maine coons

Question
My step mom has always wanted a main coon and she has been wondering how big do they get? The only answer so far that we have received is twenty pounds.:l Is that the heaviest they can weigh naturally or more? And how long do they usually get?

Answer
Hi Lizzie.  As a general rule, Maine Coons are the second largest breed of fully domesticated cat, right after the Ragdoll.  This is one breed where the males are nearly always quite a bit larger than the females.  They are very long, tall and overall large animals, but their fur gives the impression that they are heavier than the scale shows.  Twenty pounds is really a generous weight estimate for this breed, and most cats won't get to this weight unless they become overweight.  Most males will weigh in the 13-18 pound range, with females weighing about the size of the average housecat - 9-12 pounds.  Nevertheless, there are some males who do tip the scales at over 20 pounds.  As mentioned, they have tall and long builds, and the average male can reach 3 to 3 1/2 feet from the tip of the nose to the tip of their tail.  In fact, the current world record holder for longest cat is a Main Coon who is actually 48 inches long!  This giant kitty also reached an astonishing weight of 35 pounds.  Maine Coons continue to grow for several years, so you won't see them reach their full size until almost 4 years old.  If you have a chance to visit a cat show, it would be worth it.  TICA cat shows usually have a lot of Maine Coons (see www.tica.org for a show schedule).  They are one of the most impressive of all breeds, in my opinion.  They are so huge and majestic and good-natured, pictures don't do them justice!