxurious, and domineering, with a kingly demeanor like a lion, with a domineering presidential style. The thick and smooth coat on the whole body, coupled with its slightly sedate and serious expression, shows something unusual. Its tail is big and long, like a soft whisk, and its unrestrained temperament is quite wild and beautiful. Maine Coon cats are attracted to their owners every day.
2. Large
Maine Coon cats are large pet cats. They not only have a strong bodies but also have warm hair. They feel great when they are hugged, and they can give you a full sense of security.
3. Physically strong
Maine Coons are strong-boned, strong, muscular, and very tenacious. They were once bred as working cats for farmers and are highly adaptable to the environment. A smooth, dense coat makes them tolerant of cold weather and more hard-working.
4. Gentle personality
The Maine Coon is a very considerate and sensible cat, also known as the "gentle giant". They are considerate, docile, loyal to their families, and smart and independent.
They can live in harmony with children and other small animals at home and satisfy people's fantasies about cats' ideal characters.
In addition, Maine Coons are also very clingy, which is the dream of cat lovers. Imagine the beauty of a cat weighing more than 30 pounds lies on you.
5. Move lightly
Although the Maine Coon is huge, its movements are flexible, running and jumping are not cumbersome, and its movements are very brisk and ornamental.
Cons of Maine Coons:
1. They eat too much
There is an apt saying, "You can afford it, but you can't keep it." Maine Coons eat a lot, 3 to 4 times as much as the average cat. So, to keep a Maine Coon cat, you must have enough economic strength. If your economic level is average, keeping a Maine Coon cat can be a burden for you.
2. They poop a lot
They eat a lot and poop a lot. In addition to the daily cat food expenses, there must be enough psychological preparation, and the money spent on cat litter every month is also a considerable amount. In addition, the frequency and magnitude of cleaning are not comparable to that of the average domestic cat.
3. High space requirements
Maine Coons are not suitable for small apartments. Maine Coons are large and need a large range of motion. If the space in the home is cramped, it is inconvenient for cats to walk and jump, and it is easy to knock over the furnishings in the home. Cat owners with larger homes and yards can consider having a Maine Coon.
4. They shed a lot
Maine Coons have an amazing amount of coats and are particularly prone to shedding, especially when the seasons change. It takes a lot of effort to care for the cat's hair.
5. The lethality of furniture is huge
The usual cat-grinding claws will make furniture beyond recognition, not to mention the lethality of Maine Coon's huge claws.
Therefore, keeping Maine Coon cats needs to prepare more and larger scratching boards to prevent the furniture from being destroyed if they cannot meet the needs.
6. Other expenses
Expenses such as snacks, cat houses, deworming medicine, grooming, medical treatment, etc. are several times that of ordinary cats. Please check your bank card balance before getting one for yourself.
If you decide to keep a Maine Coon cat, you first need to find a regular cattery and check the cat's CFA pedigree certificate and its three-generation pedigree certification.
Beware of some unorthodox breeders posing as Maine Coons by crossbreeding similar-looking longhair cats. Remember, once you bought a cat, you must be responsible to the end and be a truly qualified cat owner.
