Maine Coon cats are gentle natured and friendly, which makes them great companions for cat owners.

They’re often playful and curious and remain kitten-like throughout their lives, even as older cats, which makes them an endless source of entertainment.

They love their family but don’t crave attention like other breeds, but that doesn’t in any way mean that they don’t enjoy some lap time, and they will certainly still follow you around the house.

They’re a highly intelligent breed who likes to know what is going on in the house. This intelligence means they learn new things quickly which is handy because their high energy levels mean they need regular exercise and play time.

Perhaps the oddest part of their characteristics is their voice which is not your typical meow like other cats; instead, they make more of a chirping noise, as well as other noises like yowling.

Maine Coons can adapt to any type of home in any climate and, although they are built for outdoor living, it’s safer to keep them inside so they don’t get hit by cars or run the risk of disease spread by cats.

They’re well suited to people who live in the countryside, or at least a quieter area as they love to roam around outdoors and are well known for their ratter abilities which could cause them to chase small rodents away, putting them at risk if they’re near busy roads.

They’re extremely affectionate and thrive on human contact, so they don’t like being left alone for long periods of time. Because of that, they are best suited to a house that always has someone home, or that has another pet to keep them company.

They get on well with dogs, especially if they’ve grown up together, but do take care when introducing them to dogs they don’t already know, in case that dog is not so cat friendly.

Most importantly, their outgoing, affectionate and gentle personality makes them the perfect choice for families with children, even toddlers.

The Maine Coon has a long coat that is heavy and silky to the touch and needs brushing twice a week to remove any loose hair and keep their coat in good condition. If you neglect their brushing, you will find your cat ingests them when they clean themselves, leading to hairballs.

Like many breeds, they will shed more heavily in Spring and Autumn, so you may find you need to brush more regularly at these times.

As with all cats, you must trim the nails as needed, which is usually weekly. Keeping their nails trimmed prevents them painfully breaking them if/when they get caught in carpet or furniture. It also limits the damage they cause to both your furniture and you. Make this job easier for both you and your cat by getting them used to having their nails clipped when they're a kitten.

Check their ears weekly for infection which will show itself as unusual redness, bad odor and sometimes discharge, among other symptoms. To avoid infection, clean them with a cotton ball dampened with a gentle cleanser recommended by your vet.

Finally, brush their teeth frequently to avoid tartar build up and gum disease and reduce the risk of trips to the veterinary clinic for costly dental treatment.

Although they enjoy grooming more so than other breeds, you should still start grooming early on, so your cat gets used to this being part of everyday life.

Maine Coons are Generally a hard breed, built for enduring cold, harsh winters and are known to be a healthy breed, but there are some hereditary issues that can affect them.

When you buy from a breeder, they should give you a feeding schedule. It’s important to stick to this schedule and feed your kitten the same food. Not following this could lead to your kitten having stomach issues.

Article and fact on Maine Coons from:

  https://www.lifetimepetcover.co.uk/pet-advice/cat-breeds/maine-coon/