Maine coon coat development

I have a blue and white maine coon kitten called Toby who is just 5 months old. He's gorgeous but I've never had a maine coon before. One thing I am interested in is the ruff around the neck of these cats. Toby does not have one yet and Im assuming that since they take so long to mature, he won't have one till later on. But I've seen some pictures of adult maine coons who don't seem to have any ruff at all. Is this dependant on the line the cat comes from? Toby will be an indoor/outdoor cat as soon as he's neutered so will the fact that he spends time outside make his coat, and thusly neck ruff, more obvious than an indoor only cat? At what age do they usually start to get the ruff? Right now he looks like a scruffy little thing whose legs are too big for his body

Of all the Maine Coons I have seen, I haven't seen many with particularly noticeable ruffs.

Originally posted by Catfur
Of all the Maine Coons I have seen, I haven't seen many with particularly noticeable ruffs.

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I randomly found this picture on Yahoo to show what I mean

I don't know about the line thing, but I do know that the season, diet and going out affect my maine coon's ruff. Never as big as in that pic though! Twice a year she sheds a lot, and that's when she sheds the ruff and puffy tail too. Then it grows back. Going outside more seems to create a bigger ruff. Diet thru coat condition matters a lot too. It also seems to me that her ruff has never gotten as big as it was before spaying, but can't be sure.

My MC's ruff was always bigger in the winter. It never got as long as the picture tho. Be careful...when Toby starts shedding, that is where matts can form. Get him used to having his ruff combed out now.

Can I ask a personal question...why indoor/outdoor?? He's safer as an indoor only cat. If he's brought up as a strictly indoor cat, he won't miss it. None of my cats have ever been outdoors, not even on a leash. They look outside, but when the door opens they have no wish to go thru. My MC lived to the age of 14. My S/O's cat is 18.

Sandy

Originally posted by Sweets


Can I ask a personal question...why indoor/outdoor?? He's safer as an indoor only cat. If he's brought up as a strictly indoor cat, he won't miss it. None of my cats have ever been outdoors, not even on a leash. They look outside, but when the door opens they have no wish to go thru. My MC lived to the age of 14. My S/O's cat is 18.

Sandy

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Sure! But be warned, it's something I feel strongly on.
Because I don't agree with strictly indoor cats, never have. It's not natural and I do firmly believe that cats are happier outside. To me, it's like keeping a horse in a stable forever or having a dog and never walking it. I live in the UK where it's generally frowned upon to keep cats locked indoors (shelters won't usually adopt out if you say you'll keep a cat strictly indoors) and I live in a very very safe area (approved by the RSPCA) Not to mention that several maine coon websites I've seen have not reccomended these cats as an indoor breed. I've had cats for 15 years, always indoor/outdoor and all of them have lived to at least 14. I've never had any of them hit by cars, or anything else that indoor cat people insist will happen. There just isn't any risks here. No roads, no feral or stray dogs, nothing like that. I have a fenced in yard and no cats I've ever owned have ever gone further than 100 feet from my house! My cats are always neutered and vaccinated before they're let out.
I let him out today for the third time, strictly supervised at this point while he gets used to garden, and he was in his element. Anyone who saw him clawing at the trees, digging and just being a cat would agree that he was loving it and that thats what a cat should be doing. After all, maine coons were BRED to be outside, everything about them is tailored to an outside lifestyle, everything. To buy one and confine it to a house is like buying a high energy dog breed like a collie and never letting it run or go out.
I can understand if you live right on top of a main road, or in an area with bears or feral dogs. But I don't. And if I did, I wouldn't have a cat.

Hmmm.....I came to this board and was assured that I wouldn't be vitimised or pressured for having indoor/outdoor cats. I hope this reigns true. I don't feel the need to ask indoor cat owners why they keep their cats in so I don't really see why I should have to explain why I let mine out. Not being funny or anything, but it does bug me on occasion that people who don't even know my area or my cats tell me they're safer and happier indoors. I don't believe that. I consider it cruel to lock them indoors. If you want to keep your cats in then thats your decision of course, but I see no reason around my area. If I couldn't allow my cats their freedom where I live, I'd probably not have a cat.