Tell me about Maine coons

[ocelot41]

Hiya, we are thinking about getting a pair of cats and would like ones which are kid-friendly and fun to play with for our only DS. I work from home 3 days a week so they wouldn't be left alone all day every day whilst we worked. Other than MCs getting big and needing regular grooming, what are they like to live with? How do they cope with a cattery when owners on holiday? Any experience on the whole inside/outside debate?

If they're anything like ragdolls, if you're out regularly it would need to be a paid. I don't know about MC's though.

Our ragdoll is not laid back or chilled out and only tolerates fuss unless its on her terms. She definitely wouldnt be suitable for what youre after...not playful and doesnt do well with children

Paid? A pair I meant!

Pitch we are very lucky, our breeder had a young child (Four years old) so the kittens grew up underfoot a child who would pick them up/play with them/be near them. I don't know if that's helped? I know that generally one their breed traits is that they are amazing with children.

Girls you have explained why I have a very vocal rescue cat on my hands, she is half MC.

She is totally amazing with my son and loves cuddles and being brushed but she is the noisiest creature I've owned with the exception of a Tonkinese I rescued many moons ago. It does drive me slightly demented, particularly since she will cry to go out and within 5 mins she is HOWLING to be let in again.

I suspect it's the MC side of her now.

This is she.

Oh but how beautiful is she?

I have to say having spent the afternoon yesterday with my Mum's three cats, one of which is Ragdoll, it makes me realise just how AMAZING she is with my toddler.

One of my Mum's cats was so aggressive to my son, ears flat and hissing. The Ragdoll just bolts when any children come near and the older cat has scratched my son pretty badly in the past. So I have woken up this morning and given her the biggest brush and cuddle. She is a total angel and if she cries a little more than in used to then I think that's a small price to pay for her beautiful temperament.

MC are the breed you really need to ask lots of health questions of the breeder as 50% of MCs get hip Dysplasia and there is a very high incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the breed. You need to ask about screening for both these diseases and I would get top notch life time insurance because of the diseases.

Thanks - that's worth knowing!

My mil has a Maine coon, we haven't seen it since it was a small kitten as it runs out of the house terrified as soon as it hears us and the dcs coming up the drive :(
We haven't done anything to it, it just is very nervous nd timid. So check out the breeding carefully. I would def. Say they are all individuals!

YES defo check for HCM. A good breeder will have certified HCM free cats. This doesn't guarantee no problems (and other cat breeds and moggies have it too but MC are prone) I haven't had any problems with hip dysplasia in mine but I would assume like bigger dogs, bigger cats are more at risk.

Imsosorryalan.. that sounds like a kitten wasn't socialised properly..or at all :( MC tend to be quite laid back 'whatever' cats (and nosy!) Mine investigate all visitors very thoroughly

seb it seems like your mum is really unlucky with her ragdoll
I think when buying any purebred/rescue it is worth asking if they are used to living with children/have been bought up in an environment with children.

The risk of HD is not dependent on size a good breeder should be screening for this.

^completely agree. When we were choosing our Ragdoll breeder for example we made sure the mum and dad cats had been DNA tested by the breeder for known problems with ragdolls (heart etc)