About the origin and types of Maine Coon mestizos, the characteristics and risks of their breeding and purchase

Maine Coons are a breed that is very popular nowadays. Purebred kittens are expensive, and therefore not everyone who would like to have such a cat can afford to purchase a pet with documents. The thought involuntarily creeps into the minds of such potential owners about whether they should try to find a cheaper kitten, as long as it looks like a purebred one. What could be the risk of purchasing a mixed breed of this breed and is it worth purchasing such a pet?

About the origin

Most Maine-Coon mixes are born as a result of random matings. For example, when, having taken his pet with him to the dacha, the owner did not think that his fluffy beauty would probably attract the neighbor’s outbred cat as a bride. However, sometimes interbreed matings are also the result of the activities of unfortunate breeders who decided to see what would happen if they mated a Maine Coon cat, for example, with a British cat.

Interbreeding is a lottery in which it is impossible to predict how genes will fall.

Kittens born from such a mating will most likely turn out to be different from Maine Coons. In addition, there is a high risk that they will be predisposed to many diseases.

Opportunity to participate in exhibitions

Purebred Maine Coon cats have been recognized by all international federations, therefore they take part in various exhibitions. But their mixed descendants were not so lucky - not a single expert association registers mestizos.

For specialists, they do not exist as a separate group, although if a large population with the same external characteristics arises, they may be registered as another breeding variety.

Fraud

A conscientious breeder who is proud of his Maine Coons and their offspring will never think of breeding his champion cat with a yard Barsik.
If this happened by accident, for example, due to an oversight, then he will not sell mixed-breed offspring under the guise of purebred kittens.

And he will try to place them in good hands for free.

Intentional interbreeding is carried out by those owners whose cats do not have access to breeding. Such animals will consistently pass on all their shortcomings and vices to their offspring, and it does not matter whether it is from a representative of their own breed or mixed breed. At the same time, the breeder will not just give away mixed-breed kittens, but will try to sell them as early as possible and at a higher price under the guise of purebred Maine Coons.

You should be wary if kittens are sold significantly cheaper than other Maine Coons and, moreover, have not reached 3 - 3.5 months.

In this case, there is a very high risk that they were born as a result of interbreeding and their “breeder” is in a hurry to sell them as quickly as possible, before their external differences with purebred Maine Coon kittens become too obvious.

Care

Representatives of the breed are admired for their luxurious coat, but at the same time, they are simply a godsend for cat lovers who adore long-haired pets, but do not have the opportunity to brush them every day.

Grooming

Coon fur is not prone to matting, so it is enough to brush it once a week. During the molting period, however, more effort and daily care will be required. They begin to comb the coon from the head, moving towards the tail, and then move on to the stomach and paws. First, use a slicker brush, and then comb the cat with a metal comb with sparse rotating teeth and an antistatic effect.

You won't have to bathe your coon often. Firstly, they are very clean and do an excellent job with personal hygiene. Secondly, frequent bathing deprives the Maine Coon's coat of protective fatty lubricant, which negatively affects the condition of the skin and the appearance of the coat.

It is worth saying that the process itself rarely causes problems. Most big cats love water, or at least tolerate it. Shampoos are used for long-haired cats; it is also advisable to choose conditioner and hair products that prevent tangling. After bathing, it is better to blot your fur coat with a towel and let it dry on its own, after making sure that there are no drafts in the house. Maine Coons are bathed approximately once every 5 months, and also a few days before the exhibition.

Care for eyes, ears, claws and mouth

Eyes and ears should be cleaned of dirt with special means as necessary. It is not advisable to use cotton wool to wipe your eyes, since its fibers can remain on the cornea and irritate it. To clean your ears, when choosing between sticks and lotions, you should give preference to the second option. Improper use of ear sticks can cause plugs to form.

The claws are trimmed as they grow by literally a few millimeters. This is usually done in cases where cats, sitting on their hands, like to knead the “place” with their paws. If a pet has become accustomed to tearing up furniture, wallpaper or carpet, trimming its claws is unlikely to save the owner from problems. Only a scratching post will help.

The oral cavity also needs care. When feeding dry food, it is enough to brush your teeth once a month. If the animal eats natural food, then teeth cleaning should be done more regularly, about once a week.

