They became extremely popular at the end of the nineteenth century in the United States, but this demand soon fell because at the beginning of the twentieth century, long-haired cats began to be imported from abroad.
Examining data from the Cat Fancier Association (CFA), we can conclude that the Maine Coon breed ranks this moment second place among the most popular cats in North America. This means that she has regained her former glory.
There is no reliable information about the history of the origin of the Maine Coon breed. There are only myths and theories.
One myth tells of the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, who was executed in 1793. It is believed that shortly before her death, Maria attempted to escape from France with the help of Captain Samuel Clue. The Queen loaded her most valuable things onto a ship called Clough, and also took with her six long-haired cats, to which she became very attached. Despite the fact that she did not make it to America, her cute pets successfully swam to shore in Maine. Here cats were crossed with short-haired breeds. This is how Maine Coons appeared, similar to modern ones.
Another myth tells about the English navigator Captain Charles Coon, who every time he went on a voyage, he took long-haired cats with him. Whenever Captain Kuhn's ship stopped at New England ports, the sailor disembarked and mated his pets with wild local cats. As soon as long-haired kittens were born, the captain distributed them to those around him. Charles Kuhn himself began to call the new breed “Koon cats.”
There is a third theory, although it is genetically impossible. According to her, modern Maine Coons arose from semi-wild domestic cats. This may explain the fluffy tail - characteristic feature Maine Coon breed and black marbled color, the most common color among cats of this breed. In addition, the particle “coon” from the English “raccoon” - raccoon has moved into the name of the breed.
It is also believed that Maine Coons originated from the mating of wild lynxes and domestic cats. The tufts of hairs at the tips of the ears, which are often seen in Maine Coons, are also observed in wild lynx.
There is a widespread theory among breeders that the breed originated from the mating of long-haired foreign breeds with local short-haired cats. They may have been introduced by the English, but it is more commonly believed that long-haired cats were brought to America by the Vikings in the eleventh century, as Maine Coon cats bear a strong resemblance to the forest cats of Norway that accompanied the Vikings on their voyages.
The Maine Coon is one of the largest varieties of domestic cats. The weight of these giants reaches 15 kg (on average about 8), and their length is more than a meter. They have strong, massive bones and well-developed muscles. And because of their fur, which is very long, thick and fluffy, these animals seem even larger than their real size. But the character of such cats is very soft and friendly, although they show some distrust.
It is not surprising that the origin of the Maine Coon breed and its subsequent history are surrounded by a huge number of myths, legends and romantic stories. However, there is no reason to believe that any of this is true. In fact, the origin and history of giant cats are well studied and rather prosaic.
Origin of the Maine Coon breed
The homeland of Maine Coon cats is one of the northern states of America. Most researchers believe that these animals originated naturally, and humans joined the improvement of the breed only at the very later stages of its development.
The appearance of Maine Coons, including their incredible size, is explained by the need to survive in the harsh conditions of the north. Long fluffy fur with abundant thick undercoat serves to retain heat and protect from moisture. Large paw pads and fur between the toes help to walk through the deepest snow without falling into it. And the huge size and excellently developed muscles help in obtaining food and protection from natural enemies.
There is a theory that Maine Coons were bred by American farmers to protect crops from various rodent pests. Such a cat had to be smart and to a certain extent independent. For example, being able to get your own food on our own. This version explains the size of the breed representatives by the eternal rivalry between people. Each farmer tried to raise a cat larger and stronger than his neighbor's.
Otherwise, both theories look the same. They call the ancestors of Maine Coons domestic short-haired and wild long-haired cats. Some are native residents of the United States. But others were brought to the New World by foreign sailors. There is even an assumption that these are the descendants of Viking cats, which they kept on their ships to protect them from rats. During military raids on America, some animals escaped and became wild.
Maine Coon polydact cat - what does it mean?
Maine Coon History
The modern history of Maine Coons begins in mid-19th century. Then a cat of this breed was first demonstrated to the general public. This happened in his home state of Maine at one of the many fairs. Local residents really liked the giant animal, presented as a “Maine coon cat.” And it was after this event that such cats began to quickly spread throughout America, especially in its northern and eastern regions.
By the beginning of the last century, Maine Coons became incredibly popular throughout the country. At the same time they moved from rural areas, where they were used to catch large rodents, to cities. IN last years In the nineteenth century, they began to appear at exhibitions, becoming serious competitors for Angora cats - one of the most popular breeds of that period. Gradually huge cats began to be exported outside the United States.
However, in 1911, the popularity of Maine Coons began to decline. This was largely due to the appearance of Persian cats, which attracted much more public interest. For forty years, raccoon cats did not appear at professional shows at all. Only rare lovers of these cats were now engaged in breeding and improving the breed.
Over the years, Maine Coon cats began to regain their popularity, largely due to their fans in their home state. In 1953, the first club of lovers of these cats was created, in 1968 - an association of breeders of the breed. The latter is still in effect. At the same time, the first Maine Coon nurseries began to appear. By the end of the 70s of the 20th century, raccoon cats not only returned to exhibitions, but also began to become their champions again.
