Maine Coon Cat Temperament

Maine Coons are big in beauty, big in size, and huge in personality. They are full of outstanding character traits: friendly, affectionate, and loving, these cats are real goofy animals that will warm your home with their affectionate and fun-loving ways.

The origin of the Maine Coon is mysterious. The breed was the first long-hair cat to originate naturally in the United States, and is still the official state cat of Maine! Nineteenth century cat enthusiasts dedicated their work to making the cat a specific breed – breeding long-haired ‘Angora-type’ cats with the short-haired domestic cat.

Maine Coons made their debut in Britain in 1984 and such is their popularity that the breed now boasts taking fourth place in the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy's top ten breed registrations.

The Maine Coon is a large, semi-long haired cat, distinguished by its bone structure, rectangular build, and flowing fur coat. The breed evolved as a working domesticated cat in a rural area, resulting in a rugged appearance with a “weather proof” coat and the manner of an alert and capable hunter.

This gentle giant has amassed its large fan base with its loving, friendly, and sociable nature. The Maine Coon is a known goof-ball and will happily play the clown to elicit lots of laughs from their two-legged family members! They are loyal, playful, intelligent, loving, and patient and definitely not the aloof –type of cat that would ignore its human family members. The Maine Coon cat will actually go above and beyond to let you know that he absolutely adores you!

A Social Pet

Among the friendliest of all cat breeds, the Maine Coon prefers to be in the company of family members to such extent that he is more like a dog. Owners can count on these fluffy giants to greet them every morning as well as each and every time they come home. These cats will even come when they are called by name! When company comes to call, the Maine Coon will be eager to greet them as well and visitors will be surprised and excited to meet such a friendly cat.

When a Maine Coon’s owner returns home from work at the end of a long day, they will be greeted with a happy chirp, as the Maine Coon lets it be known that he is happy to see you. The Maine Coon is a very vocal cat and will make happy, wonderful, contented sounds to communicate their feelings. They can often be found purring next to their family in the most contented way.

An Affectionate Family Member

Some pet owners prefer “lap cats”, while others prefer their pets to be independent and keep their distance. Maine Coons are better suited to the former, as they certainly seem to love curling up on their owners’ laps of an evening, although they may be aware of their own size and too polite to take up that much space. They are very loving and will always go for a snuggle when it’s available.

Most Maine Coon owners proudly proclaim that their Maine Coons are the most affectionate cat they’ve ever had. They will not reject any affection and will take all the attention you’re willing to give them, whether it be from adults, young children, and even from other pets. Due to this aspect of their nature, it’s important to set aside time to show your cat affection on a daily basis. They need this special time with you every day. They need to be held, touched, and loved with as much regularity as possible.

Intelligent Cats

Maine Coons are extremely intelligent animals, and it’s been said that they can be taught to fetch, walk on a leash, and open doors. However, their intelligence can certainly lead to mischief and shenanigans too; their inquisitive nature can lead them to tight spaces that you wouldn’t think they could fit into! They will naturally investigate anything new that comes into their world to the max. The Maine Coon is also agile and will jump on counters, climb onto shoulders, and figure out just how to get your attention—even if it’s by nibbling your nose when you’re asleep!

The Maine Coon is a very observant breed of cat and has been known to learn how to operate toys by watching their owners work them, i.e. pressing a button to make a sound or movement.

The Playful Maine Coon

This inquisitive and funny cat will thrill you with their fun-loving quests for stimulation. Maine Coons even like to play in water, and have been known to play with their water dish as much as drink from it! Some owners have had to keep their Maine Coon’s water dish in the bathtub because they wouldn’t stop splashing around in it! That said, they only seem to like water in manageable amounts, so they may not be the most fond of baths or swimming.

They may also play games such as knocking a stack of mail off of a table, watching you pick it up, and knocking it down again. They’re known to knock glasses to the floor, dart out through doors, and even showing their mischievousness by doing another forbidden thing when they’re scolded.

They also take great pleasure in “helping”—such as, when their owners are changing the sheets, racing up and down the bed grabbing pawfuls of the sheet as it moves. Playing and interacting with your Maine Coon will solidify the bond between you, which is a great thing to have, especially since an indoor Maine Coon can live into its twenties!

Getting Along with Other Pets

Maine Coons are just as affectionate with other pets as they are with their humans. With other cats, especially another Maine Coon, one may instinctively become more dominant and do things to assert this dominance, including leaving surprises uncovered in the litter box. They may even have disagreements with the other pets, but don’t let that make you think they don’t love their brother or sister. They will cuddle with them and show them all of the love and affection they have too!

Their True Nature

Maine Coons tend to be docile and well-behaved, and can tend to be their owners’ shadows, never leaving their side. They are world-class bed hogs with no shame in stretching their large frames right against you. They will attentively watch you as you go about your day, taking great interest in the minutiae of your life. They will even sit and watch TV at length.!

Maine Coons are vocal cats. They don’t meow as much as the average cat, however; they are more inclined to chirp or trill. Some Maine Coons have even been observed talking in their sleep.

Maine Coons aren’t happy alone for long periods of time; it’s important to them to have companionship and interaction. If you want a Maine Coon and work full time, it may be best to get another for its companionship. Make sure you have space for two of such a large, fun breed!