Maine Coon

[GhostofNatt]

Always wanted one. Anybody got any experience of them? Are they OK with small children (under 5)? Will buying a large doglike cat stop me feeling broody?

[motherinferior]

Our new one is I think part Maine Coon - he's absolutely enormous and makes our other cat look positively kittenish. He is absolutely lovely. Cuddly, silky and adorable. I am besotted, and so are the Inferiorettes.

[GhostofNatt]

Now I really want one, MI. I feel I ought to go down the rescue cat route but then I will end up with the first needy looking cat I see and I really, really want a Maine Coon! Will research whether there is a Maine coon rescue outlet...

[swiperfox]

Maine coon are absolutely gorgeous cats. My mum's cat looks just like one. My Sister's grandma has got one and i think my Mum has said it can be a bit tempramental but then can't all cats!!!

[motherinferior]

I don't know he's definitely part MC, but he does look it. I can send you a picture, if you like. He is very lovely, he really is.

[motherinferior]

Ours is quite laidback but he is four. Selfish bugger, though, no pining for his old home - paws under the table straightaway.

[coppertop]

Dh has always wanted a Maine Coone. I love the look of them but probably won't have any pets for a while yet. Will watch this thread with interest though.

[expatinscotland]

don't know about maine coon, but i'd love to have a burman.

[GhostofNatt]

Love to see a pic - could you post it on member profiles? Or Cat it (tee hee)...

[motherinferior]

you CAT me and I'll send it back!

[expatinscotland]

GhostofNatt
don't give up on rescue centres! they do get purebreeds in from time to time.

our pedigree persian was a stray, believe it or not, and you couldn't ask for a lovelier feline.

[GhostofNatt]

Done CAT thing, ta. Always wonder if this is the bit where you find out that the person you are CATing is someone in your office or your arch enemy at school!

[GhostofNatt]

I just know me, expat, I'll go in and there will be some very old and mangy cat (or half a dozen old and mangy cats) and I will have to take it/them home and then my house will be full of grouchy incontinent elderly cats!

[expatinscotland]

Instead of visiting, GoN, try contacting them to see what they have on offer. Perhaps they can put you on a waiting list.

I can't bring myself to pay money for a cat when there are so many good ones in shelters, but that's as someone who's been able to adopt two pedigrees - a Persian and a Siamese - from rescue centres.

[GhostofNatt]

Good plan Expat, will try that. Suspect visiting would be too traumatic - I remember visiting shelters to get pets as a kid and sobbing all the way home...

[expatinscotland]

it's too bad they don't have websites. a lot of the shelters in the US put all their pets online, updating often, so you can sort of get an idea of what's on offer and 'shop'. they include details like the pet's age, sex, and what kind of home they'd suit, plus photos.

shelters will often bring a few pets to large pet stores on weekends and do adoptions there.

but do give them a phone and let them know what you're after.

also try looking up some websites for main coon owners and fans. there could be some looking for new homes or who might put you in touch with adoption potentials.

pedigrees have their faults, and not all owners are willing to keep these animals once they find this out - unfortunately. but i'm a 'a pet is for life' person.

[Earlybird]

Agree that they are lovely looking cats. However, I would think that all that lovely, silky, long hair would get everywhere...do they shed alot?

[motherinferior]

Ours actually sheds less than our short-haired moulting monster. He does need combing, but that means he wriggles and preens shamelessly.

[galaxy]

I was talking to a lady in Southampton last week who breeds Maine Coone and says they are adorable.

We have a burman cross ragdoll and he is very big, very fluffy and very stupid!

[dinny]

Ghostofnatt, hello. My sister has a Maine Coon (Monty) and he is GORGEOUS and HUGE and very affectionate. And loves my children too. His hair gets matted unless brushed TWICE A DAY though. hth

[GhostofNatt]

Yikes, brushing the hair twice a day sounds optimistic, the rest of us are lucky to get brushed once. I have always had a weakness for ragdolls as well but have heard they are not the great intellects of the cat world. Tragically bought an edition of Cat World on my way home and was drooling over the Maine coons also some cats I'd nevre heard of before called snow shoes...

[galaxy]

That sounds aboout right...we called ours Einstein and he couldn't be further from his name-sake. He's really lovely though

[dinny]

Ghostofnatt - my Mum's boss has a Ragdoll - Kevin . Soooo cute.

[GhostofNatt]

I don't think dP would countenance a ragdoll - am trying to sell the Maine coon as an exciting macho sort of cat, practically a dog. I do like those big dumb cats tho...

[dinny]

One of my Mum's Siamese was a big lynx-point, he was sooo dim-witted, affectionate and adorable. Sorely missed.

[GhostofNatt]

Don't dinny, am getting horribly cat-broody now, may start ringing numbers from the back of Cat World any minute...