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.

If it helps, after living with a Maine Coon we won't get a different breed in the future. We've had a moggy, a Bengal and still have a British shorthair. We've loved them all but Maine Coons are just so sweet and cuddly.... and, this is a bit brave in a chat filled with fellow owners, stupid. Ours is genuinely the most daft cat I've ever met in my life.

Someone else mentioned Siamese. Our family had two (one after the other) when I was growing up. They were both absolute cuddle monsters, wanted to be in the bed not on it, and chatted to us loudly 24/7. No dodgy poo, no hairballs, no mass shedding, no bums needing to be shaved. They did feel the cold though. I loved them both and would definitely have another, though like many breeds they're now suffering from health issues as a result of overbreeding for specific traits. So choose carefully.

@Cotswoldmama that is a seriously floofy and beautiful cat! As another poster pointed out, bigger than your baby! I love the exchange between them. My DD also loves this breed. Yes, breeder said the more grooming we do, the less hairballs. It would explain your situation.

@ButterMyParsnip 😂 I have only heard about their intelligence. This is a new one for me. I have heard others say that this was their favourite breed too and they would not go back. Are they any more or less work than the other breeds you’ve owned?

I don’t think think they’re renowned for their intelligence tbh.

Ivy certainly isn’t the brightest spark but she’s pretty so gets away with it 😂

@JudyGemstone 😂

Can I ask why you're so set on a pedigree cat, OP? It seems such a lot of money for a cat, when you can get a moggy just as friendly but without the hassles. Is it for its looks?

Cat poo is minging, IMO life is far too short to have to wipe or shave a cat's arse.

I have a Maine coon. They are wonderful with kids. Need a regular trim and then no issues. They like to roam and will travel far - be careful if you are in an area with busy roads.
get a mix - there is some crazy breeding for giant versions that are not so healthy

They are the clowns of the cat world - especially the males. Both of my boys have us well-trained with different vocalisations. They can open doors, cupboards and the cat-flap backwards (don't ask). If it's something they want, they can be pretty tenacious. I've seen my older cat work out how to get into a tub of sealed Dreamies and then fall off his cat-climbing frame half an hour later.

Oh - if you go for a large cat breed, get a bigger climbing frame, especially if you are getting an indoor cat. They can knock over the smaller stands, and I have seen my black Maine Coon clear a six-foot fence with one jump.

I think vets will do a sanitary shave around their bums. Also I highly feeding a raw diet if they suffer with any stomach problems. I buy PurrForm and it controls my cats sensitive digestive system and helps reduce the odour of her poos.

Our Floof is all looks and no brain too Judy but its quite cute. He loves playing ball but he can't get his head round that you can start a game in either direction. Our moggie understood far more. It does say online they are intelligent but no evidence of that here.

If you are home all day and DD is homeschooled that's ideal. Floof has adopted us all as his humans and can act like he's been home alone when one comes back. We have 3 of us at home most of the time. He is quite different to a normal cat, 3 times the size for a start. Its like half dog, half cat. He takes balls in his mouth. We have carpets in some places and not ripping them up. We are gradually changing to wooden floorboards but that's just preference really and carpet generally wearing out. Its always corners if there's an issue and that helps as its not where you walk.

we have a Maine Coon. I think it would be impossible to fence in and they will roam far when out.

consider a Ragdoll if you want an indoor cat, that will be happy in the garden with you and will not take off.

@DigbyTheDigger to be honest, I wasn’t set on anything! My DD watched a YouTube video with a Maine Coon and fell in love. That was three years ago. The cat is for her and her idea. I will help her take care of it if it’s something I can do. DH use to own a dog, and was also won over by the idea of a Maine coon being a dog in a cat’s body. He likes that it doesn’t require daily walks or needs to be taken outdoors to do its business. It really has nothing to do with it being a pedigree. Had she asked for a hamster and been this obsessive, I would’ve been discussing hamsters instead.

@Londonlondon4 the breeder recommended cat friendly fencing. Would this not work from your experience? We still plan on taking it out on a harness. We will also be getting a catio.

@BlueKaftan thank you for the recommendation. I will look into this. I have also read of the benefits of a raw diet. Someone also mentioned cereal free. I will read up on this too.

@Silkiebunny is it always the same spot? Do the deterrent sprays not work, or have you not tried them? Can I ask why you didn’t have Floof neutered? Wooden flooring has been easy for me and my cleaning routine. I have been after a squeegee broom that looks amazing for pet hairs. I use a Dyson and it does okay, but not sure how it will be up against cat hair!

