Maine Coon http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection®ion=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/how to train a kitten History

Their origins are unknown though several popular stories have been passed along the years. One story involves Capt. Charles Coon, an English captain who frequently traveled to New England with long-haired cats aboard his ship. Upon docking, the cats mated with local feral cats and produced lots of offspring. Townspeople referred to the strays as "Coon's cats".

Another folktale involves Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, who attempted an escape with Capt. Samuel Clough in 1793. Her prized possessions, including six beloved cats, were stashed on Clough's ship. Though she didn't escape her beheading, her cats arrived safely in Massachusetts. The cats were described with similar characteristics to the cooncat. Breeders consider the cats' ancestry to go back to the 11th century with the Vikings. History shows the breed existed in the 1800s as hunting and domestic cats.

In 1967, the breed was officially recognized as a unique breed of domestic cat.

Maine Coon Weight and Size

Maine Coon cats can weigh between 9 to 18 pounds. Males typically weight between 13 to 18 pounds, while females average 9 to 12 pounds. Their large, body shape, rectangle-build, and long hair make them look even larger. They are not full-grown until they reach 3 to 5 years of age. Adults can reach 10 to 16 inches in height.

Their length can be up to 40 inches, including their tails which can be 14 inches long.

Maine Coon Personality

They have several distinctive features, including their long, bushy tail; tufted ears; large, expressive eyes; and ruff around their neck (like a lions). Their eyes are green, gold, green-gold, or copper colors. Their coat is soft and comes in every color and pattern, except pointed patterns, like the Siamese. Their thick fur is shorter on their front legs and shoulders and longer on their back, perches, stomach, and tail. Their tail is often as long as their body.

They have a squared muzzle. They are nicknamed "Gentle Giants" for their affectionate, loving behavior. They are not lap cats, though they enjoy following family members to offer help with any projects. Their playful nature continues in adulthood. Their distinctive meow -- a chirp sound -- lets owners know when they want their attention, to play, or to mate. They are great pets for families. Generally they are indoor cats, and they enjoy interacting with people.

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you cannot always protect your pets. I found out the hard way, that it was not only live house plants that can pose a danger to your pets, but artificial plants as well.

It was Christmas, and for years I had eliminated tinsel, live poinsettia plants, live Christmas cactus, live Mistletoe and any other potentially dangerous items of that season. I had researched to keep my pets safe during the holiday seasons, but I had never seen the dangers of artificial plants.

I am writing this in loving memory of my Maine Coon cat, Miranda. She was never one to nibble on the artificial plants, so I never expected that to be the cause of her not feeling well. She had been skipping meals, losing weight, not cleaning herself regularly and keeping to herself. My husband and I decided she needed to see the vet. She was quite dehydrated, so they kept her at the clinic. They couldn't find anything wrong with her at first, blood tests came back fine, but she was still not eating. The vet put a scope down her throat to see if anything could have been lodged in her esophagus, but they found nothing.

She stayed in the clinic over Christmas and we were to pick her up the day after. Before we were to pick her up, the vet called and asked if we had any artificial plants that she could have eaten. I had an artificial arrangement on the coffee table, but it didn't look like it had been chewed. Miranda had coughed up a small stick that had been lodged sideways in her throat that morning. The doctor hadn't seen it during the scope procedure. It had come from the plant on the coffee table.

She was on the road to recovery! It took a few weeks for her to resume eating; her throat was quite irritated from the stick. She seemed to be getting back to normal, but that was misleading.

Two months after bringing her home, my husband and I rushed her back to the vet. I found her lying on the floor, having trouble breathing and how to raise a kitten into a barn cat gasping for each breath. She was suffering from congestive heart failure. The fluids were making it hard for her to breathe. She was in a lot of pain and the vet did not think she would survive. We made the heartbreaking decision to ease her pain.

When talking with the vet, she felt that the previous incident with the stick lodged in her throat caused the distress on her heart. Over time, the fluid built up until she could no longer breathe freely.

It is so hard to know what dangers are in your house. I can't bring my Miranda back, but I can help others from making the same mistake. Check all of your plants, artificial or real, and make sure that your cats or dogs are not going to be harmed if they think this is something to eat or play with. It will take only a few minutes of your time, but the rewards will be a happy, healthy and safe pet!