What about a Maine Coon cat?

The much loved Maine Coon is one of the largest breeds of domestic cat, known for its intelligence and playfulness as well as its distinctive physical appearance. The breed is one of the oldest breeds in North America and originated from New England, making it America’s first indigenous show cat. The Maine Coon Cat is regarded as “the gentle giant” and is known for a pleasant nature.

Maine Coons are very large and energetic cats, sometimes weighing up to around 11-12 kilograms (25 pounds); the average weight is 6 to 9 kilograms (13-20 pounds) for adult males and less (7-11 pounds) for females. Male Maine Coons may grow to a length in excess of 1 meter (40 inches); the longest cat on record is a Maine Coon 121cm (49 inches) in length. Growth to full size often takes longer than for most cats, with Maine Coons usually reaching full size at age four or five.

The breed has a face with a square muzzle, a thick neck, large ears, big, rounded eyes, and a large, muscular body. The tail is long and relatively bushy.

The origin of the breed (and its name) has several myths surrounding it. A popular story comes from a legend that a domestic cat released in the wilds of Maine mated with a raccoon, resulting in offspring with the Maine Coon’s characteristics. Obviously biologically impossible, this myth, bolstered by the bushy tail and the most common coloring (a raccoon-like brown tabby) could have led to the adoption of the name “Maine Coon.” Another legend is that the cat was named after a ship’s captain named Coon who was responsible for the cat reaching Maine shores.

The truth is much more boring, in the 17th and 18th centuries, domestic cats brought to the new lands, from Europe faced very severe winters in New England, only the strongest and most adaptable cats survived. Through natural selection (as opposed to selective breeding), the Maine Coon developed into a large, rugged cat with a water-resistant, thick coat and a hardy constitution.
These days, the breed has many more recognized colours, including black, blue, cream, red, tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell, white, smoke, silver tabby, brown tabby, red tabby, blue tabby, cream tabby, and bicolour.

The Maine Coon is usually a social creature and gets on with other cats, dogs, and children. These cats have great personalities and are a great cat breed for family homes.

Due to their above-average intelligence, Maine Coons are known to be one of the easiest cat breeds to train. Maine Coons are known 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. They rarely eat alone, preferring to eat in the company of other cats or humans.
Maine Coons occasionally engage in mischievous behavior when bored, such as deliberately pushing things off tables and the tops of refrigerators with their paws.

Terry King runs pets2home.co.uk/ Parcel Pets, a leading UK pets2home.co.uk/ pet supplies web site and has had pets all his life. He lives with his wife Louise, dog Sam, Cat Sabrina and 5 fish!

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Cats are amazing creatures; majestic, comical, ever changing, and diverse. Because of their agility, athleticism, and equipment–claws and teeth, they are considered to be perfect killing machines. Equally true, they are gentle companions who share our lives and household. They love to sit on our laps and be with us but don’t respond to training like a dog. I’ve shared my life with cats since childhood. Here are a few basic facts for anyone interested in this amazing species.

The first thing you’ll notice is that cats sleep a lot. They average 16 hours of sleep per day. When their up, they usually like to play, eat or groom. The amount of daily sleep can vary by cat, circumstance and breed. There are approximately 25-40 known breeds of cats. The largest is a Maine Coon which often weighs in excess of 20 LBs. Other cat breeds average 7-10 LB’s. The lifespan of a cat varies depending on its breed and environment. Outdoor un-neutered male cats have a lifespan of just 4 years regardless of their breed. This is because many of them are hit by cars or infected with terminal illnesses. Indoor cats live much longer than outdoor cats due to lower stress, and lower exposure to disease. The Maine Coon has a short lifespan of approximately 8-10 years, whereas a Siamese often lives up to 20 years. Mixed breed cats typically live 12-18 years, but I’ve had mixed breeds live up to 24 years.

According to pet trainers, cats can be trained, but always keep in mind, the cat will only do what serves the cat’s best interest. The best way to train a cat is by using food when the cat is hungry. Repeat the trick over and over and give a “treat” each time.

The body of a cat is amazing. The eyes are designed to detect the slightest movement. They see well in the dark. Their ears move so they can pick up the faintest sound—this explains why cats hate loud noises and unfamiliar sounds. The spine of a cat is incredibly dexterous, containing approximately 60 vertebrae compared to a humane spine which has approximately 24 vertebras. The tail can reflect a cat’s mood, and is also used for balance. Most cats enjoy when we run our hand down their back and give a slight gentle tug on the tail, near the base of the tail. It gives the cat a little back stretch. The claws are retractable for ease of walking on any surface and extend to climb trees or catch prey. Cats are carnivores and should always eat a high protein diet. They are amazingly resourceful and prolific. A single mother and her first year offspring can produce in excess of 150 cats by the third year. This is why all cats need to be spayed and neutered before sexual maturity (approximately 6 months).

Centuries ago, humans and cats started sharing their environment. We don’t know when this occurred, but most likely our ancestors valued cats for their ability to reduce rodent populations. During the Egyptian era, cats were revered. During the dark ages they were persecuted and wrongfully blamed for the black plague. Today approximately 30 percent of all households share their lives with cats. It’s easy to understand why they are the most popular pet.

