Maine Coons are one of the most popular cat breeds in the world, but there are still some annoying things Maine Coons do!
As charming as these cats are, their intelligence and curiosity can make them a bit of a handful for inexperienced owners.
Maine Coons are highly intelligent cats with a lot of energy. As a result, they can become destructive if they are not given enough exercise or stimulation. Untrained Maine Coons may destroy carpet or furniture through scratching, clawing, or spraying. Thankfully, most destructive behaviors can be remedied through proper playtime and training.
Even though Maine Coons are capable of being annoying or mischievous, patience and training will almost always do the trick.
Some Maine Coon behaviors might be a bit annoying, but this breed’s charming nature will always shine through!
11 Annoying Things Maine Coons Do
The Maine Coon is a famous cat breed known for its enormous size and gentle nature.
These cats developed naturally in the state of Maine, where they developed long, thick fur to protect them from the cold.
They were launched into popularity in the 1800s for their incredible hunting abilities, but today, they are beloved for their companionship and beautiful appearance.
While Maine Coons are constantly praised for their intelligence, affectionate nature, and family-oriented personalities, even these cats have their flaws!
Some Maine Coon owners swear that there are only 8 annoying things Maine Coons do, but today, we are going to look at a total of 11 annoying things Maine Coons do that drive their owners crazy.
Of course, most of these behavioral issues can be solved with plenty of patience, and even the most annoying Maine Coon is well worth the trouble.
1. Begging For Food
Maine Coons are large cats that need a lot of protein and calories, especially since they are so active.
However, this breed also has a tendency to overeat if given the opportunity.
Many Maine Coon owners lament when their cats constantly beg for food, even if they do not need it.
While Maine Coons might be more prone to begging for food than other cat breeds, this is a behavior that starts in kittenhood.
If you provide your young cat treats or food every time it begs, you are only reinforcing that behavior.
Set up a firm feeding schedule so your Maine Coon will know better than to beg for food.
2. They Are Super Expensive
While this, of course, is not the fault of Maine Coons themselves, it certainly is an annoyance.
Many people fall in love with the personality descriptions of this breed, but once they ask, how much do Maine Coons cost, they quickly realize they may be out of their depth.
Since a Maine Coon from a reputable breeder can cost anywhere from $1,000 to even $4,000, it can be difficult to make such a big financial decision.
Of course, once you have one Maine Coon, you will certainly want to add more Maine Coon kitties to the mix!
Thankfully, the most expensive Maine Coons have a hefty price tag due to their potential as show cats. Therefore, if you simply want a loving companion, you will not need to find a Maine Coon that costs more than $1,000 to $2,500.
3. Spraying Or Refusing To Use The Litter Box
When you first take home a Maine Coon kitten, you will likely be overjoyed by its adorable appearance and playful, cuddly nature.
However, you may soon find out that your Maine Coon has a habit of avoiding the litter box!
Cats that have not been spayed or neutered might also spray throughout the house as a way of marking their territory.
Teaching a young kitten to use the litter box can actually take a while. Therefore, it is a good idea to keep your kitten mostly confined to one room at first, with plenty of absorbent pads on the floor to help with any mess.
It is also a good idea to try out a few different kinds of litters, as well, so you can find one that your Maine Coon likes e.g wood pellets.
Just remember that spraying and litter box problems do not have to last forever!
Taking time to teach your cat to use the litter box, or getting your cat fixed can have a huge impact on their litter habits.
4. Scratching
Maine Coons can also destroy carpet and furniture by scratching.
Scratching is an important behavior found in all cats; not only does it help remove the dead outer sheath of their claws as they grow, but it is also a way for them to mark their territory.
Cat paws have scent glands, so when your cat scratches, it is their way of claiming the territory as their own.
To cut down on scratching behavior, make sure to provide lots of cat scratchers throughout the house.
One common mistake Maine Coon owners make is buying just one kind of cat scratcher. This is a problem since cats prefer to have different textures and shapes to scratch.
