These large cats are one of the most popular breeds to own in the world, known for their friendly demeanors, massive size, and laidback Maine Coon personality traits.

If you’re in the market for a new cat keep reading to discover how these intelligent animals make great family pets, and are the perfect choice for cat lovers.

Maine Coon cats act like dogs and have a laid-back, gentle, and patient temperament. Their intelligent, playful nature and energetic personalities make them great fun to be with, whilst their high social needs and loyal traits make them great companions for humans, cats, and dogs alike.

These sociable cats first appeared in agricultural cat shows in Maine, before the first official cat show took place in Madison Square Garden Show, New York in 1895.

Unbeknown to the Cat Fanciers Association which labeled the Maine Coon breed as extinct in 1959, these former wild cats were saved from extinction by some dedicated breeders.

Keep reading to discover some more really interesting facts about the most unusual Maine Coon personality traits, characteristics, and behaviors.

21 Maine Coon Personality Traits, Characteristics And Behaviors

Maine Coons are one of the largest domesticated cat breeds in the world, thought to have survived the harsh winters of Maine, before becoming domesticated.

This popular breed comes in 75 different colors and patterns but is most famous for its beautiful looks, playful nature, large size, and friendly personalities.

Reputable breeders breed purebred Maine Coon kittens with the following Maine Coon personality traits, behaviors, and temperament:

1. Affectionate

Maine Coon cats are very affectionate felines that love spending time playing with their owners, or:

Grooming them
Watching what a human family is doing

Male Maine Coon cats are more easily and quickly affectionate to strangers than their female counterparts.

By comparison, female Maine Coons are just as affectionate but have a more reserved nature, therefore taking time to ‘warm up’.

2. Loyal

The Maine Coon is an extremely loyal cat breed.

They form close social bonds with their human families and are not likely to run away if permitted outdoors.

3. Intelligent

Maine Coon cats are one of the smartest cat breeds on the planet.

They are highly intelligent felines so need cat toys that stimulate their mental faculties more, to prevent them from becoming bored and destructive.

These big cats can be trained to follow basic house rules and enjoy learning new Maine Coon tricks.

Many owners have also trained this breed to walk on a leash, or play fetch. Here’s how they did this!

Learn about the Maine Coon personality, and how to train a Maine Coon cat — **How To Train A Maine Coon Cat**

4. Playful

This inquisitive and intelligent cat breed is known for their exceptionally playful nature, and remains kitten-like until late in their adult lives!

Maine Coon owners need to spend time playing with their long-haired cats each day, to keep their highly energetic cats fit and healthy, plus also mentally stimulated.

5. Good Hunters

These former wild cats survived in the frigid cold of Maine, United States, for decades before being domesticated.

Whilst their physical characteristics, including their bushy tails, long hair, and water-resistant coat helped them stay warm, it was their great hunting skills that enabled them to eat.

Known for being great mousers with a high prey drive, it is thought these large cats are descendants of the long-fur cats kept as ship cats by the Vikings.

6. Love Water

These large cats love playing in the water, and are thought to be natural-born swimmers!

Many are happy to be bathed if they are introduced to the idea whilst still a kitten. Bathing is optional though, since your furry friend is very meticulous about cleaning themselves.

Their semi-water-repellent shaggy coat helps keep these big cats warm and dry, even in the rain.

7. Pet Friendly

The Maine Coon is a hugely sociable feline with a friendly temperament and laid-back personality.

They are not overly territorial felines so thrive in a household where they have the company of other cats or dogs that they can play with.

Maine Coon owners do need to ensure, however, that their feline friend has a space they can retreat to, and call their own if they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

The best way to achieve this is to buy cat trees for your home, like these.

8. Healthy Cats

This large cat breed evolved naturally, showing resilience in surviving the harsh New England weather where many other domestic cats could not.

Responsible Maine Coon breeders now produce hardy Maine Coon litters with few genetic health concerns. With proper care, these cats live an average of 10-15 years.

Known for being the largest domestic cat breed in the world, these cats are prone to developing hip dysplasia, a health problem commonly noted in big cats and dogs.

Your Maine Coon cat is also more likely to suffer from:

Maine Coon mixes are prone to more health problems than purebred Maine Coon cats because their genetics are mixed with multiple cat breeds.

This breed is not typically prone to sudden death illnesses.

