Mother Nature has a thing for making some of its creatures… big. Big trees, big flowers, big fruits, and last but not least, big animals. Nature doesn’t like to be outdone by anything else, so when she decided to make an animal that could become a potential candidate for “Everyone’s Favorite Pet Award,” she went all out and made it as big as possible. Enter: the Maine coon cat!
Maine coon cats are known for their size — they were considered the largest domesticated cat breed before the introduction of the Savannah cat and still hold the title as the largest non-hybrid breed! And if you’re wondering how they got their name, as you’ve probably already guessed, their origins lie in Maine, where they have been the official state cat since 1985. That’s right — this breed is native to North America!
But don’t let their huge size fool you — these big cats are so sweet-tempered and loving that they’re recognized as exemplary lap cats and fantastic playmates for kids. Moreover, they’re very easygoing animals who don’t mind sharing their space so long as they get enough attention every now and then. The nickname “gentle giants” fits them like a glove!
Despite their big fluffy size, Maine coons have squeezed their way into our hearts and said, “Hey, look, it’s free real estate.” So if you also share an insane love for these big felines, this is your lucky day: we decided to dedicate a whole post to Maine coon pics! Let’s take a closer look at what makes coon cats different, so you’ll get why our hearts go pitter-patter whenever we see one!
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9-Week Old Maine Coon Kittens, Waiting For Their Vet Check
In order to learn more about these big cuties, Bored Panda got in touch with a couple of specialists in Alabama: Melissa Heigl, a professional animal trainer and a cat specialist, and Mitzi Guess, who has been breeding Maine coons for more than thirty years.
First things first, we wanted to find out more about their characteristics. "I fell in love with the doglike personality of coonies. They were so different from any cat I had ever been around. Very personal, and in your personal space! They are always up for any activity, which makes them great for a family with children. They love company and attention, always ready for a game of tag or chase," said Mitzi.
My Favorite Photo Of My Maine Coon
The question was also addressed by Melissa: "A Maine coon's temperament depends on a lot of factors, which include (but aren't limited to) genetics, socialization, overall health, and the environment. A good breeder has control over these factors. While every Maine coon has a different personality and its own quirks. They should be friendly, outgoing, playful and curious. Some are more clingy and enjoy being lap cats, while others are more independent. Some Maine coons are very chatty, while others can be very quiet. A good breeder can help match each family [to] their perfect kitten."
We also couldn't help but wonder how big Maine coons grow to be. "Thanks to social media and a lot of photo manipulation, there is a lot of misinformation about Maine coons. Males rarely exceed 25 lbs., while females are generally much smaller. It isn't unusual for a female Maine Coon to be between 10-15 lbs." – Heigl added.
He Looks Like Both, Lion And A Cat
Kefir, The Giant Maine Coon Cat Is So Big Many People Think That It’s A Dog At First
This big boi doesn't need a litter box, he needs the whole beach!
Because Maine coons are known to be rather sociable, we also asked if they get along with other animals, and Mitzi responded as follows: "Maine coons love dogs; they seem to think the dog belongs to them. And size doesn't matter, the bigger the dog the better the play."
"They are a very amiable breed and seem to adapt to any environment or household. Many are owned by truckers and travel the country, laying on the dash for a better view of their world."
Melissa also commented on the matter and said that: "If socialized properly, Maine coons generally enjoy other animals and will even befriend and play with other resident dogs and cats."
Size Comparison Of My Maine Coon To My American Shorthair
My Maine Coon Compared To My 5'5" Girlfriend
We then wondered whether there are any fun facts about the breed.
Mitzi replied with: "Maine coons have a tendency to like water. One factor into their names, the coon cat. They love to play in water like a raccoon, make a trill sound like a raccoon, and have the ringed tail like a raccoon. But that is an old wives' tale; raccoons cannot mate with cats. With a coonie you have the chirp and trill sound instead of the meow, that some might find aggravating."
The woman then added: "My favorite thing about a coonie, besides the personality, is the tipping on the ears. 'Lynx Tips' is the name of this striking feature. It gives them a very wild look and is very impressive if they are thick like a paint brush."
Meet Ophelia, My Twelve Week Old Maine Coon Kitten
My Sister's New Maine Coon Kitten Is Absolutely Freaking Adorable
Lastly, Melissa also responded to the question, and said that "Maine coons come in a variety of colors and not just black or brown tabby. Some Maine coons have polydactyly, which means that they have extra toes on each foot!"
We hope that you've enjoyed learning a few interesting facts about Maine coons, as well as this collection of 50 heartwarming images. Which one is your favorite? Let us know!
