Have you noticed your Maine Coon crying, and are worried there might be something wrong with your treasured feline friend?
Maine Coon crying is very different from this breed’s usual trills and chirping sounds. There are 10 key reasons that cause a Maine Coon cat to cry, including:
- Hungry
- Thirsty
- Want Attention
- Feel Lonely
- Not neutered
- Old Age
- Sick Cat
- Stress and Anxiety
- Scared
- Separation
Before you start panicking, know that you are not alone since lots of other owners report that their Maine Coons cry, from time to time.
Our simple tips and tricks will help comfort a Maine Coon crying, whilst also not encouraging excessive Maine Coon meowing, or yowling.
What Is Maine Coon Crying?
Maine Coon cats are notorious for being one of the more talkative cat breeds.
These highly intelligent felines are pretty clever too, and will use a wide range of Maine Coon sounds to communicate their wants and needs to an owner i.e. if they are hungry, or simply want attention, etc.
Some of you will have heard a Maine Coon cry before, whereas many of you will not have.
The first thing you are most likely interested to understand is what Maine Coon crying actually sounds like so that you can identify it should it occur.
Although this might seem like an easy request, there is no one clear way of explaining this Maine Coon sound, since each individual will interpret their Maine Coons sounds differently.
Here are a few descriptions of what Maine Coon crying sounds like:
- Similar to yowling
- Long drawn out noises
The best way to help you identify if your Maine Coon is crying, therefore, is by watching a few short videos which show you varying examples of what Maine Coon crying sounds like in real life.
It is then for each owner to determine if these Maine Coon cries sound similar to their own Maine Coons sounds.
The first video is of a Maine Coon cat named Tony, who is crying because he is in his cat carrier:
The second example of Maine Coon crying is by a Maine Coon kitten that is crying because he is hungry.
His Maine Coon voice is seriously high pitched (you’ve been warned!):
10 Reasons Why Maine Coons Cry
Whilst Maine Coon crying is unlikely to be a daily occurrence for most owners, there are definitely a number of Maine Coons that do cry more than other cats from this breed.
In scenarios such as this, owners should do their best not to encourage this Maine Coon behavioral issue to develop.
Owners can swot up on the top 10 reasons why Maine Coon crying occurs, by reviewing the table below:
| Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| Hunger | Provide regular food portions, or use an automatic food dispenser |
| Thirsty | Invest in the cat water fountain, to ensure constant water supply |
| Wants Attention | If you are busy, spend some short bursts of time with your cat e.g. 5 minutes |
| Feeling Lonely | Increase time spent with Maine Coon. Or, purchase a 2nd cat to keep your Maine Coon company |
| Not Neutered | If you don’t plan on breeding your cat, ask a veterinary professional to neuter your Maine Coon |
| Old Age | Give your Maine Coon comfort, love, and attention |
| Sick Cat | Ask a veterinary professional to assess your Maine Coons health |
| Stress and Anxiety | Help calm your Maine Coon via extra love, care, and attention. Use calming feline plugins |
| Scared | Assess what your Maine Coon is scared of. Limit issue if possible |
| Separation Anxiety | Maine Coon kittens separated from their litter and their mother may experience separation anxiety. Give kittens plenty of love and attention, and time to adjust to their new surroundings |
For more information on each of these factors, keep reading:
1. Is Your Maine Coon Hungry?
Some Maine Coons cry simply because they are hungry.
The cry you hear is likely to be distinct from all other Maine Coon sounds you hear, and also somewhat insistent.
A Maine Coons crying might increase as mealtime gets closer, and will likely only stop once you have fed them.
Maine Coons like to eat food at certain times of the day and may cry if food is not available when they expect it to be.
Owners with busy lives can ensure their cat’s food schedule is maintained by investing in an automatic cat food dispenser like this one from Amazon.
These units are ideal for dispensing dry food throughout the day or night.
I personally love our dispenser because our Maine Coon no longer needs to nag me when he’s eaten the food in his bowl. I also feel reassured that his bowl is not empty for long periods of time.
Whilst it is tempting to give your Maine Coon access to endless food, some Maine Coons have a tendency to gorge on their food.
Owners need to be wise to this and be extra careful not to overfeed their Maine Coon cat because this cat breed are prone to obesity.
To help prevent your Maine Coon from becoming obese, invest in a supersized Maine Coon cat tower like this on Amazon, to encourage them to exercise regularly.
Not only will a cat tower provide hours of fun and exercise for your Maine Coon, but it will also give your cat additional space to rest and relax.
Finally, if you change the food that your Maine Coon eats, keep watch on your Maine Coons behavior.