You should get a good mix of vertical and horizontal scratchers made out of different materials such as:
- Sisal Rope
- Carpet
- Cardboard
5. Destructive Behavior
Scratching is not the only destructive behavior Maine Coons can participate in.
While scratching is a common behavior among all cat breeds, Maine Coons are more prone to general destruction than other cats.
They also might:
- Chew on furniture
- Upend your paperwork
- Turn your pillows into toys
However, potentially destructive behavior is not a good reason why you shouldn’t get a Maine Coon, because this behavior is easy to fix.
Maine Coons are highly intelligent, active cats with a high prey drive. Simply batting around a toy mouse for a few minutes is not enough to satisfy their eager minds.
Maine Coons need large, durable toys that they can chase, kick, and bite.
It is a good idea to get some motorized floor toys that mimic real animals so your Maine Coon can experience the thrill of the hunt.
You should also get some feather toys for them to chase while you play with them.
These cats need at least thirty minutes of playtime every day, or else they can become bored and frustrated.
If your Maine Coon is engaging in destructive behavior, then it is a sign you need to provide more interesting toys, as well as play with them more.
6. Nighttime Zoomies
Cats are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dusk and dawn.
Unfortunately, this means that cats are most likely to play and run around right as we are trying to sleep!
Maine Coons that do not get enough playtime might get the “zoomies” around these hours, where they can be found tearing through the whole house, running around like crazy.
Zoomies are an easy way for cats to get rid of their pent-up energy, but they can also be quite bothersome to their owners.
If your Maine Coon is prone to the zoomies, you should try giving it some more playtime and exercise.
You might even consider training your Maine Coon to walk on a leash and harness so you can take your cat outside for more exercise and enrichment.
7. Playing With Water
One of the most unique and charming characteristics of Maine Coon cats is their love of water.
Whilst most cats hate water, Maine Coons love it so much that they often play around in it. Unfortunately, this can also come with some drawbacks.
Some Maine Coons are clever enough to learn how to turn on faucets just so they can play with water!
Believe it or not, though, that is just one example of the weird things Maine Coons do with water.
Other Maine Coons might learn how to flush the toilet or play with toilet water if left unattended.
Many Maine Coons also have a habit of playing with their water dishes, and might even drop toys or random objects in their water.
To prevent your cat from making a huge mess, it is usually best to keep bathroom doors closed.
You might also want to consider getting a large rubber mat beneath your cat’s water dish, which can collect any water they splash around.
You can also set up opportunities for your Maine Coon to play with water without being messy.
For example, filling a bath with a couple of inches of warm water, then throwing in a bunch of fun, floating toys is a great way to let your Maine Coon have fun with water in a controlled environment!
Some Maine Coons can even learn how to swim, which is perfect for cat owners who also happen to have a pool.
8. Climbing In Annoying Places
Some cat breeds, such as Persians or Ragdolls, prefer to hang out on the floor, but this certainly is not the case for Maine Coons.
Maine Coons adore climbing, and it is an essential way to keep their minds and bodies active and enriched.
Maine Coons who do not have proper places or opportunities to climb may climb to inconvenient or even dangerous places.
Many Maine Coon owners become frustrated when their cat scales the counters, fridge, cupboards, or shelves.
Now, for the most part, climbing in odd places is simply part of owning a Maine Coon. You should therefore find a few safe spots that you are comfortable with your Maine Coon climbing, and then take extra precautions to cat proof them.
Remove breakable objects, and keep cords or dangerous things away from that area.
Then, if your Maine Coon climbs on an undesirable spot, simply place your Maine Coon in a spot that you would like them to climb instead. This is a gentle way to discourage unwanted behavior and redirects them to positive behaviors.
Of course, another great way to stop your Maine Coon from climbing in annoying places is to provide places meant just for them.
All Maine Coons should have at least one extra-large cat tree.
It is also a good idea to install shelves along the wall so your cat can run and climb around. You can even turn these shelves into a mini agility course for some extra enrichment!
9. Separation Anxiety
When you first get a kitten, you will probably be tempted to spend as much time as possible with them, so you can form a strong bond.
