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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Maine Coons

76 replies

Doubleraspberry · 28/11/2021 20:02

Hello - we are contemplating a Maine Coon kitten. Can anyone give me lived experience on the pros and cons of the breed?

And this will be my first ever non-rescue cat. There are none to be had for a house with an existing cat and primary school-aged children. I’ve tried!

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Original poster

Doubleraspberry · 02/12/2021 11:16

I'm in email exchange with a breeder who has a young adult to rehome. Again, being a total novice, should I be expecting her to ask me questions or is that more a thing that dog breeders do?

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CaribouCarafe · 02/12/2021 11:28

A responsible breeder should also be vetting you to make sure you're the right sort of home for their cat.

We got asked about our experience with cats, our working hours, whether we were familiar with the breed, why we wanted the cat, whether we had other pets or kids etc.

Miller2021 · 02/12/2021 11:38

I was lucky enough to adopt a three-year-old Maine Coon from a rescue centre for about 40 quid. He died a couple of years ago at the age of 15, but he was the most beautiful, loving, incredible, enormous cat and I still miss him now.

He had a tendency to put on weight - partly, I'm sure, because he was such a charmer and the neighbours fed him. You also need to keep on top of grooming, but you know that. Also, being a purebreed, they are slightly more susceptible to illness generally and infections - make sure you get decent pet insurance. But oh my god, if your Maine Coon is anything like mine, you will never regret it.

Original poster

Doubleraspberry · 02/12/2021 12:06

Thank you, @Miller2021. He sounds lovely.

I have actually seen a Maine Coon for rescue near me now but he has clearly had a hard time of it and can't be with kids, poor boy.

Yes, my introductory email had some of those details in it, but the breeder hasn't asked any more questions at all about me. Their website looks professional and they are a member of the cat club though.

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CaribouCarafe · 02/12/2021 12:20

@Doubleraspberry perhaps you gave such a detailed intro they didn't feel the need to ask further questions yet. Fingers crossed for your cat journey!

AmandaHugenkiss · 02/12/2021 12:26

@MyAnacondaMight

I think most of the Maine Coon crosses out there are just large fluffy tabbies, optimistically branded.

I had a Maine Coon, rehomed from a friend as he terrorised their existing cat and dog. He was majestic, intelligent and charming, but was to be admired rather than loved. He wasn’t a lap cat. He died suddenly age 8 from a heart attack, which broke my heart.

Yes I agree with this, we were very dubious that ours had any MC in him but the vet has confirmed in his opinion he is part MC. He has the tufty ear points, the mane, and the big tufts of fur coming out of the bottom of his paws. However when we were looking at rehoming lots came with the MCx label but just looked like big fluffy moggies 😁

We didn’t care that much, we were just looking for the right cat for us, it’s a bonus that he’s got some of the breed we love in him.

RandomMess · 02/12/2021 12:41

Just ask why they are rehoming and what genetic tests.

We have a retired neutered stud and he is down with our old girl because as a stud he is used to the girls being boss and you know if you wanted to try make babies you have to be nice to the ladies!

Although girl tells him off a lot for trying to entice her to play but tbf she did that with the previous cat too.

Original poster

Doubleraspberry · 02/12/2021 12:44

I did try to ‘sell’ us at first contact so I probably did include lots of the detail they’d want to know!

He’s being rehomed as an ‘extra’ boy - they’ve just had him neutered at 15 months. I don’t know whether that should ring alarm bells or whether that’s a totally normal thing for breeders to do. He’s absolutely beautiful.

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CaribouCarafe · 02/12/2021 12:47

Perhaps they'd considered him as a stud but changed their minds? Doesn't sound too strange to me personally

RandomMess · 02/12/2021 13:17

I agree he was a stud hopeful and have decided they don't want to use him from breeding- could be that he isn't too "show" standard and they wanted to show him and/or offspring. Or he has been shown and didn't do well.

Not unusual if you want to show and breed.

Original poster

Doubleraspberry · 02/12/2021 14:24

Oh good. That makes total sense. Obviously not an issue for us (and he’s neutered now anyway).

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RandomMess · 02/12/2021 14:44

A Queen and stud that have both down really well at shows and won titles can command extra £££££££ in kitten prices.

TBF both breeding and showing is a very expensive occupation. Unless they are shoddy and doing the bare minimum welfare there isn't much "profit" to be made.

Original poster

Doubleraspberry · 02/12/2021 15:07

The rehoming price is about half that of the kittens, and doesn't feel unreasonable to me. The owner's website has a lot of information on it around safeguarding yourself as a buyer, which is reassuring.

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RandomMess · 02/12/2021 15:10

Yep that does sound reasonable. Neutering is pricey.

