# Maine Coon cats? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 14, 2005, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964 "2005-11-14T06:08:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/21 "2005-11-14T22:16:34Z")
Maine Coons do indeed come in black, as well as a whole lot of other colors / patterns. [Here](http://www.mccfabc.org/the-art-index.htmhttp://) is some good info.Re the water thing, it simply says they like to play with it. I think it makes sense that any cats whose ancestors came from snowy climates would do the water paw thing. Of course, they could just be “special” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/22 "2005-11-14T22:25:38Z")
I’ve posted on this subject before – I have a couple of Maine Coon mixes named Juliet and Daniel. (Although I call them NO! and You Fuzzy Bastard more often, come to think of it) Got them from the local humane society when they were about 8 weeks old, figured they were regular kittens. As of this writing (one year later) Daniel masses in at 20-21 pounds, and Juliet’s 10.5 pounds. Daniel’s a shorthair (or as shorthair as Maine coons get) brown tabby while Juliet’s a medium hair white/grey/dark calico with tabby stripes on one side of her face – what DO you call that? And they’re both polydactyl - Juliet just has thumbs, while Daniel has mutant feet with eight on one, seven on the other. This leads to having to hold him down to clip the claws that don’t reach the scratching post. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/23 "2005-11-14T22:26:49Z")
> [@Elza B](#): > > Omigosh, color me jealous over here! I LOVE Maine Coon cats - if we ever get one from a breeder, that’ll be the first cat we get. I want a cat that my kids can RIDE 😃 . (KIDDING!) > > If you don’t mind me sneaking this in here, I have a question for those who know Maine Coons - can they ever come in black? (“Yes, I’d like to order the Maine Coon, in black, so he’s easy to accessorize.”) We originally thought my boy was Turkish Angora (he’s a NYC cat, so it’s very possible that he has some in him), but we’ve wondered recently if he’s possibly part Maine Coon because he shows a LOT of the traits. But I didn’t think Maine Coons could come in black - I know Angoras can, though. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s got both in him because he shows traits of both breeds. I think the Maine Coon personality gene, must be pretty dominant. All maine Coon mixes I’ve seen had the personality but not necessarily the color/patterns found in Maine Coons. [Billy Bob](http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/823/billybasket11ty.jpg) is solid gray on top with a white belly, boots and mittens. When he’s being sweet, he says “beep, beep, beep”. It sounds stupid comming from such a large cat. When he wants food he says "m-WOW! ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/24 "2005-11-14T22:32:18Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Being the runt doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll be small. I adopted three shorthair orange tiger kittens at four months old from a local rescue organization, and the [smallest of the three was Eddy](http://community.webshots.com/photo/782975/784355). But when they grew up… Well, [judge for yourself](http://community.webshots.com/photo/109844880/109845598OqjDTl) – that’s a double bed he’s sleeping on. Freddy is almost as big (weighed in at 16+ pounds at the vet’s recently) and Teddy is merely large. > > I don’t know if the boys have any Maine Coon in them but it wouldn’t surprise me. They’ve got the friendly, easygoing disposition of that breed. Typical comment from those who see Eddy for the first time: “My God, he’s big!” 😃 Geez those are some big boys. 😃 But very adorable. I think you’re probably right. Lucy’s uncle was at the cat show and he was one big furry guy. I guess I’d better enjoy her small size while I can. **Elza B** I was at a cat show in NJ. We saw one completely black Maine Coon. He was gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/25 "2005-11-14T23:06:28Z")
> [@Batsinma Belfry](#): > > I think the Maine Coon personality gene, must be pretty dominant. All maine Coon mixes I’ve seen had the personality but not necessarily the color/patterns found in Maine Coons. [Billy Bob](http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/823/billybasket11ty.jpg) is > solid gray on top with a white belly, boots and mittens. > > When he’s being sweet, he says “beep, beep, beep”. It sounds stupid comming > from such a large cat. When he wants food he says "m-WOW! Good god! That cat is rectangular! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/26 "2005-11-14T23:33:26Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Does anyone own one of these cats? I had a couple a few years ago, which I gave to good homes after I moved. My good friend still has one of them, and I saw it a few months ago when I visited. By far the best, friendliest, mellowest affectionate breed of cat I’ve ever encountered. He would lay on his back, and I could jump up and down right over him while screaming, and he’d be all “yeah what?”, just laying there. You could scoop him up holding above your head (he’s still on his back in the air) and then put him right back down on his back how you found him, and he wouldn’t blink. Still have a picture of him on my desk! ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/27 "2005-11-15T00:24:04Z")
> [@Giant\_Spongess](#): > > Good god! That cat is rectangular! Heh, it’s just the way his puffiness is scrunched up in the basket. He’s usually more of an oval. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/28 "2005-11-15T00:26:37Z")
