Are Main Coons any more trouble than smaller cats?

[Rockbird]

I'm a newbie cat owner, so newbie that I haven't actually got one yet! I love love love MCs, unlikely to get one as my dds met an enormous one recently and are a bit freaked by it! But out of interest are they any different in terms of care needed than your average moggy? I know they need grooming etc but other than that?

You would need very good insurance (Pet Plan) as they are prone to dental issues and Pet Plan used to be the only insurance company that covered dental disease.

Thanks, interesting about the dental issues, I wouldn't have guessed that. I've pretty much decided on Petplan anyway, having done lots of research. We're puppy sitting at the moment but as soon as he goes home we prepare for cats!

I would love a MC but would hate to bite off more than I can chew as a first timer. And as I said, my dds aren't keen because they equate size with ferociousness. But it's good to have the facts just in case I can persuade them.

You need your DDs on board. Take them to a local shelter, the right kittens/cat will choose them!

That's the plan. They're totally on board for cats in general, we've been waiting a long time.

Our cat is half maincoon and is still kitten sized despite being fully grown, dh was hoping for a massive cat 😂

She's very placid, never been aggressive. She's quite territorial with other cats though doesn't let any others in our garden. She shows some traits, she's a very good hunter, brings and eats mice/birds almost every day. She will sleep in any small spaces she finds. She is also very vocal 😁 I've added a pic of her sleeping.

Mine is pretty small (but she’s a rescue so although we were told she’s a Maine Coon she could be a cross of some sort). I know a couple of people with what are definitely pedigree females though and none of theirs are especially large either. One is even smaller than mine. I think males are on average quite a lot bigger than females.
Mine’s lovely and apart from grooming is no more work than a moggy. Compared to a long-haired moggy it’s no different at all. She is a very chilled out cat and a whole lot less trouble than one of my mum’s moggies who is very high energy and can be destructive. She likes to be around people and has hardly any meow so just chirps and trills at us which is super cute.

I’ve no experience of Maine coons but have been tempted! We got a ragdoll instead and he is the most gorgeous cat ever! So placid and gentle, loves attention lives to be adored. I’d really recommend them if you have nervous children as they are so chilled out.

Here’s my fluffball ❤️

Ours is part Maine coon. He’s very talkative and affectionate but not high maintenance really so far.

Persians are the best!

Ours is massive, sheds fluff like a bastard but is so gentle.

As a kitten he would bring us toys and drop them like a dog.

He also used to sit in the sink and try to catch water.

toddler our other cat is half Persian he's very pretty and is always grooming himself and posing 😂

nunn he is beautiful 😍 our half maincoon drinks water from the tap too, she loves it when it drips she plays for ages 😂

Our Maine coon was very healthy until he was 15. He was a wonderful cat and I miss him every day.

I have a MC cross. He's big (approx 8kg) but a total gentle giant. Incredibly patient with children, fine with my mum's dogs. They need thorough grooming on a regular basis but otherwise pretty stress free!

Mine is exceptionally dim, and not that large (6kg) for a Maine Coon but large compared with “normal” cats. He chirrups quite a bit and is very needy. He is very tidy and if he honks up a fur ball or drops a dangle berry, he will always cover it up with something- usually a child’s discarded pants.

shmithecat I read your post, read the post under yours and then it was like a lightbulb moment where I went "ehh?!?" 8kgs? 8?? That's the weight of my pushchair. Do you feed him rocks?

nunnthewiser I just love the way your cat is lying there playing doctors with your DD
(Sorry OP I know nothing about Maine Coons)

DunkandEggAgain 😂😂😂 I know... He's pretty big. Has been mistaken in the past for a small dog. He's a beauty though. He just gets fed on Royal Canin dry food, whiskas wet pouches and whatever he feels like catching. A fairly efficient hunter!

He looks gorgeous! I think you should have put a pushchair next to him for scale though

Maine Coone envy here!

I have a half one, with the size/looks/traits.
He's gorgeous, but needs attention constantly, he's like a giant baby, hates to be left alone.
That said, he's the most gorgeous cat ever.

Oh god yes, he's really stupid and sheds everywhere.
You can't move for his for and we brush him at least twice a week.

Our MC is massive! He is very laid back and gentle though and no problems with his teeth, although cats in general usually do have teeth problems as they get older. We don’t need to groom our MC as much as other cats we have/had and moulting isn’t much of an issue. Apart from his appetite, he is a very low maintenance cat who looks incredibly impressive.

My ex-BF had a Maine Coone, the thing I remember the most was all the “gifts” he used to bring us, up to and including wild rabbits!

He clearly thought we were:
a) too useless to feed ourselves and
b) greedy bastards!!

We have two MCs and two DC under 26 months. Grooming aside, MC seem to be the most laid back and easy going (lazy!) cats we’ve ever had. Both good with the DCs (one actually plays with our toddler). They are very protective of the DC - if I go in to feed a crying child at night, one of the cats will have always got to the nursery door before me! One problem we did have was finding a vet who knew about MCs. One tried to tell us he was overweight at 7kg when in fact they can grow to 11kg. Currently have one who weighs 9kg but he is in no way fat.