ORIGIN
Nobody really knows how the Tuxedo Maine Coon breed came into being but the theory is that it was after Viking ships touched American shores. It certainly resembles the Norwegian Forest Cat enough to suggest that Norwegian Forest cats interbred with native shorthairs. For whatever reason, however, the Maine Coon has long been an extremely popular farm cat in the United States. It is the official cat of Maine; as such, it gets its name. Today, one of the popular features that the Maine Coon possesses is the tuxedo coat style.
How Did Tuxedo Maine Coons Become So Popular?
Sweet and with fine hunting skills, Maine Coon had been one of the hottest breeds during the 1800s. The first written mention of the breed dates to a book entitled The Book of the Cat, from 1861. The variety of Maine Coon featured in the book was black and white in color hence of the tuxedo variety.
In fact, the popularity of the breed continued right up until the end of the century. In 1895, 1897, 1898 and 1899 a Maine Coon was Best Cat at New York or Boston cat shows. By the start of the twentieth century, however, the breed’s popularity began to fall. This trend continued, and into the 1950s the number of Maine Coons on the face of the earth was extremely low.
Thankfully for fans of these huge gentle giants, the breed gained popularity once again in the 1960s. This has continued steadily since then, and the breed is now within the top ten most popular cat breeds in the United States .
Tuxedo Maine Coons Are Now Officially Recognized
It wasn’t until 1861 that the Maine Coon finally made it into print in a book. The only other venues for Maine Coon cat shows, during this period, were sundry local cat shows held in Maine. One of many common styles of coloring with the animal during such cat shows was that known as Tuxedo coloring. The Best in Show at the National Cat Show in New York City, held in 1895, was the first such award to go to a Maine Coon.
This finally led, in 1968, to the formation of a body of breeders of Maine Coons -the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association- which is the first officially recognized organization of Maine Coon breeders. Championship status was gained from the Cat Fanciers Association as late as 1976.
The Maine Coon is the only natural longhaired cat breed which is indigenous to America. It has always been said to be the place of development due to the long hair cats arriving by ship from other countries and creating a breed by breeding with the native short hair species, though not well documented. They do have fur that is water resistant and they do like playing in the water. Contrariwise, they have also been reported to swim effortlessly and stay in the water despite the water-repulsive coat.
They are fond of playing in your sink, bathtub, and any water that may be contained in your house. Once upon a time, there was even a Maine Coon recorded to have the longest domestic cat in the world-his name was Stewie, and my goodness, what a length: 48.5 inches! Yet another really huge Maine Coon was Samson, who weighed 28 lb at a length of 48 inches! A typical weight for Maine Coons is between 12 to 18 pounds, an extremely heavy cat.
In fact, it is one of a few-only eight breeds-for which the tuxedo pattern constitutes a breed standard. The Maine Coons are known for so much more than just their fluffy coats and huge frames. Consequential to this, the breed is very clever, social, and outgoing; this enthusiastic personality forms part of the reason they are so popular.
Although all these have been believed to be true by people at some or the other point in time, not all these rumors are true. Because their ancestor is unknown, the rumors have ranged from the fact that they descended from mating raccoons and cats to descended from Marie Antoinette’s cats to descended from bobcats.
Can a Tuxedo Maine Coon be a Pet?
The Tuxedo Maine Coons are great pets. Actually, they are among the top ten hottest breeds in America. Yes, they really are good with other cats and children, not to mention even dogs. Other than grooming, they are basically a healthy breed and take no extra care. The long coats require quite frequent brushing; their nails need to be cut from time to time. It is a pretty shedding breed, even with regular brushing, and the Maine Coon does shed.
Finally, to say, far and wide, you will not have found a friendlier family cat than the tuxedo Maine Coon. Generally speaking, a tuxedo should be social, agreeable, and energetic; just like most birds. It is exceedingly loyal and he will like tagging his people everywhere during the day.
You may also play catch with your Maine Coon. They are also outdoor cats, and training them as kittens with leashes and harnesses may well ensure that you have a hiking buddy. Always harness and watch outside closely for protection.
Conclusion
From its rather mystical beginnings in fame today, the Tuxedo Maine Coon is quite an interesting cat. They first showed up in the eastern United States, as early as the early 1800s. Great coats, characters-many homes are just right for them. Well, now that you’ve read a little about the history of the Tuxedo Maine Coon, it’s about time you wowed your friends with all of this vast knowledge!