I had to stop reading this thread yesterday early evening as there WEREN'T ANY PHOTOS, - almost reported it to MNHQ, but v. glad to see that has been rectified by the late night posters.
<settles down to gaze at gorgeous Main Coons....>

I have three rag doll boys.
One was neutered at 3 months by the breeder, the others by us at around 6 months. They have never sprayed.

We use ModKat litter trays - the jump up and drop into them so no trails of litter. We’ve never had an accident but we have 4 between them. Interesting they tend to opt to wee and poo in different trays.

The cat hair is insane! We groom regularly and yes, occasionally shave a little around their bum, the youngest struggled with cleaning initially so it helps him. We have had occasional vomit and diarrhoea; one of them can have a dicky stomach, particularly if he gets hold of dreamies. I feed them Applaws meat and if they just have that and good quality dried, it’s fine. I had to feed them whiskas once when I didn’t order their usual in on time and they all had the runs, I didn’t make that mistake again.

I wouldn’t be without them.

We're about to get a marmalade Maine Coon boy kitten. We also have two large moggies so I foresee interesting times ahead! Just been buying brushes and litter trays and toys today. Two weeks and counting!

I have a Maine coon, he only ever sprayed once- before I had him neutered and I had given him a bath so more of a stress spray.
Got him neutered not long after and he’s never sprayed again even despite the fact my rag doll is a sprayer.
Mine has a lovely nature, he loves children especially. He’s definitely more comfortable just being near you than on you and is quite awkward with affection (I think he doesn’t want to seem “rude” by being pushy). He frequently does the school run with me if he spots me on the street.
Mine had some medical digestive issues as a kitten but once that was sorted I honestly couldn’t tell you where he goes to the toilet.
I have litter trays but he doesn’t like to use them and will do a strange yodelling meow until I let him out and then he doesn’t go in peoples gardens but the farmland behind my house. Overall very considerate, loyal cats but maybe not for you if you need a desperately cuddly cat.

My toddler ended up with a dairy allergy for a couple of years because our Maine Coon passed on a tummy bug. Although adorable, the cat also spread the entrails of mice and birds around her favourite child's room (DD5) on a daily basis in spring and summer. She insisted on accompanying favourite child whenever they left the house but would not have tolerated a harness - she liked to stalk along beside her and pounce about. She pined when favourite child went to school and was in a constant worry about where she was. Would try to break into the bathroom when favourite child was in there. Sat on the edge of the bath supervising. Endlessly tolerant of favourite child carrying her about and basically was a living, breathing soft toy come to life.

While this was a legendary cat of dreams, it all became too much with the baby being off dairy for so long and no way of dissuading cat from decapitating mice - we found her a home with someone who could be present continually and where she could have an endless supply of mice to catch.

She did have a sensitive tummy and cleanliness was an issue.

Dairy intolerance

Its different corners but generally always my bedroom. Not tried deterrent sprays. You can distract him by playing a game. Or if you walk to litter tray he will follow and go there. But best is to neuter. We haven't neutered yet as we have all fallen in love with him and might want baby Floofs but we have to really think that one through, its also hard to get a female same age not neutered to be Mrs Floof. Often the breeders neuter before you get them, ours said it was bad for their bone development though not sure if that's true or she just didn't want to pay for neutering, I would ask a vet with knowledge of Maine Coon's advice. Online seems to suggest around 6 months, the breeders give away at 13 weeks. Avoid buying through places like Pets4Homes, lots of dodgy adverts on there claiming Maine Coon when not etc. They are at risk for being stolen as well. I think you can get your garden cat proofed but its not the normal cat proofing, a good breeder should be able to advise - we found one listed on Maine Coon cat club website and spoke to a few on there. Can be a wait for kittens. Wooden floors would be easier, maybe could get some washable rugs from Dunelm or similar. Though ours plays with rugs and wraps himself up in them.

There are Facebook Maine Coon sites you can go on for the UK with lots of Maine Coon owners. I don't go on much but if you are researching maybe useful.

@FatCatatPaddingtonStation DD also loves ragdolls. She has been watching videos with them too. Is the amount of hair you deal with a lot because you have three? I have seen how much them and MC’s shed. It is shocking. Do you groom them? I am surprised to learn that none of them have sprayed. As another poster pointed out, it seems to happen in a multi-cat household. This is reassuring.