Majestic Maine Coon Sitting Tall

About this drawing

A Maine Coon cat is hard to miss. This is one of the largest domestic breeds in the world, with a long body, sturdy legs and a thick, flowing coat. For all that size, it has a famously sweet nature, and fans like to call it the gentle giant.

The breed comes from New England, where these cats worked as mousers on farms and ships in the 1800s. Their exact beginnings are a mystery. Most likely, longhaired cats arrived with European sailors and adapted to the region. There is a well-known tale that they came from a cross with raccoons, which explains the name, but that is biologically impossible.

Every part of this cat seems designed for snow. The shaggy, water-resistant fur forms a thick ruff around the chest. Tufts of hair between the toes act like built-in snowshoes, and a long, bushy tail can wrap around the body for warmth. Those lynx-like tips on the ears add a wild touch.

Maine Coons are chatty in their own way, often making a soft chirping trill rather than a loud meow. They also mature slowly and can take several years to reach their full adult size. All that gorgeous fur requires regular brushing to prevent tangles, but most of these laid-back cats do not seem to mind the attention.

• maine coon
• cat breeds
• longhaired cat
• gentle giant