I love reading all the e-mails on the Q&A board and came across one where someone mentioned that they never heard a howl or hiss from their MC. I realized that is true with me also. "Cooper" is my first MC. He's 6 mos. old and I've had since he was 13 weeks. We have friends and family over all the time and he greets and treats everyone with love and affection. At Thanksgiving, my brother-in-law and his wife came with their 1 yr. old Beagle "Daisy" and Cooper took to her immediately. They chased each other around the kitchen and ended up curled up together on a little throw rug. This kitten purrs, chirps and meows but I have never heard or seen him hiss or spit or show any signs of anger or dislike. This is one of many wonderful traits he has and I'm wondering if this is common. I realize these cats are incredibly lovable and affectionate and I wonder if I just happened onto a goldmine or if this is a common thread that runs through most MCCs. Cooper was raised with other cats and dogs and we have a Siamese cat and two dogs here. I'm just wondering how many of you out there find these cats to be so laid back and sweet. Would love to hear your comments.

Lisa

-- Anonymous, December 17, 1999

Answers

Our 6 MCs are all very loving but all have very different personalities with different "tolerance levels", depending on what is asked of them! I must say that the only one who hisses is one of the two females and she just has that kind of an attitude towards the other cats! We think she does it to get attention because she always ends up being chased and then chasing the cat back in her turn! The males are all very much more laid back than the females, in my experience. MCs are all wonderful characters and generally do get along with people, other cats and dogs far better than most other breeds do. Your kitty sounds marvellous!

-- Anonymous, December 18, 1999

Lisa,

My 10 month old Bailey is the same way. I have had other cats--a persian and a himalayan. Both of these cats were loveable, but not nearly as wonderful as my Maine Coon. Bailey purrs (really loud) and chirps a lot. Never displays any signs of anger. I have had him since he was twelve weeks old. He is truly a wonderful companion-- always right by my side.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 1999

Lisa, He sounds just Super. My Maine Coon kitten who is now 5 months old has never hissed or spit or shown any kind of anger and I have 5 other cats. From the beginning she took over :) jumped right in with the others, now they didn't always appreciate it but she wasn;t to be stopped. She purrs really loud especially when she eats. Good luck with your baby.

Cindy Millar

-- Anonymous, December 28, 1999

We rescued a Maine Coon in mid July 99. He had been hanging around for at least 11 months. We live in Alaska and had -35 degrees for about three weeks last winter, dipping to -65 degrees at night. We put food out and tried to rescue the MC. Finaly he started to let me stand on the porch and watch him eat. One day I was able to pet his head, he would claw me. Then I finaly grabbed him. He was very distressed at bing inside, he pulled the fur off both of his front legs. We kept him in side because he had a very bad ear infection and had to be nurted. Our Vet said to keep givin him his meds, and finly he is well. His name is Elazr it means God has helped, because he would not have surrived with out God helping him. We worked with the Friends of pets to find Elazar a good home. He would not be friendly to any one that came to see him. One day he howled. He is doing better now, but clawes and chases our male persian. He loves children, but sometimes playes too rought with adults. We love him and are going to keep him. We were wondering if Elazar is aggressive because he went wild, or if the MCs some times act more like a wild animal?

-- Anonymous, December 28, 1999

I've had two female Maine Coons. They were both very affectionate--even jealous--and playful, with amusing mood switches from kitten-goofy to feminine feline dignity. Both need/needed to play, so much so that they will/would pester me for it, as if pestering me for food. Cat #2, in classic MC fashion, is fascinated with water--so much so that a moggie kitten we acquired at the same time has "copycatted" this behavior, which seemed hard-wired into the MC. MC #1 was fierce and intelligent and fearful of most other people: MC #2 is more of a milksop, very rarely showing anger. MC #2 lets everyone know when she's in the room, flirts with guests, and has conversations with us: "What do you want?" MEOW! "And when do you want it?" MEOW! The difference? MC #1 wound up at a no-kill shelter; I did not raise her. MC #2 was raised by a wonderful breeder and myself. How a kitten is raised, and the experiences a cat has, affects its personality very much. This is probably why Lisa's MC and the adopted MC in Alaska are so different, with one gentle and the other fierce. Also, Elezr, if a male, is probably having constant territory battles with the other male cat. Good luck.....

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2000

When I picked up my MC at the shelter,I was told that he hated children and other animals. Well that didn't stop me because when I held him like a baby he purred. The people at the shelter couldn't believe their eyes. They told me he hissed and lashed out at anyone that came near him. When he came home ,he acted as though he'd always been there. Then when my friends three year old girl jumped on him,he waited patiently until she moved off him. What a cat! The only unusual behavoir I noticed was that he didn't meow for a whole year! Then one day I came home and he was singing,howling,and making all kinds of noise! Now, when I come home his big meow can be heard from outside the house from the driveway!

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2000

I have had my two cats going on 13 years this Oct. Two years ago I found out that my cats are part MC. They both have every characteristic physically and behavior wise. Both are males and it is a very rare occasion that you will hear them either growl or hiss. I also have two children (8 & 4 yrs old). Scorpio, the bigger of the two males at 33 lbs, goes to sleep every night with my daughter and will not leave her until she is sleeping completely. The both cats are very loving and very tolerant of things. When strangers enter the house they go to them to be petted. They love attention. These cats are my babies and I would be lost without them. They have been through everything with me from moving to children to divorce. I had to fight for them by the way. Their mother was my cat from when I was a kid, so I have had them since birth. As other cat owners would agree with me my boys are part of the family. I am so glad to have both of them, even if they are only part MC.

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2000