Maine Coon cats can be considered moderately high maintenance due to their grooming, extra large accommodations and social requirements. From my personal experience, these are the biggest demands when you own this breed. If you’re at home a big part of the day, have space in your home, and are able to spend time with your cat, and can commit to the regular combing and brushing then this is the absolute perfect cat.
The maintenance needs that come along with owning a Maine Coon are trivial compared to the benefits and happiness that you’ll receive from having one of your own.
Grooming Needs
Coat Care: Maine Coons have a long, thick coat that requires regular combing and detangling. Failure to do this will result in mats in your cat’s coat that are difficult to remove. In most cases, the mats need to be cut out or in some cases, shaved off.
Shedding: With the long thick coat of fur comes shedding. It would be amazing if they didn’t shed but that’s just not the case. Spring and Summer seasons bring the highest amount of shed. Regular grooming can help reduce the amount of shedding hair. There’s also some awesome tools on the market to remove the fur from your furniture and clothes. Yes, you need to be ok with wearing cat hair.
Bathing: It’s not necessary to bathe your Maine Coon although some people choose to. If you’re kitty loves water and enjoys bath time, then by all means, a monthly bath might work out well.
My Personal Thoughts About Grooming Maine Coon Cats:
There are two different type of coats on a Maine Coon. The “good coat” and the “bad coat”. The good coat is one that requires very little maintenance.
A simple brushing on the weekend will be just fine. This type of coat doesn’t get many mats and looks smooth and silky.
The bad coat requires more frequent, sometimes daily, brushing and detangling. Even with routine grooming, they still get mats in high friction areas (armpits, belly, back of the legs).
Shedding is something that you’ll deal with on a daily basis.
Social and Emotional Needs
Affection and Interaction: Maine Coons are highly social cats. So much that they’re considered the dog of the cat world. They absolutely love to be with and around their humans. It’s one of the reasons they’re such a sought after breed of cat. To translate this into more simple terms, I’d say that they’re clingy.
Compatibility with Other Pets: Since I’m a breeder of Maine Coon cats, I’ve witnessed hundreds of interactions between Maine Coons and other cats. I have witnessed interactions the cats have had with my wolf, my monkey and my macaw. The monkey likes to pull their tails but they always come back for more. The wolf and the cats will cuddle up together and sleep. The macaw is a delight for them to watch and be chased by. Yes, my macaw chases my cats. They are such a joy. I have never seen them have an issue with another type of animal. It may take them a couple for everyone to adjust, but ultimately everyone gets along and lives happily ever after.
Dealing with Separation Anxiety: Since this breed is such a social kitty, they may get upset and/or get anxiety when separated from their humans for a long period of time (More than 24 hours). It’s important to realize and understand their communication efforts, and make the necessary plans if you’re going to be away from your cat.
Living Environment
Space Requirements: Since Maine Coons are larger cats, they do require bigger things. Beds, furniture, cat trees, scratching posts, and litter boxes to name a few. Especially if you own a male Maine Coon, as they tend to grow into very large and heavy cats.
The Pros of Having a Maine Coon Far Outweigh the Cons
I have had Maine Coon cats for 22 years. Their kind, gentle and highly social nature makes them such a wonderful cat to have as a pet. I’ve had cats my entire life, and Maine Coons are much different than any other cat that I’ve had. They’re wonderful companions and just have remarkable personalities.
The addition of a new kitten or cat to your home should always be taken with great consideration. Doing research about the breed, it’s requirements, personality and health risks are always in your best interest before making a decision.
We love Maine Coons and think that everyone should have at least one! But then, you’ll find that one isn’t enough and you’ll want another…and another….and another. 🙂 We have several litters each year so keep coming back to our sight to pick out your new companion.
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