Conference misery::feline_v1

    Avril -
    
    If you look at note #5 (back a few years) it discusses Maine Coon cats
    and has 55 replies to it.  There might be some info in there that will
    help you out.
    
    I also don't know much about Maine Coon cats, except they are beautiful
    animals and I'd love to have one someday.
    
    Mary
    

    
    Hi !!
    
    I just recently bought a Maine Coon Cat and I can honestly say that he
    is the sweetest, most wonderful cat I have ever owned. His name's
    Sparky. He is rather large, only 6 months old and already the size of a
    full grown house cat. He is a strictly indoor cat, and the breeder told
    me that is what they suggest. Although they love to play and to run.
    Sparky is full of life, bursting with energy. He loves to play, and
    will romp around on the floor forever (or until I get too tired!!)
    following a toy or a string... He is very vocal, although not very
    loud. He gurgles a lot, like he's trying to talk. He does let me know
    when he's hungry. He is very very affectionate, and will snuggle for
    hours while I pet him. He is great with my other cats, and has already
    (in only a week) gained the friendship of the oldest (Taco). They chase
    each other around the house, playfully batting at each other, cleaning
    each other, eating side by side, etc. My other younger (a year old)
    female cat (JellyBean) doesn't yet like Sparky. He has invaded her turf
    and taken away her "buddy" Taco. So she growls when he walks into a
    room, and screeches at him when he comes near her. She tries to scare
    him away from his food (this doesn't work, which makes JellyBean even
    madder). But Sparky still tries to get along with her. He is a gentle
    cat, allowing me to brush him without any problem, he sits quietly when
    I take him in the car (without a cage). And most of all he is a
    snuggly, gorgeous cat. I can honestly recommend a Maine Coon to
    anyone... they are my favorite breed of cat. Oh! He loves the snow
    too!! I let him out on my balcony after this last storm and he romped
    around, flipping snow up in the air, burrowing his face into it then
    coming out and sneezing... he had a ball!
    
    

      Oh boy, one of my favorite subjects!  I know there are quite a few
    notes in here about Coons, maybe if you did a search by Maine or Coon
    you could find them.  
      The lovecat of my life was my Maine Coon Ruby.  I met him so many
    years ago when I moved into a apartment house in my town back in '79.
    We looked at each other and it was love at first sight. He was about
    7 years old then.  He kept escaping from my landlady's apartment and
    coming downstairs and banging on my door.  I'd let him in and get
    absolutely loved to death by this cat.  After a few months of this, I
    went to put him out in the hall one night so he could go back upstairs
    to his owner. He did NOT want to go.  He banged for about a half hour
    with me on the other side telling him he had to go back upstairs. 
    Finally, I heard him huff and he did.  But the next night he came down
    and seranaded me with the most beautiful singing I had ever heard. He
    made it clear he never would leave me again.  And he didn't.  My
    landlady said she couldn't stand in the way of such true love.  He
    lived with me till he died last year just before xmas of leukemia.  
    There never could be another like him.  He was definately a Romeo lover
    cat, a snowcat, attackcat, lovecat, companioncat, etc.etc.  He was
    my pillow at night, he chased dogs out of the yard, kept all the
    other kitties in line, looked at me with such obvious love in his
    eyes.  I miss all those things.
         Get a Coon if you can.  They are different than other cats.
    Really.
                                             Denise

    
    
    	My current 'guardian of the acres, ace hunter of little creatures,
    	warmer of my bed, and sitter of my lap' is a Maine Coon cat. I
    	have had her since she was a kitten and she will celebrate her
    	10th birthday this April.  Catnippy is a HUNTER extraordinaire!
    	She is smart,loving,fearless and wise to the world. Her colors are
    	beautiful and people invariably have to take a second look.
    	She is BIG and her coat is thick and fluffy. Makes her a great
    	"holding" cat. She has good manners and I have NEVER seen her
    	act with bad humor towards another cat (especially kittens that
    	have come to live at my house). She can and WILL defend her
    	territory against all comers, including any males! She does this
    	effectively (she has claws reminiscent of giant canopeners!).
    
    	She's one in a million to me. Keep in mind, I may be a tad
    	biased on this but...since you asked. *8^}
    
    					kim and THE NIPPER!
     

Oh!............. How can I *not* have one now? I can't wait for one of the 
handful of breeders over here to let me know when there is one available.

Fortunately my sister is one of the judges at some of the main cat shows and 
although she doesn't judge the Maine Coons she does get to know all the people 
who are concerned with them (quite a small group at the moment). So through her 
I hope to hear on the grapevine just when I am going to be lucky!

I'll let you know when the new addition arrives!

Avril

    
    	Sasha isn't a pure Maine Coon but she does have some.  Her
    	other half is Brown Tabby I think.
    
    	From what I've heard of Coons here, I wish she were more Coon.
    	She is the b**ch of the brood.  She doesn't like Chloe and
    	frequently lets her know it.  And it's very easy for Sasha's
    	nose to get "out of joint" if I've been petting Chloe where
    	she can see me.
    
    	But she does have her moments.  She's a little over a year old
    	and I've been told that Coons don't grow to their full size
    	till about 3, so she'll be a big kitty.  But I've found that
    	as she's getting older, she's becoming more of a cuddle-kitty.
    	She has the most beautiful green eyes.  When she wants to be
    	held she just has to look at me and how can I resist!!  She is
    	Momma's baby and she knows it!!  =)  Even my mom commented on
    	how beautiful she is and is very friendly with strangers.  
    	And my mom doesn't like cats. (but they love her!!)  Sasha will
    	just walk up to someone new in the house and immediately start
    	rubbing against their legs.  She's such a love!!
    
