That Yankee Cat: The Maine Coon

This was a very informative book about the history and caring for a Maine Coom cat. This is one of three books that I ordered on the subject. I now feel that I am ready to obtain one of these beautiful animals.

We recently purchased a Maine Coon kitten and found this book to be very informative. It has given us not only information for the care of our kitten, but gave us background info and info on what to expect as our kitten grows. I highly recommend this book to anyone who owns or is considering getting a Maine Coon.

Once again Marilis Hornidge has created one of the best books ever written about the Maine Coon Cat. This newly updated edition has many interesting facts about this wonderful breed and dispels many of the myths. And, you'll soon understand why a true Yankee cares for his Maine Coon as carefully as he cares for his last dollar!That Yankee Cat is an excellent choice for cat lovers of all ages.

"That Yankee Cat" is 'the' complete reference guide to the Maine Coon cat, and well-written to boot. I also read "Maine Coon Cats" by Carol Himsel Daly, and "Guide to Owning a Maine Coon Cat" by Abigail Greene (et al) and "That Yankee Cat" is by far the most interesting and the most specific to the breed. The author, Marilis Hornidge even spends some print on the characteristics of Maine Coon owners (although, for some reason she leaves out the fact that we are all totally loveable):"Maine Coon people, more than any other group in the fancy, seem to enjoy word games in naming organizations, catteries, and their cats."In Chapter 5, "Tales of the Cat", Hornidge gives full rein to Maine Coon-related word play, although she doesn't explain why some owners chose the names they inflicted on these big, shaggy beauties, e.g. Captain Jenks of the Horse Marines, Absorbine Jr., Commodore Perry, and Surfer Dude. ...Breed characteristics are discussed in terms of 'boondocker paws', 'Elizabethan ruff', 'rectangularness', "SMART, SMART, SMART (but not stuck up about it)", 'a dry sense of humor', and 'the Medium-sized Cat in the Large Fur Coat' - not quite CFA-standard language, but easy to visualize! The photographs in this book demonstrate the great variety of the breed, not just your typical big, brown tabby. There are pictures of red mackerel tabbies, cameo tabbies, and splotched tabbies, and even a Black Smoke and a 'tuxedo cat' or two. I only wish more of the photographs could have been in color. It's very difficult to distinguish a brown mackerel from a red mackerel in a black-and-white photograph.The book also has clearly written sections on genetics and coat color, 'peaceful coexistence' (if you own any cat at all, you'll know what that means), grooming, and first-aid.The author has even composed a sub-chapter called 'Pot Purry' which I will leave to your imagination.And speaking of word games and Maine Coon owners, shouldn't a Maine Coon Cattery be called a 'Coonery'?Read "That Yankee Cat" if you're even thinking about getting a kitten. Or not. It's a hundred-and-one pages of sheer delight for those of us who are actually lucky enough to be owned by one of these gentle, shaggy down-Easterners.

For people who love the Maine Coon, as well as those who have only just discovered it, this book is 'required reading'. If you are shopping for a gift, "That Yankee Cat" will delight the expert or novice alike. Marilis Hornidge has collected the folk lore and legend of the Maine Coon cat, added the story of the fight to have it reccognised by the international associations. and included plenty of pictures along the way.The perfact book for anyone who owns or is owned by a Maine Coon, or wants to be.