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Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Festivus for the rest of us!
Spending Christmas Eve with my sister Erica at her home on the north shore of Long Island (yes, she calls it Long Guyland). She owns the biggest firickin' cat I've ever seen. It's a Maine Coon cat...the only domestic cat breed native to the U.S. Melissa had thirds of the sweet potato casserole. Darn that cat!
Hugs of the season,
Sammy
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Maine Coons
Maine Coone's make absolutely awesome pets. They are very intelligent, polite and well mannered. An acquaintance of mine brings his cat to all sorts of events in a baby carriage. It is so friendly and sweet tempered.
I was lucky enough to have a formerly feral cat in my house that was probably part Main Coone. Mischief had similar coloring and temperament. However, he only weighed 25 pounds instead of 35 so I'm sure he had other cats in his ancestry.
There are some beautiful properties in North Shore. I'm glad you had a good holiday.
Despite them being known for
Despite them being known for their size, most Main Coons are about the same size as most other domestic cats, possibly a bit bigger, it depends on how big their parents are, so while technically the same breed, not all Main Coons are Giant Main Coons.
Checked into getting one,
Which for me means I did a lot of background on the breed and breeders first. It's believed that at some time in the past, a Norwegian or Siberian forest cat, brought by settlers, interbred with the Canadian Lynx or American bobcat to create the breed.
I was looking for one as they are big enough that I wouldn't have to worry too much about a Bald Eagle or Red-tail hawk carrying it off. Between the amount of those around the house I don't see a lot of small animals like rabbits or squirrels around. I have a neighbor that has a chihuahua, he does not let it outside without him or his wife being out with it.
Most breeders have a scale of how pure the cat breed is you're buying, the higher up the scale, the more main coon characteristics (Size, coat and temperament) they have.
We the willing, led by the unsure. Have been doing so much with so little for so long,
We are now qualified to do anything with nothing.
Best kitty ever
I was once blessed with having a Maine Coon, and I still miss him terribly.
And for those who've read my books, yes his name indeed was Khan. I promised him that should I ever write books someday that he'd get to be in 'em.
SammyC - that is one impressive and magnificent floof! :)
Melissa is a shelter cat...
My sister adopted her from The North Shore Animal League in Port Washington, a couple of ports over from her home in Port Jefferson. The NSAL is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world. I recruited my editor, a Tabby, from there as well. I even mentioned the Animal League in my story "Love Has No Pride.". Good advice, Alan. Thank you.
Sammy
My buddy
My buddy was rescued from a shelter. He spent the first year of his life on the streets and learned the secret ways of being a burrito thief. This skill served him well for the rest of his days when opportunities presented.