Breed of the Day: Maine Coon Cat

One of the largest breeds of domesticated cats, these gentle giants are a very popular. And very furry! They have 3 coats of fur and big bushy tails to help keep them warm in the snowy winters of the northeast. Average weight is 17 pounds but they can weigh up to 25 pounds and measure 40" long. Their coat can be a variety of colors. They also have big paws, said to help them walk in the snow. I know one Main Coon who is also polydactyl - he has extra toes on his paws and they are huge! They have a sweet and gentle temperament and are said to be skilled hunters.

There are a lot of theories of how Maine Coons came to be. I think I like the idea they came over with the Vikings and are are descended from the Norwegian Forest Cat.

Here's a video about them by Animal Planet.



Wikipedia entry on Maine Coons -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Coon
Maine Coon Cat Nation website - http://www.maine-coon-cat-nation.com/index.html 
Catster's entry on Maine Coons - http://www.catster.com/cat-breeds/Maine_Coon