Maine Coon: description, nature, diseases [veterinarian's recommendations
Maine Coon cat
Maine Coon is a big cat with the soul of a lamb.
It is one of the largest domestic cats that comes from North America.
There are 3 stories about the origin of this breed:
- The first assumes that they were found wild in the state of Maine from where they got their name. The term "coon " refers to the theory that they are the result of crossing a raccoon. racoon, commonly known as coon).
- Another explanation relates to the introduction of Marie-Antoinette angora cats brought to America by sailors and European colonists in the late 18th century.
- The third story relates to the Vikings who were able to take Norwegian forest cats on board their ships as they traveled across the Atlantic Ocean. Norwegian Forest Cats look similar to Maine Coons and these cats may have interbreed with local cats, thus giving rise to a new breed.
In this article you will learn what the cats of the breed look like Maine Coon, what is his character and what these beautiful cats get sick most often.
- What a Maine Coon cat looks like?
- Maine Coon character
- Maine Coon Grooming
- Maine Coon disease
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Kidney polycystosis
- Juvenile gingivitis
- Dysplasia
- Spinal Muscle Atrophy
- Is it worth choosing a Maine Coon?
- What is the life expectancy of a Maine Coon cat?
- What do Maine Coon cats suffer from??
What a Maine Coon cat looks like?
What a maine coon cat looks like? Weight and size
A Maine Coon male weighs about 8 kg, a female one about 6 kg, but the weight of a Maine Coon often reaches 13 kg. They are one of the largest domestic cats.
Breed description
Length, including the tail, up to one meter. Maine Coon cats belong to the group of semi-longhair cats of medium oriental type. Their medium-length coat consists of two layers: the undercoat and topcoat hair, and due to its structure, it is waterproof.
| Head | Quite wide and angular. |
| Eyes | Very large, round eyes. |
| Ears | Large, with scratchy brushes. |
| Chest | Broad and strong. |
| The legs | Strongly muscled. |
| Tail | Long and fluffy. |
Robe
Maine Coon cats are found in many colors, some of the most popular are:
- maine coon red,
- maine coon white,
- maine coon black.
What it looks like Maine Coon cat you can see in the video below:
The Maine Coon Cat Breed
Watch this video on YouTube
Maine Coon character
Maine Coon character Maine Coons are charming and social cats.
Maine Coons are best raised in the presence of another cat, so there is no problem with contacts with other animals.
Maine Coons are very loyal, they act like dogs almost sometimes and retrieve them.
Despite the rather threatening expression on their face, cats of this breed are patient and love to play, which is why they are suitable for any home with children.
Maine Coon care
How often to comb the Maine Coon? Due to the presence of a two-layer coat, combing is very important in these cats.
It is recommended to use carters, dead undercoat while detangling the hair.
Cats should be used to brushing and grooming from a small kitten, as this will allow us to perform regular and trouble-free grooming activities.
In the event of difficulties in caring for the coat, these cats quickly develop tangles, which very often force us to decide to shave the cat.
Bathing with Maine Coons is not necessary, and because of the waterproof coat, getting a cat wet is quite a challenge.
These cats, like any other, wash themselves, thus swallowing long hair.
They are therefore very vulnerable to the formation of hair balls in the digestive tract, the so-called. bezoars, which should be prevented by the use of Fiber feed, deburring pastes, e.g. Malt, Bezo-pet.
Failure to do so causes the development of an obstruction leading to vomiting and apathy in the animal.
Eventually, necrosis at the site of the obstruction and perforation of the intestines may develop.
Such situations are solved by surgery
Maine Coon disease
Maine Coon: Predisposition to Disease When buying a Maine Coon cat from breeding, it is worth getting interested in the genetics of the kitten's parents.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Maine Coon breed is genetically burdened with heart disease - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
It is characterized by a thickening of the myocardial wall, which always leads to diastolic dysfunction by increasing its stiffness and making it difficult to relax. Additionally, it results from the fibrosis of the muscle fibers.
