Characteristics – Page 2 – Maine Coon Central

Some people assume that cats are aloof and uncaring, but prefer a companion who is loving and faithful. If you're looking for a cat that will stick by your side through thick and thin, you might be wondering, are Maine Coon Cats loyal? Maine Coons are highly social cats that thrive on companionship and family interaction. They bond very closely with their owners, and will even follow their favorite people around from room to room. While they can be friendly with strangers as well, Maine Coons are most loyal to their owners. Maine Coons are so loyal, they're often referred to as the dogs of the cat world! Despite their loyalty and social nature, however, they're rarely overly clingy. Read on to find out how Maine Coons fit right into just about any family! Are Maine Coon Cats Loyal? The Maine Coon is a unique and popular breed that developed naturally in the state of Maine. At first, these cats were completely wild but began to live alongside humans, where they were found useful for their ability to catch mice, rats, and other vermin. By the mid-1800s, they were growing increasingly popular, and they were even named the official state cat of Maine in 1895! (source 1). Of course, Maine Coons didn't just become popular for their hunting skills and beautiful appearance. They're known for a wide variety of amazing personality traits that make them a joy to live with. For all of their positive traits though, are Maine Coons loyal? Yes! Here are some of the ways Maine Coons are known to express their loyalty to their owners: 1. They Follow You From Room To Room One of the most obvious and common signs of loyalty in a Maine Coon is the way they like to follow their owners from room to room. These social cats don't like to be left alone for long, so they prefer to hang out wherever their favorite humans are. While some potential Maine Coon owners worry that this trait could get annoying, don't worry! Maine Coons tend to follow from a distance, hanging out near their owners but without getting underfoot. 2. They Aren't As Friendly With Strangers Maine Coons may be incredibly friendly and social, but they treat strangers and visitors differently from their owners. While they're unlikely to be aggressive, there is a certain aloofness that makes it obvious the Maine Coon's first love is towards their family members! 3. They're Patient With Children As rowdy as kids can be, a Maine Coon would never hurt your child! Cats are intelligent creatures that understand human children are very much like kittens. They are naturally patient and gentle with children, but aren't afraid to firmly establish boundaries. For example, a Maine Coon whose tail was pulled might bat at a child, but without its claws. These cats will establish boundaries through a quick scare, but they're intelligent and gentle enough to do it without harming any little ones. 4. They Comfort You When You're Sad The Maine Coon's intelligence extends to emotional intelligence, as well. They have the uncanny ability to read their owner's moods, and will often pick up on any tension in the household. In fact, when you're upset, you can even count on your Maine Coon to give you some extra cuddles! 5. They Can Be Protective Maine Coons may only be a fraction of our size, but they do what they can to keep their owners safe! Some Maine Coons will get between their owners and any strangers or animals they might perceive as a threat. Amazingly, some Maine Coons have even been known to nip at children who were playing with something dangerous or about to walk into the street! Maine Coon Traits Maine Coons are fiercely loyal to their owners, but that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many traits these cats have! Here are some common traits that most Maine Coons share: They're Highly Intelligent Maine Coons are among the smartest cat breeds in the world, which means they can be trained to do all sorts of tricks and listen to commands. Discover what makes these gentle giants so smart in my article, 10 Reasons Why Maine Coons Are The Smartest Cat'. Not only are these cats good at figuring out problems, but they're great at learning how to get into mischief by opening doors or climbing into things they shouldn't! These cats can also learn to play fetch, just like a dog! They Get Along Well With Other Pets Maine Coons are very friendly with humans, but did you know they can get along great with other pets, as well? Many Maine Coons love having cat companions, and they can even get along well with dogs! Due to the Maine Coon's high prey drive, however, they don't do as well with small pets like birds, mice, or other rodents. They Can Walk On Leashes Many owners want to let their cats experience the great outdoors, but are afraid of their cat getting lost or injured. The Maine Coon, however, can be trained to walk on a leash and harness, so you can allow your cat to explore safely! We use this