At the same time, the breed standard was determined. In 1976, it was recognized by the international felinological association. In 1980, Maine cats made their first appearance at a world-class cat show. And from that moment on, they began to actively spread throughout the world. Even conservative Britons officially recognized Maine Coons, albeit twenty years later than the rest of the world. The ruling council of cat lovers' clubs registered them in 1988.
Maine Coons arrived in Russia only in the 90s of the last century, after the fall of the Iron Curtain. At first, only one pair was brought in, but even here these cats became incredibly popular, so very soon more and more new animals began to come to the country. A little later, domestic breeders began to appear and nurseries opened. Animals bred in the post-Soviet space began to participate in various competitions and even take prizes.
The new wave of popularity of Maine Coons did not subside even by the advent of the 21st century. In 2000, six representatives of this breed, including two kittens, became champions of one of the most prestigious cat exhibitions. In 2017, Maine Coons are among the three most beloved and popular cat breeds around the world.
Myths about the history of the breed
There are several interesting myths about how exactly Maine Coons originated. The authors of two of them absolutely agree that these cats appeared in North America, and that man did not take any part in their creation. However, they call the ancestors of the breed completely different animals from the official history of the breed:
- 1. The first one claims that Maine Coons originated from striped raccoons. Its supporters cite the striped color of the tail and the structure of the coat as arguments in favor of this version. Maine Coons also have some habits characteristic of these funny animals. For example, they love water very much, scoop it up with their paws when drinking, and “wash” various objects in it, including their own food.
- 2. The second myth tells about the origin of Maine Coons from North American lynxes. As evidence, its supporters cite the predatory habits of cats of this breed, their size, and, of course, the tufts on their ears.
Both myths have several variations. Some believe that bobcats or raccoons crossed with domestic cats to create Maine Coons. And some say that the unusual breed appeared as a result of crossing these animals with each other. However, all these exciting theories are completely unfounded - interspecies differences will not allow such couples to leave offspring.
Another legend tells that very large and fluffy cats lived at the court of Marie Antoinette of Austria and were her favorites. History is silent about where exactly these cats came from the French ruler. But she valued them so much that, trying to escape from the revolutionaries, she took the pets with her. Then the theory branches out somewhat. Some argue that the queen's execution was falsified, others that the escape was unsuccessful. However, everyone who believes in this legend agrees on one thing: cats still swam to America.
The next story is also connected with sea travel, and is even more confusing and foggy than the previous one. Allegedly, a certain ship captain carried cats with him everywhere, very similar to Maine Coons. Where they came from is, again, unclear. And either one of the females decided to lamb when the ship landed on the shores of the United States, or vice versa - one of the males successfully communicated on the shore with a local representative of the cat family. There is also a version of this legend that combines it with the previous one. According to it, the mysterious captain was the owner of the very ship on which the Queen of France was never able to sail from the shore.
But there is also a version that claims that Kun is the surname of the very captain who preferred to travel in the company of giant cats.
This cat breed, which once appeared in North America, is already 150 years old. Only in 1895 did the premiere exhibition take place in New York's Madison Square Garden, where it was presented. This cat even became a real national pride.
A breed about which legends are made
The name Maine Coon consists of the words:
- “men” is the name of the northeastern American state– the homeland of these big cats;
- “kun” – from the English “racoon”, which translates as “raccoon”. It became part of the name in the 20th century, most likely because of the stripes in the color of the fur, which are quite common.
This is also associated with the appearance of one of the legends telling about the origin of the Coons, according to which they are the result of the love of a European cat with a raccoon. Hence the striped tail of many representatives of the breed, luxurious fur, as well as excellently developed hunting instincts.
According to another legend, a feral cat was crossed with the European lynx. The tassels on the ears definitely speak for this version.
There is no doubt that none of these crossings is possible, and the reason for this is the species differences of predators.
What kind of Coons are they?
These felines have stature, wild charm and nobility, not to mention their impressive size. The whole appearance of such an animal makes a person who sees it for the first time freeze with delight. It amazes and attracts the eye.
It makes you want to touch such silky fur, bury your face in it, makes you return to yourself again and again, until you understand that it is impossible to continue living without a Maine Coon.
Whatever they say, Coons are a natural population. Nature itself determined its existence for many decades. As a result, we have large, very hardy animals that can survive the coldest winters.
According to history, even in the most distant times, the Maine raccoon cat lived on farms, doing its main business - exterminating rodents. She had to live almost as a savage, on the streets. But the cats didn't just survive. They adapted to a rather harsh climate, acquired impressive muscles, and became hardy. They cannot be frightened by autumn puddles or large snowdrifts.
Main features of raccoon cats
Maine Coons develop slowly, only by the age of five do they reach maturity, becoming more than a meter long, and weighing up to 15 (or even more) kilograms (males). These giants are gentle and good-natured, despite their formidable appearance.
They have a slightly elongated head, a slightly curved profile, and high cheekbones. The ears are quite pubescent, and at the tips they are decorated with almost lynx-like tassels.