A Majestic Maine Coon
This Is Princess! She’s A Maine Coon And Loves Twisting! Her Smile Is Also 10/10
Tried To Catch A Mouse. Caught Autumn Instead
He Thinks He Is A Statue
Titiyo, Always Well Dressed
Meet Alaska!
Our Ferdinand At 19 Weeks
Big Boi
Made An Iron Throne For My Maine Coon. He Slipped Right Into The Role!
Meet Nana
Meet Dusty, My Girlfriend's 3 Legged Maine Coon
Mio Has Such Intensely Orange Eyes
Meet Biffa, My 8 Month Old Maine Coon
My Cream Maine Coon Growing Bigger And Bigger
Our Neo
3 Months Vs. 6 Months, Maine Coons Grow Super Fast
Everyone Say Hello To My Big Boy, LJ! He's A Maine Coon, Gonna Be 3 This May And He's 21lbs, Still Growing!
There Is Not Always Signs Of Intelligent Life. But He Sure Is Cute!
Cassidy, She’s A Maine Coon
Meet Our New Maine Coon, Hades, Terrifying God Of The Underworld
White Miracle
Baby Ira
My Handsome Boy
This ? Oh Just A 33lb Maine Coon(15kg)
Well, you don't have to buy weights for your workout. Just lift the kitty.
And This Is Smaug, 11 Months
My Friend's Fabulous Maine Coon
Breaking News: Local Ebi Cat's Breakfast Is Late, Bonus Treats To Be Given Immediately
Cuteness And Floof Levels Off The Chart. Meet Buddy The Maine Coon!
Our Neighborhood Friendly Main Coon
My Baby Girl!!!
Sleepy Boy
Get Yourself Someone Who Admires You Like Lore Admires Hex
Beelzebub, 7 Months Maine Coon On The Shelves We Just Built Him
I accept your tribute, human. Now create more structures for me, so I can rule from above.
Daddy’s Girl
Omar The Maine Coon Is A Beautiful Boy!
My Mom’s Maine Coon, Leo
This Is Our Too-Smart-For-Her-Own-Good Maine Coon Who Turns 8 Next Month. She’s Almost Smiling In This Picture. Meet Ginger
A Little Present
Mid-Century Mainecoon
I Present, Our Maine Coon, Oliver
He Refuses To Accept That He's Too Big For The Tree!
Meet My New Maine Coon: Mosby, There’s No Running In His Lobby
Snoozing Maine Coon Cat
Meet Maeve The Maine Coon
My Maine Coon Town Crier!
The whole house must be alerted that it's 5 minutes past breakfast time.
He Keeps Growing! My Big Boi Almost 2 Years Old
My Trio Of Coons
Meet Apollo, Our Sweet Maine Coon Kitten (10wks)
Giuseppe Is 3, Despite That Baby Face, And Is Also Just The Best Boi
Apollo My Maine Coon Cat When He Was A Kitten Many Years Ago
I Volunteer With Shelter Cats And We Just Got A Maine Coon Kitten. Meet Sebastian The Cute
Our Little Maine Coon Likes To Cuddle With Us Like A Real Derp
How Am I Supposed To Get Anything Done Like This?
Adopted This Lovely Girl
“Y’all Want A Beer Or Anything?”
Sunday Cuddles
OMG, YOU HAVE TWO WHITE COONS! I WANT ONNNEEE! THEY ARE SO PRETTY!
Huge Maine Coon At The Vet
My Majestic Maine Coon, Beowulf
Our Maine Coon Cat Ajax Is A Tall Boy
My Maine Coon Named Mek
I Love His Massive Stompers
Saint Kira. My Beautiful Main Coon
Roger The Maine Coon, He’s 3 Months Now
My Handsome Maine Coon Helping Me To Pot My Plants
Bucky Is Very Proud Of The Pumpkin He Grew This Summer
Magnificent Silver Vasya
Leo The Maine Coon Is Magnificent, And The Vet Says He Was Such A Good Boy!
This Is Ferdinand 14 Weeks Old
Some Toe Fluff For You Guys. He Insists On Drinking Water From A Proper Glass On A Table
He Has Such A Human Expression Sometimes
Big Dale Is Eight Months Old Today. His Murder Mittens Are Massive
Bigelow Doing A Pose
Our Snow Tiger
My Mom's Maine Coon Fell Asleep In A Wreath Before They Could Hang It Up. Guess They Can't Now
My 8mth Maine Coon Is Bigger Than My 7yr Old Russian Blue
Ragnar, Little Maine Coon
She’s Little Now But One Day Mingus Will Be A Full Grown Maine Coon
It Took A Little While, But Maine Coon Big Brother (5yr) And Rescue Kitty Little Brother (3mo) Are Best Buds Now! They Like To Hug Like This After They Play
Shooting With My Beautiful Maine Coon Model Lucy
Road Trip: Three Golden Retrievers And Bruce, The Maine Coon
Stoli And Marci
There Are Rules In This House And One Of Them Is No Cats On The Counter!!!
