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Maine Coon
The gentle giant — one of the largest house cats, with a shaggy coat, tufted ears and a friendly, dog-like nature.
How to spot it
One of the biggest domestic breeds: males often 6–8 kg or more, with a long rectangular body, a shaggy water-resistant coat, a magnificent bushy tail, large tufted "lynx-tip" ears and big round paws. Brown tabby is classic, but many colours exist.
Personality
Friendly, playful and people-oriented — often called dog-like for the way it follows you around, plays fetch and chirps and trills rather than meows. Gentle with children and other pets.
Grooming & coat care
The silky coat is less mat-prone than a Persian's but still needs combing two or three times a week, more where it is longest around the ruff, belly and tail.
Health & lifespan
Usually 10–13 years. The breed is prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hip dysplasia and carries a spinal muscular atrophy gene — choose a breeder who DNA- and heart-screens.
Living with one in India
That thick double coat is built for Nordic winters, so a Maine Coon feels the heat: keep it indoors in the hot hours, give it shade, cool water and good airflow, and comb it more often in humid weather to stop mats.
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