The Maine Coon cat is one of the oldest natural breeds of North America. It is native to the state of Maine and is the official Maine state cat. This breed is absolutely beautiful and comes in a variety of markings and colors, not just brown like many believe.
The coat of the Maine Coon is something that must be felt to be truly appreciated. It is long and glossy to protect against the snow. The tail is luxuriously bushy and long and is used as a “wrap” to keep the cat warm as it sleeps. The ears give the cat a wild appearance with their extra fur both inside and outside the ears with the fur often coming to a point at the tip like a bobcat.
You can expect your Maine Coon cat to remain playful it’s entire life. The male does tend to be a bit more clownish than the more sophisticated female but both will gleefully meet you at the door when you come home and will follow you from room to room. But don’t confuse this loyalty with neediness. The Maine Coon is very independent and perfectly satisfied when left alone.
This breed of cat is perfect for the dog lover due to it’s playfulness and intelligence. It can be easily trained and loves to play fetch. And it’s enormous size makes it the perfect lap pet. Females generally weigh up to 12 pounds with males reaching (and many times surpassing) 18 pounds. Their bodies are also longer than other breeds. Add their exceptional shag coat to that body and you really have quite a vision to behold!
There are several organizations dedicated to rescuing Maine Coon cats and finding them loving homes. If you are interested in adopting a Maine Coon or would like to learn more about this most unique breed of cat please visit the sites below. If there are no cats near you try asking the organization if arrangements can be made to move the cat. Each organization may have their own rules about pet travel. It’s worth asking!
Maine Coon Rescue
304 First Avenue West
Franklin, KY 42134
The Maine Coon Rescue is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing Maine Coons and Maine Coon mixed cats. They have a handy pet finder map to see if there are cats in your area. They have a foster program if you are interested in fostering a Maine Coon until they can find it a forever home.
Maine Coon Adoptions
Northern California
Maine Coon Adoptions is a division of SAFE (Saving Animals from Euthanasia). Their volunteers are dedicated to rescuing abandoned, abused, and surrendered Maine Coons and Maine Coon mixes. They work closely with shelters that do not have a no-kill policy and feature Maine Coons that are in danger of being put down on their urgent rescue page.
Sources:
http://www.fanciers.com/
http://www.mainecoonrescue.net/
http://mainecoonadoptions.com/