    

    My first cat was a Maine Coon.  I was about 9 and he was a stray.  I
    didn't know he was a Maine Coon until I found his picture in a cat
    book.  It was an exact match.  Back then, the Maine Coon was not re-
    cognized as a breed!  I named my new cat Frisky because he was so
    active and playfull.  Frisky really was my best friend.  He followed
    me everywhere, in the woods, to the bus stop, etc.  He loved to be
    the center of attention, so he really was the neighborhood cat.  He
    was extremely smart and this got him into trouble often.  When other
    cats came to live, he never made a fuss.  He KNEW he was king and 
    therefore never felt threatened.
    
    Sometimes I wish the Maine Coon had not been recognized as a breed for
    they are expensive - but definitely worth the money.  They are smart,
    brave, friendly and beautiful.  What else can you ask for in a cat?
    
    Tracey
      &
     Family

    re.3 - What a nice story!  I have *always* wanted a Maine Coon.  When
    the time is right, I will get one.  One of the cats that I own (or is
    it she owns me?) is the type of cat that does not work well with other
    cats.  I found that out when we got our second cat.  They have learned
    to live with one another (Spunks, the younger one, still has kitten in
    her) but I would not want to go thru what I went thru when I got my
    second cat.  It just wouldn't be fair to Zildjian.
    
    So, some day I hope to be owned by a Maine Coon.
    
    Have a nice holiday, everyone!
    
    Anna/Zildjian/Spunks
    

............... and may the Paws be with you!

    How do Maine Coons get along with dogs?  My cousin and her husband
    would absolutely LOVE to own a Coon cat but they already have a couple
    (or 3?) other cats and a full grown Yellow Lab.  From what I've read
    here, a Maine Coon will have no problem adopting to other cats.  If the
    dog likes cats, I assume everything would be ok.  Two of their cats are
    getting on in age and I'm sure the thought of getting another kitty is
    in the back of their minds.  However, as we all know, Maine Coons are
    expensive and they can't afford it.
    
    Which brings me to ... if I (or any of you) see or hear of a Maine Coon
    available from a shelter, let me know.  It would be well worth a good
    donation.  (I know it's odd to see pure breads in shelters, but it does
    happen.  Concord Adopt-A-Cat had an absolutely gorgeous Siamese-type
    kitty at the Framingham show in September.)
    
    Mary
    

    re:10
           There was a Maine Coon available from the shelter at the cat
    show in Haverhill, not Kitty Angels, the other one that was there.
    Maybe someone will remember the name of it, I don't offhand. I have
    seen or heard of them being available occasionally.
    Of course, the cat would not have to be a purebreed with papers
    to be the most loving, sweet cat in the world.
    And they get along great with dogs.  Probably cause they know they have
    more class!  Ruby before we fell in love, lived with 13 dogs!  I know
    of a couple other coons that live with dogs too.  No problems....
    
                                 Denise 

    The getting along well with dogs is going to be more of an individual
    trait than a breed trait.
    
    Jo

    re: .11 - That would be Alliance for animals and I think it was
    either Logan or Raspberry.  They had been inseparable and one of
    them was adopted out.  Check some of the later replies to note
    415 for details and phone number.  Please tell them that you saw
    the ad in the Digital file.  I told them about what we do and 
    would like them to know that its helping them.
    
    BTW - Maine Coon mixes are very common in this part of the country
    so even if you cant find a purebred in a shelter you can find one
    that's part Maine Coon.  
    
    Here's another option - if you're interested in an older cat contact
    breeders.  They are often looking for good homes for retired breeders.
    

    Re: .11 and up...
    
    Thanks for your replies.  I am leaving today for New Jersey for
    Christmas and will see my cousin then.  I'll try to call her before
    leaving to see if she is interested.  If so, I will call around to some
    of the area shelters and see if they have a Maine Coon available. 
    Actually, it would be better to wait till after Christmas to adopt a
    cat.  I could easily make another trip to NJ or maybe my cousin could
    come up here.  
    
    If there are any New Jersey Feliners out there with knowledge of Maine
    Coons in NJ, send me mail.  If my cousin is interested, I can put the
    two parties together.
    
    Happy Holidays!!!  Don't forget your kitty Christmas/Hanakkuh presents.
    
    Mary
    

    Mary -
      You might give Animal Orphanage in Vorhees NJ a call. 
      Nancy DC

    	I'll second the shelter cat route for an inexpensive Maine Coon -
    Michelle got Vanessa from a shelter. I'd say she was 3/4 Maine Coon -
    she lacks the full tail that Copy (RIP, a purebred) had, but has the
    other characteristics: longhair, large paws, short hair over shoulders,
    tuffs in ears and paws, distinguished profile, and 'different' vocal
    sounds re. most cats. She likes the outdoors and is not snow shy like
    some cats (watching her bounding thru deep snow is almost comical - she
    must get about 2' high on each bounce!).
    	Copy did seem to be a bit more intelligent and have a bit better
    personality, but he didn't have the rough time that Vanessa did since
    kittenhood. Regardless, he will be replaced with a purebred Maine Coon.
    	- Chris