Maine Coon & Bengal Breed Information
About the Breed
Learn more about what makes these breed so special and whether they might be the right fit for your family.
History & Origin
MAINE COON:
The Maine Coon is a large domesticated cat breed. It has a distinctive physical appearance and valuable hunting skills. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America. The breed originated in the U.S. state of Maine, where it is the official state cat.
No records of the Maine Coon's exact origins and date of introduction to the United States exist, so several competing hypotheses have been suggested, the most credible suggestion being that it is closely related to the Norwegian Forest cat and the Siberian. The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 19th century, but its existence became threatened when long-haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century. The Maine Coon has since made a comeback and is now the third most popular pedigreed cat breed in the world.
The breed's colors vary widely, with only lilac and chocolate disallowed for pedigree. Prized for its intelligence and playful, gentle personality, the Maine Coon is often cited as having "dog-like" characteristics.
BENGAL:
History of the Bengal Cat
While there were previous attempts at breeding African leopard cats and domestic cats, the Bengal cat hybrid is credited to Jean Sudgen Mill in the 1970s. She acquired hybrids from Dr. Willard Centerwall who was breeding them at Loyola University to study their genetics. She bred the hybrids with domestic cats to produce a breed that had the personality of a domestic cat and an exotic look.1 Greg and Elizabeth Kent crossed African leopard cats with Egyptian Maus to develop a line of Bengal cats as well.
Hybrids are denoted by the generations they are away from their wild ancestry, with F1 denoting the first generation, which has one African leopard cat (ALC) parent. F2 has one ALC grandparent, and F3 has one ALC great-grandparent. It is thought that by F3 the cats have the temperaments of domestic cats. To be shown, the International Cat Association (TICA) accepts only cats of F4 or more generations removed from having an ALC ancestor. Today, most Bengal cats are bred from other Bengal cats.
Origin
The ancestral origins of the Maine Coon are unknown—there are only speculation and folk tales. One story involves Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France who was executed in 1793. The story goes that before her death, Antoinette attempted to escape France with the help of Captain Samuel Clough. She loaded Clough's ship with her most prized possessions, including six of her favorite Turkish Angora or possibly Siberian cats. Although she did not make it to the United States, all of her pets managed to reach the shore of Wiscasset, Maine, safely, where they bred with other short-haired breeds and developed into the modern breed of the Maine Coon.
The Bengal cat’s lineage begins with the Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), a small wild feline native to Southeast Asia, known for its striking spotted coat and agile nature. The breed’s name derives from the leopard cat’s scientific name, not directly from the Bengal region in India This wild ancestry contributes to the Bengal’s distinctive rosetted and marbled coat patterns, athletic build, and energetic personality.
Temperament & Personality
MAINE COON:
Maine Coons are known as the "gentle giants" and possess above-average intelligence, making them relatively easy to train. They are known for being loyal to their family and cautious—but not mean—around strangers, but are independent and not clingy. The Maine Coon is generally not known for being a "lap cat," but their gentle disposition makes the breed relaxed around dogs, other cats, and children. Many Maine Coons have a fascination with water and some speculate that this personality trait comes from their ancestors, who were aboard ships for much of their lives. Maine Coons are also well known for being very vocal cats. They are known for their frequent yowling or howling, trilling, chirping, and making other loud vocalizations.
BENGAL:
This cat has a personality that is as appealing as their appearance. The Bengal is affectionate, playful, and can get along with people of all ages as well as other pets. This is an energetic cat and likes room to play.
Appearance
MAINE COON:
The Maine Coon was considered the largest breed of domestic cat until the introduction of the Savannah cat in the mid 1980s, and is still the largest non-hybrid breed. On average, males weigh from 13 to 18 lb (5.9 to 8.2 kg), with females weighing from 8 to 12 lb (3.6 to 5.4 kg). The height of adults can vary between 10 and 16 in (25 and 41 cm) and they can reach a length of up to 38 in (97 cm), including the tail, which can reach a length of 14 in (36 cm) and is long, tapering, and heavily furred, almost resembling a raccoon's tail. The body is solid and muscular, which is necessary for supporting their weight, and the chest is broad. Maine Coons possess a rectangular body shape and are slow to physically mature; their full size is normally not reached until they are three to five years old, while other cats take about one year.
BENGALS:
Bengals are large, muscular cats with long faces and large ears. Most are short-haired, but there is a long-haired variant. The Bengal breed is not considered hypoallergenic.
Bengals are best loved for their wild-looking markings. Rosettes, marbling, spots, and stripes make up the leopard patterns that varying Bengals display, but their official markings are only spotted or marbled. The patterns are always outlined in black, chocolate, or grey/silver.