Check Out These Xl Murder Mittens!! Orion Was Posing Like A Pro
This is clearly a person in a fluffy cat costume. Look at those hands!
15 Weeks Old Maine Coon
This Is How My Wife Is Greeted By Our 20lb Maine Coon Every Morning
This Is What My Maine Coon Looks Like When My Wife Pulls In The Driveway
Dante The Maine Coon Kitten, Regal As Ever
Totoro - Our 4 Month Old Maine Coon
Jesper, My Maine Coon Tomcat And His Pretty Look When He Wants Something. Who Can Say No?
Maine Coon Kitten, 10 Weeks Old
My Mother's Handsome Maine Coon, Gaston (Around 4 Months Old)
Who does she think she is, that girl has tangled with The wrong man! No one says no to Gaston. Heh heh. Darn right. Dismissed! Rejected, publicly humiliated why it's more than I can bear. More beer? What for? Nothing helps, I'm disgraced. Who, you? Never Gaston. You've got to pull yourself together! Gosh it disturbs me to see you, Gaston Looking so down in the dumps Every guy here'd love to be you, Gaston Even when taking your lumps There's no man in town as admired as you You're everyone's favorite guy Everyone's awed and inspired by you And it's not very hard to see why No one's slick as Gaston No one's quick as Gaston No one's neck's as incredibly thick as Gaston For there's no man in town half as manly Perfect, a pure paragon You can ask any Tom, D**k or Stanley And they'll tell you whose team they prefer to be on No one's been like Gaston A kingpin like Gaston No one's got a swell cleft in his chin like Gaston As a specimen, yes, I'm intimidating My, what a guy, that Gaston
Two Best Friends. My Maine Coon Is Larger Than My Dog
Our Maine Coon Kitten At 7 Weeks Old
Tarzans Canvas Print Arrived
Last Of The Lavender Before Autumn
Majestic Miss Orange. My Big Cuddly Teddy Bear Cat
Max, My 4 Month Old Poly Maine Coon Sitting In Front Of The Christmas Tree
My 9 Week Old Maine Coon Kitten!
My Handsome Maine Coon
Tillamook 1 Year Old Maine Coon, 20lbs
Maine Coon Problems
All Thumbs, Our 13 Week Old Maine Coon Bigelow
Just Adopted This Two Fellas, Gino And Chester (Main Coons)
So cute! They look a lil like the sarcastic old guys on the muppet show! il_794xN.3...3_9dvr.jpg
Our Maine Coon Webster Enjoying Autumn Leaves
Blue The Maine Coon In My Fruit Bowl. There’s An Apple In There Somewhere
Why would you use that bowl for fruit when it's clearly meant for a cat? /S
My Large Maine Coon Luna Is Getting To Know The 6 Week Old Kitten Found On The Side Of The Road
My Beautiful 6 Month Old Maine Coon Kitty!
Maine Coons: The Classiest Of Pets
This Is 7 Month Old Angel
My Two Fur Buddies
Big Dale Is Just Over Five Months Old And Is Already More Than Half The Size Of The Average Adult Maine Coon!
Waiting For Them To Lose This Winter Coat Already So I Can Stop Vacuuming 3 Times A Day
My Fancy Neighbor
She's Really Into Lap Time And Cuddles Now (5mo)
90% Floof And 10% Eyes
Say “Happy Birthday” To Bigelow, He’s 2 Today!
When You Love So Much Water That You Take A Nap In It
Beautiful Boy Even With The Tooth That Pokes Out
Tarzan
9 Month Old Mainecoon Vs 9 Year Old Niece
Gustav The Maine Coon
My Dad And His Maine Coon, Buba!
My Absolute Unit Of A Maine Coone
My Maine Coon Has Missed Being Outside/Grass In Our New Apartment. I Tried To Get Him Some Grass On The Porch, But I Clearly Underestimated The Amount He Wanted
This Is Wookie, My Grandparents 21 Year Old Maine Coon
Sunday Afternoon With A Sleepy Maine Coon
Maine Coons Are Such A Majestic Breed
I Work At A Cat Cafe In London Where We Have Two Incredible Maine Coon Floofs (Flooves?) ! Here’s Jasper Looking Majestic As Per Usual
22 Lbs Of Maine Coon - Meet Bronson
5 Months Old Baby
Stretching After Nap… Only To Sleep Again
We Really Should Have Named Them Copy And Paste
Odin Takes Up Most Of The Sink But He Still Loves It
Big Boy, Sad He Got Too Big For The Sink!
