Anyone have a Maine Coon cat?

[Poohnatic]

My mom took in my sister's Maine Coon. Beggar was so smart and she, too, played with water. Loud purr-like a car revving.

I'm currently looking for one, or thanks to Lainey, a Norwegian or Siberian. The nice thing about these breeds is that they don't have dander issues. Hubby is so taken with cats, and oldest son and I are allergic to them. However, the times where we've slept in a home with Beggar, we were fine Not the same with any short hair. Because they are more like dogs in temper, it's a good compromise for my DH the cat lover and me the dog lover.

Beautiful cats!

Suzanne

 

[scottishduffy]

I have a maine coon! By our best guess he is ~ 3 1/2 years old. His name is Matisse and he is a very affectionate little guy. We got him from a friend who had no clue what he was, I took one look at him and knew he was a maine coon. The vet agrees he must be at least part, if not pure bred.

Matisse is very affectionate, but not the 'lay on top of you' affectionate. He always likes to be in the same room as us. He must always have either my husband or I somewhere within his field of vision. He is always close by, but never on top of us. Though when he wants to be pet he will take his paws and tap us on the arm to remind us to pet him. The cat can definitely communicate! He is quite talkative though we are working on curbing that habit. It isn't just a meow, he *howls* a long drawn out noise. He needs to be noticed and looked at. When you notice him he purrs like a motor boat, a very loud and deep purr.

He is a very laid back cat. He never has trouble going to the vet, in fact he is the only kitty that does not require two people to handle. He cooperates every time with no issue. I have had to take him several times after a recent suicide attempt where he ate about 6 inches of curling ribbon. Thank goodness it came out the other end. The veterinary office just adores him.

He loves to hide. He has his set hiding spots. He also will hide his toys as well. When I clean them out his regular spots he almost looks shocked. Most of the time he behaves like a complete idiot, but when our bedroom door is left cracked (he is not allowed in there), he sure figures that out in 5 seconds flat. My husband says Matisse is the male model of the cat world. It took him 5 minutes to figure out how to get out of the laundry hamper. He also jumps into weird places to explore but then gets stuck. God can give a creature either grace or beauty..... and Matisse is very beautiful.

His tail is silver with gray stripes, just like a raccoons. (I can only imagine that is how the breed got their name). His only downside is he sheds more than any other creature i have ever met. Whenever he gets frightened he does an 'insta-shed' move where he can just drop about a 4 handfuls of fur. He was also never able to tolerate a collar. He kept ripping it off so we just gave up, he is an indoor kitty anyway. He is a sweetheart and he has such a personality. He is small though, only weighs 11-13 pounds each time he has been to the vet. He looks like a fluffy beast yet is really slim under it all. Oh, and Matisse doesn't do faucets. He drinks from the potty. I give him fresh water every morning and yet he still drinks from the toilet. I never though about the furry paws before you said, but yes his are furry. He has fur between each of his toes. I actually trim it because there is quite a lot of it. Now, for proud mommy pics!

 

[klmall]

scottishduffy - Matisse is adorable! He looks so soft to touch and his colors are beautiful! MCC are so unique and our vets say that they are very docile as a breed; they love working with her when she comes in.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

we were pretty sure one of our cats was Maine Coon - we confirmed it one day at a cat show. We were lucky enough to get to speak with a breeder.

The one thing we were concerned about was that she wasn't affectionate (we weren't her original owners and we were worried she had been neglected or abused). The breeder told us that it isn't unusual for Maine Coons to be more reserved while they were young and to warm up to you around 2 or 3 yrs. This is exactly what happened!!! Now we kid her and joke "who are you and what did you do with our cat?".

She is really loving now and "whirls" when she purrs. She will only very rarely sit on a lap - and then not for long. She loves to hang right near you though.

She "attacks" our heads at night - it starts with licking and grooming our hair and then she will nuzzle into the back of our necks and snuffle like she is trying to inhale us...then she starts with the love bites! Yikes! I hate to put her off because she is just being crazy loving!

We also have to get her shaved in the summer and trim the mats.

She is also CRAZY about playing and drinking the water from the faucet. We have to put the water dish in a sink or the spa tub because it is a toy to her!

she is a great cat!

 

[klmall]

we were pretty sure one of our cats was Maine Coon - we confirmed it one day at a cat show. We were lucky enough to get to speak with a breeder.

She will only very rarely sit on a lap - and then not for long. She loves to hang right near you though.

