Maine Coon

Physical characteristics 
An average-sized adult female , Parasitic Fish Diseases of mixed breed , Mastiff (left) and a brown mackerel tabby-colored adult male (right).Maine Coons are very large (but energetic) cats, , Jagdterrier sometimes weighing 11.3 kilograms (25 pounds); the average weight is 6 to 9 kilograms (13-20 pounds) for adult males and less (7-11 pounds) for females. , Pembroke Welsh Corgis Growth to full size often takes longer than for most cats, , Hungarian Vizsla with Maine Coons usually reaching full size at age three or four.

The most common color/pattern in the breed , Chihuahua is brown with tabby markings. Maine Coons are recognized in all colors except for chocolate, lavender, ticked tabby, and the point-restricted ("Siamese") pattern. Eye color also varies widely. All patterns may have green, green-gold, or gold. Blue eyes, or one blue eye with one gold eye, are possible in white coat cats. , Parasitic Fish Diseases

The Maine Coon's "ruff".
Maine Coons have medium-long, dense fur, with longer hair, or a ruff, on their chests similar to the mane of a lion (which is why the breed , Selle Francais Horse is sometimes humorously called the "Mane Coon"). Their fur consists of two layers - an undercoat and an additional layer of longer guard hairs, which gives the breed , Ariegeois Pony their key physical feature. The fur is generally very soft. Maine Coons have long hair on the backs of their legs (called pantaloons or britches) and between their toes which helps to keep warm in the cold. They also have bushy plumed tails , Severe Macaw and broad, anglular heads, squared-off muzzles and wide-set ears , Peach Faced Lovebird topped with tufts of fur. Most Maine Coons keep their fur in good order without the need for additional human grooming, but due to the length and quantity of hair, most will also benefit from a simple brushing once a week. While the Coon may be polydactyl, having one or more extra toes on their paws, this trait is generally bred out, as it has been rejected by the standard. , English Bulldog / British Bulldog

Behavioral characteristics 
Maine Coons are a breed , Why have a pet ? distinguished by intelligence, , Palomino and Pinto Horses dexterity and playfulness. They have a tendency to use their front paws extensively (often curling the paw round to pick objects up) and as a consequence will easily learn to open cabinet doors, turn on water , Cat Health faucets, or pick up small objects. Some Maine Coons will eat with their paws, rather than eating from the bowl itself.

Due to their above-average intelligence, , Coton de Tulear Maine Coons are known to be one of the easiest cat breeds , Peach Faced Lovebird to train. Maine Coons are generally very quiet and do not meow much. However, they are noted for their ability to trill their meows, which sounds like a combination of a purr and a meow, and they tend to make this sound when happy or startled. Maine Coons are a very independent breed, , Colorado Range Horse and Pony of the Americas and they do not often "beg" for attention. They are noted for rarely eating alone, preferring to eat in the company of other cats , Amazon Parrots or humans. Maine Coons are usually not "lap" cats, , Palomino and Pinto Horses and many Maine Coons, probably because of their size, are not comfortable with sitting on a person's lap or chest, though this may depend on the personality of the individual cat. , Severe Macaw

Some Maine Coons enjoy playing with, but not usually in, water. , Cat Health They may dip toys in their water , Pembroke Welsh Corgis bowls before playing with them, or just tip the water , Bird Health bowl over. They may also skim their paws across the surface of their water , Fish Breeding bowl. Maine Coons occasionally engage in mischievous behavior when bored, such as deliberately pushing things off tables and the tops of fridges with their paws.

Maine Coons can be very dog-like in their behavior. Playing fetch is a favorite game. As with dogs, , Jagdterrier they will bring their ball, drop it at the feet of their intended playmate and wait patiently for the ball to be thrown.

Health

Cats within any breed , Why have a pet ? are fairly closely related will have many characteristics in common. This includes genetic strengths and weaknesses. Particular genetic health disorders may be more or less of a problem in a particular breed , Red Bellied Parrot than in other breeds. , Chihuahua For example, a breed , American Wirehair may have a slightly higher incidence of gum disease than the cat , Parrots population as a whole, but have a lower incidence of heart disease or liver disease.

Genetic problems generally only affect a tiny minority of the breed , Rabbit s as a whole, but since they can be eradicated by careful screening, most reputable breeders , English Bulldog / British Bulldog try to track such problems, both in their breeding stock and the kittens , Bird Health they produce. By working with a responsible breeder , Bird breeds who will speak openly about health issues, you are encouraging sound breeding practices.

In the Maine Coon, the most common inherited health problems are hip dysplasia, which can produce lameness in a severely affected cat, , Mastiff and cardiomyopathy, which can produce anything from a minor heart murmur to severe heart trouble. Maine Coone cats , Bird breeds are generally very healthy animals, , Fish Breeding but it does pay when buying any cat, , Irish Horse to check the hostory of the breeding stock before puchase.  Any reputable breeder , Bird Health would be happy to discuss this with you.