Vet Tech Shows off a ‘Real’ Maine Coon Who's Bigger Than Anyone Imagined
Maine Coons are big cats, no matter how you slice it. Even when they're mixed with a different breed, that size almost always comes through. But because Maine Coons get mixed with so many other breeds so often, a real, good quality Maine Coon can actually be kind of hard to come by!
On Monday, April 29th, one vet tech showed off the real, thoroughbred Maine Coon that came into her office, and he really is a thing of beauty:
I like that his head is just about as big as @aunnnaaaleee's. That must've been trippy to see in person!
This cat is so big and everyone loves him so much that he has gotten over 13 million views and 2.5 million likes. He's a star! I wonder if his family knows. If there's one thing that I think gives him a real edge, it's those eyes: they're so huge! His ear fluffs help, too.
As a vet tech, Aunna probably sees a lot of improperly labeled pets, especially when it comes to rescues. Unfortunately, DIY DNA tests are expensive and shelters often can't afford to have them done for every animal, so they have to go on what the previous owner says, and if they're not sure, they usually go off of looks. For dogs, it's a little easier, but cats can be hard.
Not Every Big Fluffy Cat is a Maine Coon
Maine Coons are a highly coveted cat breed. They're beautiful, gentle giants who are receptive to training and relatively easy to please. However, they're also expensive cats: if purchased from a cattery, a single Maine Coon kitten can run you $1,000 or more - definitely more if it's a "rare" color.
Some indicators that your cat is at least part Maine Coon are:
- A square-looking mouth
- An excess of "neck fluff" that looks a bit like a scarf
- Ear fluff
- A Maine Coon cat's eyes are usually green or a yellowish amber color
- A strange love of water
- Their size
Often, Maine Coons are confused with other longhaired cats like Ragdolls, Turkish Angoras, or British Longhairs. Those are also the breeds that are often mixed with Maine Coons to create cross-breeds. Before you purchase a cat, ask to see DNA tests from the parent pair to be sure that they are what they say they are.
Without a DNA test, you'll never be able to be sure that a cat is 100% one breed or another. Though, looking at this big guy, I doubt he's anything but 100% Maine Coon - and as a Maine resident myself, I will proudly claim this beautiful cat breed!
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