Maine Coon Myths Busted: What's Fact and What's Fiction
Myth 1: All Maine Coons Are Large
This is a myth. While Maine Coons are known for their large, elongated bodies and are considered the largest breed of domestic cat, not all are large—especially females, who are often smaller.
Many people search for the "large cat" they see online, but the reality is sometimes different, and some may be shocked. Even if the parents are large, genetics can surprise us with a smaller cat.
For example, I have a cat named Stormy. Her parents were large, and we expected her to grow up to be large, but she was smaller than we expected.
This is completely normal, because the primary goal of breeding should be health and temperament, not size. Large size is beautiful, but it's not the most important thing.
Fact 2: Maine Coons come in almost every color.
And this is true! According to the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), Maine Coons are available in more than 75 different colors. These colors fall into eight basic categories:
Single Color
Tabby (Striped)
Tortoiseshell
Shell
Smoke
Shadow
Bicolor
And Portie (Partially Colored)
My favorite variety is "Smoke," because its hair is silver at the roots and darkens to the tips—a truly stunning color!
Personally, I'd like to add "Blue Smoke" to my breeding program, as it's one of my favorite colors.
Myth 3: Maine Coons originated from the mating of a wild cat with a raccoon
This is a popular myth, but it's scientifically incorrect. While it's true that the Maine Coon's tail resembles a raccoon's, interbreeding between the two is genetically impossible.
As for their true origin, there's still some mystery.
Some theories suggest they originated from cats on a ship sent by Marie Antoinette to Maine in America while she was trying to escape the French Revolution. But the most widely accepted theory among breeders is that the Maine Coon came from a cross between domestic short-haired cats and long-haired cats imported from abroad.
Myth 4: Maine Coons shed a lot
Honestly? A myth!
I used to think they shed a lot because of their thick fur, but I was surprised to find they shed less than some short-haired cats!
My family raises British Shorthair cats, and I notice they have more hair everywhere than my Maine Coons.
This is because Maine Coons' fur is soft and silky, easy to groom, and doesn't mat easily. Two of my cats never develop knots, while the others occasionally develop small knots on their belly area, but they're easy to trim and don't stick to the skin.
Myth 5: All Maine Coons love water
Not true. Although their fur is almost waterproof, which makes some of them enjoy bathing, not all of them love water.
Of my four cats, two of the males enjoy bathing, but the females? No, never! 😂
But even those who don't like bathtubs prefer to play with water, like a fountain or a drinking bowl.
By the way, because their fur is waterproof, it takes longer to get completely wet during bathtime.
Fact 6: Maine Coons behave like dogs.
Very true!
Maine Coons have an unusually sociable personality for a cat. They don't like to be alone, and they always follow me around the house. Even when we're hosting a party, they prefer to be in the middle of the crowd rather than running away.
They're also easy to train! For example, my orange tabby cat comes running when I call her from upstairs, making cute noises as if she's answering me!
Some even learn to play fetch like dogs. And they get along great with dogs in the house—my male, "Freddy," plays with the dog like he's one of them!
Myth 7: Maine Coons are aggressive.
Absolutely a myth. Despite their large stature and sometimes ferocious features, they are known as "gentle giants."
Many associations even rank them as the friendliest cat breed, and I've observed this with my own four cats.
Myth 8: All Maine Coons are polydactyl
Another myth.
While they are more likely to have extra toes, it's a relatively rare trait.
The genetic mutations responsible for this trait don't cause health problems, but they are decreasing in number as many breeders are now selecting normal cats without this mutation in their breeding programs.
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