Positive qualities of the breed
In fact, these animals have a lot of positive qualities, ranging from their unusual appearance that sets them apart from all other cats, to their calm and peaceful character and, as a rule, excellent health. What else is remarkable about Maine Coons and what other advantages do they have?
Up to 3 years old kitten
One of the most amazing features of these cats is that psychologically Maine Coons remain kittens for a very long time.
The period of final intellectual maturation begins about two years after the animal becomes sexually mature.
Late maturation allows owners of such pets to enjoy their childhood longer, when cats are especially playful and active. True, it is necessary to take into account that a naughty over-aged “kitten” can cause some damage to the interior, but, as a rule, if the cat is properly raised, such incidents are extremely rare.
The development of intelligence in a pet up to 3 years also means that the period favorable for raising a cat is significantly extended.
Majestic appearance
Maine coons are very beautiful animals.
Their large size, fluffy fur, expressive look of intelligent eyes and tufts on the ears, making them look like a lynx, give these animals a majestic and proud appearance.
At exhibitions, Maine Coons always attract visitors, since it is absolutely impossible to pass by these furry giants of the cat world and remain indifferent to them.
Intelligence
Maine Coons are very smart and curious animals. They are understanding and smart, and therefore it is easy to train a representative of this breed to carry out the owner’s commands, as well as some tricks. The intelligence of these cats is so great that even without special training, the pet is able to learn many things on its own, however, sometimes this feature can be a problem. After all, Maine Coons learn to open doors and refrigerators without difficulty, simply by watching their owners and understanding how they do it.
Maine Coons are very curious, but to prevent manifestations of curiosity from turning into a tragedy, owners of such cats are advised to install special screens on the windows and immediately remove everything that could be dangerous for the cat.
Not vindictive
Many other cats are capable of remembering an insult for months, and when the owner has already forgotten to think about that incident, take revenge on him, for example, by tearing the upholstery of a sofa or curtain to shreds. Many, but not Maine Coons . After all, by their nature, they are very easy-going and gentle. Even if the cat was deservedly punished, he will immediately be able to figure out why he was punished. And, of course, he will not run to take revenge at the first opportunity.
Attitude towards small children
Cats of this breed are protective of children. They wait patiently until the baby gets tired of playing with him, never releasing his claws. Only if a child, being naughty, causes discomfort to the pet, will the pet simply get up and leave to hide somewhere where they will not annoy him.
Because these cats are patient with children, Maine Coons are recommended as pets for families with children.
What is our life? A game!
Coons are calm and balanced cats, but their temperament cannot be called phlegmatic. They in no way belong to the class of couch-dwellers and eternal sleepers. Animals of this breed need to constantly move, play, communicate - they have a sanguine nature. An important character trait of the Maine Coon is a constant desire to do something.
Gaming accessories
A special complex for the Maine Coon, including ladders, scratching posts, tunnels, houses, beds, hammocks, shelves, is not a luxury, but a necessity. Otherwise, the irrepressible activity of the pet, especially a young one, will be directed at curtains, sofas and cabinets, which is fraught, if we take into account the dimensions of the coon, with considerable destruction.
But it’s not enough for a Maine Coon to entertain himself - he needs live communication, so every day he needs to play with his pet for at least half an hour.
Coons willingly play with anything - catch a mouse, fetch, play with a ball, hide in bags and boxes. They have a hard time with the lack of living space due to their considerable size - Maine Coons love to freely stretch out to their full length, but they also know how to curl up.
Walks in the open air
Maine Coons love walks in the fresh air, and, unlike most cats, they feel good in a harness. Of course, you should not expose your pet to stress by walking him on a busy street, but he will like the promenade in a quiet public garden. An animal that is outdoors must be vaccinated; after each walk, the pet’s fur must be carefully examined - the lush coat of a Maine Coon may attract the attention of the ubiquitous fleas.
Maine Coons will love being in the countryside - there they can put to use the hunting abilities of American farm cats. Of course, the free country life of a Maine Coon must be constantly monitored by the owners - you can organize a spacious enclosure for the pet with grassy lawns and the obligatory tree for climbing.
Problems and disadvantages
However, along with undeniable advantages, Maine Coons also have some disadvantages, as well as difficulties in maintenance.
Price
One of the main problems that arises for a person who decides to purchase a Maine Coon is the high cost of purebred kittens in nurseries or from private breeders.
Often people, having decided that buying a pet with documents will cost them too much, decide to take what they think is a simpler and cheaper route.
They go to the market or open a newspaper ad and buy a kitten from their own hands, not from a nursery. In this case, as a rule, not only the baby himself, but also his parents or even more distant ancestors do not have documents about the origin. No one can say how purebred he is.
