Advice on Owning a Maine Coon

Owning a cat requires a sense of humor, but owning a Maine Coon requires a sense of adventure. These large, furry beasts were originally bred in the east to assist in keep rats and mice from taking over on the fishing boats. Evolving into a sturdy breed of cat, the Maine Coon became a much sought after animal, usually only available through breeders.

Larger than most cats, the Maine Coon has some telltale markings on the coat. Some are solid in color, but most have large markings over a solid color. The ears are large, and the hearing is sensational, and the paws are also rather large. (The extra large paws are amusing the first few months of life, when the kitten cannot manage to walk without tripping over them.) These large feet will continue to intrigue you as your kitten grows, and small tufts of fur erupt from the bottoms of the paws. These are harmless, and should not be removed unless they start becoming matted. Consult a veterinarian.

A Maine Coon require a large amount of human contact, while other cats may be more independent. This contact is usually required from more than one family member, and the animal will, in turn attach himself to more than one human. This is most unusual for a cat, but the fact is that a Maine Coon will choose who he wants to play with, who he wants affection from, and who he wants to keep his distance from. However, most who are well socialized will greet guests along side of you, if you let them.

The personality of the Maine Coon can is as variable as the personality of a person. One personality trait that stands out among the breed is their ability to understand human emotion. For some reason, this breed is particularly capable of realizing when an owner is sad, and the animal likes to stay close until everything is better. Extremely intelligent, these animals don't wait if you forget to feed or water them. While a different cat may hang around the food bowls looking miserable, the Maine Coon will drink from the toilet. He also won't hesitate to tear into the food bag if he thinks you are taking too long. These cats are complete opportunists.

If you choose to own a Maine Coon, remember that these animals are people cats. You cannot leave them unattended for as long as you can with other breeds. Before getting one, make sure you have enough space and time for the cat, because if you don't the animal may retaliate in whatever way he sees fit. This may include shredding toilet paper, messing on the floor instead of the litter pan, and possibly the occasional suicide foray into an open oven.

A word of caution, however. The Maine Coon gets along well with dogs, adults, and children. This CP has even seen the occasional Maine Coon getting along with hamsters and gerbils. (OK, getting along is a stretch, but he defiantly didn't try to eat the rodents.) However, unless the Maine Coon is raised around other cats, he will never really get along with them. It is best to keep this very territorial cat away from other cats. It may be easiest to make the Maine Coon your only cat, and he will appreciate that, as other cats prove to be a threat to hard won security.