And Coons are the owners of incredibly long mustaches, which helped them when they lived in wildlife, do not stumble into bushes or tree branches in the dark.
The body differs in its length. But the Coons have the same long tail - their real pride. For a cat, this is a fairly essential element of survival. It protects the animal from the cold. When he has to lie on the frozen ground, he wraps himself in this shock of six, keeping warm.
Many animals with long fluffy tails do the same. He also plays the role of a “steering wheel” that coordinates Kun’s movements.
The fur of these giant cats is dense and long, which is characteristically water-repellent and protects from external influences.
About the distinctive character traits of Maine Coons
These gorgeous cats attract people's attention not only with their appearance. Highly appreciating their abilities as hunters of rats and mice, you never tire of admiring their soft, accommodating character, friendliness, and intelligence.
Such menacing-looking giants turn out to be completely free of aggression towards people and other pets living in the house. This explains why they so easily fit into families with small children, dogs and other animals.
You will never have to hear a desperate cry from Kun, he will not meow boringly. On the contrary, he will delight you with his exceptionally beautiful voice, and his purring is called musical and gentle.
These animals are distinguished by intelligence and even nobility, and their intelligence is as great as their size. They are smart and logical in any of their actions. By the way, Coon cats raise kittens together with cats. So you are guaranteed the best nanny for your baby if such an animal has settled in the house.
They will get along with everyone in the family, but will choose the owner and will be completely devoted to him. But they do not tolerate familiarity from strangers; they will be extremely polite.
Everyone notes their excellent memory. They have no difficulty remembering words and entire phrases, so don’t be surprised if you see understanding in your pet’s eyes.
Maine Coons love water. Do you know any other cats who get such pleasure from playing with water, despite the fact that at this time their Once again lather with shampoo? And the Kuns are like that. They don't require any special care at all, and their long hair won't cause you any trouble. Brush once a week, that's enough.
These are very active and curious cats. They will be with you in the kitchen when dinner is being prepared, they will have time to watch TV, play and run, and watch you from somewhere above. The main thing is that they have enough space to move.
You can talk about the Kuns for as long as you like. They are much more interesting to watch.
The only drawback, if we consider it such, is that you cannot be content with one Maine Coon; very soon you will want another little Coon to settle at home.
The book tells about one of the most interesting breeds of cats - Maine Coons. These animals ideally combine natural strength and power with a soft and affectionate character. In this book, readers will find information about the history of this native North American breed, a description of the appearance and standards of the Maine Coon breed. In addition, much attention is paid to feeding, keeping the Maine Coon at home, and caring for it. The Maine Coon is an exhibition breed, from the book the reader will learn how to properly prepare the animal for participation in the exhibition. The book will be of interest to both beginning breeders and professionals.
HISTORY OF THE BREED
The Maine Coon is a native breed of North America and is often called the national breed. The name of this magnificent breed of massive cats comes from two words: “men” - from the name of the state of Maine, which is located in the northeastern United States, where these cats were very common, and “coon” - a derivative of the word “rekun” (from the English. racoon- “raccoon”) Maine Coons owe the second part of the name (which was added to their name already in the twentieth century) thanks to the frequently occurring striped coat color. One of the legends about the origin of Maine Coons is connected with this. Some believe that the first Maine Coons appeared as a result of crossing a European cat and a wild raccoon, from which they inherited a striped color, lush hair and well-developed hunting instincts. Naturally, such crossing is impossible, because raccoons and cats belong to different species of predatory mammals, but the legend has survived to this day. According to another opinion, Maine Coons could have arisen from crossing a feral cat and an American lynx, which is also unlikely.
In general, the origin of Maine Coons, as well as many other cat breeds, is not completely clear. Some breeders believe that this cat breed was artificially bred by CFA breeders. However, at the moment it is known for sure that the Maine Coon is one of the oldest native cat breeds in North America. The history of this breed is overgrown with many legends and myths.
In addition to the legend about the origin from a raccoon and a cat, the myth about the origin of Maine Coons from the cats of the French queen Marie Antoinette is very well known. According to legend, the queen had 6 favorite cats. During the French Revolution, the queen decided to flee France to America. She took the most valuable things with her, including her decision to save her furry pets. Marie Antoinette handed them to a certain captain Samuel Clue. The captain settled with his wife in Maine. He also took the queen’s cats there. Once in America, the cats “became friends” with the locals, becoming the founders of a new breed – the Maine Coon.
There are many legends about the origin of the Maine Coon breed from cats brought by sailors to the American continent. Some felinologists believe that raccoon cats trace their ancestry to Norwegian cats. forest cats, which were brought to the American continent back in the 2nd century. Vikings. Others believe that Maine Coons were brought to North America from Asia Minor. Sailors took the ancestors of modern Maine Coons with them because of their excellent hunting instincts, as they were excellent catchers of rats and other rodents. Since there was always enough work for them in the holds of ships, these cats could well become permanent companions of humans on sea voyages. The state of Maine at that time was a large commercial center with intensively developing trade. From ships, cats could easily have reached the continent and spread throughout the state. There is written evidence that sea ships During their stay, large ship-borne rat-catching cats landed on the continent. They also mention that often sailors, keeping a small kitten for themselves, gave the old cat on the shore into good hands.
