Maine Coon

[Baranj]

Hi everyone. I would really appreciate some honesty regarding cat ownership. Whilst I’m mainly interested in hearing from Maine Coon owners, I’d appreciate advice from any feline owners.

I have never owned a pet. My DD has been begging us for a cat for the past three years, and we’ve settled on the Maine Coon breed having read so many wonderful things about them, however, I suffer from major OCDs - I’m a total hygiene freak!

I have read that they are great at cleaning themselves, but being long-haired I understand they can suffer with the occasional messy bottom. (Q1) I would like to know how common this is; and does shaving the area reduce the chances of this happening?

I’m also concerned about spraying. We’ve decided on a male and we will have him neutered between 9-11 months as suggested by the breeder (although this is later than what some other breeders have suggested).

(Q2) Did your male Maine coon ever spray indoors; or ever decide to stop using the litter tray? Even though he will be neutered, I understand they may still spray - and that both males and females can do this.

We will allow our cat access to the garden and the breeder said this would be fine, as long as the garden is cat friendly. We also intend on taking him for walks on a harness.

Again, my main concern is the spraying and if this happened to anyone with a neutered male Maine Coon and, if so, how did you resolve it. We would hate to make a financial and emotional investment only to realise I’m out of my depth.

Thank you.

Personality wise I rate Abyssinian or Somali (same breed but with different coat genetics) over MC.

I have met several neurotic nervous not keen people MC.

The Somalis have all been "bomb proof" and love their people.

Its very much occasional and generally triggered by something like a new food or they've snaffled some human food.

I have two siblings now13 years old (one boy one girl Maine Coons) and they are just the best floofy goof balls on the planet and never stop chatting

@Silkiebunny I love the one on the cupboard top. He looks so proud of himself 😂

Photos

We just had a litter tray in the downstairs bathroom and that works well. It does need to be a large one though, our cat is over 1.1 metres now. I think you can get self cleaning litter trays now which are very pricey but only need changing every couple of months, no idea what they are like.

Thank you, he is very proud of himself especially his tail. If you tell him his tail is magnificent he will swish it and trill. That's the one word he understands. Well that and tuna. He sits like this as well like a king showing off his tail.

You will fall in love.

@F1ymetothetoon this is the exact colour my DD wants. She actually has a similar one to yours as her screensaver!

@Silkiebunny I do want one based on all these lovely photos and experiences. I have been reading so much about them and of course talking to breeders with these same questions. They have been honest and very helpful, but I really wanted to know from the owners perspective. I am glad to learn you also have OCD’s and were able to overcome them and fall in love with Floof. I’d hate my DD to miss out because of me overthinking the negative aspects of pet ownership. I’m trying to break away from it, but it’s not easy. These wonderful stories are all helping. Thank you.

Not Maine Coons but I have two long haired moggies. It is VERY rare for them to have a dirty bum and I've only had a problem with spraying (for a short period) when one of my cats had a UTI.

Cats are generally very clean BUT since you have
OCD I would think very carefully about getting any cat. Cat food, litter, the odd accident, the possibility of bringing things in, and loose fur everywhere are all things that you need to consider.

@Silkiebunny yes, the robot ones? We have been recommended these by two breeders as well having two litter trays for easy access.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats your cat is beautiful. It looks very much like a Maine Coon. What breed is it? My OCD is mostly regarding faecal matter, vomit and urine. I can do it on occasion as I have done with kids, but not daily. That would be hard. Messy food and hair is something I can get around. Not ideal, but I do hoover and brush a lot, so it wouldn’t be anything new for me. I have not owned a cat, so I’m unaware of how their body functions daily. If they had to poo very regularly, it would be hard for me. I’m trying to see if it is manageable. Not totally unavoidable.

Yes I think it's the robot ones and I saw good reviews but they were about £500. We have all fallen hopelessly in love with Floof. I forget the OCD around him mostly, as a kitten he even came for a cuddle with me in bed with a bad stomach once or twice head next to mine, paws over me like Mummy I am sick wanting cuddles and strokes and then trilling. I had to wash bedding and me but love him so much could manage though did call DH for assistance after our cuddles. I am glad he's grown out of that though. Its exposure therapy. 😂 It is rare though and he's an absolute joy, about 3 times size of old cat and you can never have too much cat. I am not bothered by food or fur they are clean things.

I think with your DH helping it will be fine and you will love him so much.

They poo about once a day. Urine is more often similar to a human.

My DD sent me 3 photos of Floof today, we've had him over a year now and it's the same every day. In her GCSEs she almost forgot she had exams as she was messaging me and her friends about Floof.

This is our Maine coon kitten. He's 18 weeks old he's not been the greatest at litter training but I think that's mainly because he's deaf so can't hear us tell him off! He has got better though! We were told by the vet we are fine to get him neutered between 5&6 months. I'm keen to do it sooner rather than later as a few wee incidents I can deal with but spraying everywhere would be a nightmare!

Thank you - I think he's a very handsome chap too 😁. He's a rescue moggy (i.e. no breed / DLH), from Battersea - a photo of his sister below.
The other thing you need to consider is hairballs. Long haired cats can produce these pretty regularly (more or less weekly this summer).
And to answer your earlier question, in my experience cats usually crap daily.

@Snowinsummer I was told by the breeder that females can also spray? Can I ask how many of your neutered male cats sprayed?

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats she is also stunning! Both gorgeous!

@Cotswoldmama 🥰 He’s beautiful.
I agree, occasional mishaps I can deal with, but not on a regularly!

@Silkiebunny 😂

@Silkiebunny Thank you for sharing this. Food and fur are less of a problem for me too. I have seen the robot ones and would consider it, but it would mean changing the litterbox location to one where a power supply is available. I’m not sure I would put the box anywhere else tbh.

@Lindtislife Can I ask why you think that? I have only heard they are low maintenance, except for the grooming?

Sounds like a nightmare. A friend of mine got a ragdoll cat and now spends most of her free time vacuuming, never mind cleaning up diarrhoea as well 🤢 🤮