Anyone like fluffy cats? If so, you’ve probably found yourself absolutely charmed by a Maine Coon if you’ve ever met one. These big, lovable felines are not only personable, they’re also super cute. In fact, over the next few weeks, you’ll probably be seeing a lot of Maine Coon kittens on holiday cards. A veterinarian discusses this beloved breed below.
History
No one is quite sure exactly where Fluffy came from. One theory is that Maine Coons descend from Norwegian Forest Cats, which were brought over by Vikings. Another legend mentions Marie Antoinette, whose legendary words ‘Let Them Eat Cake’ led to her beheading in 1793. According to the story, Antoinette was planning to flee France, after already shipping her most valued belongings to America. Among the cargo were six fluffy kitties, which may have been Siberians or Turkish Angoras. And of course, Antoinette never made the trip. However, her feline pals were brought to Wiscasset, Maine, where they soon set about charming the local felines and making some cute kitties.
Temperament
The Maine Coon is an affectionate and extremely lovable cat. Playful and talkative, these kitties have a lot of ‘purrsonality.’ They often communicate with chirps and squeaks, so they’re quite vocal.
Size
Maine Coons can get quite big. Several of them have broken records for weight and size. There’s Stewie, the longest cat on record. He spanned 4 feet long from the end of his super-fluffy tail to the tip of his nose. Samson, another 4-foot Maine Coon, held the title of New York’s biggest cat.
Celebrekitties
There have been many famous Maine Coons, including Little Nicky, the first cloned cat and Pebbles, the cat from the Harry Potter movie. Then there’s the majestic floofer, Mr. Vivo, who has his own Youtube channel. You’ll also find plenty of these pretty felines on Instagram.
Popularity
It’s probably no surprise to learn that the official cat of the state of Maine is the Maine Coon. They’re actually very popular in other states, too. That hasn’t always been the case, though. These cute kitties were all the rage … until the Persian entered the picture. Afterwards, their popularity dropped sharply, and by the 1950’s, they were almost extinct. Fortunately, fans took steps to save the breed, and many more adorable kittens were born.
Do you have questions about your cat’s health or care? Contact us, your local animal clinic in Rialto, CA, today!
