Maine Coon Cat: Pros And Cons

Maine Coons are widely regarded as one of the most friendly, gentle cat breeds in the world. They are the official State Cat Of Maine and nicknamed ‘gentle giants’.

These easy-going felines are family-friendly, sociable, and intelligent. They are an excellent choice of pet provided owners are willing to cater to their grooming, social, mental, and health care needs.

These large cats cannot be left on their own for long periods, but do work well in homes with other pets and young children.

Are Maine Coon Cats Good Pets?

The Maine Coon breed originates in the United States and is one of the largest domestic cat breeds in the world.

This popular breed is an impressive size and many pet parents consider these longhaired cats to be good house cats, due to their amiable temperament.

Below are the reasons why cat lovers around the world think this large cat breed makes a great family pet:

1. Friendly

Maine Coon cats have a very social nature which makes them great companions.

They form close bonds with their owners and enjoy spending time around their family, rather than on their own. They are happy to watch from afar, so will not get in your personal space.

This is a confident friendly breed that is not frightened to befriend strangers, though the female Maine Coon will take time to warm up to visitors she does not know.

2. Patient

Maine Coons are exceptionally patient felines that are not demanding, nor clingy.

These easy-going cats are not known for being picky or highly strung, but male Maine Coons do get stubborn with age!

Maine Coons are the dogs of the cat world, so are happy to follow their owners around the home, and wait patiently for their pet parents to play with them.

3. Good With Kids

If you are looking for a new pet that will get on with your kids, and not be phased by their loud noise, the Maine Coon is the ideal choice.

These gentle giants are exceptionally patient with young children and are not naturally aggressive, but will make their feelings known with a hiss to warn a child off if they manhandle them.

Here’s a Youtube video of our daughter playing with our full-size Maine Coon cat. She’s sitting in our living room cuddling his shaggy coat and long fur, yet Pippin isn’t phased!

4. Gets On With Other Household Pets

This large cat breed loves companionship so will enjoy the opportunity to spend time with other household pets (unless you keep small rodents that are natural prey!).

The Maine Coons non-territorial personality means they can successfully coexist with other household animals, provided they have a safe space to retreat to and call ‘theirs’.

5. Easy to Train

Maine Coons are intelligent felines that love to learn new Maine Coon tricks, such as playing fetch, and peeing in the toilet!

These large cats make great pets because they are easy to train, love to be the center of attention, and respond well to positive praise.

Maine Coons are pretty smart creatures so quickly learn the household rules and are generally obedient.

Here’s a great guide on How To Train A Maine Coon Cat.

6. Independent Felines

Maine Coon cats are the perfect match for families looking for loving, yet independent felines.

This cat breed originates in New England, where they showed decades of independence by hunting prey and surviving the harsh cold winters.

In today’s society, the Maine Coons love attention and companionship but are not known for being clingy and overbearing.

They enjoy human company, so will follow their owners around and observe from a distance until they are ready to play or snuggle.

7. Vocal

The first thing you’ll notice if you live with a Maine Coon, is that they do not meow. Instead, they regularly chirp and trill to get their owner’s attention.

These chatty kitties are not shy about sharing their opinion, or dislikes, and will chatter away to you all day long, especially if they want something!

Maine Coons make great family pets because they love to communicate with their owners, which builds a stronger bond between pet parents and their cats.

8. Maine Coon Lifespan

The average lifespan of a Maine Coon cat is between 10 – 15 years, which makes this big cat a great choice of pet for families looking to spend many years with a treasured feline.

Whilst the Maine Coons lifespan is less than some cat breeds, many owners report that their cats live longer than the average lifetime ages.

Katrina Stewardson decided to do some independent research in November 2023 on this very subject, on Maine Coon Central’s YouTube channel.

Of the 127 votes cast, my unique research findings were as follows:

• The majority of voters (29%) said their Maine Coon lived 15-16 years, which means Maine Coon cats are living longer than the average lifespans predicted.
• This theory is further strengthened by the fact that 26% of voters had a Maine Coon cat that lived 17+ years!
• In total, 55% of voters had a cat that lived 15+ years. This shows that with a healthy life, these large felines can live longer than the average Maine Coon lifespan.
• 33% of voters had a Maine Coon cat that lived between 11-14 years.
• It was heartbreaking to see that 12% of Maine Coons reached <10 years.

This final statistic contradicts previous official Pet Insurance research studies that claim 75% of Maine Coons make it to their 10th year.

Interestingly, our independent feline research study reveals that 88% of Maine Coon cats reach 11+ years!