However, if you give your kitten too much attention at a young age, it can actually lead to behavioral problems that will affect both you and your cat.
It is nearly impossible to say no to your Maine Coon as a kitten, and many owners develop bad habits such as allowing their Maine Coon to follow them into the bathroom.
If you spend more time with your Maine Coon as a kitten, it can become distressed when you change your routine. On the flipside, if you do not spend enough time with your Maine Coon, it can develop separation anxiety, as well.
Cats that suffer from separation anxiety may meow and show signs of distress when their owners leave, and may also follow you from room to room.
While many Maine Coons do like to follow their owners around, cats with separation anxiety will become distressed and demanding if they find themselves separated from their owners.
To prevent separation anxiety, you should set aside time for independent play.
Simply leaving the room and shutting the door while you work in your office, leaving your Maine Coon to entertain itself, is a great place to start.
Set aside time every day so your Maine Coon learns that it is okay to spend some time alone.
10. Begging For Attention
Similar to separation anxiety, Maine Coons can become a bit annoying if they constantly ask for attention.
Most Maine Coons are laid back and prefer to follow their owners around from a distance, hanging out in the same room without being obtrusive.
A demanding Maine Coon, however, may beg for attention while you are cooking, working, or even sleeping.
You should teach your Maine Coon early on when it is and is not appropriate to beg for attention. However, if your Maine Coon is constantly asking you for attention, it could also be a sign that you are not spending enough time with your cat.
Maine Coons are social creatures, and they can become lonely and depressed if they are left alone for too long.
Thus, if you spend most of your time out of the house, then a Maine Coon might not be the right cat breed for you.
If you already have a Maine Coon though, and your cat appears lonely, then you should consider bringing home another companion for them.
Maine Coon cats are incredibly patient and social, and they are famous for getting along well with other cats and even dogs.
Getting your Maine Coon a friend is a great way to ensure your cat gets all the social interaction it needs.
11. Cuddling You
Now, most Maine Coon owners would argue that there is absolutely nothing annoying about a Maine Coon cuddling you!
However, these charming cats can become so cuddly, that it might make it difficult for you to leave the couch.
There is nothing more agonizing than wanting to get up, but you cannot because your adorable Maine Coon is blissfully snoozing on your lap.
Even worse is when your Maine Coon is comfortably snuggling against you, but their large paws are poking right into your ribs or stomach!
Of course, cuddling is not actually a behavioral problem that needs to be addressed.
In fact, most Maine Coons enjoy cuddling to some extent, but they are not so cuddly that they constantly demand to be held.
Like most of the things on this list, excessive cuddling is simply a part of owning a Maine Coon, and even if they annoy us sometimes, their loving, charming personality always wins.
If your Maine Coon is engaging in problematic or destructive behaviors, then you should not blame your cat; most behavioral problems start in kittenhood when bad habits are not addressed properly.
Don’t despair, though!
The intelligent Maine Coon is so patient and so trainable that, with enough time and gentle encouragement, your cat can unlearn any bad behavior.
Conclusion
While Maine Coons may be one of the most charming and beloved cat breeds out there, there are still a few annoying things Maine Coons do.
Untrained or unfixed cats may spray or have difficulty using the litter box regularly.
Maine Coons without enough toys or enrichment can become destructive, or they might demand lots of attention.
However, these behavior problems can be found in just about any cat, and with patience and proper training, you can easily get rid of serious annoyances.
Related Questions
Maine Coon Vs Cat Meow
Instead of the usual cat meow, Maine Coons tend to chirp or trill instead. These soft-spoken cats still like to chat with their owners though, especially if they are hungry or playful.
Maine Coon Felix
Felix is an intelligent cat that has gained a huge following on his YouTube and Instagram accounts. Find him @felix_themainecoon, where his owners teach him all sorts of tricks! (source 1)
Do Maine Coons Squeak?
Maine Coons are known for their unique voices, where they tend to chirp or trill instead of meow. Sometimes, their soft, high-pitched sounds can also sound like squeaks.