She "attacks" our heads at night - it starts with licking and grooming our hair and then she will nuzzle into the back of our necks and snuffle like she is trying to inhale us...she is a great cat!

pansmermaidzlagoon - Our Moxie does exactly the same things; won't sit in laps but spends hours on the back of my 'queen' chair, right above my head!

Glad to have the grooming thing confirmed. I have been telling DH about this for months. Moxie will start sniffing my hair (I thought it was my leave-in conditioner) and then licking and smoothing and then pushing her nose in a little deeper. That's when I draw the line and shove her gently away! Guess she thinks my thick hair is ??? And it does only happen at night!

Boy, do we know our furbabies!

 

[Dodie]

Abby is a purebred Maine Coon. Her official color is "blue," but she's really gray. We think she's BEAUTIFUL!

She chortles and chirps instead of meows and makes a "whirring" noise when she purrs. That's very typical of Maine Coons. It's hard to describe the difference, but when she makes her noises, it's clearly not the typical cat meows. She's very vocal. She lets you know when it's time to get up, when it's time for breakfast. when it's time for dinner. She even whirs and chortles while she eats.

The breeder said that Maine Coons tend to not be affectionate and warned me because my previous cat had been a real lover, but that's NOT been the case with Abby! She sits on my lap while I watch TV, tries to lay on my DH's chest at night in bed, sleeps on my feet after he "tosses" her off of his chest, gives you nose kisses, etc. (Personally, I think this has a lot to do with how the cat is treated as a kitten, regardless of breed.)

She loves playing in the sink too and loves drinking from the faucet.

She's big for a female, between 13 and 14 pounds. Because they tend to be big cats anyway, you need to watch their weight. Big is okay, as long as it's proportionate to their bone structure. Fat isn't healthy.

Her fur is TERRIBLE because it's so soft it matts up in a SECOND. She needs to be brushed frequently and I'm not as good with that as I should be.

She's a big sweetheart. She loves the dogs and the dogs spend their day making sure they know where she is at all times. She really "belongs to" Ruby (see signature). They eat together, sleep together, play together...

 

[maelstrom]

Well, I just had to read this thread because I love cats, and all of these pictures remind me of one of my furbabies, Toby. He has a cute little chirp, and he is so fluffy! His tail is so fat, like one of those long duster things, but his fur is so feathery and long and soft. So, what do you think? Could my little (big) Toby be part Maine Coon, Norwegian, or Siberian Forest Cat?

My best friend and I both have cats who we think are part Egyptian Mau. They look and act so much alike that we wonder if they're related. They are both rescues from Manhattan, though her cat is a few years older than mine. Speaking of which, Chloe just hopped up on my lap!

 

[Geoff_M]

If so, tell me about him/her. We have a cat who's 19 pounds. For various reasons, we always thought he might have some Maine Coon in him. But today, when I took him to the vet for his check-up, she said "When I look at him, I'm thinking Maine Coon." Besides his overall size, she noted his "shape", the fact that he has lots of fur between the pads of his feet, and something about his tail. So if you have a Maine Coon, what can you tell me about their personality. The only quirk I've noticed is that he loves to drink from the running faucet and let the water run off his head. His fur seems sort of like a duck's-the water runs off his fur without penetrating.

It's probably a long shot given how short of a time the breed has been in the US (1990), but the traits and physical characteristics you're describing also fit Siberians. If Maine Coons are like Siberians, they're awesome pets.

 

[Youarehere]

I think Duke is part Maine Coon. He chirps and he used to fetch, but stopped when we moved. He loves to rub on crinkled up paper. Duke prefers to be a "next to" kitty, curled up right next to us, but also likes to be a "lap kitty" if we hold him facing outwards, like an infant sitting in our lap. He is very loyal and will follow me or DBF all over the house. He is very patient at the vet and will allow himself to be manipulated easily, but has such a loud nervous purr that is is hard to checks heart and lungs.

 

[Robinrs]

we were pretty sure one of our cats was Maine Coon - we confirmed it one day at a cat show. We were lucky enough to get to speak with a breeder.

My cat was born in an abandoned dog house in my parent's driveway! "Mama" or the name we gave her, had runaway and had Xena and her brother right in the doghouse my aunt kept after she lost her dog.

They were the cutest and the friendliest animals, everyone loved them but we didn't know what they were.

I gave Xena to Michael as a Christmas gift. She was weaned by then and we took her to our vet immediately. In the waiting room was a lady holding a HUGE cat who looked just like her. She asked me what breeder did I get my Maine Coon from. I had NEVER heard that term before. I told her she was born in my parent's driveway.

