Maine Coon mestizo: features, varieties and recommendations for content
Mestizo are kittens obtained as a result of crossing animals of the same species, but different breeds. Quite often, unscrupulous owners crossbreed animals that already initially had any kind of marriage in the breed. Usually, mestizo cats may have a defect in appearance or character that does not correspond to purebred individuals. Every year the demand for exotic breeds of the cat family is growing, while the Maine Coon mestizo is no exception.
Officially, breeding mestizo of this breed is strictly prohibited. But in reality, it is not possible to control crossbreeding, therefore amateur breeders often cross Maine Coon with various types of cats. Half-breeds are much cheaper in cost relative to purebreds, which only increases their demand in the market. Before making a purchase decision, you should carefully study all the pros and cons of different types of mestizo, because the result of such a crossing can be completely unpredictable.
Description
In specialized nurseries, it is forbidden to buy culled individuals for breeding, but they can be purchased as a pet. The main condition for buying such a baby is the mandatory castration or sterilization of the kitten in the future. Metis and purebred cat are completely different.
Not a single mestizo will fully meet the requirements of the behavior of a purebred thoroughbred individual.
The appearance of a half-breed can be very diverse, it all depends on which genes were passed on from their parents.
A purebred breed has such qualities as:
- benevolence;
- ease of communication with people and other cats;
- devotion;
- lack of aggression;
- loyalty;
- prudence.
When mated with an ordinary cat, the listed traits change, and sometimes even disappear altogether. It is quite simple to distinguish a purebred Maine Coon: the representatives of this breed have slanted eyes, wide cheekbones, an elongated head shape, tassels on the ears, an unusually fluffy and long tail, massive paws. Babies at 3 months weigh at least 2.5 kg (an ordinary cat at this age weighs no more than 1 kg.). Adult males reach a length of about 1 meter and a weight of about 11 kg, a height at the withers up to 40 cm (females are somewhat smaller).
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of half-breeds is their moderate cost. And mestizos are also very accommodating and friendly. Despite its origin, such pets will be loyal and loyal friends. Another positive quality is the loving and sociable cats.
They can be compared with small children, because they are very fond of affection and attention, they gladly reciprocate their master.
A developed intellect allows you to execute various commands, and a light sensitivity to information will help you quickly accustom the kitten to the litter box. Mestizos have strong immunity, they get sick less. According to external data, they are in no way inferior to purebred cats. Their unusual color and bushy tail can enchant anyone. To avoid surprises, before buying such a pet, you should carefully study the information about its parents.
The disadvantages include the lack of a pedigree and the inability to participate in exhibitions.
It is undesirable for mestizos to breed, since there is a huge risk of death of a cat during childbirth due to the large size of kittens.
Views
For the entire existence of the Maine Coon breed, scientists have made a lot of attempts to get mestizos. All this was done in order to add some qualities from other breeds to purebred individuals.
So, to get a large cat of an unusual color, a full-fledged Maine Coon was crossed with a male Siamese breed, but this experiment turned out to be a failure due to the too different sizes of these cats.
When crossed with representatives of the Persian breed, large red kittens with rather fluffy hair are very often obtained - no hint of similarity to Maine Coons, giant Persian sizes. The attempt to cross a purebred with a Bengal to increase the size of the animals also failed.
A Maine Coon kitten and a Siberian cat outwardly most resembles a thoroughbred, but it will never grow to such a large size as that of a thoroughbred individual. Usually, such babies are passed off as noble, but they are offered at a discount, which is what lure gullible buyers. A cross between the Maine Coon breed with a domestic cat turned out quite by accident. The kitten has lost some positive character traits, but the coloring has been preserved.
Most often, Maine Coon mestizos are obtained by mating with an ordinary cat, and they are also crossed with British, Siberians, Neva Masquerade, Persian and other breeds.
As a result of interspecies crossing, kittens with an unpredictable coat length can be obtained: it all depends on what kind of coat the partner has.
Breeding features
Breeding Maine Coon mestizos is strictly prohibited, the seller must inform the buyer that the animal is a half-breed. However, the buyers themselves also must not lose their vigilance and not buy kittens at a discount.
Upon reaching a suitable age, the individual will have to be castrated or sterilized, otherwise offspring with genetic deformities may be born, which will manifest themselves immediately or in the next generation.
If you cross a male Maine Coon with a female of smaller cat breeds, the mother will most likely die during childbirth due to too large kittens.
In terms of friendliness and sociability, mestizo are categorical in nature: a kitten can be either too friendly and even somewhat annoying, or aggressive. Unscrupulous breeders, as well as inexperienced amateurs, for example, seeing that the kitten looks like a Bengal, and not a Maine Coon, dissatisfied with the appearance, can simply throw the animal out into the street, condemning it to hunger and wandering. Therefore, they often try to sell kittens as early as possible, while it is difficult to distinguish them from purebred.
It is often better to buy a purebred Siberian cat than a mestizo. Purebred felines much better in health and character traits than the mixture.
Important! Demand creates supply, and as long as such individuals are willingly bought up by people, the breeding of half-breeds will not stop.
Care advice
If the mestizo is nevertheless purchased, the first step is to show it to a professional veterinarian, determine the schedule of vaccinations and the date of sterilization, and also identify defects in the individual.
Care will be determined based on the doctor's opinion.
If everything is relatively in order with the kitten, then the recommendations for care practically do not differ from the maintenance of purebred cats, namely:
- daily combing with a furminator during the period of active molting;
- using conditioner shampoo for long-haired cats while bathing;
- a diet of raw beef, boiled chicken and rabbit rather than store-bought food;
- banned milk;
- sour cream, kefir and cottage cheese are useful;
- jellied premium food is allowed, but there is a possibility that then the cat will refuse natural food;
- it is recommended to rinse the eyes daily with a special compound to avoid infection;
- the animal must have special toys for removing plaque in the public domain;
- weekly ear cleaning with cotton pads dipped in a special lotion;
- weekly manicure (the first procedure is recommended to be carried out by a specialist who at the same time will show how to do it correctly without touching the blood vessels);
- if the mestizo is large, a large tray is needed.
It is necessary to buy any purebred purebred cat or cat upon reaching the age of 3.5 months - it is at this age that almost all defects are found, and brushes on the ears grow in Maine Coon purebreds. The pedigree of a real Maine Coon should indicate 4 generations of his ancestors and their show achievements, and also remember that pedigree cats are never sold with discounts (a culled individual is usually only one in a litter and costs 2-3 times cheaper, not 10%).
For information on how to determine the purebred Maine Coon, see the video below.
