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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

1959.0. "Maine Coon or tabby?" by PAR5::K_CIOFFI () Fri Nov 11 1988 11:19

    This may sound like a stupid question but.......Does anyone out
    there know the difference between a Maine Coon and an orange tabby?
    I have been a cat mom for only 6 months.  Jasper is what the shop
    (where we got him) called an orange tabby.  But we have a cat book
    with picture of a Maine Coon, and Jasper looks just like the picture.
    He has a very fluffy tail, has medium length hair, white around
    the eyes and under the chin, and the tabby "m" on the forehead.
    He is also what I consider to be a "big" cat for his age, although 
    I don't have much comparison.  He is a real sweetheart, and runs
    our life (as he should).
    
    Bottom line, it doesn't really matter whether or not I know he's
    a tabby, or part Maine Coon, or all Maine Coon.  I'm just curious
    and thought someone might know the difference.  
    
    Thanks.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1959.1		FREKE::HUTCHINS	Feathered Obsessions Aviary	`Fri Nov 11 1988 12:11`	10
	HI, No such thing as a dumb question! Maine Coon cats are very large, but they also have little tufts of hair on the tips of their ears as well! Does this help? Jean
1959.2	Explanation	STAR::BARTH		`Fri Nov 11 1988 13:01`	7
	Tabby simply refers to the coat pattern. A tabby can be either striped, spotted or blotched. A cat can be a tabby and also be a Maine Coon, a short hair, a persian, whatever... So your cat is definately a tabby, and might be a Maine Coon cat. Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.
1959.3		PAR5::K_CIOFFI		`Fri Nov 11 1988 13:38`	11
	re 1. Hmm, will have to check the picture of the Maine Coon. Jasper has lots of long white fur in front of his ears, but I don't think the tips are unusual. re 2. Thanks for the explanation. Now I understand. I think he's part (a good part) Maine Coon, and he thinks he's KING of the house. Sooo, we're all set!
1959.4		VIDEO::MORRISSEY	mama's fallen angel...	`Fri Nov 11 1988 16:08`	9
	Sounds like my Sasha!! The vet says she's part Coon Cat cuz she's got long ears for a kitten...I just know she's beautiful and I love her to death....(but when does kittenhood end???!!! :) ) JJ
1959.5	Ears, ears, and more ears!	PAR5::K_CIOFFI		`Mon Nov 14 1988 12:10`	8
	re. 1......Now I'm confused!! I checked the cat book that I have for tufted ears. Practically ALL the cats pictured had little tufts of fur on the end of their ears, as does Jasper. The ears on the Maine Coon looked no different than any other cats. re. 4......Kittenhood lasts long enough for YOU to be trained to your cats desires!!
1959.6	see Note 5.0	EUCLID::PAULHUS	Chris @ MLO8-3/T13 dtn 223-6871	`Tue Nov 15 1988 12:01`	9
	See topic 5.* in this conference for lots of discussion about Maine Coons. A very particular trait of Maine Coons is a flattening of the fur over the shoulders (near base of neck, at start of back). This is particularly evident in purebreed Coons (I think) and is quite different from other cats. The tufts from inside the ears and between the toes along with the "britches" (fuzzy fur about 2/3 of the way down the legs, then flat fur to feet) are some of the markings that I have noticed. The profile is a bit different, (and more handsome, in my opinion) too. - Chris
1959.7	yes, that's him!	PAR5::K_CIOFFI		`Tue Nov 15 1988 15:39`	10
	Chris, Thanks for the info. I had looked at 5. before but only part way. I just read the whole note. Kind of wish I didn't (it got rather HOT). But I got a lot of info, and I'm now convinced my guy is part Maine Coon. (I would never state here that I thought he was all Maine Coon!!!) He has all the characteristics including a great personality and a big mouth. He's the best....for a half breed!