Your Maine Coon Guide

In the midst of a blisteringly hot summer' day in the 30s Celsius and with glamorous Maine Coons being kept indoors for their safety there is an argument for giving this shaggy beauty a lion cut to provide some respite from the heat. What are the pros and cons? When the UK bakes under a heat dome, even the famously rugged Maine Coon can look uncomfortable. Their dense double coat evolved for Maine’s snowy winters, not for British heatwaves. That’s where the lion cut — shaving the body while leaving the mane, tail tuft, and sometimes boots — enters the conversation. 🟢 Positives of the Lion Cut Heat relief : Removing the heavy undercoat helps the cat regulate temperature and avoid overheating, especially in homes without air conditioning. Reduced matting : Long fur tangles easily in summer humidity; clipping prevents painful mats and skin irritation. Easier grooming : Owners spend less time brushing and detangling, and cats often appreciate the lighter feel. Cleaner coat : Less fu...

This is another chapter in Barnaby's adventures! Click on these links to see the earlier chapters: Chapter one Chapter two Chapter three The annual Clover Creek Neighborhood Block Party was usually a quiet affair, but this year, the headline event was the first-ever Neighborhood Pet Show. Maya had convinced Lily to sign Barnaby up under the "Most Majestic Pet" category. Getting Barnaby to the neighborhood park required a stroller, as carrying a twenty-pound cat three blocks was out of the question. He sat inside the mesh-zippered pet stroller like an emperor in a golden chariot, his massive green eyes tracking every passing dog with calm disdain. The Contenders The park was a circus of noise and color. The competition was fierce and highly chaotic: The Rival : A groomed, white Persian cat named Duchess, who wore a pink rhinestone collar and sat on a silk pillow. The Performer : A hyperactive Jack Russell Terrier named Buster (not Maya's beagle), who was busy spinning ...

Continuation of this story. See chapters one and two by clicking on the respective links. By December, Seattle was blanketed in a rare, thick layer of powder snow. For Lily, this winter felt completely different from the last. The lonely fog was entirely gone, replaced by the crisp, biting excitement of a winter wonderland right outside her backdoor. Barnaby sat at the glass patio door, his nose twitching as he watched the thick flakes fall. His coat had grown into a dense winter armour, his silver-and-charcoal ruff so thick he looked like he was wearing a heavy wool scarf. The Snow Monster Lily and Maya, bundled up in thick parkas and colorful beanies, opened the back door. Barnaby did not hesitate. He stepped out onto the porch, lifted one massive paw, and pressed it into the fresh snow. The Big Freeze : He immediately lifted his paw, shook it vigorously, and looked at Lily with an expression of deep, personal betrayal. The Snowshoes : Within minutes, his wild genetics kicked in. M...

This is the second chapter of a Maine Coon story. Please click this link to see the first . The following spring, the grey Seattle rains finally broke, yielding to a brilliant blue sky and the sharp scent of damp earth. Barnaby sat on the back porch, his ears twitching as he watched a robin hop through the tall grass. He was an indoor cat by rule, but his wild ancestry called to him through the screen door. Lily noticed his longing. That afternoon, she surprised him with a sturdy neon-green walking harness and a matching leash. Fitting a twenty-pound Maine Coon into a harness was like trying to dress a hairy boulder. Barnaby did not struggle; he simply went entirely limp, turning into a giant puddle of silver fluff. Lily giggled, adjusting the straps around his thick chest. "Okay, buddy," she whispered, opening the screen door. "Let's explore." Into the Wild The moment his giant paws touched the real grass, Barnaby transformed. He dropped low to the ground, his ...

The rain in Seattle did not just fall; it blurred the world into a smudge of grey charcoal. For eight-year-old Lily, the weather matched the heavy, quiet fog that had settled inside her chest since her family moved across the country. Her father’s new job meant a bigger house, but it also meant leaving behind her best friends, her familiar school, and the oak tree she used to climb when she needed to feel tall. In this new house, Lily felt smaller than ever. She spent her afternoons tucked into the window seat of her bedroom, pulling her knees to her chin, watching droplets race down the glass. Her parents tried everything to coax her out of her shell. They tried Friday night pizza, trips to the local science museum, and a bright red bicycle that sat untouched in the garage. Lily remained a ghost in her own life, answering in monosyllables and drifting through the corridors. The shift began on a Tuesday in late October. Lily’s mother, desperate to see a spark in her daughter's eyes...