How to tell the difference?

The older the kitten, the easier it is to understand whether it is purebred or not.
By about three months, purebred Maine Coon babies acquire tufts on their ears, which are one of the most characteristic features of the breed.

Mixed-breed or outbred kittens usually do not have ear tufts.

In addition, a purebred Maine Coon has wide and strong paws at a very early age with tufts of hair between the toes, and a long and powerful tail.

The head and muzzle of a purebred baby is elongated and wide-cheeked; later it will acquire the so-called “box” shape characteristic of a representative of this breed. And in general, such a kitten looks much larger than its peers. Already at one and a half months he is the same size as a six-month-old young cat of another breed.

The only reliable confirmation of the Maine Coon breed is documents on the origin of the kitten.

Below is a selection of photos of purebred representatives of this breed.

They don't like loneliness

Maine Coons always strive for the room where there is a person; without attention, they suffer greatly. They, as a rule, choose one owner and remain devoted to him for life. If your cat chose you out of all the family members, then you are very lucky, but there are disadvantages: he is unlikely to give you privacy in the toilet or shower. The doors in the room you are in should always be open. These animals generally hate loneliness: even if you leave the house for just a couple of hours, the Maine Coon will greet you with violent screams. But cats of this breed are easy to teach dog tricks. Our pet always comes when called and knows how to fetch. Some owners even boast that they taught their pet the “sit” command. It’s better for you to always be close, otherwise they may be offended by you and will never let you caress them again. Therefore, either take it with you always or don’t start it at all.

Features and risks of breeding

You should not hope that a mixed-breed kitten will look like a real Maine Coon. Indeed, during interbreeding, the characteristic traits inherent in representatives of a given breed appear extremely rarely, even individually, and never all at once. Even if the resulting kittens are a little larger than babies from a cat of another breed and a little fluffier, they will still be very different from purebred animals.

The amazing character of Maine Coons, which so distinguishes them from ordinary cats, is also, as a rule, not passed on to mixed-breed kittens. In addition, the more breeds are mixed, the greater the risk of genetic diseases or congenital pathologies.

Mating a Maine Coon cat with a representative of another breed is also fraught with the fact that due to the very large size of the kittens, the cat may simply not give birth and die.

Finally, there is a risk that mixed-breed kittens, which have disappointed their new owners because they are different from purebred animals, may end up on the street or in a shelter.

Photos of Maine Coon mixes

If you pay attention to the content of advertisements for the sale of Maine Coons, then quite often among them you can find something like the following: “Maine Coon mixed-breed kittens for sale”, “Maine Coon mom, British dad”, “Maine Coon mixed kittens with an ordinary cat." As a rule, their price is several times less than the cost of a purebred animal with a good pedigree, but how high are the chances of encountering disappointment when buying such a kitten?

Origin of Maine Coon mixes

First of all, it should be borne in mind that all felinological associations categorically prohibit the breeding of mestizos of this breed. It's official.

Of course, in reality, no one controls amateur cat breeders, and due to curiosity or not particularly conscientiousness, owners often come up with the idea of ​​​​mixing the Maine Coon with representatives of not only other breeds, but often even domestic cats. The result can be completely unpredictable.

Metis is a mixture of different breeds of animals crossed with each other.

Most often, animals that initially have some kind of breed defect end up in such breeding - this could be a defect in appearance or a character that does not quite correspond to the breed. After all, nurseries that care about their good name will never allow culled individuals to be bred; they can usually be bought as pets, and one of the conditions for purchasing such a kitten is the owner’s obligation to castrate or sterilize it in the future.

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In official breeding, specialist breeders strictly monitor the fulfillment of all requirements for the characteristics of the breed. This applies to appearance, habits, character, health.

The distinctive character traits of this breed are:

• Sociability, goodwill towards people, friendliness;
• Balance, calmness;
• Self-esteem;
• Absence of pronounced aggressive habits;
• High level of intelligence.

Mestizos scam

In addition to conscientious owners who do not hide their purebred origin, there may be dishonest “merchants” who pass off fluffy kittens from mixed marriages as real purebred coons, offering them at a discount under the pretext of good reasons.

