Maine Coon cats are known to be very vocal felines, so anyone planning to bring one home will undoubtedly be keen to know what noise does a Maine Coon cat make?
Knowing the Maine Coon sounds is very important since these large cats have a whole repertoire of sounds with which they communicate to their owners. It will be useful to know their meanings.
Maine Coon cats are very talkative and usually chirp, purr, or trill to express their emotions, desire, and feelings. These vocalizations are a sign of happiness and contentment, but they can also be heard if your Maine Coon is hungry, thirsty, or distressed. A Maine Coon cat will also chirp to garner your attention.
Read on to find everything you need to know about Maine Coon vocalizations.
What Noise Does A Maine Coon Cat Make?
Famous for being the largest domesticated cat breed in the world, the regal-looking Maine Coon cat continues to be one of the most popular cat breeds in the United States and even the world.
They have a mysterious origin, but this has never stopped animal lovers from loving them unconditionally. Learn more about their mystical lineage in this article I wrote about this cat breed’s lineage.
Many people love their Maine Coon cats because they have such a sweet and gentle temperament, are family-friendly, and have stocky, muscled bodies.
As for their personality, Maine Coon cats are well known for being:
- Very Affectionate
- Loyal
- Friendly
- Laid Back
- Highly Intelligent
- Sociable
- Curious
- Playful
- Dog-Like Disposition
Being very talkative is another part of the Maine Coon personality.
Maine Coon cats are very vocal and make a variety of vocalizations to communicate with their owners throughout the day.
Many owners find that their Maine Coons like to hold “conversations” with them. These large cats use their varied Maine Coon sounds to express their:
- Emotions
- Desires
- Feelings
- Needs
Relative to other domesticated cats, Maine Coon cats have a higher-pitched voice, which is utterly adorable and delightful. What’s more, Maine Coons don’t tend to make the potentially annoying meow sounds often associated with other cat breeds.
If you are planning to bring a Maine Coon cat home, beware that these adorable pets will vocalize with persistence until they win your attention. Although this might sound irritating, their vocal nature is neither annoyingly noisy nor loud. Instead, they are simply seeking your attention in a reasonable way.
Maine Coon cats make a vast range of vocalizations to communicate different situations to their owners. Despite being the largest domesticated cats, you may hear your Maine Coon grunt, which means that their noises are not as annoying unless it is during the wee hours of the night!
Besides these sounds, if you have an unspayed female Maine Coon, you may hear her making caterwauling sounds when looking for a male Maine Coon cat, and screaming during mating.
Like other cats, a Maine Coon may scream whilst in a fight.
Above all, Maine Coon cats are known to make chirping and trilling sounds.
Maine Coons generally do not meow unless they are taught the skill by another cat breed or have some health problems.
Are you wondering what do Maine Coons sound like or struggling to translate your Maine Coon’s language?
Here are sounds that you will often hear from your Maine Coon cat:
Chirping
Maine Coon cats love to talk to their humans, and their trademark sound is a chirp, which distinguishes them from other cat breeds.
At its core, a chirp is a high-pitched and short sound that denotes a Maine Coon’s happiness.
Usually bird-like in nature and remarkably adorable, chirping is a high-pitched “hello” of Maine Coons to their owners.
When your Maine Coon is chirping, it sounds as though it is rolling the letter R.
In most cases, your cat makes this sound when it is feeling excited, happy, or wants to show you something or stalk some prey.
Trilling
Trilling is another very common noise among Maine Coon cats. The sound is more or less a cross between a meow and a purr.
It occurs when you Maine Coon chirps while purring at the same time and tends to end like a question.
The distinctive Maine Coon’s trill is usually a sign of contentment.
However, not every Maine Coon trills, so do not assume that your Maine Coon is not happy just because it is not making a trilling sound.
If you are a breeder, you will likely hear mother cats making trilling sounds to get their kitten’s attention, or summoning them to follow her.
Howling
Howling is an upsetting Maine Coon noise and one of the unwanted behavioral traits common in Maine Coons.
While their voices are high-pitched, soft, and not as loud as other cat breeds, they may howl during the wee hours of the night, which can be very annoying, especially if you are a light sleeper.
Unneutered and unspayed Maine Coons are more likely to howl.
The female Maine Coon howls when they are on heat, while males howl when they scent a female that is on heat.
There are a few other reasons that might cause a Maine Coon to howl though, these include:
- Lonely
- Sad
- Hungry
- Physically Hurt
- Stressed
- Sick
- Scared
If you are interested to learn more about how to stop Maine Coon howling make sure you read this article I wrote.
Crying
Maine Coon crying is no different from Maine Coon howling.
The crying sounds very different from the breed’s usual trills and chirps and occurs when your cat is missing you.