There is a legend about Captain Kun (from whose name the second part of the breed’s name supposedly originated). This captain carried with him on the ship a male cat (according to one opinion - a Persian and an Angora). When the ship docked at one of the ports, the captain let his pets go ashore for a walk. Some time after Captain Koon's cats visited the continent, kittens appeared there. It is these descendants of Captain Coon's cats, according to legend, who are the ancestors of modern Maine Coons. Some breeders even attribute to cats of this breed a peculiar swaying gait - a “sea gait”.
There is another legend - about a cabin boy named Tom Kuhn, who served on Glen Lowry's ship. This ship stopped near Tarbox Farm in Maine, where a boy sold long-haired cats to farmers. He then sold several more cats on the same farm. The owner of the farm, Lida Choate, was breeding cats and became very interested in the powerful ship cats. They became the founders of the Manx raccoon cat breed. The first cats were named Yani and Jennifer. Numerous offspring were obtained from them; the word Choate (the breeder's surname) or Tarbox (the name of the farm) was added to the names of the kittens. Although there is no evidence that raccoon cats were introduced by Captain Coon (or a cabin boy of that name), Lida Choate cats became very famous in Maine. She may have been the first breeder of this breed and also gave the Maine Coon its name.
There is an opinion that Maine Coons were not brought to the American continent. The ancestors of this breed were large and massive aboriginal cats that were originally found in North America. These cats led a semi-wild lifestyle, for which they were perfectly adapted.
Currently, most felinologists are of the opinion that Maine Coons appeared as a result of crossing local North American short-haired cats with long-haired counterparts brought by sailors to the continent. It is assumed that these cats were brought from the north of Europe (from Scandinavia or the Baltic countries). The native American Shorthair cats, which also helped create the Maine Coon breed, were perfectly adapted to the American climate. They may have entered the North American continent in historical time from the territory modern Europe(England, France). It is interesting to note that in the 1880s. many cats in Maine were named Captain, probably in memory of the ship's ancestors.
It is believed that the development of the Maine Coon breed began about 250 years ago in the North American state of Maine, which had a rather harsh climate. It was characterized by short, cool summers and fairly long Cold winter. It was in such harsh natural conditions that the Maine Coon breed developed. Powerful strong body allowed them to move freely in dense thickets of grass and bushes. They were strong enough to lead a predatory lifestyle, resisting competition from other carnivores in North America. Long and sharp teeth were a terrible weapon in hunting rats.
In modern Maine Coons you can sometimes observe such signs from the distant past - in some animals sharp and powerful fangs protrude from under the upper lip. The long and wide muzzle made it possible to capture large prey and hold it tightly. The appearance of the Maine Coon is that of a nocturnal predator, perfectly adapted to movement in the dark thanks to its well-developed whiskers. Maine Coons could tolerate cold in natural conditions. They could sleep in snow-covered holes, wrapping their fluffy tail around their body, protecting their belly and sides from freezing.
The Maine Coon's coat also helped them adapt perfectly to the harsh climate of North America. The soft and lush undercoat, especially well developed on the belly, sides and legs, perfectly protected the animal in the harsh winter. At the same time, he was light enough so that the ancestor of the Maine Coon could maintain mobility and activity for a long time. high level V hot weather. The guard coat perfectly protected the cat's body from getting wet during rains. The seasonal cycle of Maine Coon fur development was also perfectly adapted to existence in nature. When in winter time As the years passed, the length of daylight decreased, and cats grew a thicker undercoat.
As a result, the animal could regulate heat exchange in harsh winter conditions.
Probably, at some point in time, these cats began to exist side by side with people. Maine Coons have spread along the entire North Atlantic coast, populating the surrounding areas of settlements. There they hunted in numerous barns, houses and outbuildings. Residents of the coast noted their excellent abilities as rat catchers and began to tame them. Gradually, settlers began to notice not only the hunting abilities of Maine Coons, but also their friendly, not at all wild, character. This is how Maine Coons became beloved pets, valued and cared for. This happened about 150 years ago. Gradually, Maine Coons spread deeper into the continent. People gave their relatives and friends kittens from magnificent cats that ideally combined rat-catching abilities and a peaceful disposition.
