What to Expect when Maine Coon Kittens Grow Up
Finding the perfect kitten for any family is a challenge. You want one that’s friendly and gentle with your kids, but one that’s going to grow well with the family. One of the first things you might notice about Maine Coon kittens is its slightly different appearance, and that might draw you to the breed. It’s a great breed to have at home, and there are so many reasons why. We’re going to take you through the characteristics and traits of this large, but lovely, cat so that you can fully understand just what it is that makes this cat so alluring. There are so many things we could tell you about Maine Coon kittens that would make you want to get one right this second, but we’ll refrain from bragging about them and just share the most significant and important characteristics and expectations you can expect from a cat of this nature.
Maine Coon kittens are typically found with breeders, which means you must be prepared to ask questions and find specific answers before purchasing one of these adorable felines. They can be quite pricey, so you want to ensure that the breeder you’re entrusting to sell you a cat is on the correct level, and you’re going to want to do a little research to ensure that this type of kitten is just right for your family. It’s small, adorable and slightly off-key face might lure you in as a kitten, but it’s important to know what you’re getting when that Maine Coon kitten becomes a full-blown adult. This is not the small kitten you might expect.
Maine Coon Kitten Size
As a kitten, the Maine Coon is relatively small and kitten-like. However, it does grow to be a large animal, so it often fools those who are looking for a small cat. A small cat you will not find with this particular breed. The average Maine Coon male ends up weighing anywhere from 13 to 18 pounds on average, but there are many that weigh in at closer to 25 or 30 pounds. That’s a big cat! Females are decidedly smaller, weighing a much smaller 9-12 pounds. However, it’s not just their bodies that grow to be quite large. This is a cat that also has very large features. One such feature is the cats paws, which are much larger than those of your everyday cat. They’re quite large and can be intimidating to those who aren’t accustomed to seeing them.
It’s also important to note that these are cats that mature very slowly. What this means is that you typically will not find one that grows to its full size until closer to the cat’s third year of life. Once you get there, you will see, however, that they do begin to grow quite quickly.
The Maine Coon Coat
One of the most dramatic features, aside from size, of the Maine Coon is the fur on this animal. It’s a cat that has some very long fur, but it’s not the same length all the way around. In fact, it’s part of the reason these cats are so unique looking. They have long hair in some areas and shorter hair in others. It not only looks completely strange at times, it also makes the colors of the cat look different, which causes a very lovely visual.
Its shaggy coat is very unique. It’s quite soft along the bottom, but it can be very shaggy at the top. It’s also water-resistant at the top. Around the neck of a Maine Coon is a tuft of hair that resembles a lion’s mane. It really does make the cat look like a much smaller version of a lion, and the sheer size of these large animals doesn’t help, either.
The Maine Coon Personality
This is a truly “cool” cat. It loves to talk, and has a great time conversing with people on a regular basis. This is a cat that you won’t want if you prefer a cat that has a quieter nature. This is a cat that will talk your ear off and make sure you know what’s up in his or her life. The other cool factor about the Maine Coon is the fact that he will look you right in the eye when he speaks to you, and he will not bother to look away. He’s not intimidated by you, and he wants your focus solely on him.
This is a cat that’s very intelligent, but very loving. It’s big, but it feels it’s a lap animal that should spend as much time as close to you as possible. This is a cat that will make it a point to come close, purr and ask for some love and attention. The Maine Coon is fun because it likes attention from everyone, including children and other pets. Most cats are not very accepting of children’s attention, but they’re very accepting of the fact that they will get love from their kids. They’ll even cuddle right up to the family dog if it’s a cat-friendly animal.
They’ve very dog-like in that they prefer human attention and interaction. Many cats are more resigned and tend to feel that they only want attention when they want it, and that’s not all that often. The Maine Coon, however, is not one of those cats. It’s very friendly and very social. It’s not likely to hide when you have a house full of people. It’s more likely to come out and sit down next to a guest in an effort to get a little attention and love.
Another very dog-like quality that your Maine Coon kitten will one day adopt is the end of the day greet. This is a cat that will definitely see you at the end of the day and make sure you know that he’s happy to see you. Much like a dog or a toddler, this cat will greet you at the end of the day with a happy conversation and some need for attention.
Photos by Facebook
