I'm getting a full blooded Maine Coon Cat and have a ques. male/female

[Beauty]

John finally told me it was okay to get a full blooded registered Maine Coon Cat. My Cairo has Maine Coon in her and could be full blooded but we aren't sure. Anyway I am going to be paying quite a lot for this kitty so really need your advice. The only male cat I have ever had is Lester, he is a Himalayan and has never been social. My other cats, all girls are always out and about and jumping all over me. Sometimes I only see Lester when I get the snacks out.

I am very very tempted to get a male Maine Coon and need your advice. In the male cats you have had, how many have sprayed? I will get this one as soon as he is old enough and he will be neutered as soon as possible. I just don't want to spend the money on him and then have John raising hell because he is spraying in the new house. I read yesterday how so many of you had males that are so loving and I would so much love to have one if I wasn't so worried about the spraying.

I'm going to post 2 pictures...the brown and white tabbys are like the girl I could get, and the silver and white are like the boy. I would really love your opinions.

Thanks,

Okay this is what the girl will look like,

and the boy will look like this,

 

[nuke]

I've had the opposite experience that you have had. My girl kitties were more aloof and my male cats are super affectionate.

I say get the little boy.

 

[helenabear]

We've had more trouble with male cats in general with being affectionate and with spraying (even after being fixed). I am really turned off on male cats. Also all our male cats have had urinary trouble as they aged. I have heard others say the opposite with males but that is my experience. Truthfully I would see if you can go meet the kittens and see which (if any) "bond well" with you... truthfully I think that would make more difference than male or female. And yes, if you get a male, make sure he is fixed as soon as possible. Good luck deciding on the kitty

 

[Tina]

While my 2 boys are not Maine Coons, they are extremely loving and affectioniate. A few years ago I had some trouble with one of them spraying. My boys are indoor only. We had a new neighbor move in with their indoor/outdoor cats. They caused us SO much trouble. My little Nicholas got SO stressed out whenever those cats came around. I also caught them (the neighbor's cats) spraying OUTSIDE our window. That is what got my little guy so upset, so he retaliated with spraying inside.

As much as I love all cats, I had to be strong and act nasty to their cats. Whenever I saw them, I yelled and chased them with a hose. We also built a 6 foot fence, which "helps" to keep them out of our yard. Now I rarely see them around our house. Nicholas has not sprayed in more than a year now.

I'm not sure this would happen with all male cats, as it only happened with one of mine. Nicholas has always been a very shy, high-strung cat. My other cat, Kimba, had no problems at all and he is very laid back and cool. I'm sure it had a lot do with their personalities.

 

[nuke]

I forgot to say that I had my neutered as early as the vet would allow and he has never sprayed at all.

 

[catsrule]

yay! More kitties for Beth to give lovins' to.

 

[Rajah]

And *how* many will this make now, Beth? LOL!

As you know, we currently have 2 boys and 1 girl. No spraying problems here. Yet anyway ( ::crossing fingers:: )

I think Elaine has the right idea, though -- find out which one you bond with if you can, and take that, whatever the gender.

Then, take a BUNCH of pictures and post them here

 

[jipsy]

I much prefer male cats over female. I agree with everyone else - get neutered as soon as possible. I've always done this and never had a problem with males spraying.

My male cats were always the most loving and docile.

 

[Robinrs]

cuuuuuuute!!!

As you may know I have a maine coon girl, Xena, d my niece took her twin, a boy named Rex. Rex is every bit as regal as Xena but much less social. He is BEAUTIFUL, though, and HUGE. The boys can get very big, and he's twice as big as my little girl.

My boys are very loveable. Max and Meeko are my boys and they love snuggling up with Mommy. Rambo, my baby who I lost in 2000, was another sweet and kind little boy. My girls are very loveable to but to an extent. The boys seem to take love as their one and only need!

Whatever you decide I know that it will be a very lucky, blessed kitten!

 

[Beauty]

Thanks everyone, I'm so confused...LOL!

The reason the bonding would be a problem is because the little girl would be ready to come home in 3 weeks, whereas the little boys were just born and won't be ready for about 12 more weeks, so if I went and looked of course the little female would be more social becuase she is older. If I wait until the boys are almost ready, she probably won't have the little girl any longer. I am so torn....I know how John will react to the spraying IF theres spraying but I would love to have a boy. UUGGHH!!

 

[Pooh93]

No words of wisdom, but they are beautiful cats and can't wait to see pictures of your new furbaby when you bring "it" home!