She at me and said "well, you paid the right price..."

Well, excuuuuuuuuuse me!

My vet just coooooed when she met her. She's an ONLY cat doctor and my only cat expert. She showed me that Xena was a perfect "show" cat. She pointed out her "necklace" and her "bracelets"... I was FLOORED!! She told me she was PURRFECT!!

I always call her my PURRfect cat. She is bossy and demanding but nurturing and loving. She takes care of the others like she owns them. She has a mind of her own but obeys like a dog! I've never had a cat who was that obedient! I love her attitude!

The pics on this thread are amazing!! What beautiful babies!!

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

Abby is a purebred Maine Coon. Her official color is "blue," but she's really gray. We think she's BEAUTIFUL!

She chortles and chirps instead of meows and makes a "whirring" noise when she purrs. That's very typical of Maine Coons. It's hard to describe the difference, but when she makes her noises, it's clearly not the typical cat meows. She's very vocal. She lets you know when it's time to get up, when it's time for breakfast. when it's time for dinner. She even whirs and chortles while she eats.

The breeder said that Maine Coons tend to not be affectionate and warned me because my previous cat had been a real lover, but that's NOT been the case with Abby! She sits on my lap while I watch TV, tries to lay on my DH's chest at night in bed, sleeps on my feet after he "tosses" her off of his chest, gives you nose kisses, etc. (Personally, I think this has a lot to do with how the cat is treated as a kitten, regardless of breed.)

She loves playing in the sink too and loves drinking from the faucet.

She's big for a female, between 13 and 14 pounds. Because they tend to be big cats anyway, you need to watch their weight. Big is okay, as long as it's proportionate to their bone structure. Fat isn't healthy.

Her fur is TERRIBLE because it's so soft it matts up in a SECOND. She needs to be brushed frequently and I'm not as good with that as I should be.

She's a big sweetheart. She loves the dogs and the dogs spend their day making sure they know where she is at all times. She really "belongs to" Ruby (see signature). They eat together, sleep together, play together...

Oh, this one almost made me cry. Looks EXACTLY like my Maine Coon Lou. Been gone a few years.

Like everyone has said, he loved to drink out of the faucet by letting the water hit him on the first. He was a big lover and a mama's boy. When he was young his favorite was to wrestle with the Golden Retriever. Definitely a dog in a cats body.

 

[Robinrs]

More pics of my queenly baby...

 

[Beca]

I have my second Maine Coon kitty (my first passed away about 10 yrs ago). I fell in love with this breed when my cousin had one while I was a teenager. "Ezzy" was a CRAZY cat....crazy in a good way. She was very affectionate, but she turned crazy when you tried to leave her. She would scratch you and "scream" (she had a very distintive meow) when you tried to walk away. My cousin didn't care for her at all....I loved how passionate she was, and willing she was to go after what she wanted (what can I say...I love purebred Siamese cats for the same reason). I purchased my first Maine Coon from a pet store in 1985. He was beautiful...and "focused"...as I have found them all to be. He was a pretty good hunter, and the birds hated him. I used to watch as the birds would "dive bomb" his head while he sat in the middle of the yard. He would come in bloody, but he didn't care....every once in awhile he'd get one while they few toward him...and that was enough for him.

My Maine Coon now is a girl, and she has to be one of my most favorite cats EVER!!! She is loveable, loyal, sassy, and a whole lot of fun. We got her from a rescue foundation, and the moment we brought her in the house, she decided she was in charge. She adores me, and often cuddles with me at night. She doesn't care for our other cats, and beats them on a regular basis. However, she will fling herself in front of them without hesitation if one of our dogs (we have two large dogs) begins pestering one of the others (they leave her entirely alone). She has been with us over 10 years, and still will not allow anyone but me to hold her (she has definite control issues)....but, with me she is as docile as a baby.

