Creature Feature: The Big Cats

If you long for an armful of cat, the Maine coon cat, Norwegian forest cat, or Siberian cat would be the kitty of choice. These cats are big; show-quality individuals frequently weigh in at 16 to 18 pounds, sometimes as much as 20, and that's without an ounce of fat on them.

Jean Harry of East Hampton is a cat person. "All my life, I'd taken in abandoned and lost cats. People were always giving them to me. I was known as the cat lady. When the last of those cats died I told my husband, 'Now I want a real cat.' "

The first "real" cat was a Maine coon cat. Apparently, one thing led to another and Jean and her husband, Paul, now share their East Hampton home with two Maine coons, two Norwegian forest cats, and two offspring of a Maine coon and forest cat breeding.

Her Majesty's Darlings

Maine coon cats are the best known of the three big breeds and are fast becoming the most popular purebred cat in the United States. Though they are indisputably the oldest established American breed of cat, their origins are not completely known.

There exist many romantic legends about the antecedents of these cats. One of the most colorful has it that a Samuel Clough, a New England sea captain and confirmed royalist, hatched a plan to rescue the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, from the jaws of the French Revolution.

To make sure that Her Majesty would be comfortable in her new home of Wiscasset, Maine, Captain Clough smuggled out furniture and other items dear to the Queen, amongst them her six precious long-haired cats. When their royal mistress failed to survive and claim them, the cats took matters into their own paws, as cats will do, and started a New World lineage.

Viking Lineage?

Another popular theory is that the Maine coon cats descended from the Skoggkats that Vikings brought along to their settlements in Greenland and Vineland to control rodents threatening stored food and grains. This theory is taken very seriously by some since Skoggkats, known in this country as Norwegian forest cats, and Maine coons are remarkably similar in appearance.

Picturesque as stories of valiant sea captains, beleaguered queens, and voyaging Vikings may be, the more probable genesis of the coon cat (and its cousins, the forest cat and the Siberian cat) is through Darwinian survival of the fittest by natural selection.

The three cat breeds evolved in harsh northern climates. Their shaggy coats, pretty as they may be, are functional, protecting the cats from cold and wet. The same can be said for the heavily tufted ears, which give them a wild bobcat appearance, and the large furry paws.

Intensely Loving

Maine coon cats, Norwegian forest cats, and Siberian cats are rugged, sturdy, and hardy creatures. They are adventurous, inquisitive, and active and, in most cases, should have access to the outdoors. But the fact that nature had a large role in their creation should not lead to the supposition that these cats aren't very partial to people.

The cats are intensely loving and loyal. They want to be with their people. The Harrys are frequently accompanied by their cats as they walk along the beach near their home, much to the considerable enjoyment and astonishment of their neighbors. "People come out of their houses to watch us go by," Mrs. Harry said.

The cats' affectionate nature has led to their being frequently described as doglike in their demeanor. This is an objectionable and inaccurate description, implying as it does that cats as a species are not capable of great devotion to their humans.

Coats To Care For

The term "doglike" also fails to capture the very graceful and feline ways that Maine coons, forest cats, and Siberian cats exhibit their devotion.

Like my four dogs, my Maine coon cat, Paddy Whack, insists on accompanying me while I do the chores. But unlike them, he is not earthbound. He follows my terrestrial route via an arboreal one of his own devising, arriving, with great dramatic flourish, at his destination, having crossed rooftops and teetered along branches and fencetops to get there.

Check First

Though the most typical color of the three breeds is brown tabby, the cats come in every variation of feline coloration. Their long flowing coats may have a practical weatherproofing function, but they do require upkeep on the part of their human caretakers. Mrs. Harry feels it's necessary to groom her cats every other day. In some cases the cats willingly comply, but, in others, well . . . "It takes four hands to do the job. Paul will hold the cat down while I do the combing, and the cat yowls the whole time." Mrs. Harry said ruefully.

At the moment, the Siberian cat is very rare in the United States and is not often available for sale. The opposite is true for Maine coon cats; there are very many people breeding and raising these cats, so prospective coon cat owners should be cautious and investigate breeders' credentials before committing to a kitten from their catteries.

An excellent source of information about coon cats is the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association, c/o Cheryl Gower, 12376 Checkerboard Road, Gervais, Ore. 97026. Those interested in obtaining a Norwegian forest cat should contact the Norwegian Forest Cat Fanciers Association, Patricia Gavin, 218 Junaluska Oak Drive, Waynesville, N.C. 28763.