9. Curious

Maine Coon cats are exceptionally curious felines that love to explore their territory, taking in all the wonderful scents and smells of the outdoor world.

Maine Coons are often kept as indoor cats. Although these cats cannot access the outdoors they still enjoy exploring their home territory and sniffing all items that enter the house.

10. Laid Back

Both the male Maine Coon cat and female Maine Coon are laidback and self-assured felines and offer great companionship to both adults and children alike.

Their dog-like mannerisms set them apart from other felines, making them confident yet not clingy nor needy.

11. Family Friendly

These gentle giants make great family pets. Their calm and non-aggressive disposition makes them ideal companions and playmates for young children who treat them gently.

In recent years many cat lovers have claimed their Maine Coon protected their newborn baby, seemingly knowing its weakness and fragility.

Cat specialists suspect the Maine Coon’s pack mentality makes them protect the youngest member of their ‘pack’, as a dog would.

12. Sociable

Maine Coon cats are sociable felines that thrive on human companionship.

They are ideally suited to living in a household where their owners can dedicate time to playing with them, and do not spend large amounts of time away from home.

These curious felines like to follow their owners from room to room, watching their owners to see what they are doing. Here’s why!

13. Vocal

Although Maine Coon cats do not tend to ‘meow’ as other domestic cats do, they are extremely vocal felines that regularly chirp and trill to get their owner’s attention.

Maine Coons are the best cat because they love to communicate with their owners.

14. Kitten-Like

The Maine Coon kitten’s personality is highly playful and energetic.

While most domestic kittens calm down with age this is not the case with the Maine Coon cat breed which remains kitten-like until late in their adult life.

15. Friendly

Maine Coons have a laid-back friendly personality. They love spending time with their owners and are great around young children.

16. Dog-Like

Often called the dog of the cat world, these large cats act very much like dogs. Some dog-like Maine Coon behaviors include:

Play fetch
Greet you when you return home
Follow owners around their home
Intelligent
Trainable
Come when called
Walk on a leash or harness

17. Non-Aggressive

Maine Coon are not typically aggressive but will hiss or give a warning pat with their paw if you overstep their boundaries.

These large cats only show signs of aggression if experiencing:

Pain
Underlying Medical Condition
Stressed
Boundaries Overstepped
Threatened

Read the complete guide on identifying and handling Maine Coon aggression.

18. Cuddles

Many Maine Coons love being picked up and cuddled, provided you regularly picked them up whilst they were kittens.

However, don’t immediately expect an adopted or older Maine Coon to want to be picked up, as their previous owners might not have socialized them in this way.

19. Not Needy Or Clingy

Maine Coons are not usually needy or clingy but will enjoy following their owners around the home.

They are happy to sit by your feet all day, as you work, however, may become clingy and needy if left on their own a lot.

It is best to buy your Maine Coon a companion to keep them company.

20. Male Vs Female Maine Coon

If you are debating whether to buy a male or female Maine Coon kitten, the comparison table below will help you work out which gender is best for you.

Male Vs Female Maine Coon differences:

Trait	Male	Female
Sociable	Very sociable. Likes to be the center of attention. Adapts well to strangers.	Initially less sociable. More ‘aloof’ in nature. Takes time to ‘warm up’ to strangers.
Outgoing	Outgoing and playful.	Less outgoing, more aloof.
Personality	Confident and friendly	Friendly, but reserved
Attention	Enjoys being the center of attention. Will seek stranger’s attention.	More cat-like. Prefers to study strangers before approaching
Human Interaction	Demands attention	Very friendly but requires less attention
Playful	Very playful, most of the time	Loves to play, but on their terms

Male Vs Female Maine Coon Cat Personality

For a more in-depth understanding of the two genders, read our complete guide to Male Vs Female Maine Coon Personality.

21. Hardy And Healthy Cat Breed

These long-haired cats are considered a healthy hardy cat breed, having evolved naturally in North America before being domesticated.

Purebred Maine Coons were not selectively bred by breeders, so are less prone to developing health issues as their genetics and DNA have not been mixed with other cat breeds.

Despite genetic testing done by breeders in the modern world, Maine Coons are more prone to developing the following health problems:

Conclusion

The Maine Coon personality, temperament, characteristics, and behavior make this cat breed one of the most desirable in existence.

Both male Maine Coons and their female counterparts share similar characteristics and are a great choice for families with small children.

21 Maine Coon Personality Traits, Temperament & Characteristics