Why Is My Maine Coon So Needy?

Maine Coons are loving, affectionate cats, but if they become clingy, it might mean they are not getting enough of the right attention.

Are Maine Coons Needy?

Maine Coons are social, loving animals that thrive on companionship. They love to spend time around their owners but are rarely clingy. If a Maine Coon is needy, it means its owners are spending too much time away from the house. It can also be a sign that your cat does not have enough playtime or enrichment.

Maine Coon cats are affectionate but not overly needy. They enjoy human companionship and will follow you around the home, whilst also being independent enough to entertain themselves.

They prefer to be near their owners rather than on their laps and are known for their dog-like loyalty. While they don’t demand constant attention, they can become lonely if left alone for too long.

Regular interaction, playtime, and companionship keep them happy, making them a balanced mix of affectionate and independent.

Causes Of Needy Behavior

Here are some reasons why your Maine Coon might be acting needy:

1. Not Getting Enough Attention

Maine Coons are social creatures who long to spend time around their owners. Therefore, if your cat is acting ‘needy’ or ‘clingy’ it might be because you are not giving the cat enough attention.

Spending more time cuddling your cat, or even just sitting in the same room as them can make a huge difference!

Alternatively, if you already spend a lot of time with your cat while you are home, but are away at work most of the week, your cat is likely experiencing loneliness. Consider adopting a second Maine Coon to give your cat companionship.

Here’s how you can prevent Maine Coon separation anxiety.

2. Your Cat Is Jealous

These intelligent cats are sensitive so may feel replaced if you adopt a new pet, move in with a partner, or even give birth to a child! New family additions can be a huge stressor for any cat.

Consider the situation from your cat’s perspective, i.e. have you moved their favorite bed, or set up a crib in their old play area? Try to preserve as much of your cat’s routine as possible.

3. You Don’t Play With Your Cat Enough

Maine Coons can become demanding and attention-seeking if you do not provide enough playtime so make sure you set aside roughly 30 minutes a day to play with them.

Cats are most active at dusk and dawn since they are crepuscular creatures. Therefore create a routine where you play with your cat during these hours.

4. Lack Of Exciting Toys

Playing with your Maine Coon every day is an essential part of keeping them entertained, but they must also be able to entertain themselves.

Placing a few toy mice and balls around the home will not be enough for these large cats as their intelligent and playful nature means they easily become bored with the sale selection of toys.

Puzzle toys, cat tunnels, and motorized toys are all excellent options to add to your cat’s toy repertoire. Give your Maine Coon plenty of floor toys that they can bat around and chase, as well as more complex toys to keep them thinking.

These are my favorite Maine Coon cat toys because they are both sturdy and exciting and stimulate the Maine Coons intelligent mind.

5. Your Cat Feels Insecure

If you play with your cat and constantly give them attention yet they are still acting clingy it’s possible your cat feels unsafe in their environment.

Make sure they have safe spaces to hide and rest if you have loud children or other pets living within the home. If they don’t have ‘safe’ places to retreat to they make become clingy, using you as a security blanket.

Consider getting your Maine Coon a tall cat tree like this, or installing shelves and beds up high along the walls.

6. No Variety

It is not enough to have an exciting array of toys if they are always the same, so rotate them! Keep one-third of the toys out, and rotate them every few weeks.

These cats get bored easily so need regular stimulation from their environment via:

• New Sensory Experiences
• New Smells
• New Sights
• New Sounds

Additionally, you could grow cat-safe plants like catnip or cat grass to offer new stimulation for your cat. Or train your Maine Coon to walk on a harness or leash!

Signs Of A Needy Cat

Signs that may indicate your cat is clingy:

Following You Everywhere

While Maine Coons are known for following their owners from room to room, they usually do so in an unobtrusive way. A clingy cat, however, might anxiously follow you everywhere, while constantly demanding your attention or staring at you.

Whining And Making Noise

Maine Coons are vocal when they want something, such as food or attention. For the most part, though, these cats are quiet.

If your Maine Coon is often staring at you and whining or making other noise, it could be a sign they are asking for your attention.

Zoomies

‘Zoomies’ is when a cat runs around the house like crazy, often jumping onto furniture and running into walls.

It is a great way for cats to burn off pent-up energy, but if your cat is doing it often, it is usually a sign your cat is not getting enough:

• Playtime
• Enrichment
• Exercise

Destructive Tendencies

If your cat suffers from boredom it likely has a lot of pent-up energy, resulting in destructive behavior i.e. scratching furniture, knocking over houseplants, etc.

Oversleeping

If your cats are not prone to destructive behavior when bored, they likely oversleep instead!

Overeating

Bored cats find entertainment and pleasure through food so they might demand more food than usual, gaining weight as a result.

Overeating could also be a sign of underlying illness, so contact your vet if you notice any worrying symptoms.

Why Maine Coons Follow Their Owners

This is a common trait of Maine Coons, and likely occurs due to the following reasons:

1. Social Interaction

These cats enjoy resting in the same room as their humans, but will unobtrusively rest or play nearby while you work. This is a perfectly natural behavior, and a sign that your cat likes being around you.

2. Requesting Attention

If your cat becomes pushy or needy while following you around they likely want more attention.

For example, a Maine Coon rubbing against their owner is their way of asking to be petted.

3. Boredom

Lack of playtime or toys often causes these cats to follow their owners around. If they whine or make noises while staring at you, they are likely asking you to play!

4. Anxiety

Like human babies, cats can develop separation anxiety. This is especially true of cats who, as kittens, were given constant attention.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in social anxiety among household pets because people adopted pets during quarantine because they rarely left the house, and their animals grew accustomed to constant attention.

Unfortunately, this can cause a lot of stress for animals when their humans begin going back to work.

Learn the tricks to stop Maine Coon separation anxiety here.