Is it worth buying a Maine Coon mix?

As a rule, the main motive for purchasing a Maine Coon mestizo instead of a purebred cat is the desire or need to save money - after all, a good purebred animal is not cheap.

Future owners expect that since the kitten is born from one of the Maine Coon parents, the mestizo will certainly inherit the traits of this breed. In reality this is far from the case.

You need to be aware that a mestizo is not at all the same thing as a real Maine Coon, and no one can predict what he will grow up and become as an adult, in a year or two. Representatives of the Main Coon breed - as they are called in English - are very distinctive; breeders have worked for decades to develop all the qualities corresponding to the breed, so no mestizo will ever perfectly match these characteristics.

As a result of an irresponsible approach to breeding, Maine Coon mixes appear, which may have aggressive habits, poor health or an unbalanced psyche. As a result, instead of saving, you can end up with a lot of additional problems and expenses for visiting a veterinarian.

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Everything may turn out quite well, your pet will delight you for many years, and your character and health will be in perfect order, but no one can give guarantees in this case, it’s always a game of roulette.

If your budget is limited, but you really want to buy a cat of this breed, you can contact a nursery: they often have animals that for some reason are not suitable for breeding and exhibition work, have finished their breeding “career”, then they can be sold at reduced price - 2-3 times cheaper. It will be an animal of a lower class within its breed, but at least you will have the guarantee that it is a healthy purebred pet, the origin of which is precisely known.

Features and risks of breeding Maine Coon mixes

1. In interbreeding, the breed's traits degenerate very quickly, and it is impossible to achieve a stable result. Uncontrolled matings with representatives of other breeds can lead to the appearance of genetic deformities, and this may not appear immediately, but only in subsequent generations of such mestizos.
2. If a Maine Coon cat is paired with a female of a different breed, there is a high risk that the babies will be born too large; perhaps their mother simply will not be able to give birth. In this case, it is better not to risk the life and health of your pet.
3. With a high probability, mestizos may not inherit the main qualities for which representatives of this breed are valued: friendliness, devotion to people, sociability.
4. If a grown-up mestizo does not look exactly like a Maine Coon, there is often a high chance that he will disappoint the owner, will not live up to his expectations and will end up on the street.

Varieties of Maine Coon mixes

Throughout the history of the breed, there have been some attempts to obtain mixed breeds of Maine Coon and other breeds so that the desired characteristics are fixed and a kind of derivative breed is obtained. For example, experiments were conducted on crossing coons with Siamese cats in order to obtain a large animal with long fluffy hair and a characteristic color. All attempts failed because the result was not stable.

The idea of ​​crossing a Maine Coon with a Bengal to increase the size of the animals also failed.

In addition, Maine Coon mixed breeds are often obtained by mating with an ordinary cat; they are crossed with British, Siberian, Neva Masquerade, Persian and other breeds. In all these cases, the result can be extremely disastrous.

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A Maine Coon-British mix will look more like an ordinary yard Murzik - most likely it will be just a semi-furry animal, perhaps quite large, but that’s all. The fact is that the British and Coons are significantly different in their constitution, in many ways they are two opposites, therefore, what can happen with such a crossing cannot be predicted in advance.

Mixed Maine Coon and Siberian cat

In terms of appearance, perhaps a combination of a Maine Coon with a Siberian breed may be more or less successful. True, there is not much point in this either, given all the risks described above.

Mixed Maine Coon and regular cat

A mixed breed between a Maine Coon and an ordinary cat can extremely rarely appear during deliberate crossing; most often they are born from accidental matings, if the purebred cat had the opportunity to have contact with another animal. There is not much point in this adventure.

In addition, if one of the non-pedigreed parents has short hair, the mixed breed is more likely to also be short-haired. As a result, one of the main advantages of a purebred coon - a luxurious fur coat - will be lost.

How to distinguish a real Maine Coon.

For a real purebred coon, which can rightfully be considered such, all of its ancestors are known up to the 4th generation inclusive. All of them must be indicated in his pedigree.

When buying a kitten, it is worth getting to know its parents and looking at their origins in the pedigree. An honest breeder won't come up with "good reasons" why you can't see his mom and dad right now, he has nothing to hide. In addition, responsible owners do not part with kittens before 3-3.5 months - at this age, babies receive their first vaccinations. And it’s already much easier to distinguish a mestizo from a Maine Coon than when it’s still just a baby.