In the middle of the 19th century. The first public performance of the Maine Coon took place. This cat was brought to a country fair in Maine, where it was successfully shown. At such fairs, people sought to demonstrate everything that captured the imagination, primarily for its size. That is why massive Maine Coons quickly found their admirers. By the end of the 19th century. raccoon cats have become widespread in the northern and eastern parts of North America. In 1850 – 1860 Farmers organized a cat show at the Skowhegan Fair. This exhibit only showed the ancestors of the Manx raccoon cat. They competed for the title of "Meime State Champion Coon Cat." The popularity of Maine Coons grew, and at the end of the 19th century. These animals became interested not only in villages where Maine Coons were kept primarily for catching rats. Urban cat lovers began to organize exhibitions, which began to be held in the cities of the North Atlantic: Boston and New York. At exhibitions, Maine Coons competed with another breed that was very popular at that time - Angoras. One of the first exhibitions where Maine Coons took part was an exhibition organized in May 1895 at Madison Square Garden in New York. A brown tabby cat named Cosey received the title of best-of-show at this exhibition. Initially, only animals of brown tabby color belonged to the Maine Coon breed; later other colors were obtained from them. The first mention of the Maine Coon breed in literature dates back to 1861. An article about a cat named Captain Jenks from the ship “Sea Horse” dates back to this time. From New York the exhibitions moved to Boston. In Boston, cat shows were held from 1897 to 1900. Maine Coons participated in these exhibitions with success. At the first exhibition, which took place in Boston in January 1878, more than 10 Maine Coons were presented. The CFA was founded in 1908. The fifth cat to be registered with the CFA was a Maine Coon named Molly Bond.
So, the popularity of the breed grew, and cats began to be exported to other countries over time. However, since 1911, there has been a temporary lull in the development of the Maine Coon breed. Perhaps this is due to the appearance at exhibitions of another breed of cat - Persian, to which Maine Coons were inferior in popularity. For 40 years from this year, Maine Coons have not participated in any of the specialized cat shows. However, fans of the breed from North America took matters into their own hands, and the Maine Coon story continued. For the period of time from 1968 to 1976. The title of champion of cat shows was returned to Maine Coons. In 1953, the Central Maine Coon Fans Club was created in the USA. A little later, in 1968, six Maine Coon breeders founded the Maine Coon Breeders Association (MCBFA). This organization is still active today. Around the same time, the first Maine Coon catteries began to appear. By 1980, the MCBFA included about 1,000 hobbyists and 200 nurseries. The Central Club of Maine Coon Fans and the Association of Maine Coon Fans have done a lot of work to increase the popularity of raccoon cats and have determined the standards for this breed.
From that moment on, Manx raccoon cats began their second triumphal march around the world. They were awarded many prestigious awards and titles at international cat shows. The popularity of the breed does not decrease even now. Thus, in 2000, Maine Coons won 6 places among CFA champions. At the same time, three cats became winners of the champion class, one in the premium class and two in the class of kittens from 3 to 6 months.
In the CFA, Maine Coons are firmly established as the second most popular cat breed. In 1976, Maine Coons were approved as a breed by the CFA and their right to participate in exhibitions was officially recognized. Maine Coons were officially registered in the CCA in 1967. On February 24, 1988, Maine Coons were officially recognized by the Governing Council of Cat Fancy Clubs, the largest national association of felinological clubs in Great Britain.
Currently, some American associations of felinologists (for example, ACA (American Cat Association)) officially allow the use of phenotypic aboriginal cats in Maine Coon breeding. This is done in order to infuse new genes into the breed.
Kennels that laid the foundation for the Maine Coon breed (according to www.russicats.ru):
1) Abnaki – owner of Liz Bicknell;
2) Havenwood – owner Patricia McIntire;
3) Heidi Ho – owner of Connie Condit;
4) Highmeadow and Kent - owner Diane Ziessow;
5) Illya – owner of George Andre;
6) Jo Stad – owner of Rod & Betty Ljostad;
7) Le Beau Minu/Mountview – owner Carol & Tom Pedley;
8) Mor-Ace – owner Anthony Morace;
9) Norwynde – owner of Lillias Vanderhoff;
10) Quan Yin – owner Cynthia Wilson;
11) Sundar – owner of Phyllis Voth;
12) Tanstaafl – owner of Beth Hicks;
13) Tati-Tan – owner of Sonya Stanislow;
14) War-Tell – owner of Florence Wartell;
15) Whittemore – owner of Ethelyn Whittemore;
16) Woods End/Wooddriver – owner Diane Reynolds;
17) Yankee Cats - owner Judith Ansell.
Most often in Maine Coon pedigrees there are five cats that can be considered the founders of the breed:
1) Andy Katt of Heidi-Ho, MCO n 09 23, 1969-04-10;
2) Bridget Katt of Heidi-Ho, MCO f, 1969-04-06;
3) Dauphin de France of Tati-Tan, MCO n 09 23, 1967-05-20;
4) Tatiana of Tati-Tan, MCO f 22, 1965-12-24;
5) Whittemore Smokie Joe, MCO n, 1969-01-07.
A complete list of Founding Cats can be seen online at http://bowen1.home.mindspring.com/mchs/ /foundationlist.htm.
In 1978, one of the outstanding stud cats, Heidi Ho Sonkey Bill, was born. He has been bred several times to Tanstaafl Polly Adeline. This cat traces its pedigree to other founding cats of the Maine Coon breed. Inbreeding into the kittens of this pair produced a significant increase in the size of the offspring, as well as a stable desired type. Many famous Maine Coons trace their ancestry back to this pair (up to 50%).
