1. Maine Coon’s are big
Maine Coon’s have large bodies and a sociable nature, which is why they are often referred to as “gentle giants”. They are considered one of the largest breeds of domestic cats alongside the Savannah, Siberian Forest, Norwegian Forest and Ragdoll cat breeds.
On average a male Maine Coon cat weighs 6-8kg, with females weighing between 3.5-5.5kg. The height of an adult Maine Coon can vary between 25-41cm and they can reach a length of up to 1 metre including their tail. Their body is solid and muscular which helps to support their weight and their chest is broad.
2. Maine Coon’s love water
Unlike other cats, Maine Coon’s have a fascination with water. This may be due to their water-resistant fur and some also speculate that it dates back to their ancestors who were aboard ships for most of their lives.
Maine Coon’s are strong swimmers and enjoy playing with water, often seen licking from leaking taps and patting their water bowl. It certainly makes bath time easy!
3. Maine Coon’s are built to survive harsh winter climates
Maine Coon’s have dense water-resistant fur that is thicker around their belly and rear for extra protection when walking or sitting in snow or ice. Their long bushy tail is resistant to sinking in the snow and can be curled around their face or body for extra warmth, a bit like an in-built scarf!
Maine Coon’s have large paws that can act like snowshoes, with extra fur between their toes for added warmth and snow walking strength. Their heavily furred ears add additional comfort.
4. Maine Coon’s are record holders
In 2010, “Stewie” a male purebred Maine Coon cat was accepted into Guinness Book of Records as the longest domestic cat. He measured 123cm from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. Stewie sadly passed away in January 2013, aged 8.
In May 2018 a Maine Coon cat called “Barivel” was named the current living record holder, measuring 120cm in length.
5. Maine Coon’s like to talk
Maine Coon’s are vocal cats. They are not shy about getting your attention. If they want to go outside or be fed, they will be sure to tell you with their many adorable sounds. They are so vocal that often owners refer to their frequent noises as talking. Whilst Maine Coon’s are capable of meowing, they often prefer to make other sounds such as such as chirps, trills and yowling.
6. A Maine Coon cat starred in Harry Potter
Mrs Norris is a beautiful Maine Coon cat that starred in the Harry Potter series of films. She belonged to Argus Filch, the Hogwarts caretaker. Mrs Norris was loyal to Mr Filch, often out of patrol at night, looking for misbehaving students. If she found any mischief, Mr Filch would be close behind to catch the students in the act.
Many cats played the role including three rescue cats; Alanis, Cornilus and Maximus as well as a retired older cat called Pebbles. Alanis was great at keeping still, so was often the one being carried. Pebbles was very good at walking across the set and stopping at a specific point so was often the one pacing the corridors of Hogwarts. Maximus was trained to jump on Mr Filch’s shoulders and Cornilus was trained to sit still and look around on command.
7. Maine Coon’s have many nicknames
The unique nature, appearance and shape of a Maine Coon cat has awarded them many nicknames. They are often referred to as “Gentle Giants” of the domestic cat world due to their large size and kind gentle nature.
They are also often called “Mini Lions” due to their solid, muscular body shape and distinctive thick fur around their necks like a lion’s mane.
The Maine Coon breed is also nicknamed the “Dog of the cat world” due to their playful nature and intelligence, with a similar temperament to dogs. Maine Coon’s are loyal to their owners and some have even been known to play fetch!