> [@Batsinma Belfry](#): > > I think the Maine Coon personality gene, must be pretty dominant. All maine Coon mixes I’ve seen had the personality but not necessarily the color/patterns found in Maine Coons. [Billy Bob](http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/823/billybasket11ty.jpg) is > solid gray on top with a white belly, boots and mittens. > > When he’s being sweet, he says “beep, beep, beep”. It sounds stupid comming > from such a large cat. When he wants food he says "m-WOW! That cat is freakin’ adorable. I just want to scoop him up in my arms and squeeze him! I don’t think Oscar necessarily has the huge size of a Maine Coon, but he’s gotten a LOT more solid over the past couple of years (he’s 6). And his fur just gets out of control over the winters now. He also doesn’t cry - he TALKS to us, and we can tell if he’s pissed or wants love or whatever. He’s very, very lovable and wants more attention than we can handle sometimes. Here’s his ‘prissy’ pose…I have a feeling if he does have Maine Coon in him, the rest of 'em would deny it because he’s such a priss. [Oscar](http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d936b3127cce9289c3a8941700000016108BYtWrduxao) ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/29 "2005-11-15T01:04:10Z")
Ooooh! Oscar is so pretty. He makes me want to reach out of computer screen and stroke his glossy back. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/30 "2005-11-15T02:03:19Z")
maine coons are great cats. very fun and lovable. they do like playing in water. there will be a mess around the water dish. they love faucets as well. note: they don’t want to be in the water… but it seems they come closest to tigers with water play. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/31 "2005-11-15T02:19:57Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Ooooh! Oscar is so pretty. He makes me want to reach out of computer screen and stroke his glossy back. Thanks!🙂 He knows he’s a pretty boy, too, unfortunately :rolleyes: . He thinks he’s the most gorgeous cat _ev-ah_. Eh, we like him:D. E. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/32 "2005-11-15T02:22:34Z")
Something I’ve wondered. How well do Maine Coons fare in the heat? I’ve seen my share of them at pet shelters and would like to eventually adopt one as a companion for my boy [Bobby](http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/srdje/bobby.jpg) (he’s a little skittish and could do with an easy-going friend), but that thick fur can’t be comfortable in the Arizona climate, even if it was an indoor cat. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/33 "2005-11-15T02:29:26Z")
> [@rocking chair](#): > > maine coons are great cats. very fun and lovable. they do like playing in water. there will be a mess around the water dish. they love faucets as well. > > note: they don’t want to be in the water… but it seems they come closest to tigers with water play. Mine love it when I dump some ice cubes in their water dish. “Oooh, it smells cold, and it floats!” _dabdabbattabattabattasplishSPLASH_ Good thing I don’t keep it on the hardwood floor, just on the bathroom tile. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/34 "2005-11-15T02:37:48Z")
**Ernie, the Best Cat Ever** , was a coon-mix. He got the size, temperament (of man, did he have the temperament!) but wasn’t so fluffy. We had the bus kid months after we got Ernie. Shortly after, he got punished for running over her and scratching her on her face. From that day on, no one, I mean NO ONE could mess with her. He wasn’t a loud, obviously threatening kind of guy. But if for example, I was in the mood to be mad at her, he would saunter over, place himself between us, flop on his back and just stare at me. Each night when she got put to bed, or when she got older just went to bed, he would follow her to her room, turn his back to the bed and watch the door of her room until he felt sure she was asleep. Then he’d leave her room and walk the entire house before settling in for the night. If you were in the house and heard her cry, it was best not to try and beat him to her side. He’d race right to her, and sit until someone got there to take care of her. My next was going to be a coon, but I had the rescue Cuervo dropped in my lap, so it may be years before I get my Coon. ---
**Author:** ![OhFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecccb3/32.png) [@OhFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OhFace)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/35 "2005-11-15T02:54:15Z")
My dad owns two maine coons, and they’re beautiful cats. They are brother and sister, [here’s](http://spaces.msn.com/members/dawnmb0415/PersonalSpace.aspx?_c11_PhotoAlbum_spaHandler=TWljcm9zb2Z0LlNwYWNlcy5XZWIuUGFydHMuUGhvdG9BbGJ1bS5Eb3dubGV2ZWxGdWxsTW9kZUhhbmRsZXI%24&_c11_PhotoAlbum_spaFolderID=cns!1pcBnKwXBVBfAo7d2uHsqZeQ!106&_c11_PhotoAlbum_spaNumPhotos=10&_c11_PhotoAlbum_spaPreviousImageID=cns!1pcBnKwXBVBfAo7d2uHsqZeQ!111&_c11_PhotoAlbum_spaPreviousImageIndex=4&_c11_PhotoAlbum_spaMoveForward=1&_c11_PhotoAlbum_spaPlayState=0&_c=PhotoAlbum&_c02_owner=1) some pictures for your enjoyment. 😃 The bigger one is the male, Marshall, and the smaller one is the female, Isis. The males get huge! Ours is 25 pounds of muscle and kitty fur! ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/36 "2005-11-15T03:52:36Z")
> [@Giant\_Spongess](#): > > Good god! That cat is rectangular! He’s like a large furry shoebox with legs! ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/37 "2005-11-18T02:31:48Z")
Here’s a picture of [Max](http://static.flickr.com/31/42361712_3f1fa6e9e7_b.jpg). This picture was taken last year. Now the poor baby isn’t doing too well. Last weekend, my parents had to rush him to the animal hospital because he wouldn’t eat or drink water and could barely move. he was filthy and his eyes were rolling up in his head. They have him on baby food now. The vet thinks it’s cancer. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/38 "2005-11-18T02:46:32Z")
Aww, I’m sorry Max is sick. He’s beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/39 "2005-11-19T02:46:49Z")
there is a maine coon cat in harry potter. a rather cute one. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964/40 "2005-11-19T03:00:53Z")
What beautiful cats! I always especially like pictures of **ETF’s** boys–they’re gorgeous. We’ve finally managed to get Mom to admit she’d like to have a cat again, but we haven’t started actively looking for one yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-coon-cats/330964.md?page=3)