Cat breed · United States
The Maine Coon is a large domesticated cat breed. The breed is selectively bred from one of the oldest landraces in North America, and is pedigreed in all major cat registries worldwide. It originated in the U.S. state of Maine, where it is the official state cat. The Maine Coon is a large and social cat, commonly referred to as "the gentle giant". The breed is predominantly known for its large size and its long and dense coat of fur which helps it survive in the harsh climate of Maine. The Maine Coon is often cited as having "dog-like" characteristics.
The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 19th century, but its existence became threatened when long-haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century. The Maine Coon has since made a comeback, and is the most popular cat breed in multiple global cat registries.
Coat Colors: Maine Coons can have any colors that other cats have. Colors indicating crossbreeding, such as chocolate, lilac, colourpoint patterns or the "ticked" tabby patterns, are not accepted by some breed standards. This is not universal; the ticked pattern, for example, is accepted by TICA and CFA. The most common pattern seen in the breed is brown tabby. All eye colors are accepted under breed standards, with the exception of blue or odd-eyes, i.e. heterochromia iridium (two eyes of different colors), in cats possessing coat colors other than white.
Size: The Maine Coon is one of the largest breed of domesticated cats. It was once considered the largest breed until the introduction of the hybrid Savannah cat (crossing a serval (Leptailurus serval) with a domestic cat) in the mid-1980s, yet it is still the largest non-hybrid breed. On average, males weigh from 8 to [dose — ask your vet] (18 to 22 lb), with females weighing from 5 to [dose — ask your vet] (12 to 15 lb). The height of adults can vary between 25 and 41 cm (10 and 16 in) and they can reach a length of up to 97 cm (38 in), including the tail, which can reach a length of 36 cm (14 in) and is long, tapering, and heavily furred, almost resembling a raccoon's tail. The body is solid and muscular, which is necessary for supporting their weight, and the chest is broad. Maine Coons possess a rectangular body shape and are slow to physically mature; their full size is normally not reached until they are three to five years old, while other cats take about one year.
In 2010, the Guinness World Records accepted a male purebred Maine Coon named "Stewie" as the "Longest Cat", measuring 123 cm (48.5 in) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. Stewie died on 4 February 2013 from cancer at his home in Reno, Nevada, US, at age 8. As of 2015, the living record-holder for "Longest Cat" was "Ludo", in Wakefield, England, measuring 118 cm (46.59 in).
Large Maine Coons can overlap in length with Eurasian lynxes, although with a much lighter build and lower height.
