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.

I've got a British short hair Blue X from a rescue centre. She's short haired but densely coated, needs regular brushing. She does shed a fair amount of hair but nothing like a maine coon does.

She is very sweet tempered and loves nothing more than cuddling up and watching TV with me. She's a bit needy so needs a bit of attention and cuddles but she's not high maintenance like an mc or Persian.

I keep her litter tray outside the back door and she goes there during the day. I clean the tray at night and bring it in for her to use during the night. The house doesn't smell of the litter tray by doing this.

Floof is 20 months old but that pic on the duvet is a while back. Its definitely clumps of fluff coming off him, checked today, the white does tend to go on chair arms, headrests whereas tabby is carpet but like 2 inch long half inch wide clumps. No individual hairs. Moggie had individual hairs.

The breeder we got does not spay before and says it's too young but we were ideally thinking of a female same age as Floof but very hard to find them not neutered and he's such a big cat would need a MC to have his babies. We are not sure either yet. If it was just for a Mrs Floof would probably use MC cat club again but maybe one closer.

Floof now, against spare single bed.

@Silkiebunny wow! He’s massive! Beautiful!

@Ilefttownonsaturday do you have a cat-flap she uses to get to the litter tray? Does she use the tray outside in the winter? I want it outside ideally, but I’ve read that cats don’t like it when it’s very cold. Is this true from your experience?

yeah it definitely gets on food, even though she’s not around when food is being prepared. It’s fine and floats around the place. And we hoover most days and clean the kitchen a lot, we’re not slack.

Whatever cat you get your daughter will love it. I commented a few times as I do have a Maine Coon cross breed, who we adore, but we live in the countryside and our garden backs onto fields. I cannot imagine keeping a Maine Coon indoors or in an urban area, as they love being outdoors and cover large distances. Having a mixed cat avoids some of the health and flood issues, plus makes them less likely to be stolen. If a Maine Coon cannot go out, but can see cats in their garden, they do mark their territory (maybe females are better?).

For a clean, indoor, people orientated cat do check breeds like the Siamese and Ragdoll. The latter basically has to be indoors or out under supervision, as they are ridiculously friendly, very beautiful and just flop on the ground if they see someone.

All the breeders we contacted (pure MC) would only allow indoor only, catio or secured garden for the safety of the cat as they are very trusting and no sense of danger and also high risk for being stolen. Ours is permanently trilling so sure he's happy. He can never see other cats as we are rural.

Never been any single hairs here, maybe a female thing or cross breed thing? 🤔

@Londonlondon4 Daughter does like ragdolls. Quite a few on here have recommended them. I will look into them as a breed. All my research has been heavily focused on the Maine coon so may need to reconsider. Do they shed fine hair?
This is a major put of for me. Hair in food is a massive no. Territorial peeing might be an issue as we do have lots of other cats in the neighbourhood. We live in London, in a semi-detached so not a massive garden, but fairly decent. Nowhere near field like, but very local to a park.

Like Silkibunny said, all breeders we’ve contacted have said indoor only with secure gardens and harness walks. This is also new to me that they prefer outdoors? I wouldn’t want to deny them garden access, but now I’m worried that he may choose to dart off and get taken or run over.

I have read comments elsewhere, where owners described them as loyal and even with garden access didn’t want to leave and explore. I know they have a strong predator instinct and are prolific hunters.

@JudyGemstone thanks for confirming this. I would have serious issues with this. I cook daily and host for family and friends ☹️

@Baranj she uses the litter tray outside all year and it only comes inside at night or if we go out for the day and she's asleep on the sofa!

We don't have a cat flap because we've got a patio door. But it's no problem letting her out when she needs to go out to use the tray.

She likes to sit on the decking and sunbathe most days. She's very sensible and stays within the confines of our garden and doesn't roam the streets. That's mainly because of her nature, she's quite a cautious cat.

https://www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/cat-breeds/british-shorthair

This is the breed I have.

@Baranj Both the Maine Coon and Ragdolls do shed. Ragdoll likes being brushed, the Makne Coon objects.

what about a Siamese? Not floofy, but apparently minimal shedding.

@Ilefttownonsaturday I have come across British Shorthair during my search. They are lovely cats. I take it they also indoors only?

@Londonlondon4 I do appreciate everyone’s suggestions. I will consider them. My DD is all about Maine Coons and possibly Ragdolls. It will be hard to convince her otherwise. She knows I’m trying my best to make her dream cat become a reality. I think she appreciates the effort. She is also not prepared to settle. I have discussed many of the alternative breeds with her, let’s see. Currently, it is a MC or nothing approach from her.

I honestly think that with any cat you have the possibility of getting cat hairs pretty much everywhere. We have 3 cats, the ginger tom sheds like nothing I have ever come across before in my entire life of having pets, the calico girl is just average shedding, and the tabby boy barely loses a single hair.
You have to be prepared to accept it (while trying to keep on top of it, obviously - I don't mean just let your house become one great big fur ball!).

But I think none of it really matters very much if you love your cat and your cat loves you :)

@Baranj no, British short hairs need to be outside as well as flop on the sofa inside in equal measure.

Any long or semi-long hair cats shed fine floaty hair to a greater or lesser extent.

You will at some point have cat hair in your food. It's a year since we lost our last Semi LH and we still occasionally find her floof!!

Good luck - If I was in your situation I would go for a Ragdoll on the proviso that DD brushes the cat am and pm (whizzing over the cat for a minute, to gather any loose hairs). A Ragdoll will love the attention.

Ragdolls are described on breed information as cleaner than most other cats. I love both breeds, but my Maine Coon would be a nightmare as a house cat in an urban area and not 100 per cent for being clean.

Maybe find some Ragdoll kittens to view - hopefully it will be love at first sight.

@Londonlondon4 thank you so much. I will definitely look into a Ragdoll if DD approves.

We have a rescued Maine Coon cross - he's eight years old now and huge. He also sheds like nothing I've seen before - he leaves clumps behind wherever he's been sitting and his fur gets absolutely everywhere. Brushing him daily makes bugger all difference.

He's excellent with our other cats and generally quite sociable and friendly but he's definitely not a lap cat. I'm the only person he sits on really and even that's only for a few minutes before he leaps off. I think the longest he's ever sat on me was half an hour and it was such a momentous occasion that I took a photo to prove it 😂

We've never had an issue with stuck poo or matts but he's not as long haired as a pure bred MC. He's never had a single accident but does produce quite a few hair balls in the spring and summer months.

Photo!

House cats often want company. If they are left alone all day you may need to get a second cat.

@margotrose wow! I can see the Maine coon in him. Beautiful and very large for a cross. So glad you’ve never had any poo issues either. This was my number one worry. It seems now it is the shedding that will cause the most issues for me. According to what others have said, no amount to cleaning will make the house hair free! My biggest worry would be if it was in the food.

@Londonlondon4 I WFH and DH works 3 days a week. DD is homeschooled. Lots of company for the cat. I am struggling with the idea of keeping up with one cat! The house is fairly large, lots of visitors and always busy. Hopefully enough to keep the cat entertained?