Maine Coons in Art and Literature#
Maine Coons have a presence that demands attention. When they walk into a room, heads turn. It is no surprise that they have captured the imagination of artists, writers, and directors for decades. They are often cast as the magical cat or the guardian cat. Their size makes them imposing, but their nature makes them trainable actors who can hit their marks on a chaotic movie set.
The most famous Maine Coon in modern cinema is undoubtedly Mrs. Norris, the patrolling companion of Argus Filch in the Harry Potter movies. Mrs. Norris was played primarily by a Maine Coon named Pebbles, along with a few stunt doubles. The animal trainers used hair gel to spike Pebbles’ fur and make her look mangy and scruffy, fitting the character of the castle spy. In reality, she was a healthy, well-groomed show cat. Maine Coons were chosen for this role because they can be trained to sit still, walk on command, and stare menacingly—traits that are natural to the breed’s observant nature.
Stephen King, a native of Maine, knows the breed well. In his original novel Pet Sematary, the cat Church (Winston Churchill) is described as a classic tabby. While the 1989 movie used a British Shorthair, the 2019 remake correctly cast a Maine Coon. Or rather, five Maine Coons. The main actor was a rescue cat named Leo. His brooding look and large size perfectly captured the eerie presence King described. It is fitting that the ultimate horror cat comes from the same state as the ultimate horror writer.
Ernest Hemingway was famous for his polydactyl cats at his home in Key West, Florida. While not all of them were purebred Maine Coons, geneticists believe the thumb cat gene in the Hemingway colony likely originated from Maine Coon ship cats that sailed down the East Coast from Boston. Today, the Hemingway Home and Museum is home to dozens of descendants, many showing the classic Maine Coon size and polydactyl paws.
In the digital age, Maine Coons have found a new stage on Instagram and TikTok. Cats like Lotus, a massive cream Maine Coon from Sweden, and Richie, the Black Smoke Maine Coon who looks like a werewolf, have millions of followers. These cats have done more for the breed’s popularity in five years than cat shows did in fifty. They showcase the gentle giant personality, letting their owners hold them like babies, wear clothes, and travel on leashes. Whether they are guarding the halls of Hogwarts or sleeping on Hemingway’s typewriter, Maine Coons have always been muses.
References#
- Wizarding World. (n.d.). The Cats of Harry Potter.
- Hemingway Home & Museum. (2024). Our Cats.