Ive had my cat since february, and hes always been a fluffy beast, but after someone jokingly showed me a photo of a GIANT maine coon http://www.neatorama.com/images/2006-05/riley-maine-coon-cat.jpg and i looked into do i think that he might be one too!
He has the huge fluffy tail, the long fur between his toes, fluff on the tips of his ears, he chirups at me constantly, and just looks like one! hes only nearly 1 year old now...
Also im wondering, if he is one, how do they get to be that HUGE? Or is it just a freak thing that happens?
do you think if i took him to the vets they could tell?
Thank you!
2006-12-02 00:33:13 · 20 answers · asked by Kate 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
just wanted to mention - i certainly dont intend on breeding him, i got him nutered a few months ago...
Its just out of curiousity that i ask!
Thanks!
x
2006-12-02 00:54:27 · update #1
I've got an actual Maine Coon, who is 4 years old and weighs about 14 lb. There are stories about Maine Coons weighing 20 lb and up, but the males should weigh no more than 15-17 lb - that cat in the picture looks a bit podgy to me!
Lots of cats look quite like Maine Coons, but the true article has a very distinctive shape - very long body, and beautiful square head, like a small lion, with a very distinctive square muzzle. They also have quite rough top fur, with very soft downy fur underneath, and "pantaloons" on the back legs. The tail should be as long as the body - this is very characteristic. Maine Coons do chirrup, but so do my other two cats, who are definitely moggies. They are very people friendly and love to "help", whatever you happen to be doing. Maine Coons love to play with water (ours sits in the sink for hours, waiting for a drip from the tap!), and also to knock things off tables with a paw, just to see what happens!
I don't know where you live, but here in the UK it would be quite unlikely to get a Maine Coon except through a breeder, who would obviously know their pedigree - don't know what it's like in the US, where they come from. Also, Maine Coon breeders try to discourage interbreeding with other cats because it dilutes the strain. There isn't any sure-fire way to tell if you've got a real Maine Coon, and I don't think the vet could tell either, unfortunately, but if he's a nice cat, who cares!
2006-12-02 04:33:09 · answer #1 · answered by Susan B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have to ask here, your cat's not a pure-bred Maine Coon, because then you would have a pedigree and papers stating that he IS a Maine Coon.
It is possible, however, that he has some Maine Coon in him, especially if he looks like one (and from your description it sounds like it), but even if he WAS full Maine Coon, he'd still count as a normal Domestic Long-hair since you don't have a pedigree.
A Maine Coon is usually not full grown till he's around three to five years old, and as Maine Coons are the largest accepted breed of domestic cats, they do get big. My flatmate decided when she was ten years old that when she grew up she'd have a Maine Coon, and she's still waiting for when she can have that (as I'm allergic, now would be a rather bad time ^^; ). I'm sure she'd be jealous of you.
Keep his fur well brushed and cleaned (get him used to water, and he won't fight you so much when you need to bathe him), and you'll have a lovely cat =D
2006-12-02 00:50:20 · answer #2 · answered by chibs 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say he is at least a Maine Coon mix.
To Patricia: Maine Coons come in all color variations not just gray with rings around the tail. I have 2 Maine Coons-one is blue and white and the other is solid white. They are a year and a half and are about 15 lbs. Maine Coons continue to grow till they are 3-4 years of age. They do grow very large sometimes. The father of my blue and white was 10 lbs at 6 months and 23 lbs at 3 years. The largest on record is 35 lbs http://www.verismocat.com/htmscripts/leo-guinness.htm
This is a link to Cat Fanciers breed profile info on them that might help shed some light on the breed for you This is a link to Cat Fanciers breed profile on Maine Coons http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/maine.html
2006-12-02 02:09:39 · answer #3 · answered by Karen R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your cat very likely is a Maine Coon breed or mix. They don't always grow to be as large as the one in the photo, but males can average 15-17 lbs. I'm not an expert on the breed, but after viewing many photos of the Maine Coon, I also suspected that my female cat was one, as she also had the huge fluffy tail, foot fur, and tufts on the tips of her ears. If he is, you're lucky, as Maine Coons are very gentle, loving kitties. The best to you and your fluffy beast!
2006-12-02 07:19:03 · answer #4 · answered by nomoregames47 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your description of him certainly sounds like all the descriptions of Maine Coons that I've ever read - so even if he is not a purebred, he just might have some Maine Coon blood in him.
The chiruping must be wonderful ... my Bengals only chirup at birds or moths & not at me.
This is quite a good site that answers the question of 'what is a Maine Coon' & talks a little about size
http://www.maine-coon-cat-club.com/whatis/
To me, the deciding factor for males, has always been their faces ... all the ones that I've seen at cat shows have such wonderful noses ... such character ... I mean, look at this face ...
http://www.maine-coon-bewest.at/bilder_f/DSCN1982.jpg
Isn't it wonderful?
Your vet probably has a cat breed chart on his wall & will probably help you make a best guess as to the breeding of your cat. Unfortunately, I don't believe that there are any genetic tests that help you find out for sure.
And ... as your boy is only a year old ... guess that he will grow bigger still!
PS I don't think that photo has been manipulated ... there's another big one on the bottom of this page ...
http://www.mainecoonguild.org.uk/Cat_Showing/cat_showing.html
2006-12-02 00:42:29 · answer #5 · answered by Solow 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You probably won't be able to tell for certain if it is a maine coon unless you do genetic work which is really expensive.
However, if the colourings, size, and behaviour all fit, it's likely you have a maine coon or maine coon mix :)
My friend has one that she got as a pet store that was sold as a regualr domestic long haired cat, but he's definatly at least part Maine Coon! He's huge, has the markings, behaviors, etc.
Either way, it won't really matter if he's a maine coon as long as you love him, which im sure you do :)
Oh and I should add, that picture is photshopped. The cat is not actually that big, as well, it's not a maine coon either.
2006-12-02 00:36:28 · answer #6 · answered by lunar_flame 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The cat in the photo is not a Maine Coon. Coons have grey and black in their markings. The coloration will appear as rings along the tail, hence the name. It's not a big deal to have a Maine Coon and they do not necessarily get huge just appear so because of their long hair.
Just take good care of your cat and don't dwell on whether he should have a particular title attached to his breed.
2006-12-02 00:49:47 · answer #7 · answered by Patricia S 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They breed them to be big by breeding the biggest females to the biggest males.
A pedigreed cat is very expensive. Breeders don't often sell then cheap or let them run away. Unless you bought your cat from a breeder and you have papers on him it is unlikely you have anything other than a large Domestic longhaired tabby. There is nothing wrong with that. He sounds like a very nice cat. You may call him a Maine Coon Mix, as no one can prove you wrong without extensive DNA testing. Just don't breed him. There are enough homeless kittens and it would be dishonest to pass his kittens off as pedigreed.
2006-12-02 00:48:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He could be a maine coon, but may also be a Ragdoll they too are very large cats..But he definately looks like a giant maine coon
2006-12-02 00:56:24 · answer #9 · answered by rodeorn62 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the cat in that picture isn't a Maine coon, Maine coons are ALWAYS gray, white and black.
I'm 99% sure i have one, he's 28 lbs, his tales as big as his body, and he had ear fluff and GIANT paws, he can literally hold my hand, his paws are a good 3 inches around.
I got him for 5 bucks from a litter of cute little kittens, they were teeny tiny, 2 years later i have my 28 lb monster :D
I'd check with your vet for a definat "diagnosis" but i shodul liek you coudl have a maine coon on your hands :D
2006-12-02 05:15:39 · answer #10 · answered by kittenspawn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