Bengal coat colors are called brown tabby (most common), seal sepia tabby, seal mink tabby, seal lynx point, black silver tabby, seal silver sepia tabby, seal silver mink tabby, and seal silver lynx point. All shades of brown to black make up the markings and the brown tabbies typically have white background fur on their whisker pads, chin, chest, abdomen, and inner legs. Bengals' eyes are green, blue or gold.
Size
WEIGHT: Up to 20 pounds but generally about 12 pounds
LENGTH: Up to 18 inches
Health Considerations
Every breed has specific health considerations to be aware of:
MAINE COON:
Maine Coons are generally a healthy and hardy breed that is adapted to survive the challenging climate of New England. The most severe threat is feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common heart disease seen in cats, whether purebred or not. In Maine Coons, it is thought to be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Middle-aged to older cats and males are thought to be predisposed to the disease. HCM is a progressive disease and can result in heart failure, paralysis of the hind legs due to clot embolization originating in the heart, and sudden death.
A specific mutation that causes HCM, for which testing services are offered, is seen in Maine Coons. Of all the Maine Coons tested for the MyBPC mutation at the Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Lab at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University, approximately one-third tested positive. Not all cats that test positive will have clinical signs of the disease, and some Maine Coon cats with clinical evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy test negative for this mutation, strongly suggesting that a second mutation exists in the breed. The HCM prevalence was found to be 10.1% (95% CI 5.8 -14.3% ) in this study. Early growth and nutrition, larger body size, and obesity may be environmental modifiers of genetic predisposition to HCM.
Another potential health problem is spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), another genetically inherited disease that causes the loss of the spinal-cord neurons which activate the skeletal muscles of the trunk and limbs. Symptoms are normally seen within 3–4 months of age and result in muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, and a shortened lifespan. A test is offered to detect the genes responsible for SMA.
Maine Coons also seem to be predisposed to develop entropion, mainly on the lateral aspect of the eyelids, which can lead to corneal irritation and ulceration, and may require surgery.
Hip dysplasia is an abnormality of the hip joint which can cause crippling lameness and arthritis. The cats most commonly affected with hip dysplasia tend to be males of the larger, big-boned breeds such as Persians and Maine Coons. The relatively smaller size and weight of cats frequently results in symptoms that are less pronounced.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited condition in cats that causes multiple cysts (pockets of fluid) to form in the kidneys. These cysts are present from birth. Initially, they are very small, but they grow larger over time and may eventually disrupt kidney function, resulting in kidney failure. While renal cysts are observed with a low incidence in Maine Coons, PKD appears to be a misnomer in this particular breed. In a recent study spanning 8 years, renal cysts were documented by ultrasound in 7 of 187 healthy Maine Coons enrolled in a pre-breeding screening program. The cysts were mostly single and unilateral (6/7, 85.7%) small (mean 3.6 mm in diameter) and located at the corticomedullary junction (4/6, 66.7%), thus different in size, number, and location from those observed in Persian-related breeds. In the same study, not only did all six Maine Coon cats with renal cysts test negative for the PKD1 mutation, proving the disease in these cats to be unrelated to the PKD observed in Persians and related breeds, but gene sequencing of these cats failed to demonstrate any common genetic sequences. 'Maine Coon PKD' thus appears to represent a form of juvenile nephropathy other than AD-PKD.
BENGALS:
Your Bengal cat will need all of the same immunizations and preventative health treatments as a domestic cat. They are not immune to the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) like their ALC ancestor. Purebred cat breeds are more prone to genetic diseases than mixed-breed domestic cats because their gene pool is smaller.
Some of the conditions Bengals can be prone to include:
Autosomal recessive disorder, which causes early blindness in young cats2
Entropion (the rolling in of the eyelids)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Feline infectious peritonitis, a deadly disease that results from a coronavirus infection3.
Is This Breed Right for You?
This breed is a great fit if you:
- Have the time and space for their energy level
- Can commit to their grooming needs
- Are looking for the companionship style they offer
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Our Breeding Philosophy
At Kittens on the Prowl Cattery, we believe that breeding Maine Coon and Bengals is not just a business, it's a passion. We are dedicated to breeding these majestic cats that are not only healthy and happy but also reflect the unique personality and character of the breeds. Our commitment to our fur-babies and our customers is unwavering, and we strive to provide the best possible experience for everyone involved.
At Kittens on the Prowl Cattery, we believe in responsible breeding practices that prioritize the health and well-being of our cats. All of our breeding Maine Coons & Bengals are health tested for 40+ genetic diseases and genetic traits including blood type, coat colors, coat types, and morphology. They all have their DNA and Genetics through Wisdom Panel. All of our breeding cats are HCM, PKDF, SMA, PRA, FeLV and FIV negative. We are committed to producing happy and healthy kittens that will make great fur-babies for families and individuals alike.
Our team is made up of passionate and dedicated cat lovers who are committed to providing the best possible care for our cats. We work tirelessly to ensure that our cats are happy, healthy, and well-socialized.