The names of kittens from Heidi Ho Sonkey Bill and Tanstaafl Polly Adeline, which left their mark on the pedigrees of modern Maine Coons:
1) QGC Heidi Ho Annabel Lee of Tycoon OD;
2) SGC & CH Heidi Ho Aurora of MtKittery OD;
3) PR Heidi Ho Barnaby Katt;
4) CH Heidi Ho Camille of Calicoon;
5) QGC Heidi Ho Canth of Tanstaafl;
6) QGC & CH Heidi Ho Coon Victoria DM;
7) CH Heidi Ho Just Plain Bill Katt;
8) PR & CH Heidi Ho Justin Morgan Katt;
9) SGC & GC Heidi Ho Lady Arwen of Mary B DM;
10) Heidi Ho Lovey Mero of Meunerie; 11) SGC Heidi Ho Molly Brown of Tanstaafl; 12) QGC Heidi Ho Percival of Meunerie;
13) CH Heidi Ho Portius of Olde Farm;
14) Heidi Ho Rachel Adeline;
15) TGC Heidi Ho Richard III of Charmalot OS;
16) Heidi Ho Sasquatch of Ktaadn;
17) Heidi Ho Wilyum of Ktaadn.
Dauphin de France and Tatiana are another famous pair of Maine Coons. Their offspring left a significant mark on the pedigrees of Maine Coons around the world:
1) Tati-Tan Anya of Sundar, F;
2) Trp Ch Tati-Tan Beau de France of Mari-Lee, M;
3) CH Tati-Tan Belbette of Zig-Krn, F;
4) GC Tati-Tan Bijou, M;
5) TCH Tati-Tan Bleu Belle of Mor-Ace, F;
6) Tati-Tan Campelle, M;
7) Tati-Tan Caprice, F;
8) QCH Tati-Tan Coquette de France, F;
9) QCH Tati-Tan Moses of Sundar, M;
10) Tati-Tan Rufus, M;
11) Tati-Tan Simone of Tomoka Oaks, F;
12) TatiTan Suzette de France, F;
13) Tati-Tan Tati of Mor-Ace, F;
14) Tati-Tan Toni Girl of Mor-Ace, F.
The most significant descendants of the Whittemore Smokie Joe from various cats for the Maine Coon breeds are:
1) Golden Girl of Whittemore, F;
2) Whittemore Cali of Emin-Dale, F;
3) Whittemore Randi, M;
4) Whittemore Scandel, M;
5) Whittemore Snow Queen, F;
6) Whittemore Sammie, M;
7) Whittemore Schiller, M;
8) Whittemore Tigress, F.
Maine Coons began to spread outside of North America. So, in 1981, Charlie the cat was exported from Germany to France. This cat became the first Maine Coon in France, and the raccoon cats in this country trace their ancestry from him. The breed's popularity in the United States is also steadily growing, with the breed currently ranked among the top ten most popular cat breeds in the United States. Currently, Maine Coons have fans in many countries around the world. In Russia, the first Maine Coon cats appeared in 1989. However, currently the number of Maine Coons in our country is not so high. Because of this, some breeders are forced to travel abroad with their pets in order to find mating partners there. Due to the small number of cats of this breed, back in the early 1990s. in Latvia, matings of phenotypic animals with sires brought from abroad were used.
Currently, many Maine Coons in Russia are imported from Europe and America. However, despite the small number of raccoon cats in our country, Russian Maine Coons have repeatedly received prestigious titles at exhibitions in Russia and abroad.
MAINE COON - MYTH and REALITY.
The indigenous breed of cats - the Maine Coon or American raccoon cat, the largest breed of domestic cats in the world, has long been known in America and Europe, is becoming more and more popular every year in Russia.
If at a cat show you see a crowd surrounding a cage in a tight ring, you can be sure that there is a Maine Coon in the cage!
Wild natural charm, nobility and stature, the stern look of a real “forest” cat, impressive size - the whole appearance of the Maine Coon attracts the eye, amazes, makes those who see the coon for the first time freeze in silent delight, and those who have already seen him come again and again to exhibitions, look at it endlessly, adore it, try to touch it, and if you are incredibly lucky and the owner trusts you with his treasure, then press it to your heart, bury your face in the unusually silky flowing fur.... leave and return to it again, and begin vaguely feel the fever of “coon mania”, which soon develops into a clear realization that it is simply impossible to continue living without a Maine Coon....
The growing popularity of this breed, its small number, high price kittens, the lack of professional information gives rise to many myths, legends and rumors about the origin, character and, of course, the size and weight of the Maine Coon! Often this unconfirmed information is heard in television and radio programs, published in the press, and, sadly, some mythical information is spread by the breeders themselves in order to create excitement and mass demand for a rare and unusual breed. Therefore, we decided to start the story about this breed with what the Maine Coon is not:
The Maine Coon did NOT come from wild cat and a raccoon
The Maine Coon is NOT a subspecies of the lynx
Maine Coon and jungle cat are NOT the same thing
Maine Coon does NOT weigh 25-30 kilograms
The Maine Coon does NOT have an evil and aggressive character and the owners of such a cat are not in danger of experiencing the tragic fate of the Berberovs
Maine Coon is a cat and it cannot replace your dog in guarding your country house
Wild Maine Coons do NOT roam the forests and fields of America
So what kind of animal is this - the American raccoon cat? What is she like, where did she come to us, what is her character and habits really like?
