About the breed.

Maine Coon is the pride of Americans. They are gorgeous, sturdily built cats with bobcat ears and a long, well-furred tail. Maine Coon has remained the way nature created it. Before this miracle, which is an amazing balance of proportions and forms, a person experiences only admiration.

This breed is considered the original aboriginal cat of North America, Maine; in the harsh winter, Maine Coons acquired a thick waterproof coat, a long, magnificently pubescent tail, capable of warming in a fierce cold. Well-furred strong paws with tufts of hair between the toes are real snowshoes. Large eyes and ears with long tassels are a sign of a hunter. Despite this, there are many legends about the origin of this breed. The most common legend says that Maine Coons descended from wild raccoons ("racoon" — raccoon), this myth is supported by the similarity of coat, color and predatory expression of the muzzle.

Another legend says that the ancestors of Maine Coons were cats that lived in the chambers of the French queen Marie Antoinette. During the French Revolution, the Queen decided to flee to America, taking six of her cats with her. The next legend tells of a brave captain named Kuhn, who kept a cat and a cat on his ship. When the ship dropped anchor, the captain released his favorites ashore. Thus, wherever Kuhn's ship entered, adorable kittens appeared. Some people ascribe a real "sea walk" to Maine Coons.

For a long time, the Maine Coon was considered the largest cat in the world and this breed is really very large. The weight of cats usually reaches 7-10 kg (there are also much larger specimens), cats — 5-7 kg. If you add to this a long thick coat, a wild expression of the muzzle, a strong bone, you get a powerful animal that breathes health and confidence.

Maine Coons develop slowly, reaching their normal size only by the age of 3 years. It's amazing how in such a huge and seemingly formidable cat, endless tenderness, quiet, barely audible meow and at the same time extraordinary beauty and grace coexist. Maine Coon's voice is melodic and tender. They surprise with their character: not a single event in the house is complete without their participation, they unobtrusively try to help in any business and keep abreast of all events. Maine Coon does not need a long and persistent explanation of how to behave in a city apartment, he easily remembers what is required of him. Maine Coon does not need special care, it is enough to comb his magnificent fur coat once a week. These are cats with great intelligence, sometimes it seems that they understand words. They meet you from work and follow you no matter what you do. You cook in the kitchen, they watch and watch, watch TV, they lie like dogs at your feet, or on the couch, you wash in the bathroom, they immediately want to get into the sink and scoop up some water with their paws. These cats need love, attention and companionship. They are very gullible and do not tolerate loneliness. If you like large, calm and kind animals — this is your breed!

Maine Coon

Body:

The large to very large cat has a muscular, elongated and broad body. It gives an overall rectangular impression. The muscular neck is of medium length, the rib cage is broad. The medium long legs are solid and muscular. The paws are large, round and tufted. The tail is long and shall reach at least to the shoulders. It is broad at the base, tapering and with flowing furnishing

Head:

The large, massive head with straight contours appears square. Cheek bones are high. The nose is of medium length. The profile is curved. The muzzle is massive and square and clearly defined. The chin is massive and solid and is in line with the upper lips and the nose.

Ears:

The ears are very large with a broad base and tapering. They are almost upright and high set. The distance between the ears is no more than an ear width. The ear furnishing extends beyond the outer edge of the ears, ear tufts (lynx tufts) are desirable.

Eyes:

The eyes are large, oval, set wide apart and slightly slanted. Eye colour shall be even and corresponds with the coat colour.

Coat:

Except the frill, the fur on the head and the shoulders is short and becomes distinctly longer along the back and the flanks, as well as on the belly. The dense undercoat is soft and fine under the coarser, firm top coat. The dense, loosely falling top coat is water repellent and covers the back, flanks and top of the tail completely. The under parts of the body and the back of the hind legs have only undercoat. Longer furnishing on the chest is desirable, a full frill is not required.

Colour varieties:

The colours chocolate and cinnamon, as well as their dilution (lilac and fawn) are not recognized in any combinations (bicolour, tricolour, tabby). The pointed pattern is also not recognized. All other colours and patterns are recognized. Any amount of white is permitted. The description of colours is listed in the general list of colours.

Faults:

A coat with an overall even length is a fault.

Faults excluding the CAC:

Withhold CAC for finely built body.