This pathology leads to blood stagnation in the pulmonary circulation and pulmonary edema.
The disease affects cats that are both several months old and aged.
Mild cats may be asymptomatic for many years, while the symptomatic form is characterized by signs of varying degrees of respiratory distress or acute thromboembolism.
The following is then observed:
- increase in respiratory rate,
- wife,
- dyspnoea,
- less often cough,
- lethargy,
- fainting.
Auscultatory cardiac murmurs associated with mitral regurgitation or S4 gallop rhythm are common.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of an X-ray image showing the enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricular hyperplasia, as well as on the basis of an echocardiographic examination of the heart, which allows to measure the thickness of the organ wall.
Treatment is based on:
- facilitate filling of the chambers,
- reduction of blood stagnation,
- minimization of arrhythmias and ischemia.
The prognosis depends on the patient's compliance with treatment, but such cases are cautiously poor. You can read more about this disease in the article "Cat's cardiomyopathy "
Kidney polycystosis
Maine Coons are also exposed to PKD, or polycystic kidney disease, also known as kidney cystic disease.
The disease is genetically determined.
Cell growth as a result of stimulation by various substances leads to the formation of cysts.
Most often, cysts form in both kidneys.
Initially, no symptoms are seen, and this continues until renal failure develops.
Sometimes large cysts are detected accidentally during palpation of the abdominal cavity, and are confirmed by examination Ultrasound.
Kidney cystic disease is not treated.
In the case of the development of renal failure, fluid therapy and supportive therapy are performed.
Juvenile gingivitis
Predisposition to gingivitis in the Coon Maine Young Mainkuns are prone to juvenile gingivitis.
Immediately after the end of the eruption of the teeth, the gums remain fluffed, overgrown and bleed on examination.
The depth of the gingival groove exceeds 2 mm.
You can try to treat the disease in Maine Coons conservatively by performing intensive hygiene procedures, or by performing a gingivectomy procedure.
If the inflammation is ignored, it may become permanent.
Dysplasia
Maine Coons may develop hip dysplasia during their growth period.
The disease consists of underdevelopment of the acetabulum, the femoral head and the ligament that binds it together.
The disease is confirmed by an X-ray performed under general anesthesia.
The photo shows a shallowing of the pelvic acetabulum, which does not completely cover the femoral head.
In such a cat, we most often observe:
- lameness and soreness of varying degrees,
- difficulty jumping,
- limb stiffness after rest,
- caution in lying down,
- reluctance to play.
Treatment consists of surgical removal of the femoral head.
Spinal Muscle Atrophy
The last disease that Maine-Coon cats may be burdened with is spinal muscular atrophy.
This genetically determined disease is characterized by atrophy of the anterior nuclei of the sensory core.
Genetic tests make it possible to exclude Maine Coon cats that are carriers of the gene from breeding.
Spinal muscular atrophy in these largest domestic cats becomes active at 3-4 months of age.
We observe:
- strange, swaying gait in cats,
- limb stiffness and hypertrophy.
The strength in the limbs weakens, Maine Coon cats cannot jump on the furniture, we observe muscle atrophy, and the Maine Coon's death is due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
Unfortunately, a treatment has not been developed
…Is it worth choosing a Maine Coon?
Is it worth choosing a cat of this breed?? Maine Coony Cats is a barvery popular purebred cats, characterized by dignity and beautiful coat.
They are all cats:
- not very morbid,
- not causing problems,
- with their dog-like character, they satisfy every caregiver ?
Go ahead, Coon Maine cats can be recommended to homes with many animals and to homes with children.
What is the life expectancy of a Maine Coon cat?
The life span of a Maine Coon is from 12 to 17 years.
What do Maine Coon cats suffer from??
Maine Coon cats are predisposed to diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, polycystic kidney disease PKD, juvenile gingivitis, hip dysplasia, spinal muscular atrophy.
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