“The raccoon cat from Maine” has lived on farms for a long time and its duties included fighting numerous rodents. This is the first cat to be shown at cat shows in the United States in the late 19th century. From this time on, the official history of this breed begins, which is described in detail in numerous publications. The early history of the breed is shrouded in mystery. Cats came to the American continent a long time ago, with the first ships of immigrants from Europe. Next is the area of legends that those same cats crossed with the North American lynx (“a strong argument” in favor of this version is the well-known delightful tufts on the ears of the Maine Coon), or even with a raccoon (in favor of this version is the part of the name “coon” " - racoon in translation means "raccoon", as well as a wide fluffy tail and a color reminiscent of the coloring of a raccoon). The versions are extremely romantic and attractive, but have no basis due to species differences and the impossibility of interspecific crossings.
One of the legends says that the American continent owes long-haired cats to Marie Antoinette. Captain Samuel Cloha prepared the escape of the disgraced queen of France in 1793. The ship was loaded with everything that the queen, a well-known fan of luxury, considered necessary to take with her on the trip: luxurious furniture, expensive trinkets and the queen's six beloved cats. But fate decreed otherwise. The escape failed, the queen was executed, and the captain was forced to flee for fear of persecution. This is how the cats of the disgraced queen found their way to the American continent, where they found their new home and were accepted into the society of short-haired cats that arrived on the continent earlier.
Another, but slightly less romantic version tells that there once lived an English captain nicknamed “Raccoon”, known for his adoration of cats and not going on a voyage without his purring retinue. His ship was inhabited by a huge number of expensive cats, primarily Persian and Angora. The captain made trips to the shores of America. People who received kittens from this ship, for obvious reasons, said “these kittens are from the Raccoon.”
These are legends, but in general we can say that the appearance of long-haired cats on the American continent is associated with economic development America. The first settlers were poor people and they were accompanied by ordinary short-haired cats. As the country became more and more attractive for quite wealthy people, along with them, expensive long-haired cats appeared on the continent. It was their descendants that began to settle on the east coast and, naturally, the hardier and more adaptable individuals survived.
In snowy winters, only long-legged cats with powerful, strong limbs and wide paws resembling snowshoes could move freely.
The ears, as the part of the body most susceptible to cooling, inevitably became more pubescent. Long wool, inherited from aristocratic ancestors, protected from the cold. But the true pride of Maine Coons is their tail. Perhaps this is exactly the fluffy blanket the cat needed to hide in the cold winters.
The favorite pastime of rural residents in those days were fairs with various competitions: cowboy competitions, dog and cockfights, horse racing. But the imagination of the cowboys was not limited to gambling competitions. American "gigantomania" gave rise to the desire to grow the biggest fruit, the biggest bull, the biggest cat....During 1850-1860. Such competitions became so popular that farmers created their own cat show at the Skowhegan Fair, where only Maine Coon ancestors competed for the title of "Maine State Champion Coon Cat." Perhaps those first fair entertainments gave the first impetus to selection - competing farmers sought to get the biggest cats.
As America develops, the Maine Coon becomes the favorite cat of farmers. A real American farm cat must have excellent health, be able to take care of its food and be quite smart.
Real, not legendary sizes Maine Coon are: average weight males 6-10 kg, individual specimens, most of them sterilized males, can reach 10-13 kg, females 4-6 kg, rarely up to 7-8.
You can write a lot about the wonderful character of the Maine Coon.
The Maine Coon is surprisingly kind, balanced and friendly, curious and trusting, like a child. This is a friend cat, a companion cat. On the one hand, he is quite independent and self-sufficient, on the other, he will never leave you alone, he is always there, in all your household chores and worries. Most coons don’t really like to sit in your arms; by the way, even if you want to, it’s not so easy to make this giant comfortable on your lap, but he will happily sit next to you on the couch while watching a movie in the evening, help you prepare dinner, watching for correctly adding ingredients to soup, from the windowsill or kitchen table, and in keeping you company at the computer, he simply has no equal, although in this case there is hardly a place for the keyboard other than directly under the cat’s carcass!
They are intelligent, they have an extraordinary inner tact, they know how to value their and your freedom, they will never force their games on you, but will take part in them with pleasure and excitement when you want it!
Another nice feature of the kun is his unusual voice! They practically do not meow, but make pleasant cooing sounds, purring, hooting, this sounds especially interesting when there is not one Maine Coon in the house, but several and they communicate with each other. By closing your eyes you can imagine that you are in the night savannah.
