Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds.  A male has an average weight between 13 and 18 lbs. Females are a little bit smaller with an average weight of 8 to 12 lbs. The height varies between 10 and 16 inches, and they can be as much as 36 inches long.

Despite their size they are gentle felines, hence the nickname Gentle Giant. They are highly intelligent cats, and therefore very easily trained. They are the perfect family pet.

A very unique characteristic is their vocal ability. If you want a quiet companion, the Maine Coon is not for you. They really do talk to you, and make themselves known, especially when they are hungry!

Where the breed originates from is somewhat of a mystery. The most known story is that Marie Antoinette send her long haired Turkish Angora cats to North America on a ship that she had planned to escape on from France before she was executed. She never made it to the United States, but supposedly her cats did, and landed on the shores of Maine where they intermingled with domestic short hairs.