 

[Mish19]

I have a male and female Ragdoll cat and can only go by my experience and what my vet, the breeder and other cat owners have told me. It is believed that the males are more affectionate and females are on the aloof side. Both my cats are on the sweet side, the male is a little more goofy. I also think personalities have a lot to do with how the breeder (or early caretaker) has raised the kitten. My male cat does not spray. You should ask the vet or breeder this but I think as long as you get the cat neutered in the correct time (pretty sure it's by the age of 6 months old) then you "should" be ok. Females have the ability to spray as well.
Are you getting the Maine Coon from a breeder? I'm sure you have researched fully but in case you haven't please do! There are some cat breeders out there that are not the most reputable.
Definitely try to visit with the kittens beforehand. Sometimes they pick YOU out! When I went to visit the litter of kittens one of the kittens sat on my sneaker, played with my shoelaces and mewed at me! Well, if I hadn't decided on taking him from breeder description I sure would have taken him after this little display!!
Good luck and have fun!!

 

[Lanshark]

I have two full blooded "Coonies" that are full brothers from different litters. They are wonderful cats and were neutered at 7 months as they breeder recommended. Neither has ever sprayed. I have never had an indoor cat spray that I got as a kitten and neutered at 6 months. They are, of course, indoor cats only. We did a bunch of research and found a breeder that actually interviewed our whole family twice before she put us on a list. She only had a couple of litters a year and was extremely particular. The contract we signed stipulated that they would be indoor only, not declawed, neutered and if we decided we didn't want the cat we would return him to her as opposed to a shelter or pound.

These guys have been the most loving/playful cats I've ever had besides the fact that they are beautiful. Mine are extremely laid back but that may have to do with the breeder also. IMO, male cats, who are fixed, are less tempermental then females. If you have any questions please PM me.

 

[Beauty]

LS,

I did send you a pm!! Thanks so much.

 

[Kallison]

ditch em all and get a lab, now that's a real pet!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

My friend had a male Maine Coon many years until he died. I LOVED that cat! And I'm a dog person! He was definitely her baby. And when I stayed with her when I was in NJ for some things, he slept on my stomach! He's the best cat I've known.

 

[Beauty]

LOL! I'm definatly a cat person but I love dogs too just not as much as my babies!!

I did decide to go ahead and get a boy. Deep down I wanted a boy and think I will be disappointed if I didn't get him. I would love the girl just as much but probably end up still wanting a boy since I do already have a girl that I know has a lot if not all Maine Coon in her.

Thanks everyone! It will probably be April before I can pick him up. Her boys were just born on January 1st and then have to be at least 12 weeks old and be vet checked before I can get him. I'll post pics as soon as she sends me some!

Thanks again!!

 

[Robinrs]

Kallison.. I love dogs and cats equally and would never consider one as a real or unreal pet...

Beth, I agree with Michelle, I think pets pick US! When it came to Rex and Xena, I sat outside with them and said (because I knew both of these adorable babies but only could take one) and said "Okay, which one of you wants to come home with me?" Xena looked me straight in the eyes and climbed up the front of my shirt to my face. I had never seen such an intense look. Everyone said that it was the "MY HUMAN, she's MY HUMAN" ploy! Poor Rex never had a chance! Way more laid back he just watched. No matter, he's living the life with my wealthy, doting niece out in San Francisco!

Please keep us updated!

 

[pumba]

I had two Maine Coons that I had to leave with my daddy .....he loved them too.......Cheetah was a male and he was something else.....very stinky and crabby.....but gorgeous......Herman was another story.......he would sit on my dads shoulder and I am talking twenty pounds at a young age.......and he was soooo affectionate.....so each cat had their own personality.......just depends on the cat.......I say get a male too.......We had a Himalyan too that was a male and was the most gorgeous loving affectionate singer around.....he would wake us up in the morning by putting his nose in our ear and purring soooooooo loud that we had to get up to shut it off........worse then an alarm clock

 

[Beauty]

Awww! Both those stories were beautiful! She will have 3 males so I will get to choose or should I say he will get to choose me. I can't wait but it will be at least 12 weeks from now. I sent off my deposit for him today! I can't wait!!

You know my rescue baby Cinders "picked me" by her picture. I was just looking at a websight and saw her face and it was like, thats my baby, thats it, she is meant to be mine. Sure enough that weekend I drove to Memphis and got her and she is something else!!