Our Biggest Guy With Our Littlest Guy!
Dad Is Playing Pokémon, I’m Being Stared At By Lias
She Is Obsessed With My Husband’s Feet
He Was Mad I Wouldn't Turn On The Sink
Yummi Stretching Her Front Legs
When You’re Getting Big, But You’re Still Your Mom’s Little Baby
Zahzu The Maine Coon
Boyfriend’s Maine Coon Has Come Down With A Case Of Fancy Feet
Maine Coon Vs Siamese Size Comparison
My Maine Coon Cat Teddy Showing Off How Tall He Is
My Tiny Main Coon Loaf
Maine Coons Sunshine & Sundance
My Wife Wanted A Cat, I Said “Absolutely Not” Anyway, Here’s Our 14 Week Old Maine Coon
My Friend’s Absolute Chonk Of A Maine Coon
Meet My Adorable Maine Coon, Simba. His Tail Is Like A Feather Duster
Here's Manny, As You Can Guess, The Maine Coon. He Doesn't Often Pose So Patient, But When He Does, The Result Is Outstanding
My Maine Coon Lily Went Full Rainbow
When Your Maine Coon Thinks She’s A Baby, You Let Her Be A Baby
He Loves The Basket. He Doesn’t Fit, But Such Petty Details Don’t Stop Him
Granville Is Not A Morning Cat
Luna Lovegood
3 Maine Coons… In Case I Even Think About Getting Lonely In The Bathroom…
Gorgeous Girl
I’m Tired Of Owning A Cat That Looks Better Than Everyone Else In Our Household
Long Boy On His Favorite Spot On The Sofa
I Was Mauled By A Tiger This Morning
How To Put Your Maine Coons In Timeout
My Maine Coon Supervising As I Make Dinner
My 26 Pound Maine Coon, Sable
They're flirting with disaster when they get those mûrder mittens engaged in combat, lol 😆
Sonic The Maine Coon. He Bleps A Lot, He Had His Teeth Taken Out. He Also Has Very Bad Asthma So He Won’t Be Around Much Longer. We Are So Lucky To Have Had 10 Years
My Nephew’s Gorgeous Maine Coon Kittehs
Here Is My 5 Month Old Main Coon Kitten Odin
Local Hardware Store Has A Maine Coon. Meet Cooper!
Meet Thor, The Murder Mitten Kitten. Paws The Size Of My Palms. 28 Toes. 6 Mos Old, Maine Coon
The Ginormous Maine Coon That Lives At My Vet's Office
My Maine Coon Giving My Dad The "I Love You, Human," Look
My Maine Coon Waltzed Right Through The Maze Of Staring Kids And Planted It Right There. She's Got A Presence
My Girlfriend And Her Maine Coon Baby
Such A Graceful Creature!
Mainecoon Trio
My Beautiful Baby Church
My BF Didn't Want Me To Adopt A Cat. Guess Who Called Me To Tell Me We Would Soon Have Another Adition To The Family?
He Claims To Be A Maine Coon But I'm Pretty Sure He's Never Even Been To Maine
Meet My Gentle Giant Indy, Our Adopted Maine Coon
My 5,5 Year Old Maine Coon, Loke, Makes Sure That My Oldest Daugther Doesn't Feel Cold When Going To Sleep At Night. He Is Such A Gentle Giant
Meeko, My Maine Coon Baby
Size Comparison Of A Maine Coon And A Normal House Fat Cat
My Maine Coon Girl. Thought You Guys Might Like Her
Say Hi To Leo, My Spoiled Red-Silver Maine Coon
Having A Snooze While I Watch TV
BoredPanda, please please please...ENOUGH WITH THE CENSORSHIP! Maine C-o-o-n is the proper name for this cat. It makes you look really bad as a website if you continually employ this auto moderation system.
It's even worse that the title of the page has in UNCENSORED!
Load More Replies...I've got a 5month old coming to live with me on Sunday - how lucky I am :)
BoredPanda, please please please...ENOUGH WITH THE CENSORSHIP! Maine C-o-o-n is the proper name for this cat. It makes you look really bad as a website if you continually employ this auto moderation system.
It's even worse that the title of the page has in UNCENSORED!
Load More Replies...I've got a 5month old coming to live with me on Sunday - how lucky I am :)