Maine Coons and re-catting.

[Moonax]

Anyone got experience of Maine Coons? We're long time cat owners but have always had moggies (lovely, all of them). Our last, beautiful black girl was pts about a year ago (she was 19) and we're now thinking cat again. We're looking at rescue cats as the obvious source, and DH likes the idea of older cat and a kitten to stagger the pain of the inevitable losses.

I have always loved Maine Coons, but if anyone has any tips on the reality of pedigree cat owning, I'd be grateful for advice. All our previous cats were easy to handle, wonderful to live with (bar rodent presents) and are greatly missed.

[QforCucumber]

Require grooming, bloody noisy buggers, and they love a cuddle.

Oh and my friends eats more than her german shepherd!

[Moonax]

Thanks! Very useful.

Noisy isn't a problem as all three of ours were extremely vocal. It was like living in a jungle.

Grooming would be a new one. Only had short-hairs before and goodness knows they produced enough fluff to knit new cats.

I now have a mental image of Maine Coon eyeballing German Shepherd away from overflowing foodbowl :)

[IAmcuriousyellow]

DO get a Maine Coon! I acquired an orange one just this year and he is divine - excellent and prolific hunter, very characterful, has a charming chirping chirruping voice, playful and affectionate and funny. He eats a lot though as above, although fair enough as he's big. Fabulous tail too. I wish I'd had him as a kitten..

[QforCucumber]

I'd love one, have 2 rescued strays at the moment and a human baby on the way so will hAve to wait.
Haha the fight with the dog image in your head Is probably about right - kitty is only 1 year old and she's huge!

[AnotherStitchInTime]

If you are not sure about Maine Coon grooming you could get a Maine Coon cross.

I have a Maine Coon cross Ragdoll girl who is long haired, but requires less grooming.

Ragdoll coats are easier to manage than Maine Coons. I have a Ragdoll boy too who is massive, vocal and cuddly. He is not a hunter by nature.

I also had a Maine Coon cross Oriental who sadly got run over. He was short haired, but massive like his Maine Coon father, ate loads, hunted pigeons and was the most vocal, affectionate cat I have ever had.

[Moonax]

Thanks for the responses.

There's a picture. I'm doomed:)

The grooming might not be a huge issue, it's just never occurred before in our cat owning lives. Or at least, not as a necessity. Our outsize tabby idiot boy loved being groomed, mainly I suspect because he was much too lazy to groom himself.

All this does sound very promising. I was mostly concerned in case there were outstanding health or behaviour issues we should know about. Everything I've read about them suggests not, but I wanted some real-life experience of the beasties as well.

[roseandgrey]

Beautiful cars. Mine is a noisy, constantly hungry, fur ball of loveliness

[roseandgrey]

I meant cats, obviously

[roseandgrey]

He's crossed with a BSH and looks silly in this photo as he detests being groomed, so I had to set upon him with the clippers.

[Epilepsyhelp]

We have two pedigrees and they are by far the soppiest most dependent cats I've ever had. They love cuddles and company and wander round howling if they ever find themselves alone. They're utterly gorgeous.

[Moonax]

@Epilespsyhelp - furry cars :D

None of you are helping to squash this idea at all. I'll start looking.

Many thanks again for the insider voice on Maine Coons.

[Moonax]

Ooops. Sorry. The "furry cars" comment was for roseandgray ...

It's a bit early still.

[PurpleHairAndPearls]

I love Maine Coons. Get one get one get one!

We don't have one yet but we have a long haired cat. All I will say is, I hope you have a good vacuum cleaner. You might want to consider matching your wardrobe to the colour of the cat too

[PurpleHairAndPearls]

Qforcucumber, is that a Maine Coon crossed with a remote control? Useful

[Suzietwo]

We don't groom our Maine coon. He seems fine!

[IAmcuriousyellow]

Here is the Devil's Apricot

[Seawig]

See I am clearly rubbish at cat breeds because my huge fluffy cuddly rescue looks like these other cats too!

He likes being held like a baby, stretches out huge, hunts prolifically and is almost silent except when bringing us a present home through the catflap when he chats away past his mouthful of rodent. He likes being brushed but doesn't need grooming. He doesn't shed a lot.

We have Huntercat down as a domestic long hair moggy.

How do you tell?!

[berylbainbridge]

the Devil's Apricot! He looks adorably scruffy and slightly louche! I have nothing to add about owning maine coons as I have 2 worthy black and white mogs. I'm purely here for the lovely pics

[IAmcuriousyellow]

More of Dandelion looking tidier - he can groom when he wants but cba with the whole job!

[IAmcuriousyellow]

Seawig your Huntercat looks very MC to me! Does he have huge paws?

[ophiotaurus]

I love our Maine Coon! They are such a lovely breed. I never thought I would care about him so much. I actually miss him when we go on holiday.
The grooming isn't too bad. Get them used to it as a kitten.
My boy is lovely and talks all the time. He's very good with the dcs and is so friendly. I would only have Maine Coons now.
Here's my boy.

[ophiotaurus]

More gratuitous pics! He hangs out in the bath sometimes too...

[TranquilityofSolitude]

Love that last picture ophiotaurus!

[DoctorTwo]

Thula the companion to a 6 yr old autistic girl. Yes, the painting above the piano was done by the aforementioned 6yo. She is a Maine Coon, and she and Iris Grace do everything together.

[Knights1nPrestatyn]

We have two Maine Coons brother and sister which we got as kittens. They really are beautiful lovely natured cats.