Owners will most likely try to get rid of the mestizos early in order to minimize the cost of maintaining them.

Distinctive features of purebred kittens:

1. By 3 months, characteristic tufts appear on the tops of the ears. If they are not there, this is a mestizo or even a simple outbred kitten.
2. A real purebred kitten is distinguished by a powerful long tail and wide paws - this feature is noticeable even in newborn babies. Pretty soon tufts of fur grow between the toes.
3. A purebred kitten has a rather long head with wide cheekbones. Later, the muzzle is shaped into a geometrically correct “box” shape.
4. Maine Coon kittens grow much faster than others. At the age of 1.5 months, it is already a fairly large animal, comparable in size to a six-month-old ordinary kitten. A Maine Coon mixed breed kitten will be noticeably smaller in size than its purebred counterpart.

If you have even the slightest doubt, before buying a pet you should consult with an experienced breed specialist, a professional breeder. Many breed experts are able to distinguish a Maine Coon mestizo from a real purebred animal from a photo.

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Varieties

Throughout the existence of Maine Coons, attempts were made from time to time to cross them with other cats in order to create a new breed. For example, in order for the Siamese color to appear in the breed, they tried to cross them with Siamese cats. But all the hybrid kittens and their descendants did not inherit the desired qualities and were not like their parents, and therefore there was no need to talk about breeding a new breed. What other Maine Coon crosses exist and how do they differ from purebred animals?

Crossed with a Siberian cat

The main advantage of a cross with a Siberian cat is the thick, long and fluffy fur that is common to representatives of both breeds, so such kittens will certainly be fluffy. They can also be larger in size than regular cats. A mixed breed with a Siberian cat will never reach the size of a Maine Coon and the characteristic tufts on his ears will also not appear. In addition, such cats will have a different head shape and a more massive build.

As a rule, mixed breeds with Siberian cats are quite affectionate, although less intelligent.

British mix

This British cross will have traits such as a calm disposition, quick wit, distrust of strangers and neatness. She will be smaller than the Maine Coon, she will have a fairly large and wider muzzle. If this is a kitten from a mating with a British Longhair, then it will grow up to be semi-longhaired. These mestizos are friendly and get along well with children, in addition, they are quite smart and quick-witted , although they are inferior in this regard to purebred cats.

Half-breed with a Norwegian cat

Such a mixed breed will probably be quite large and fluffy, with thick and dense water-repellent fur. He will probably even have small tufts on his ears, typical of Norwegians. The character of such a kitten is a little similar to the character of the Maine Coon: the mestizo will have a well-developed hunting instinct, and he will also be quite affectionate and affectionate towards people.

It should be remembered that even such a kitten may be completely different from either of its parents: it all depends on how the genes are distributed.

A cross between a normal cat

The most unpredictable combination, since an ordinary domestic cat can be the result of a mixture of many breeds. Here there is no need to talk about the similarity of mestizos with Maine Coons both in terms of appearance and character. With a high degree of probability, a mixture of genes from other breeds will turn out to be more dominant and will not allow even one or two of the characteristic breed characteristics of the original breed to appear. Perhaps such mestizos will grow a little larger than ordinary cats. They are also likely to have fairly thick, but somewhat short, fur.

Maine Coon mixed breeds. What do crosses with different breeds look like?

Recently, exotic pets have become increasingly popular among breeders. The Maine Coon mix is ​​one of them. Despite the fact that breeding is prohibited, its cost will be several times less than for representatives of this cat group that have a pure pedigree. And when purchasing a pet, they are most often guided by feelings, and not by the origin of the animal.

Description of the animal

Purebred animals are divided into European and American. Which, in turn, are divided into the Shaw, Brid and Pet classes, distinguished by their large size, rich coat and tassels on the ears. When breeding, Norwegian forest seals are often found, mutations in the form of polydactyly - more than 16 fingers and Dutch rex - coons with curly hair. Maine Coon mixed breeds, like any other breed, are a mixture of the blood of parents of different origins. This can be a purebred and yard cat, or any other purebred with a representative of the animal in question. Such a pet may look different, depending on which genes were passed on from its ancestors.