For more free pet care or animal welfare tips, visit PetCareRCA.com PetCareRCA.com Kate Garvery is the founder and director of the Pet Care Resource Center of America. She is also a freelance writer and provides professional writing services for individuals and business owners kategarvey.net kategarvey.net Kate is the author of 3 non-fiction books and more than 40 non-fiction articles.

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Many new cat owners may struggle with trying to figure out what is best for their cats. A decision like letting them roam the outdoors freely or confining them to the indoor can make a difference of 5-10 years in your cat’s life span. It has been half a century now that cat litter has been around which has made indoor cats possible & affordable, and many studies since then all showing indoor cats live longer and healthier lives.

The outdoors in many cities or on the country side are full of unpredictable and dangerous situations where even the most cautious cat may be lured to. The heat of a warm engine during a cold winter day, the taste of anti freeze, pesticides, the neighbor’s dog, hawks and owls, or cruel people wanting to hurt or steal your cat, cat fights, and feline diseases and fleas, are just some of the dangers that await an outdoor cat.

Protecting your cat is not the only reason why it’s important they are kept inside but also to protect the wildlife. Cats are responsible for killing hundreds of millions of birds in the US last year alone.

A relationship with an indoor cat can and should be more rewarding. A closer bond is made and they become more dependent to you and your family members for attention and for casual play. They will depend on you for stimulation, exercise and a clean litter box. Depending the cat breed, house cats are usually better in pairs, keeping each other company and practicing their hunting skills on each other instead of your ankles.

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If you are looking for a cat breed that won’t mind if your children decide they want to play dress up, you may want to take a look at the Ragamuffin cat breed. These cats are very tolerant of children and other pets and will allow children to play games that would have other cat breeds and even many dog breeds running for cover.

The same characteristics that make the Ragamuffin such a wonderful family pet make it a bad choice for people who are not home for long periods of time. This breed thrives on attention and enjoys ‘helping’ its family do routine household chores, such as putting away groceries or folding laundry. Spending a lot of time alone can make your cat very unhappy. After all, a cat breed that will ride around in your child’s doll carriage or attend a tea party obviously loves plenty of company and attention.

The Ragamuffin is one of the biggest cat breeds, weighing in at a very hefty ten to twenty pounds. Although these cats have larger than normal bones, part of their weight also comes from their tendency to carry a bit of extra fat on their bellies. This breed has a big, solidly built body, a wedge shaped head that is a bit round and large eyes that are so expressive that many people say that their cats seem to talk with their eyes. This breed has a long, gracefully tapered tail that is covered in long hair, giving it a bushy appearance. You can find the Ragamuffin in almost any coat color and any pattern. However cats with points can not be shown.

The Cat Fancier’s Association classifies the Ragamuffin as a member of the Miscellaneous class. This cat breed is the only one currently in this category. As the breed becomes more established, it will eventually move to the Provisional class. While the Ragamuffin can be shown, it can not receive any ribbons or awards until it moves from the Miscellaneous class and into a different class.

Ragamuffins have long hair with an extremely soft texture. Despite the fact that these cats are longhairs, the silkiness of their hair makes them easy to care for. This breed is not prone to developing matted hair and one of these cats only needs to be groomed about once a week to keep his coat looking beautiful and tangle free.

Since these cats have a tendency to carry a few more pounds than necessary around their stomachs, you may need to keep a close eye on your Ragamuffin’s weight. If he grows too overweight, you should ask your veterinarian about feeding your cat a weight management cat food. Except for this weight problem, this cat breed has no hereditary health conditions and is an extremely healthy breed overall.

If you want a large, gentle cat that actually enjoys being around children, then the Ragamuffin is the perfect breed for you.

I would love to share my secrets with you and my new special articles on
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The Ragdoll cat breed consists of a variety of medium to long hair cats. Ragdoll cats are famous for their placid temperaments as well as their affectionate nature. Ragdolls are the most easy going and gentle cat you can own. These cats are not aggressive and should only be kept indoors. They do not have fighting instincts so they will not defend themselves when provoked.

The term “Ragdoll” comes from the way they go totally limp when picked up. The breed originated in California back in the 1960s. The first Ragdoll was a cat named Josephine. There are many myths regarding the history of Ragdoll cats; for instance, one account claims Ragdoll cats were left on earth by an alien race. Many of these wild claims were made by the breed’s founder and are still passed around today.

Ragdoll cats are bred selectively for certain characteristics. These selective traits include size, characteristic limpness when picked up, as well as their easy going nature. The breed was created from a mixture of Birman, Persian, and Burmese cats. The Ragdoll breed has been imitated by other breeds such as the Ragamuffin; however, many of these competing breeds are not recognized by cat registries as there is little differentiating them from Ragdoll cats.

ragdollcats.info/index.php?title=physical_characteristics_of_a_ragdoll_ca Ragdoll Cats come in a variety of patterns and colors. The pointed patterns fall into three categories: mitted, bicolor, and colorpoint. The varieties of colors are lilac, seal, blue, and chocolate. Additionally there are several nonstandard color offerings such as red and lynx point. A typical Ragdoll takes 2 years to fully mature; adult males weigh between 15 to 20 pounds. Female cats weigh in at 9 to 13 pounds. Ragdoll cats are the largest domestic cat and make excellent pets.

Ben Harper is a Ragdoll cat enthusiast and founder of the site

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