If buying a promising kitten is not affordable for the future owner, then it is best to take either a pet-class pet or an already matured animal that has been sitting in a nursery for too long.
Wool
The Maine Coon's coat is medium in length and very fluffy, which looks simply great in appearance.
But during the molting period, it comes out a lot and then flies around the house in clumps, so that you can find hairs in the most unexpected places, even on the kitchen table.
It is not difficult to avoid this problem: it is enough to comb your pet in a timely manner, ridding it of falling hair.
In order for the Maine Coon's coat to look great, it needs to be carefully looked after, using cosmetics for long-haired cats.
Maintenance cost
The large size of these cats initially implies larger monetary costs for their maintenance and care.
Maine Coons need high-quality feeding: either natural food based on protein products, or expensive and high-quality ready-made food.
It doesn’t matter which diet option the owner ultimately chooses: feeding the pet in any case will cost him quite a lot. Due to the fact that the Maine Coon needs a large litter tray, the consumption of litter also increases significantly compared to how much it would be used if the cat were of normal size.
Finally, despite the fact that Maine Coons are generally considered a healthy breed, sometimes it is necessary to go to the veterinary clinic if the animal becomes ill. And, for example, the cost of the operation depends on the amount of anesthesia given to the animal. Calculations are made based on the weight of the cat, and it becomes obvious that a Maine Coon will require much more anesthesia, and, therefore, the cost of the operation will be higher.
Larger pet sizes require higher costs of feed, filler, supplements and other “consumables” for its maintenance.
Aggressive leader
Maine Coons are leaders by nature. They have a tendency to dominate other animals, and if there are other cats or dogs in the house, such a pet will actively fight with them for the place of head of the “pack”.
If the Maine Coon lives in a rural area, then it is advisable to limit his freedom of movement and let him go for walks only under the supervision of the owner.
The reason is a highly developed hunting instinct, forcing these cats to chase rodents and birds.
Toilet
Maine Coons love to rake up the litter with their paws. This is why it scatters in all directions if the walls of the tray are not high enough. Due to the large size of these cats and the fact that they eat quite a lot, there is a problem associated with a strong odor from the litter box. The cat is big, so it leaves a lot of waste products.
Getting rid of an unpleasant “aroma” in the house is not difficult: just choose the right tray and litter, and also clean the cat litter box in a timely manner.
Special air fresheners designed to eliminate animal odors can also help.
Documentation
A professional breeder will never give away a purebred baby without a set of documents. When purchasing a kitten, the seller must hand over to the buyer:
- Contract of sale. It should reflect the main external features of the kitten, information about the state of health, and the price of the transaction. By agreement of the parties, additional clauses can be added to the document.
- Pedigree, as well as pedigrees of the baby’s parents with confirmation of their breed status.
- Veterinary passport with information about vaccination and other medical procedures.
- Detailed instructions for keeping the animal.
If a kitten is purchased for participation in exhibitions or for professional breeding, it is necessary to request documents confirming its registration in felinological systems.
Peculiarities
In addition to positive and negative qualities, Maine Coons also have breed characteristics that are not characteristic of any other cats in the world.
Consider, for example, their manner of quenching thirst.
If ordinary cats simply come up to a bowl of water and lap it up, then for Maine Coons this process is much more complicated.
Having approached their drinking bowl, these cats begin to intensively dig the floor around it and only after that begin to drink.
Having quenched its thirst, the cat again begins to make raking movements with its paws. Why does Maine Coon do this? He follows the instincts developed during the time when these cats led a semi-wild lifestyle in the forests of North America.
According to them, the cat must first dig up a source of water, and after quenching its thirst, cover it again with earth to hide it from prying eyes. Another amazing feature of these cats is that they love to eat by picking up pieces of food from their bowl with their paws. Because of this, the place where the Maine Coon eats often has to be cleaned.
The third feature of Maine Coons is that they are not at all afraid of water.
They can play with running water from the tap, and some representatives of this breed love to swim.
How to train Maine Coons?
This breed of cat is distinguished by its intelligence and intelligence, so, as a rule, there are no problems with training. Maine Coons learn many tricks from a dog's arsenal. A cat can be taught to sit, give a paw, go to its place, go to the toilet on the toilet.
You need to start with the simplest things, turning the learning process into a game. It's worth stocking up on treats. You can't tire the cat. This will cause aversion to the process. 5-6 repetitions of one command are enough. You cannot scold your pet for misunderstanding.
For easier training, you can purchase a special clicker - a device that will make sounds when pressed. The sound accompanies the correct response to the command. It will be easier for the cat to learn the “sound-praise-treat” connection.