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Types and how to recognize?

In most cases, mestizos are born from random mating; they are not specially bred.
The cat breed in question is distinguished by its large size, large ears with tufts, semi-long hair, a wide chest, strong bones and a long tail. The Maine Coon hybrid has generally accepted types, such as:

• si-kun - a mixture with Siamese;
• Renegade is a cross between a Bengal cat.

A mixed breed cat is undesirable for experienced breeders, most often resulting from accidental mating of animals. The most unpredictable results are obtained from Sphynx cats or yard cats. A half-breed will look different depending on what breed was present in the cross. More details are presented in the table:

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Pros and cons of mestizos

The main positive feature of hybridization is the moderate price of animals.

The main disadvantage of mixing blood is the loss of breed purity, the prohibition of breeding activities, unknown consequences in the mental and somatic development of the pet, and there is also a huge risk of the cat’s death during childbirth due to the large size of the future offspring. Positive qualities passed on from purebred parents are considered to be the loving and sociable nature of cats, their friendly nature and loyalty to their owner.

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Features of keeping a pet

Since the character traits of hybridized cats can be varied, it is necessary to carefully monitor the behavior of the animal in order to raise a well-mannered and docile cat. It is necessary to correctly combine punishment with encouragement, not to allow him to misbehave and recover in unacceptable places. The kitten is surrounded with love and attention. In terms of health, they are prone to allergies, diseases of the joints and gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, an annual examination by a veterinarian and a diet that includes the required amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and microelements is essential.

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Body type

Maine Coons are distinguished by their impressive size and weight. The documented body length record is 120 cm. The weight of adult individuals ranges from 8 to 12 kg. The dimensions of kittens from birth are 1.5–2 times greater than those of half-breeds. The weight of Maine Coons is 150–200 g, while ordinary babies weigh no more than 100 g.

If an adult cat weighs less than 7 kg, it is most likely a mixed breed.

Pedigree kittens are also characterized by skeletal development. By 3–4 months, the body and limbs are stretched. Kittens become like “bicycles” and “laces”. They gain weight much later. But even a newborn Maine Coon baby stands out with its massive, wide paws.

Record holders

The largest Maine Coon in history had a body length of 123 cm. The tail was 41.5 cm long. This cat had a gray-smoky color, and the record itself was recorded on August 28, 2010. His name was Stewie, he lived in the USA, in the state of Nevada. Another record holder lived in Australia, his name was Omar. He weighed 14 kg. It had a length of 120 cm.

Maine Coon record holder.

One of the most sensational records concerning this breed lived in Australia and had similar dimensions.

The largest cat by weight lived in the USA. He reached a weight of 16.5 kg, and did not have any health problems that could cause such a body weight.

No artificial records

In order to achieve records, many owners begin to overfeed the cat or even introduce special hormonal supplements to quickly gain height and weight, thereby harming its health. Large weight impairs the functioning of the heart, liver, digestive tract, and also leads to metabolic disorders. This way the animal can die much faster. All this led to the fact that many international exhibitions and competitions canceled awards in this category.

Wool

Maine Coons have fluffy, thick, but at the same time soft hair. The pants, chest and belly have especially long pile. The undercoat is also silky and delicate. A characteristic detail is long tufts of fur between the toes.

According to the rules, the pedigree of a real Maine Coon is confirmed by a pedigree of at least 4 generations. Conscientious breeders give up kittens at the age of 3 months. If the seller offers younger pets, you should seriously think about purebred.

Mestizos are often not inferior in beauty to purebred individuals, although they are smaller. But if the goal is to acquire a Maine Coon, it is worth taking into account the listed signs and evaluating the kittens according to their presence. If you have any doubts about your own competence, it is better to consult a professional breeder.

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Head shape

Experts say that one of the main distinguishing features of a real Maine Coon is the geometrically correct shape of the lower part of the muzzle. Due to its characteristic symmetry, it is a square. A powerful chin gives the muzzle a brutal and somewhat menacing appearance. Maine Coons are given additional severity by the serious look of their slanted eyes.

This is interesting: Photo of a red Maine Coon