extra large harness and leash set to take our male Maine Coon cat for walks. I purchased this set from Amazon, via this link. I love that this harness comes in so many colors, as I have been able to swap and change the narness according to my mood! They're A Lot Like Dogs Maine Coons are often referred to as the dogs of the cat world. This is because they are highly loyal, extremely playful, and can do a lot of the same things dogs can, like walk on a leash, play fetch, or learn tricks. They Are Playful For Life Many cats eventually grow out of their playful personalities, but Maine Coons remain kitten-like for the majority of their life! These gentle giants never lose their love of play, and they need a lot of durable, interactive toys, plus daily playtime, to stay entertained. 5 Best Maine Coon Cat Toys They Love Water One charming and unusual trait of Maine Coons is their love of water. Not only do many of these cats love baths or even a dip in the pool, but some even learn how to turn on the faucet just to play with water! Read more about the Maine Coons love of water, here. Maine Coons Have A Unique Voice Another adorable Maine Coon trait is their unusual voices! Rather than meowing, Maine Coons tend to chirp or trill. These cats tend to be quite vocal, too, using their unique voices to ask for food, attention, or even to be let outside! If you've never heard a Maine Coon cat chatter or talk, here's a quick video of our 'Pippin', talking: https://youtu.be/_XfDkeeui48 Maine Coon Talking Are Maine Coons One Person Cats? Maine Coons can thrive with just one owner, so long as they get plenty of love and attention each day. However, if you have more than one person in your household, you don't have to worry about your Maine Coon only caring about one family member! Maine Coons are highly social, and they can bond to multiple members of a family unit or household. While they may favor one family member if that's who they spend the most time with, they aren't cold or aloof to other household members. Instead, Maine Coons love to spend time with everyone! How Do Maine Coons Show Affection? A lot of people wrongly assume that cats aren't affectionate, but this is because cats tend to be a lot more subtle about showing their love than dogs. If you're wondering, are Maine Coons affectionate, the answer is yes, but keep in mind that these cats have a special way of showing that they care. Here is a list of ways that Maine Coons show affection for their owners: a. Following You From Room To Room Maine Coons aren't known for being super clingy, or for getting in the way, but they do like to casually follow their owners from room to room. This is a way cats show affection because they like being near you. b. Slow Blinking Has your cat ever slowly blinked at you? This may be surprising, but it's actually one of the ways cats express love and trust! By closing their eyes for a long period of time, they're showing that they trust you not to attack them while they're vulnerable. c. Cuddles And Head Butting One of the most obvious ways cats show affection is by letting you cuddle them, or even by cuddling you back! Many cats rub their faces and backs against their favorite humans, and some will even head butt you as a show of affection! d. Exposing Their Belly Cats have soft bellies, and just an inch or two below that thin skin is all of their important organs. When a cat rolls on its back and exposes its belly to you, this is an ultimate show of trust. Unlike dogs, however, cats don't show their bellies to receive pets! While some cats enjoy belly rubs, most cats only like to expose their bellies to show how much they love you! e. Biting Believe it or not, biting can sometimes be a way that cats show affection! If your cat is licking or gently rubbing against you, then bites you softly, it's actually an odd way that your cat is expressing affection. Here are some other reasons 'Why Your Maine Coon Is Biting You'. f. Sleeping Near You Cats are most vulnerable while they are asleep. Even though cats are predators, they can be attacked by all sorts of dangerous things in the wild, so they've learned to be very careful about who they trust. If your cat chooses to sleep near you instead of hiding under the bed to take a nap, this is a huge sign that your cat loves and trusts you! Did you realise just how long Maine Coon cats sleep each day? No? ... Well read this article to find out! Are Maine Coons Clingy? Maine Coons are highly social cats that tend to follow their owners from room to room. However, this doesn't mean Maine Coons are clingy! While this breed does need more social interaction than some other cat breeds, they don't tend to get underfoot or in the way. If you aren't giving your Maine Coon enough attention, though, they can become lonely, depressed, and even destructive. While this breed isn't particularly clingy, they don't do well in households where they'll be left alone for long periods