Below is a screenshot of my Maine Coon cat research findings:

9. Good House Cats

If you are wondering, are Maine Coon cats good house pets, you’ll be pleased to discover that these special cats make great house cats!

These cats are easy to train, so pick up household rules quickly, but you do need to ensure they have enough space to roam.

Provided your Maine Coon cat is mentally stimulated via the best Maine Coon cat toys, and extra-large cat trees that they can scratch and jump on, these cats are more than happy to live indoors.

10. They Will Go For Walks!

These energetic cats can be trained to walk on a leash or harness, like these, so will happily join their family for a walk outside, or explore the wider world with you!

Walking your cat is a superb form of enrichment and exercise for your feline without exposing them to the dangers of the outdoors.

11. Rarely Territorial

Maine Coon cats are not highly territorial felines so make the ideal pet choice for families that already have another pet cat or dog.

However, if your house is small, or your Maine Coon does not have enough space of its own, it may become aggressive in an attempt to defend its space.

12. Healthy Cat Breed

The Maine Coon is a natural breed that developed on its own in the state of Maine, making it one of the healthiest cat breeds in the world.

These large cats are considered a healthy hardy cat breed but are prone to some genetic conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and spinal muscular atrophy.

Responsible breeders always perform genetic testing on their cats before allowing them to breed. This helps limit the number of cats with genetic health issues.

Bad Things About Maine Coon Cats

As wonderful as Maine Coons can be, there are many cons to living with this cat breed that you might not have expected!

Below are the downsides to owning a Maine Coon:

1. Need Lots of Attention

Maine Coons do best in a home where they spend lots of time with their owners, so prefer households with big families or owners who work from home.

These cats crave companionship and suffer from loneliness and depression if left at home for long periods.

While another pet is not a substitute for spending quality time with your Maine Coon, it is recommended that you buy another pet cat or dog to keep your cat company.

2. Need Lots of Enrichment and Exercise

Maine Coons are energetic, athletic cats that are famous for their high intelligence, so need plenty of exercise and mentally stimulating toys to keep them intrigued.

Failure to cater to a Maine Coons playful nature means they might become bored, destructive, and aggressive.

These cats need lots of space to run around in, so do not do well in small, cramped apartments or crowded households.

It is a good idea to give your Maine Coon lots of durable, interactive toys, as well as thirty minutes of playtime every day.

3. Lots Of Shedding

The Maine Coon’s long, triple-coated fur may be one of its most stunning features, but it can also be a hassle since these cats require regular grooming.

Maine Coons shed medium levels, but will massively shed during the change of the seasons when they lose their thick winter fur.

In an independent cat research study conducted by Katrina Stewardson on Maine Coon Central’s YouTube channel, in November 2023, she ran a poll to find out how much owners thought their Maine Coons shed.

Below are the findings of this fascinating study of 85 voters:

• The majority of Maine Coon owners said their Maine Coon shed ‘medium levels’.
• Only 15% of voters claimed their cat shed excessively.
• 53% of viewers stated their Maine Coon shed small – medium levels.
• 44% of voters thought their cat shed large – extreme levels of fur.
• 2% of voters claimed their cat does not shed!

If you’ve been having issues with how much your Maine Coon sheds, try these incredible cat grooming brushes, to remove excess dead fur and give your cat a healthy coat.

4. Mischievous

The Maine Coon’s intelligence and curiosity can make them pretty mischievous felines to live with since some teach themselves how to open cabinets, or turn on faucets!

Known for their great climbing capabilities, this large cat is likely to jump up to hard-to-reach places, knocking down decorations and ornaments as they go!

5. Messy

Maine Coons can be messy, especially if water is concerned since they have no issue patting water all over the floor whilst playing with their water bowl or fountain!

The Maine Coon’s love of water can become annoying, especially if they teach themselves how to turn the faucet on!

These use their paws to eat, so you can also expect a messy food area where they have pulled all the wet or dry food out of their feeding bowl.

6. Strong Hunters

Maine Coons have incredible hunting instincts so it is not recommended you let them roam freely outside because they may kill the local bird population.

7. Medium Maintenance Cats

Maine Coons are not considered to be a low-maintenance cat breed, so owners will need to cater to their diet, grooming, exercise, play, and companionship needs.

These cats will need grooming 2-3 times a week, regular teeth brushing, claw clipping, and the occasional ear cleaning.

Maine Coons need a lot more exercise and playtime than most cats, so we advise you to invest in tall cat furniture that your cat can climb or jump on.

They need high-quality food containing high protein levels and a moderate amount of fat.