From the ArcaMax Publishing, Cats & Dogs Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/catsanddogs/s-177153-962566
Affectionately referred to as "the gentle giant," the Maine Coon is
one of the largest breeds of domestic cat, and is known for its
intelligence and playfulness as well as its distinctive physical
appearance. They have a tendency to use their front paws extensively
and can easily learn to open cabinet doors and get into other
mischief.
Their extreme intelligence makes them a relatively easy cat to train
and may explain their "dog-like" behavior. Playing fetch is a favorite
game, where they'll bring their ball, drop it your feet and wait for
it to be thrown. They can indeed be large cats, growing up to 40
inches long and even healthy cats can weigh as much as 25 pounds.
Maine Coons have medium-long, dense fur, with longer hair, or a ruff,
on their chests similar to the mane of a lion. They're also
distinguished by their long, bushy tail and large ears which are
tipped by tufts of fur.