Among the interesting features of the Maine Coon is the habit of “raking” water before drinking. They can dig around the bowl, along the edges, as if driving something away, often even directly “digging” in the water. Perhaps this is a legacy of farm life, when you had to drink from puddles, ponds, streams and you first had to drive away dry leaves and branches.
They choose cool places to sleep, do not like warm bedding and closed houses; if the Maine Coon does not have the opportunity to walk in a cool enclosure, he will prefer to sleep in your bed (which is what many other cats want and love!) Sleeping on cool tiles, on windowsill, sink or bathroom.
Now at exhibitions in Russia you can already see enough representatives of the American raccoon cat; at large exhibitions there are up to 20-30 Maine Coons. Of course, we are still a long way from America and Europe, where the boom in this breed began a long time ago and continues to this day.
Exhibition fever began at the beginning of the 20th century. Cat shows were held almost weekly in many cities, gradually spreading from the east to the west coast. Around the same time, the CFA, founded in 1908, began keeping the first breeding records of the breed. The selection was carried out extremely carefully. The advantage of the breed was its abundance and recognition of all colors at the time of registration. That is, an almost unlimited population of local long-haired cats was used as breeding material.
The breeders did not seek to change this magnificent animal, but only to preserve it in its pristine beauty, therefore, at the initial stage, inbreeding was not used, which had a great effect on the health and psychological balance of the cats. The psychological balance of Maine Coons is admirable, but can be explained quite simply. Given the opportunity to select breeding material from a wide variety of animals, breeders first of all sought to select psychologically balanced animals that were good with people. This desire of breeders is quite understandable if you remember the size of the Maine Coon. It would be almost impossible to keep an aggressive cat of this size at home and exhibit at exhibitions. Thus, the Maine Coon breed is the only breed of cat that was initially selected not only for external characteristics, but, first of all, for character traits.
Maine Coons have existed as an independent breed group for 150 years. Over this long period of time, the history of the breed has known ups and downs. The Maine Coon's brilliant show career collapsed in 1911 when, when describing cat breeds, they were classified as simple domestic cats. The next few decades are a period of decline and oblivion. At the end of the 50s, the breed was considered lost, but news of the breed's death was somewhat exaggerated.
At the beginning of 1950, the Central Maine Cat Club was created, which began to restore the breed. But it was only in 1975 that Maine Coons received temporary breed status, which was changed to Champion status on May 1, 1976.
May 1, 1976 can be called the new birthday of the breed. The popularity of Maine Coons in the United States has grown steadily and currently this breed ranks second in the top ten most popular purebred cats in America. In Europe, the breed received Champion status in 1994 and in 12 years has also become incredibly popular; there are several hundred Maine Coon nurseries in European countries!
What can we say about today's Maine Coons? What trends have emerged in the work of modern breeders? What Maine Coons do we see at shows, those same American farm good-natured and hardy helper cats or something new that has nothing in common with the Maine raccoon cat?
As already mentioned, hundreds of nurseries in the Maine Coon breed have been breeding for decades. different countries. Today we can see differences in the type of Maine Coons. This is naturally due to the fact that many catteries are based on different breeding lines, some animals look different, but most of them comply with the current standard and achieve high titles in various exhibition systems. The differences have become especially noticeable in recent years, when many breeders, having already achieved a consistently large size and luxurious coat, began to work on improving the Maine Coon type. If you open books with photographs of breed winners over the past 20 years, you will notice that last decade The type of coons is rapidly becoming extreme - the body is stretched, the “box” is lengthened, and the ear set becomes higher. It is the extreme length of the head, muzzle and ear height that makes the modern Maine Coon easily recognizable. Sometimes lengthening the body comes at the expense of bone strength, so breeders have to go back to the old lines to balance the balance of the body and prevent lightening of the muscles. In the pedigrees of many luxurious cats, we see precisely this breeding scheme - inbred crosses, which consolidate some characteristics, alternate with unrelated matings, which introduce fresh blood into the line and increase the size of the offspring.
In Russia you can probably count about 20-30 breeders working with the Maine Coon breed, most of the nurseries are young, created in the last 2-3 years, but there are several nurseries working with Maine Coons for about 10 years. There are various lines in the breeding programs, the geography of the founding cats of the nurseries is quite wide - America, Denmark, Holland, Poland, Finland, Germany, Austria, Spain, England, South Africa, excellent breeding material was imported, people who fell in love with the Maine Coon came to the breed, with serious intentions of giving this breed only the best. Already now, those who dream of purchasing a coon kitten as a pet or with the intention of creating a nursery have a fairly wide choice. I would just like to give advice to future Maine Coon owners - to take this step with all responsibility and seriousness. Today the Maine Coon in Russia is no longer a myth, but a reality, not a fantasy, but the practice of professional breeders; when choosing a kitten for your home, base it not on rumors and legends, but on reliable and professional information.
Come to exhibitions, communicate with breeders, read on nursery websites about the breed, about issues of maintenance and care, consult, choose, think! And then for many years you will be warmed by the friendship and devotion of not just the biggest, but the most beautiful, YOUR most beloved cat!