of time. Do Maine Coons Need A Companion? Maine Coons are highly social creatures that can become depressed, bored, and lonely if they don't get enough attention. Thankfully, because Maine Coons are famous for getting along well with other cats and even other dogs, many owners choose to get their Maine Coons a companion. Not all Maine Coons need a companion, but if you spend a lot of time at work, and think that your cat could use some extra company, then it might be a good idea to bring home another cat or dog. Do Maine Coons Protect Their Owners? Maine Coons may be the largest cat breed in the world, but they're still quite small in comparison to humans. Despite this size difference, however, Maine Coons still do what they can to protect their owners. Some people have observed their Maine Coons even getting between their owners and a human or animal they perceive as a threat! Amazingly enough, Maine Coons seem even more protective of children, and have even been known to nip at a child about to do something dangerous, like go near a flame or walk into traffic! These behaviors are relatively rare, however, and will also vary from cat to cat. Will Maine Coons Run Away? Maine Coons are loyal creatures that develop strong bonds with their owners, and they're unlikely to run away. Many outdoor cats will roam around the neighborhood for hours, but will always come back home at night. With that being said, even the most loyal of Maine Coons can end up lost or separated from their family if they're allowed outdoors. If your cat only spends time indoors but manages to escape if the door is left open, it might not be able to find its way back home, even if it wants to! Maine Coons rarely run away on purpose, but even with their excellent navigation skills, lots of factors can cause a beloved pet to stray too far from home and never come back. Are Maine Coons Cuddly? If you're interested in bringing home a loving lap cat, you're probably wondering, are Maine Coons cuddly? Overall, Maine Coons are known for being social, cuddly breeds that enjoy being petted. However, they aren't quite as cuddly as some other breeds, such as Persians or Ragdolls. Despite their deep love for their owners, Maine Coons can be quite independent and prefer to be held or cuddled on their own terms. Not all Maine Coons appreciate being scooped up and brought to the couch for cuddles; instead, they tend to prefer coming to their owners for attention, rather than the other way around. Furthermore, the amount of cat cuddles will vary based on the individual. Poorly socialized cats or cats who came from abusive or stressful situations are less likely to enjoy cuddling. If you get your cat from a young age, it's easier to socialize your cat to enjoy cuddling, but at the end of the day, there's no surefire way to get a cat that's super cuddly. Maine Coon vs Persian Cat Maine Coon Temperament With Dogs The Maine Coon's playful, intelligent personality means these cats are often referred to as the dogs of the cat world. Did you know, though, that these cats also get along famously well with canines? Children's books and shows might like to convince us that cats and dogs are sworn enemies, but this certainly isn't the case when it comes to Maine Coons! Are Maine Coons Good With Dogs? These social cats get along famously well with other cats, and they can even become best friends with dogs. If you think your Maine Coon could use a companion, but you don't really feel like adopting another cat, then a dog might be a great new addition to your family! However, it's important to keep in mind that even though most Maine Coons get along perfectly fine with dogs, not all dogs should live with cats. It's important to find a dog that has had a positive history with cat interaction, otherwise, it could become aggressive. Choose a calm breed with a low prey drive, such as: PugsFrench BulldogsCavalier King Charles Spaniels Finally, introducing your cat to a new dog is a crucial step. It's best to keep both animals in separate rooms for a few days, so they can get used to one another's sounds and smells. A slow, low-stress introduction means your animals will have a much higher chance of becoming best friends. Conclusion If you're looking for a cat that will remain by your side through thick and thin, you're probably wondering, are Maine Coon Cats loyal? These social cats are highly loving towards their family members and are famous for being loyal companions. In fact, Maine Coons are so loyal, they often follow their owners from room to room, and even display protective instincts! Overall, this is a loving cat breed that develops a strong bond with its owners, making Maine Coons the perfect choice for anyone looking for a loyal pet! Related Questions Do Maine Coons Walk Funny? Maine Coons don't walk differently from other cats, although a cat suffering from conditions like spinal muscular atrophy or hip dysplasia may have an unusual gait.