Unfortunately, you may inadvertently encourage your Maine Coon cat to cry, especially if you respond to every cry.
For more Maine Coon crying facts and information, read this guide.
Hissing And Spitting
As we all know, Maine Coon cats have a gentle temperament and are far less territorial relative to other breeds.
That said, if you hear your Maine Coon cat hissing or spitting, it is a sure warning to cease what you are doing and check what is happening with your cat.
More often than not, a Maine Coon hiss signifies that your cat feels threatened and may fight back whatever is threatening them.
For the safety of your cat, make sure to respond immediately to your Maine Coons hissing or spitting.
Chattering
On rare occasions, your Maine Coon cat might make an unusual chattering noise.
When you hear your Maine Coon chattering, it is probably that the feline has seen something it can prey on but cannot get at it.
Like the normal chirping and trilling, the chattering sound is considered a sign of excitement but paired with a level of stress of not being able to catch the prey.
If you are still not too sure what a Maine Coon cat sounds like, make sure you watch my short video below of ‘Pippin’ our male Maine Coon cat talking:
Why Do Maine Coons Talk So Much?
Maine Coons are an extremely vocal cat breed.
These cats make a wide range of sounds, which can vary widely depending on what is triggering the feline to make a noise. One thing worth noting though is that these large cats are not loud.
Maine Coon sounds include:
- Trilling
- Chirping
- Howling
- Crying
- Hissing and Spitting
So are Maine Coons more vocal than other cat breeds?
The simple answer is yes, Maine Coons are extremely vocal and usually more vocal than the average cat breed.
So, why are Maine Coon cats so vocal?
First off, if you are planning to adopt a Maine Coon, it is important to be aware that Maine Coon cats are very sociable creatures that enjoy interacting with their owners. Do not buy a Maine Coon if you are not ready to own a chatty cat!
If you are wondering why Maine Coons are chatty, an honest answer is that they love communicating with their owners. Indeed, a Maine Coon talking back to their owner and chirping at birds is one of the key characteristics of this breed.
Maine Coon cats typically make chirp or trill sounds to express their happiness, but there is also a whole list of other reasons too, that may cause your cat to make noise.
Here are the key reasons why Maine Coon cats talk so much:
1. Excited Or Happy
Of all the cat breeds in the world, Maine Coons are arguably the most chatty, and the number one reason for them to talk is to exhibit their feelings of excitement.
When these cats are happy or excited, they chirp and trill.
If they are content, they will purr.
2. Hungry
As a cat owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your Maine Coon gets enough food.
When your Maine Coon gets hungry, it will remind you that you have become lazy at your role.
You should ensure you are feeding your Maine Coon cat the best food.
3. Thirsty
Maine Coon cats love water and are fascinated by everything about the water.
They are very good at communicating when they are thirsty but have no water.
To keep your cat happy and prevent dehydration symptoms, make sure they have a regular supply of water.
I recommend buying a cat water fountain like this one on Amazon, since Maine Coons love drinking from running water, rather than still stagnant water.
4. Sick Or In Pain
When your Maine Coon cat is in pain or sick, it will likely make loud and persistent noise.
If you notice your cat is making a persistent noise, contact your vet to intervene and assess your cat immediately.
5. Angry Or Annoyed
Maine Coons have a lot of attitudes and will happily make noise when they get angry.
We like to call this ‘catitude’ in our household!
6. Fighting
Like other cat breeds, Maine Coons will make the following sounds when fighting other animals or escaping a predator:
- Hiss
- Spit
- Growl
7. Territorial
When you Maine Coon feels threatened or when it is about to fight another animal, it will almost certainly make hissing and spits sound to alert you.
Why Do Maine Coons Chirp?
Maine Coons are well known for being a very vocal cat breed that enjoys conversing with their owners.
With chirping being one of the distinctive Maine Coon characteristics, anyone planning to buy a Maine Coon cat could ask why do Maine Coons squeak?
In most cases, Maine Coons chirp when they are happy or about to engage in a friendly fight with a fellow cat.
That said, here are some other reasons why Maine Coons squeak.
A Maine Coon will chirp when:
- They are happy and excited
- They spot prey
- They want to start a fight
- They want attention
- Stressed
Understanding a cat has always been tricky. While Maine Coon chirping is often a sign of happiness, this is not always the case.
That said, if you notice your Maine Coon cat is chirping loudly and persistently even when getting considerable attention, you should consider a trip to your vet.
Sometimes a Maine Coon can chirp because of other underlying issues. These are the top 7 Maine Coon health problems to be alert to.
Why Do Maine Coons Howl?
Maine Coon cats may sometimes howl, especially at night.
This unwanted behavior can be triggered by a number of things.