Ask if there are any issues you would need to declare to pet insurance. How he gets on with other cats, temperament etc.

Is he used to living in the house or a pen. Took our ex stud a good 6 weeks to start relaxing in the house he used to be on high alert all the time.

Original poster

Doubleraspberry · 02/12/2021 15:22

Thanks. The cats are brought up in a household environment - I've got photos of him luxuriating in their living room post-op in the same cat bed my own house contains. And the owner has been very patient with questions, and advises buyers on her own website to always see the kitten/cat with their mother/family, and has been total open to the idea of us visiting. So no red flags other than the lack of questions, but as you say, I may have answered all the possible questions up front. I guess the visit will also mean she gets to see us with the cat too, so the full picture for all of us.

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RandomMess · 02/12/2021 15:33

A funny tale from a breeder friend.

She sold a stud and he went to elsewhere in Europe to help dilute the gene pool (much less common breed). He was stunning and lovely and a complete gentleman as enjoyed his Queen visitors to them however he was very very choosey and would only mate with a handful of them. He was all eyes and heart and sperm for the select few and completely disinterested in the rest 🤣🤣🤣🤣

The original breed was mortified!!

MissEDashwood19 · 02/12/2021 15:33

I would caution against getting a Maine Coon. In fact, I would avoid pedigree cats all together due to the myriad of health problems that seem to plague them.

Our beautiful Maine Coon girl was PTS aged six due to kidney failure, which according to our vet is very common with the breed.

We also had to take her every two months to the groomers to ensure her coat was properly maintained as brushing didn't really help. I loved her, but she really was a farm cat (we live very rurally) and wasn't much of a lap cat.

Our surviving cat, not a Maine Coon but also pedigree, is very much a people's cat - he is extremely affectionate. Loves the dog and acts like one himself. His coat is also very easy to maintain and thus far seems very healthy. Nevertheless, if I were to have another cat in the future, I would go for a standard moggy.

Miller2021 · 02/12/2021 16:21

I have to say actually, although my MC boy was a complete delight, I wouldn't pay hundreds for any cat and the PP above who mentions recurring health problems is absolutely right - mine had a heart murmur, a herpes infection in his eye that flared up frequently, and terrible UTIs when he was stressed. It's not just the cost of veterinary care you have to consider, but the stress of repeated treatment (on you and your cat).

I now have two standard short-haired rescue moggies and they are equally as adorable as my Maine Coon was, and a lot healthier and cheaper to maintain. One of them exhibits exactly the sort of gentle, dog-like behaviour you're looking for, and they are perfectly well-behaved with adults and kids.

I suspect you've already decided to get a Maine Coon but: whatever cat you choose, you will love them with all your heart, and there are perfect, beautiful, loving, quirky examples of every sort of cat. If I were you, I would give it some more thought.

Original poster

Doubleraspberry · 02/12/2021 17:25

Thank you both for the contrary view. I'm really not entirely decided on one - I've found a few lovely moggie rescues online that tug at my heart, and it's what I've always had in the past. Our current cat, who sits on me every evening and tucks her head under my chin, is the product of an inner-city teenage pregnancy! Paying for an animal, other than rescue fees, is also new to me.

On the other hand, we rescued two brothers who were part of a litter found in a cardboard box. They were both lovely but both had died by the age of seven - one after a rather long expensive illness - because of genetic issues that the vet told us are often seen in strays because of in-breeding. So I don't think it's necessarily as clear cut as moggies=robust!

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Original poster

Doubleraspberry · 03/12/2021 20:14

Quick update - I got a call from one of the shelters I’d lodged our details with in the hope of striking lucky offering us a pair of kittens. We did some thinking and have decided to go for it - the kittens have been well socialised in a foster home with small children and are a happy bonded pair who aren’t from the same litter, reducing the chances of any genetic issues affecting them both. So much excitement in our house, and our Maine Coon plans are shelved for now, although I still think they are AWESOME cats!

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CaribouCarafe · 03/12/2021 20:25

Omg! You can't make an update like that without posting pictures too!!!!

NinDS · 03/12/2021 20:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Doubleraspberry · 03/12/2021 21:05

Aw, sweeties!

Pictures attached - you’ll see why we decided they were the ones.

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Shmithecat2 · 03/12/2021 21:12

@Doubleraspberry

Aw, sweeties!

Pictures attached - you’ll see why we decided they were the ones.

Aaaarrrrgggh, too cute!!!! 😍😁

CaribouCarafe · 03/12/2021 22:27

My goodness, the second one looks like he is packed with personality! And everyone loves a ginger Tom. Congratulations!!

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