Maine Coon: The giant, gentle cat that can reach 1.2 metres

The Maine Coon is the big one of the cat world: heavy-boned and thickly coated, it can measure over 1.2 metres from nose to tail tip and is a regular holder of the record for the world's longest domestic cat. For all its size, it has a very gentle nature and is often called a "gentle giant". Let's meet it.

Its body

The Maine Coon has heavy bones and solid muscle. Its coat is water-resistant, and it carries tufts of fur in its ears and between its toes against the cold — features that let it live comfortably in the chilly north-east United States. Males can weigh 8 to 12 kilograms, and the nose-to-tail length often exceeds 1.2 metres. It has a big, bushy tail that it often wraps around itself like a scarf.

Its personality and origins

The Maine Coon is one of America's oldest natural breeds and the official state cat of Maine. Gentle and quietly vocal, it likes to follow its human from room to room, almost like a "dog-cat". Many keep the quick mousing reflexes of their farm-and-ship ancestors — big as it is, it moves with real agility.

What you need to know to keep one

Because of its size, a Maine Coon needs a larger litter tray, a sturdier cat tree and more room to move. Its long coat needs regular brushing, especially in shedding season. It also matures slowly, usually reaching full size at three to four years old.

A note for grown-ups

You could measure 1.2 metres with a child: how long is that? Compare it with a table or a sofa. Letting a child feel a length with their body is far more meaningful than just reading a number — and much more fun.