If you notice your Maine Coon yelling too often, here are some potential causes:
- Craving For Attention: Maine Coon are very sociable creatures and may yell continuously to garner the attention of their owner.
- Not Spayed Or Neutered: Female Maine Coons are known to howl more than their male counterparts, and one of the key reasons for howling is when they are in heat. Male Maine Coons are more likely to yell when they smell a nearby female that is on heat.
- Stress, Separation Anxiety And Loneliness: Maine Coons love talking and interacting with their humans. If they are left alone for too long though, they will feel lonely and become stressed. This can cause your Maine Coon to start howling. Sometimes your cat may howl at night when you are asleep just because it is missing you.
- Medical Issues: Some medical problems, especially those that do not show early signs, can cause your Maine Coon cat to start yelling. Older cats sometimes yell when they have cognitive issues.
Maine Coons often howl at night when they start missing their humans.
While it can be very tempting to go and check on your cat, it is strongly discouraged to show up immediately. The reason for this is thought to be that giving attention to your Maine Coon every time they howl will actually teach the feline to howl more often. Effectively, it is a learned behavior.
After all, Maine Coons are highly intelligent felines and will quickly realize that howling gets them the attention they want.
Considering that howling can be very annoying, it is a good idea to do all that can help stop your Maine Coon yelling. Read this article on Maine Coon howling, to work out your next steps.
Maine Coon Crying
Maine Coon crying is no different from yowling, which is essentially a long, drawn-out noise.
As such, it is safe to say that the causes of Maine Coon howling are the same thing that trigger a Maine Coon cat to cry.
Here are 10 Causes Of Maine Coon Crying, that you may wish to learn about.
Why Do Maine Coons Make Weird Noises?
Maine Coons do not make weird noises, they simply make chirping and trilling noises.
For the most part, if your Maine Coon cannot help but vocalize, it will chirp or trill.
Causes Of Maine Coon Meowing At Night
It is not standard for Maine Coon cats to meow. However, this doesn’t mean they cannot meow like other cats.
At night, in the darkness, you may hear your older Maine Coon meowing.
In most cases, dementia is the key factor that triggers older Maine Coon cats to make the following sounds at nighttime. This is because Maine Coons with dementia cannot differentiate between day and night:
- Meow
- Howl
- Cry
Maine Coon Kittens Talking
Typically, Maine Coon kittens have less developed lungs that do not allow them to produce a loud noise like other mature cats.
Of course, they will still talk a lot though, just like elderly Maine Coon cats, but their voice may not be loud.
If you are a new owner of a Maine Coon kitten, you may be wondering, at what age do Maine coon kittens start chirping?
There is no specified age for Maine Coon kittens to start chipping. However, they will learn from their parents and start to chirp once they master the reasons why they should do so.
In most cases, they chirp when:
- Seeking Attention
- Hungry
- Happy
- Sick
- Very Excited
Do Maine Coon Cats Purr?
Maine Coons are known to be a unique jovial and talkative cat breed. They produce several noise variations to notify their owners of their different requirements.
But do they purr? The simple answer is yes!
Maine Coon cats purr when they are:
- Happy
- Comfortable
- Feeling Loved
- Safe
- Getting Attention
You may be wondering what a purring sound is or wondering whether you have heard it or not.
Animal researchers explain a purring sound like one which is triggered by a cat’s brain, where the brain then sends a message to the laryngeal muscles, which vibrate, producing the purring sound. The vibrations are so intense and at a high frequency of 100 plus oscillations.
Some cat owners and breeders argue that Maine Coon do not purr, but this is absolutely a misconception because Maine Coon cats definitely purr!
When they are feeling extremely happy, they purr more loudly!
However, do not start to panic as the Maine Coon is generally not so loud, but they will produce loud sounds when their feelings of happiness are very intense.
Do Maine Coon Cats Meow A Lot?
Even though Maine Coons are known for talking a lot, they do not produce a meow sound.
In some cases, this feline may produce a sound that can be mistaken as a Maine Coon loud meow if not well heard.
Unlike other domesticated cats, this sturdy cat breed does not meow.
They prefer to trill or chirp as the most common way of communicating to the owners.
Why Do Maine Coons Not Meow?
These large cats are often considered somewhat unique because they do not meow like “normal” cats.
In fact, unless your Maine Coon lives with another cat breed that has taught them to meow, meowing can actually be a sign of a problem.
Conclusion
Maine Coon cats are incredibly talkative and have a large vocabulary, which makes them great companions.
If you are planning to buy or adopt a Maine Coon cat but are wondering what noise does a Maine Coon cat makes, hopefully, this post will help you understand the subject better, before making the big decision.
Importantly, although Maine Coon cats are very vocal, their voices are not going to become increasingly annoying or irritating.