Knowing Your Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon Cat Behavioral Characteristics

The Maine Coon cat has a variety of names, many that aren't really used that much any more, but we're going to share them with you in case you happen to run across other names in your research. Those other names are: American Coon Cat, Maine Cat, Maine Trick Cat, American Longhair, American Forest Cat, American Shag, American Snughead and don't forget Coonie. This particular cat is totally adored by many and for good reasons. The major one is their intelligence.

Maine Coon cats display a very high level of intelligence and can actually be trained much like a dog. Ok they don't always come when you call, but they can be taught tricks and some will even play fetch with you. With a high IQ like this, you want to make sure you train the cat, not the other way around. Being blessed with a mischievous sense of humor and boundless energy, you can count on the Maine Coon cat to want to play with you. Try teaching them how to play catch. Their enormous front paws, even if they aren't polydactyls, give them a great deal of dexterity.

Just watch your cat curl its paw over an object and then pick it up. They can and do manage to open cupboard doors and go in to explore. And, if you happen to have a tap that is fairly easy to turn on, give your cat enough time and he'll learn how to turn it on.

Remarkable cats, Maine Coons have also been known to eat with their paws instead of out of their bowls. Resist the urge to offer them their own fork.

If you haven't heard a Maine Coon cat talk to you, you'll be in for a bit of a surprise. Rather than offer the standard feline greeting of "rowl" or "meow" they come out with a mixed purr/trill crossed with a meow. It's quite amazing to listen to, as it seems to convey a whole story in one short trill. What will amuse you no end, is when they (you will have more than one Maine Coon cat once you start loving them) start playing and trilling while running through the house at top speed at 3:00 am. Their games of hide and seek in the nocturnal hours are really quite hysterical, so long as you have a sense of humor.

Don't be too surprised to find your Maine Coon cat in the bathtub, especially if you have a leaking tap. While they won't get under the tap to play in it, they will play with the drips with rapt fascination. Then when bored with that game they may take a drink from the tap despite the fact they have their own bowl of water out in the kitchen. Totally irrepressible these characters! Watch them dip their toys into water, and keep the toilet seat down – they've been known to drop things in the water and then try and fish them out. Another rather quirky trait they have is eyeing a bowl of water like it had a snake in it, then before taking a drink will skim their paws across the top of the water. Of course they then flip the water all over the floor when they shake it out of their paw.

Try to keep your Maine Coon cat well exercised and entertained. Why? Aside from the bonding aspect of this routine, they do get bored from time to time. And what does a bored Maine Coon cat do? Hops up on a table, the fridge or your desk and pushes things off over the edge using their large paws. Awww, gotta love them!

Aside from keeping them entertained, maybe you could also cuddle with them in your lap. Well, nice thought, but they're not really considered to be lap cats. Maine Coon cats are highly independent. That's not to say they don't adore their humans, it's just that they like to do their own thing with humans. And that usually means following them around the house and sitting by them, but not on them. So you won't find your cat begging for attention, but he will be a constant shadow, happy to be near you.