If you notice they have stopped eating, or are crying more than normal then owners should re-evaluate which foods to feed their Maine Coon.
TIP: It is advisable to not feed your Maine Coon every time they cry. This is because they will quickly associate Maine Coon crying, with being fed.
Owners should therefore wait for their cats to stop crying, before feeding them, to prevent Maine Coon behavioral issues from occurring.
2. Is Your Maine Coon Thirsty?
Maine Coon cats drink a lot of water, to prevent them from becoming dehydrated. Owners must therefore ensure that freshwater is always available to their cat.
Consider using a cat water fountain to meet your Maine Coons water needs. Make sure you purchase one that holds a large quantity of water, ideally only needing to be filled up once per day.
Amazon currently has a special offer on this ideal cat fountain.
TIP: If your Maine Coons cry sounds like he has lost his voice, check your cat’s water bowl asap to ensure they have enough water.
3. Does Your Maine Coon Want Attention?
Maine Coons are extremely sociable creatures and are at their happiest when they get to spend the majority of their days with their human family.
You do not necessarily need to be playing with them, but they will want to be next to you e.g. sat by your desk as you work from home.
If your Maine Coon cry’s repeatedly, whilst pawing your feet and nuzzling your legs, then it is likely that they are after some attention.
Life gets busy, but try to dedicate some 5-minute bursts of attention to your Maine Coon throughout the day, so that they can bond with you.
TIP: Do not give your Maine Coon attention each time they cry, because this will encourage them to cry repeatedly every time they want attention.
Instead, wait for your Maine Coon to stop crying, then spend some time with them, playing.
4. Is Your Maine Coon Feeling Lonely?
Some Maine Coons will cry excessively because they are lonely. Owners should therefore aim to limit the amount of time that their cat is left on their own.
Signs that your Maine Coon might be lonely:
- Destructive behavior e.g. clawing furniture.
- Excessive grooming e.g of fur, or claws.
- Maine Coon needs attention: Maine Coon cat will not leave you alone.
- Maine Coon Aggression: Your formerly friendly cat might suddenly become aggressive.
If you are keen to stop your Maine Coon from feeling lonely, consider the following options:
- Purchasing a second cat to keep your Maine Coon company.
- Leave a variety of cat toys like these around your home, to help entertain your Maine Coon whilst you are out.
- Ask a pet sitter to pop into your home whilst you are at work, to spend time with your Maine Coon cat.
- Spend more time with your Maine Coon, giving them lots of cuddles and attention.
5. Have You Neutered Your Maine Coon Yet?
Maine Coon crying is more common in males and female cats that have not yet been neutered.
Therefore, if you do not plan to breed your cat, and want to reduce Maine Coon crying in your home, consider neutering your Maine Coon cat as soon as possible.
Female Maine Coons often cry when they are on heat. Male Maine Coons that have not been neutered are also likely to become more vocal if they smell a female on heat, nearby to them.
6. Have You Considered Cat Dementia?
Some older cats become increasingly disoriented and confused as humans do.
Therefore, if your Maine Coon is getting old and they have randomly started crying and yowling, for no apparent reason, this might be the result of their old age.
Older Maine Coons often cry more during nighttime hours, whilst their owners are sleeping.
This is because disorientated cats are often unaware of the difference between daylight and nighttime hours.
Confused Maine Coons will therefore cry for their owner’s attention, and comfort.
To help keep your cat calm, consider using cat pheromone plugins like these ones from Amazon.
Not only will they help de-stress your cat by emitting scents that calm restless cats, but will also help to limit Maine Coon aggression in your aging Maine Coon.
TIP: Give your Maine Coon extra love and attention, to try to calm them. The calmer your cat, the less likely you will hear Maine Coon crying.
7. Check Your Cat For Medical Issues
Your Maine Coon is unable to tell you that they are feeling poorly. Many medical issues are also not visible to the human eye.
Therefore, if you notice your Maine Coon cat crying more often than normal, ask a veterinary professional to assess your cat’s health so that you can rule out underlying health issues as the cause.
In general, Maine Coon cats are well known for being quite a hardy. However, owners should still be aware of these top 7 Maine Coon health issues.
8. Stressed And Anxious Maine Coons Cry
Stress and anxiety are one of the most likely causes of Maine Coon crying, and should never be ignored because they negatively impact the cat’s health and wellbeing.