She is over 10, but still chases string, balls, bugs, and anything else she can find. She is by far the smartest and "most human" cat we have. Her emotions are EASY to read....and jealously is primary for her. She also loves to play in water. She will come immediately when I call her (I cannot say the same for my other cats). I think she is more dog than cat.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

Yep I had a Maine Coon for 14 years, he's been gone awhile, and he was the best cat ever. Reading about the others here makes me smile, brings back memories. He loved water from the faucet, could open cabinet doors, had his own hiding spot in a kitchen cabinet. I put a piece of carpet with a pillowcase over it in his favorite cabinet, and that's where he went when anyone else came in the house. When we went out of town, the pet sitter never saw him, he was hiding. He could also open closet doors with the lever handles, knew what time my daughter was due in for curfew and would sit and wait for her at the door. He always slept next to my pillow, and would tap me on the face when it was time to get up in the morning. He also loved to play peek a boo!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

pansmermaidzlagoon - Our Moxie does exactly the same things; won't sit in laps but spends hours on the back of my 'queen' chair, right above my head!

Glad to have the grooming thing confirmed. I have been telling DH about this for months. Moxie will start sniffing my hair (I thought it was my leave-in conditioner) and then licking and smoothing and then pushing her nose in a little deeper. That's when I draw the line and shove her gently away! Guess she thinks my thick hair is ??? And it does only happen at night!

Boy, do we know our furbabies!

I have a blanket on the back of our "big comfy chair" and ours loves to hang there in back of our heads (while the other cat will just live on our lap if we let her!) Glad to hear she isn't the only one who does the head nuzzling thing!

does any one's cat do this? Ours wants nothing to do with anyone but the three of us. No matter how long my mom or someone else pet sits, she will not warm up to them. She hisses and gives them attitude. People are often shocked at how loving she can be with us!

I am loving all the pics - ours looks much like "dodies" but with tan in with the grey!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

My cat was born in an abandoned dog house in my parent's driveway! "Mama" or the name we gave her, had runaway and had Xena and her brother right in the doghouse my aunt kept after she lost her dog.

They were the cutest and the friendliest animals, everyone loved them but we didn't know what they were.

I gave Xena to Michael as a Christmas gift. She was weaned by then and we took her to our vet immediately. In the waiting room was a lady holding a HUGE cat who looked just like her. She asked me what breeder did I get my Maine Coon from. I had NEVER heard that term before. I told her she was born in my parent's driveway.

She at me and said "well, you paid the right price..."

Well, excuuuuuuuuuse me!

My vet just coooooed when she met her. She's an ONLY cat doctor and my only cat expert. She showed me that Xena was a perfect "show" cat. She pointed out her "necklace" and her "bracelets"... I was FLOORED!! She told me she was PURRFECT!!

I always call her my PURRfect cat. She is bossy and demanding but nurturing and loving. She takes care of the others like she owns them. She has a mind of her own but obeys like a dog! I've never had a cat who was that obedient! I love her attitude!

The pics on this thread are amazing!! What beautiful babies!!

LOL to the lady!!!!!

I have always said some of the best are the ones that "find" us!!!!!

 

[Robinrs]

LOL to the lady!!!!!

I have always said some of the best are the ones that "find" us!!!!!

I always say they ADOPT US, not the opposite! I never was a "breed" person, I love all animals, mutts, mongrels, purebred -- never mattered to me. This animal looked into my eyes and said "you are MY human" and I had to obey! I couldn't care less if she were a mangy mixed breed, she adopted ME, with all my faults and all my problems.

I'm the blessed one!

 

[goofygirl]

Robinrs, your cat looks like she has some red along with beige and gray tabby markings, my Lily has the same coloring but she has short hair.

I have suspected Lily to be part Maine Coon because she is a big size- not just fat- but BIG. She has that "tiger face" Coons have. She also "talks", she'll also grab you with her paw and nip your hand for attention and affection. She also likes to play with water in her bowl but she HATES baths!

 

[vetrik]

I've often felt that my Vern was part Maine Coon, although I have no idea about his background. He came in as a beat up stray to the animal hospital where I was working. His personality was so wonderful that I immediately fell in love and took him home the day after he was neutered. I worked there for 7 years, and he's the only animal I brought home.

He loves water from the faucet - he actually pushes the bathroom door open as soon as he hears the shower stop so he can perch on the bathtub and let the shower drips hit his head. He definitely does the chirruping and whirring - whenever I sit down on the couch he comes over, looks at me, chirrups and then jumps up if it's ok. I also agree that he's more like a dog in a cat's body. He is the best cat - I'm more of a dog person than a cat person but I love having Vern.

 

[pumba]

I used to have a Maine Coon Cat........he was so wonderful.....his name was Cheetah and was massive....he also had tufts between his paws and made a noise like he was .....I guess it was a chirp too.....kinda hard to describe......One summer down at Camp ...he ran off with the Real raccoons and only came back a few times the next summer with the coons......dang raccoons.....