Thanks to their big, lovable personalities and pup-like quirks, Maine Coons have settled in as one of the most popular house cats across the U.S.

They’re also one of the largest domestic cat breeds. They have longer bodies than most breeds, and much larger heads and paws.

In fact, Maine Coons use their furry paws as fluffy snowshoes, says Savageau. And for even greater stability on slippery slopes, many Maine Coons are “polydactyl,” meaning they have extra toes on each paw.

Along with being big, Maine Coon cats have some dog-like mannerisms, like their love for water and tendency to play fetch. All in all, they’re a laid-back group of cats that love spending time with their family.

Maine Coon Health Issues

The typical Maine Coon lifespan is around 13 years, which is on the shorter end of the average cat life expectancy. And because they’re prone to inheriting certain diseases from their parents, Savageau recommends purchasing health insurance when you bring home a Maine Coon kitten.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common form of heart disease in cats.

Many cats don’t show symptoms in the early stages of the disease. But as it progresses, cats may go into  heart failure and show symptoms including shortness of breath, coughing, and lethargy.

Fortunately, there are a few approaches to getting ahead of the disease:

• At-home feline DNA tests. HCM is a heart disease that, genetically, presents different across breeds. “Maine Coons can have a mutation in two genes that can cause this disease,” Savageau explains. At-home DNA tests may have the technology to test for these mutations before your cat shows clinical signs.

• Preventative care. The gold standard of preventive medicine for Maine Coon cats is to have an annual echocardiogram (heart ultrasound), Savageau says. It’s also useful to ask your Maine Coon breeder if HCM runs in your cat’s lines.