Do Maine Coon Cats Like Water?
Unlike most cat breeds, the Maine Coon cat is fascinated with water. Their love of water is so well known that breed specialists have included this unique cat behavior as one of the Maine Coon breed common characteristics.
Maine Coon cats spend copious amounts of time playing in water. Their semi-water-resistant fur helps to keep them warm and dry, enabling them to play with water, swim, and take baths!
They are strong swimmers and enjoy licking from leaky faucets and patting their water bowls. Therefore, if you are not sure where your Maine Coon has ventured, check the following places to see if your cat is playing with water:
- Patting water from their water bowl
- Drinking water from a leaking faucet (tap)
- Bathing in a bath full of water!
- Playing with water in the sink
- Drinking water from your shower tray.
- Swimming in the swimming pool, or lake!
Since cats are widely known for hating water, it might surprise you to hear that the Maine Coon is not truly unique. Instead, owners of the following cat breeds are likely to have also noticed that their cat loves to play with water:
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Turkish Angora
- Bengal
- Savannah
- Maz
- Turkish Van
- Snowshoe
- Abyssinian
Why Do Maine Coon Cats Love Water?
Despite having a lineage shrouded in mystery, the Maine Coon breed is rumored to be a descendent of either the Norwegian Forest Cat or Turkish Angora.
Although the truth will likely remain a mystery forevermore, you might not be too surprised to see that these two cat breeds are also listed as loving water.
1. Viking Ships Cats
One of the most popular myths claims that the Maine Coon cat breed is a descendant of Viking ship cats.
History tells of how these long-haired cats (possibly Norwegian Forest Cats) were kept aboard Viking ships since they were known for being excellent ‘mousers’, able to keep each ship’s mouse population at bay.
The premise of this folklore tale is that these cats spent their lives on Viking ships, so we’re naturally not fearful of water like other cat breeds that have not grown up at sea.
Legend has it, that whilst docked in Maine, one of the long-haired ship cats mated with a local domestic shorthair cat, ultimately producing the Maine Coon cat breed we know today.
Supporters of this folklore tale argue that the Maine Coon is a descendant of the Norwegian Forest Cat, which helps to explain why Maine Coon cats love water.
This lineage is further supported by the fact that Maine Coons are also known for being excellent ‘mousers’ and hunters.
For more fascinating information on the Maine Coon cat breed characteristics, check out my other article.
Alternatively, if you are interested to learn what the differences and similarities between the Maine Coon Vs Norwegian Forest cat are, click here to view my article.
2. Marie Antoinette’s Pet Cats
The second folklore tale used to explain the lineage of the Maine Coon cat breed links this precious water-loving cat to Marie Antoinette, the former Queen of France.
Could the Maine Coon cat breed have a royal, regal heritage?
According to the history books, Marie Antoinette made a desperate attempt to flee France during the French Revolution, by ship.
She was so in love with her beautiful long-haired pet cats though, that she couldn’t be parted from them. She, therefore, convinced Captain Samuel Clough to give her six Turkish Angora long-haired cats safe passage to the United States, with her.
Unfortunately, her escape was in vain though, since she was captured and executed in 1793.
Her treasured six Turkish Angora pet cats met with better fortune, however, since they arrived safely in the United States, whereupon the ship’s Captain set them free, in Maine.
The premise of this legend is that the long-haired Turkish Angora cats, known for also loving the water, then bred with one of the short-haired domestic cats living in Maine during that time.
3. Maine Coons Are Part Raccoon
The final folklore myth used to explain why Maine Coon cats love water, is based upon the belief that the Maine Coon cat breed is a part raccoon!
The premise of this myth is that a semi-wild domestic cat mated with a raccoon at some point in history, therefore producing the Maine Coon cat breed we know today.
Whilst there might be many similarities between the two animals, scientists have now proven this more bizarre-sounding myth to be biologically impossible.
So, if scientists have ruled out the genetic link between the Maine Coon cat and the raccoon, why does this folklore tale continue to be popular?
This is likely because the two animals share an unusually high number of similarities, including:
- Visually Similar
- Tabby Maine Coon has the same coloring
- Bushy Tail
- Love Water
- Semi-Prehensile Paws
- Black Ring on Tail
- Both physically large
With so many similarities, it’s not hard to see why the legend has stood the test of time.
Even still though, we can safely say that a proposed lineage to the raccoon is not the reason why Maine Coon cats love water.
For more information on the link between these two species, have a look at my article “Is A Maine Coon Part-Raccoon?“.
How To Tell If Your Maine Coon Likes Water
Cats are very unique creatures. Whilst the Maine Coon breed, in general, tends to be massive fans of water, owners should never just assume that their Maine Coon will be too.
So, how do you tell if your purebred Maine Coon cat likes water or not?
Here are some signs that your Maine Coon loves water:
- Maine Coon enters the shower, whilst you are taking a shower.
- Cat plays with water in the shower tray, when the shower is turned off.
- The cat likes to pat water in the water bowl.
- Find the cat drinking water from the running tap.
- Intelligent cat breed learns how to turn the faucet on, and then plays with water.
- Maine Coon rubs itself against your wet legs when you leave the shower.
- You find your cat in the sink, where there is still some water.
- The cat jumps in and swims in your bath water, pond, or swimming pool.
- Your cat has no issue being cleaned with a lukewarm wet sponge, or cloth.
- Maine Coon enjoys tipping glasses of water over, then playing in the mess.
- You find your cat drinking from the toilet bowl!
Should I Bathe My Maine Coon?
Cats are well known for being incredibly clean animals. This is most likely due to the fact that they suffer psychologically if unable to keep their fur clean and healthy.
Therefore, it is not necessary for owners to bathe their Maine Coon cats since cats are predominantly self-cleaning creatures that like to keep themselves clean. However, many Maine Coons enjoy swimming and playing in the bathtub.
For those of you planning to bathe and wash your Maine Coon cats, it is advisable to introduce the practice whilst your cat is still a kitten.
Since kittens are known for being more energetic, active, and naughty than adult cats, owners are more likely to be successful if they introduce bathing as soon as they get their Maine Coon kitten.
This is because adult Maine Coons are more stubborn (particularly the males) and set in their ways, so are less likely to be interested in learning to bathe and swim in the bath.
However, there are a few scenarios where an owner might opt to bathe their Maine Coon cat, however, for example:
- To help remove loose dead hair from your Maine Coons fur.
- Your Maine Coon has gotten dirty i.e. in the garden.
- Cat suffers from a dry skin condition.
- Maine Coon has excess dander over their fur.
- Reduces cat fur shedding levels.
Introducing An Older Maine Coon Cat To Bathing
Watch this funny video of our Maine Coon cat being introduced to a bath full of water.
I didn’t try to introduce the concept until he was 7 years old, so I was prepared for ‘Pippin’ to not like the idea!
Let’s just say that he wasn’t a fan of the idea! Take a look at our Youtube video, to find out why!
Conclusion
So why do Maine Coon cats love water, as much as they do? Realistically speaking, this is the result of a combination of reasons.
The main reason Maine Coon cats love water so much is that it is a completely natural and instinctive Maine Coon characteristic.
Whilst this particular cat breed’s true lineage may also help to account for this behavioral trait, it is also likely that the Maine Coon cat’s partially water-repellent fur plays a part too.
Finally, if you are keen to let your Maine Coon swim in the bath, pool, or lake, owners must ensure that their cat is safe at all times.
Despite being good swimmers, your feline friend’s safety will always be paramount.
Therefore, if your Maine Coon appears distressed, unhappy, or struggling to get out of the water, owners must remove them from the water immediately.
