Maine Coon is a cat breed bred in Northeast America. The large size of the animal became the reason for the appearance of some misconceptions. Kittens are reluctant to buy because of the fear that they will not live long. Those who turned out to be bolder and acquired them are tormented by the unknown, afraid of the cat's early death. But not everything is so scary.
a brief description of
Of all the breeds of cats, Maine Coon is special. She stands out among other representatives of the feline giant size, memorable appearance and mind. Cats have a large woolly head. The cheekbones are high, the mustache is long, and the ears have tassels that make the animals look like a lynx. Although the physique of the Maine Coons is developed, they are graceful creatures. Their paws are long, ending with disheveled “felt boots”. They have a long and fluffy tail.
Whatever the color of the coat - tiger, spotted, plain, smoky or motley, it is long, silky and dense.
At the shows you can not find cats with lavender, chocolate or Himalayan color. A ban on the standard applies to such a coloring: they are not bred. Maine Coons have an unusual and harmonious voice. They do not meow, begging for food, but purr a request to the owner.
Life span
The life expectancy of all cats, and not just Maine Coons, depends on conditions, care and health. As they say, Maine Coons live 4, 5 or 6 years, but this is not true. At this age, breeders simply remove them from breeding for the influx of new blood, and not because of imminent death.
Soreness of the breed is a myth. Cats do not die earlier because of the mysterious hereditary diseases that are written about on the forums.
Large size does not shorten the age of the pet. Critics mistakenly think, drawing an analogy with giant and large dog breeds. The life span of Maine Coons does not depend on size. Maine coon cats live for 14-16, and cats live for 12-15 years.
Care
The quality of life of a pet depends on how much it will live. If he is beloved, then the conditions of detention should be ideal. Maine Coon is the most unpretentious breed of cats.
She appeared in the wild and merciless climate of Northeast America.
There will be no special care with leaving. The cat takes care of itself, and the owner is only required once a week:
- comb the hair;
- carry out hygiene of the ears, teeth, eyes and oral cavity;
- take care of the claws.
Performing the procedures from the above list is a guarantee of the absence of problems with the health of the cat. Excessive care for cats is useless. Some breeders are not against games, walks in the fresh air.
They are beneficial, allowing cats to develop their body, show the instincts of a hunter (in a private house, Maine Coons turn into a thunderstorm of mice and rats) and improve intelligence.
When there is no opportunity to skip animals, they buy or make a game complex with their own hands. Their training in the designed “town” is subsequently watched with interest: cats not only show tricks, jumping from one place to another, but also fall into funny stories.
Food
Caring for a proper and balanced diet is what the caring owner first of all thinks about. He feeds the pet on time and does not allow overeating: he does not need hunger and excess weight.
The owner excludes cheap feed from the diet, knowing about the insufficient content of trace elements and minerals in them.
Food from your table is given only if it does not contain sugar, spices, salt, dyes and preservatives. Do not feed the cat with it until they consult with the veterinarian. The doctor will prescribe supplements, minerals, guided by the age and health of the cat.
Disease prevention
By nature, cats of this breed have good health and excellent immunity. Rarely, offspring with genetic abnormalities are born. Often breeders get lost and hesitate to notice alarming symptoms.
Vomiting, lameness, lethargy, diarrhea, plaintive meowing, refusal of food or water - this is an occasion to immediately consult a doctor, and not to experiment with medicines.
Going to the vet will save the nerves and finances of the owner. He will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment, minimizing damage to health and the development of serious problems with the cardiovascular system and joints. Preventive vaccinations are done on time. Four-legged animals are given anthelmintic and antiparasitic drugs.
Breed features
Novice breeders do not welcome the affectionate attitude. They do not see the cat as a social animal and do not think that it should feel caring and a good attitude towards itself. They talk to Maine Coons sincerely and stroke, but at the same time they are not imposed.
The premature death of breed representatives cannot be ruled out. It is possible due to improper maintenance or master oversight. Maine Coons have a different body structure than cats of other breeds.
They do not land on their feet, falling from a windowsill or jumping from a table onto a sofa. At the same time, one careless step will lead to the fall, which is not excluded for this dimensional pet. He may be the last. Even if the cat is grouped and landed successfully, it may fall under the car or become a victim of stray dogs. To exclude the death of the pet, the owner takes the following measures:
- sets and fixes furniture and other objects in the apartment (figurines, table frames for photos);
- covers and installs nets with a small lattice on the windows so that the Maine Coons do not climb on them and jump;
- removes vials of medicines, bottles of shampoo, pesticides for country pests from shelves, cabinets and tables so that the pet does not eat them or get injured by splinters during games.
What to look for?
Maine Coons are curious cats. Everything that they see on the table or on the floor, they will try on the tooth, having previously sniffed. They often "enjoy" the hostess's decorations, stale bread and small details from the designer. With the same success, they eat poison, walking on the street. Therefore, walks alone are forbidden for them.
Maine Coon is not capricious and eats everything that is given to him, but feeding with low-quality food will follow in the future.
The cat will develop allergies and problems with the digestive and excretory systems.
Because of this, urolithiasis, kidney failure, and other ailments that can shorten the life of a pet occur.
Buying a Maine Coon cat from her hands, the breeder risks buying a sick kitten. Subsequently, he will find out that he is sick with hereditary diseases from the list below:
- renal polycystic;
- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
- hip dysplasia;
- spinal muscular atrophy.
It is difficult to change something if the kitten is sick. In order to protect themselves from such situations and to receive healthy offspring in the future, the animal is bought in a nursery.
From what kind of care is organized for a Maine Coon cat at home, its life expectancy depends.
With proper feeding and maintenance, many problems can be avoided. If the pet becomes ill, timely contact to the veterinarian will save his life and reduce the risk of complications.
To learn how to keep Maine Coon at home, see the video below.
