What is a Maine Coon?
Short answer: One of the largest domestic cat breeds, with a long, shaggy coat and a bushy tail. It is the official state cat of Maine. A popular legend says the breed came from a cat and a raccoon, which is not biologically possible.
Quick facts
- The size. Maine Coons are among the largest breeds of domestic cat, with a long body, a broad chest and a full tail.
- The coat. The coat is long and shaggy, with thicker fur around the neck and belly and tufts on the ears.
- The state cat. The Maine Coon was designated the official state cat of Maine in 1985.
- The raccoon myth. The name and the bushy, often ringed tail led to the story that the breed was a cross between a cat and a raccoon. This is a myth. The species cannot interbreed.
- Temperament. The breed is often described as gentle and sociable, though every cat is an individual.
Student report
I went to Maine to study a very large cat, and I found several. I am a large student myself, and I was pleased to be in company.
I would like to record that most doorways are, for a Maine Coon, a fit only technically. I attempted to pass through one and was informed by a resident that I would be better off waiting for a wider door.
The Maine Coon, I concluded, is a cat of considerable presence and great tolerance. I was allowed to sit on a porch, which was a great honour.