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We did look at those online. Would the heat down here be an issue? The cat would be an inside cat so maybe not an issue at all. Do they shed? The breed has a nice look.
Thanks!
"Domesticated"* cats descended from desert African wildcats, they can handle any heat you'll find in the states. Obviously make sure there's plenty of cool clean water for it. They don't drink much compared to dogs but they still need water. We see mid-to-upper 90s with 80%+ humidity every summer up here and I hardly ever see mine panting. They tend to stay outside all day while I'm at work, but cats are the animal world's experts at making themselves comfortable.
As far as shedding, when they're losing their winter coat there'll be fur everywhere, but a 5 minute daily brushing will help. Other than that they need very little help with grooming; once weekly mainly to remove any mats or snarls it can't get with its tongue & teeth. Ticks can be a problem, as they tend to attach themselves to the head/neck/shoulders area and that's where a Coon has the thickest fur. If he goes outside you'll want to check him thoroughly every time he comes in. Products like Frontline are harder to apply on Coons because of how dense the fur is - it's difficult to separate the fur all the way down to the skin. You can use the spray bottle type, though.
As a rule they have a very docile personality with people and other cats. You probably can't get a better cat if you have children around, they know their size and strength and are very gentle when playing and extremely slow to anger. They talk a lot, too, and often heave a great sigh when they lay down, just like dogs often do. One of the best things is that the Maine Coon traits tend to breed true even if you don't get a purebred - I have a 3 year old Maine Coon/American Shorthair mix male who's bigger than the typical ASH, has a thicker, more dense coat, smallish tufts on the ears & paws, and is very even-tempered. He's also very goofy or clownish, like most male Maine Coons tend to be. Between him and my tortie - the red-haired, green-eyed women of the cat world, along with calicos - it gets very interesting here!
*cats aren't really domesticated like most other pets are - they're really little wild animals that live in the house with us.