All about red Maine Coons

Maine Coons are an attention-getting breed. Its representatives are majestic creatures, mesmerizing with their power and chic appearance. According to the standards, various colors are allowed for this breed, including red or marble red Maine Coon. They are the brightest and most popular representatives of their breed. It should be noted that the red color includes various shades - from cream to red.

The homeland of this breed is considered to be the northwest of the United States. In Maine, these big cats first appeared, which corresponds to the name Maine Coon, or Maine raccoon cat.

There are several versions of the origin of the breed. Some are sure that it turned out to be bred thanks to the crossing of cats and raccoons. Others believe that it is a cross between a lynx and a cat. They consider the presence of tassels on the ears of these large cats to confirm this version.

Adult cats of this breed delight in their large size. They are considered the largest of the domestic breeds. Large expressive eyes, long mustache and ears with tassels look quite original. Maine Coons develop slowly, they reach full maturity by 4-5 years. By this age, the weight of the cat is 11-15 kg, and the cat is 5-7 kg.

Consider the features of this breed.

• Their heads are large and elongated in length, with high cheekbones and a chiseled profile. The eyes are set wide apart, oval in shape. The bridge of the nose is wide, the nose is large, the chin is pronounced.
• Tassel ears are one of the striking features that makes it easy to recognize the breed.
• Maine Coons have a powerful, hardy and muscular body, a large fluffy tail. The body length in males reaches one meter, the chest is wide, the neck is medium in length. The length of the tail is equal to the length of the body.
• Feet are large, medium in length, and the presence of hair between the toes gives the paws additional attractiveness.
• The coat is shiny and long, with a thick undercoat. The coat consists of a water-repellent layer that protects against moisture, and a second layer that protects against cold. On the head and shoulders, the hair is short, and further along the body it noticeably lengthens. The coat is absent only on the inner surface of the hind legs.
• The color is characterized by a variety of shades: white, cream, black, fiery red, striped, tortoiseshell and many other colors. According to the standards, only chocolate, Siamese and lilac colors are not allowed in the breed. Eye color ranges from green to golden shades, individuals of light color most often with blue eyes, sometimes multi-colored.

The classic color of red Maine Coons is solid red. This is the name for a uniform coat color - a bright brick or rich orange color. Interspersed with white, stripes and streaks on the body, tail, paws and head is allowed.

Experts distinguish the following color varieties of the color of the breed:

• brindle - the presence of dark clear stripes characteristic of tigers;
• spotted - torn stripes and spots;
• marble - the presence of streaks that appear in the red coat;
• smoky - the roots of the hairs are white, and the tips are red.

Smoky, in turn, are divided into:

• standard - the approximate ratio of white to red is 50/50;
• chinchilla - 1/8 of the hair is colored red, everything else is white;
• shaded - 1/4 of the hairs are colored red.

There are often cases of a two-tone white-red Maine Coon coloration. Depending on the proportions of the combination of white and red, two-tone Maine Coons are divided into:

• bicolor - distribution of white and red colors in a 50/50 ratio;

• van - only the ears and the head are painted in red, sometimes also the tail;

• harlequin - only a few red spots are noticeable on the body;

• white medallion - the cat is red, with a beautiful white spot on the chest and white socks on its paws;

• white tuxedo - red color all over the body of the cat, with the exception of the white collar and white socks on the paws.

These giant domestic cats seem tough at first glance. Despite this, they have a wonderful character. They get along well with children and other pets. Maine Coon is rightfully called ideal pets - they are very loyal to their owners, patient and delicate, but at the same time affectionate and empathetic. Maine Coons rarely show aggression, while strictly highlighting the boundaries of "friend or foe".

Cats of this breed are suitable even for busy people. They are self-sufficient and undemanding, even during the absence of the owners they will find something to do with themselves. Pets will happily place themselves near the owner and will watch him without distracting him from household chores. And yet they are going through a long separation hard.

They are moderately active, often like to soak up the couch. Their well-developed hunting instinct makes them excellent rat-catchers. The activity of individuals persists until they reach 5 years of age, then gradually decreases, they increasingly begin to prefer measured rest and sleep to games. At the same time, the hunting instinct does not fade with age, they will track down and catch prey with the same persistence.

Breeders especially appreciate the following character traits in Maine Coons:

• benevolence;
• friendliness;
• patience;
• cleanliness;
• adaptation to the owner's habits;
• devotion.

The owners note a high level of intelligence among the representatives of the breed. Animals are good at feeling what is allowed and what is not. It is extremely rare to see them stealing food from the table or damaging furniture. They perfectly catch the change in the mood of the owners and do not bother them.

Maine Coon cat is not afraid of water and often splashes with joy when swimming... It should be noted that Maine Coons can communicate not only with the help of meows... They make sounds like squeaks, trills and something like chirping. They have well-developed body language, and the bump of their large head signifies a particularly affectionate attitude from the pet.

To grow a healthy individual, the owners need to take into account some aspects of its maintenance.

Maine Coon food should be of premium class. If preference is given to natural food, then the diet must necessarily include lean meat, vegetables, fruits, cereals and dairy products, sometimes boiled sea fish and eggs are introduced into the diet. Adult Maine Coons usually eat three times more than other breeds, but not because of their love of gluttony, but because of their impressive size.

With a sufficient amount of food, the cat will never be interested in the master's plate, he will not stoop to stealing from the table or begging.

Make the coat beautiful will help regular brushing with a fine-toothed metal brush... This procedure is recommended to be carried out 2-3 times a week, and during the molting period - daily. Particular attention should be paid to the chic tail of the pet. You need to bathe no more than once every 1.5-2 months, with the obligatory use of shampoo for long-haired animals.

The order in the house and the well-being of the animal depend on the correct cat litter. Discomfort in coping with needs adversely affects the well-being of the pet.A toilet for these giants is better to choose largest, open or mesh... The toilet house will be uncomfortable, and the filler in it will dry much longer.

It is imperative for a pet to be vaccinated in a timely manner. Any warning signs, be it indigestion, refusal to eat, or unsteady gait, are a reason to visit your veterinarian.

Maine Coons need to maintain an active lifestyle. They are encouraged to often walk in the fresh air, arrange entertainment with balls and other toys. Loneliness is not the best way reflected in the character and appearance of the animal. In its habitat, it is imperative to build a claw-turning device and your own recreation area.

Hygiene plays an important role in grooming. Regular cleaning of ears, grooming of nails and bathing will make your pet a real beauty.

The eyes should be cleared of mucus as needed. It is removed with a cotton swab dipped in weak tea.

It is recommended to clean the ears from the accumulation of sulfur with special solutions (sold in veterinary pharmacies and pet stores) and cotton pads. The use of cotton swabs is undesirable, as this can lead to injury to the animal. After completing the cleaning procedure, it is advisable to sprinkle the ear canal with a special powder that prevents mite infestation.

The nails need to be trimmed periodically. Too grown, they can cause pain in the animal. For trimming, special round scissors are used, which are the safest for the vessels in the cat's claws. It is necessary to look in the light where the capillary is, and carefully trim the tip of the nail at a slight angle. If the vessel is not visible, then you will have to cut it off a little, at random.

Choosing a name is not an easy task. Often, owners choose a name for a pet, focusing on the color of its color. The most common names are:

• Orange;
• Tiger;
• Lyon;
• Gold (or Goldie - for a girl);
• Apricot;
• Peach;
• Garfield;
• Foxy.

The following names are euphonic:

• Archie;
• Alice;
• Smart;
• Max;
• Friendly.

See below about the features of red Maine Coons.