Signals that your Maine Coon is stressed, frustrated or anxious (source 1):
- Excessive meowing
- Maine Coon crying
- Cat becomes increasingly vocal
- Excessive grooming i.e. licking fur too much
- Aggressive behavior towards other animals and pets
- Loss of appetite
- Cat urinates outside litter tray
- Sociable Maine Coon cat starts isolating themselves
It is not always possible to identify the reason why a Maine Coon is stressed, therefore, owners must always be alert to potential situations that may cause their Maine Coon cat to experience stress, frustration, and anxiety.
Here are some factors that might stress your Maine Coon cat:
- Moving house
- New baby
- New pet
- Loss of another pet or family member
Whilst there is no instant cure to healing a Maine Coons feelings of stress, owners can intervene to help soothe and comfort their distressed cat.
Therefore, if you suspect the Maine Coon cries are related to feelings of stress, make sure you give your cat plenty of extra love and attention.
You can help settle your cat, by cuddling up with your Maine Coon and giving them lots of undivided attention.
In addition to providing extra love and attention, invest in a few cat pheromone diffusers to calm and destress your Maine Coon.
This bulk pack of diffuser refills from Amazon is particularly effective and offers great value for money. This set is also particularly handy because owners can introduce cat calming scents throughout their entire home.
TIP: Leave an item of your clothing in your kitten’s bed, so that they can still smell your scent whilst you are not at home.
9. Scared
Some Maine Coons cry because they are feeling scared. Owners should therefore be alert to factors that might cause their cat to feel frightened, such as:
- Unexpected loud noises
- Strangers in home
- Individuals acting aggressively towards Maine Coon
- Other cats and dogs on their territory
Signs that your Maine Coon is scared:
- Ears are flattened, facing backward.
- Maine Coons big bushy tail will be tucked in, rather than held high and proud.
- Long thick shaggy fur is sticking up, making your Maine Coon look double their usual size.
- Cat runs and hides
TIP: Watch your Maine Coon closely for behavioral changes, which suggest your cat is feeling stressed.
Once the issue is identified, try to limit cats’ exposure to stressful situations i.e. install cat/dog proof fences to stop other cats from entering your cat’s territory.
10. Separation Anxiety Causes Maine Coon Crying
Owners with young Maine Coon kittens may notice a level of Maine Coon crying.
This is usually only a temporary phase, caused by the young kitten experiencing separation anxiety from their litter and mother.
If you suspect this to be the issue, give your new kitten plenty of love, affection, and play so that they can integrate into their new family. You should also talk to your kitten gently, and calmly.
In sad scenarios where a Maine Coon has been mistreated or abandoned, owners are likely to hear their Maine Coon crying, when their cat feels frightened or scared.
There is, unfortunately, no immediate solution for this, since random events and situations may remind your Maine Coon of former mistreatment.
Only time, love, care, and repeated attention will help to reassure the adopted Maine Coon that they are now safe.
TIP:
If your kittens Maine Coon crying is keeping you up at night, try not to shout or scold them for waking you.
This phase is likely to be temporary as your kitten adjusts to their new surroundings without their mother and litter around them.
Calm your kitten’s loneliness by speaking softly and quietly to them, and playing a few short games.
How To Stop Your Maine Coon Crying
Maine Coons are very bright felines. Therefore, if an owner responds to every single Maine Coon cry this particular cat breed is likely to quickly associate a link, and cry every time they want something.
Learned behavior is one of the most difficult Maine Coon behavioral problems to resolve, and it is vital that owners are aware of this.
Whilst it might not have taken long to accidentally teach your Maine Coon undesirable behavioral traits, reversing these behaviors will take a great deal of patience, persistence, and repetition.
Don’t give in!
Here are a few methods that owners can follow, to limit Maine Coon crying:
- Identify: Do your best to identify the reason why the Maine Coon is crying, then do your best to fix the issue.
- Ignore: Constant Maine Coon crying might drive you up the wall with frustration, however, owners should do their best to ignore all incidences of crying. Interacting with a Maine Coon that is crying will only teach the cat that crying gets them attention.
- Praise and Affection: Owners should give their Maine Coon plenty of love, affection, and attention, BUT …. only when the Maine Coon is quiet and not crying.
- Persistence: Altering learned behavior takes time and dedication. Owners should therefore never give in, and instead, always remain consistent. It is imperative that owners never give their cats attention when they cry.
- Playtime: Help to relieve a Maine Coon cat’s boredom, by giving them plenty of Maine Coon toys to play with whilst you are busy, or away from home. These are my five favorite Maine Coon cat toys.
Conclusion
Maine Coon crying is a very similar sound to that of a cat yowling, and just as undesirable.
There are a variety of reasons that will cause a Maine Coon to cry, so it is vital that owners swot up on the top 10 reasons listed above so that they can identify and address all potential issues that are upsetting their treasured Maine Coon.