I am interested in finding out more about the Maine Coon. I like the thought of a large cat that can be playful yet will be loving. I think the Maine Coon will be a good match for our family but want to hear from some breeders and learn about our options. We currently live in an apartment and will not get a cat until settled in a house. We expect this to happen early this summer. There is my husband, myself, two sons ages 3 and 6 and our 9 year old golden retriever. Honey has a good temperment and has never chased cats. We plan on having the cat de-clawed and kept in the house. I have seen some people with cats on leashes and wonder how you train a cat to go out on a leash. My oldest son wants a cat that will play with him. I stay at home with the boys while my husband is gone several days a week. So, do we sound like a good match for the Maine Coon breed and where do I start in looking for a good breeder that might have kittens available in the summer?

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2000

Answers

Belinda....I feel you may mean well but I am afraid that your statement about declawing a cat indicates that you are NOT AT ALL ready to take a cat into your life. Declawing is a very painful operation (it is the amputation of the first joint of the cats toes) and should ONLY be done when the ONLY alternative is to have the cat put down. I assume that you believe declawing is necessary in order to save your furniture from being scratched. I cannot think of any other reason why a person might think declawing is necessary. Firstly, if you provide your cat with a TALL, carpeted scratching post, there is no reason to believe it will scratch your furniture at all. Also, at your breeder's premises your kitten should have been "trained" to scratch a post (normally a post is provided by breeders for the benefit of the kittens and mother). It is necessary to provide a cat with a tall post so that they can stretch out to their full length to scratch up the post. The little 2' high posts are useless to a cat. Secondly, cats are animals, not people! Even people (think of your kids!) do not always do what you want them to do and they can make a mess. Cats often throw up hairballs, frequently onto the most expensive area of carpeting in the house! They can get little bits of "poop" stuck on their rears and then scrape it off by sliding along the carpet! They are like 2 year old kids who are able to leap up 10 feet with no problem at all and get into the same mischief! These things happen with cats! Regarding your interest in the Maine Coon breed. Although they are marvellous cats (I have 6 of them), they would not be considered the most "playful" of the various breeds. What do you mean by playful? Cats are not dogs....they do not "play" on demand. Some of the oriental breeds may be considered more playful than MCs but, on the other hand, they are also often more destructive in that they sometimes enjoy climbing curtains, etc. Remember, too, that MCs are a longhair cat and so require grooming at least 2-3 times a week in order to avoid getting matted hair. Overall, PLEASE do not consider getting ANY type of cat until you are sure you are willing to share your home with a creature who will occasionally disturb the perfection of your surroundings and, most importantly, please do not consider declawing.....afterall, would you cut off the joints of your sons' feet?!

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2000

I stumbled upon this website just now, and opened it because I love Maine Coon cats, and my daughter in NH has one. Another thing you should be aware of is that the MC has historically been an outdoor farm cat, and it needs to be able to prowl outdoors and to be able to jump and climb high. The rescue MC I had couldn't go outdoors from my second floor apartment, and she was truly unhappy, and found her way to the TOP of a high bookcase for exercise...among other things, like trying to claw a hole in the screen door to the balcony, to go outdoors.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2000

Belinda, I should have added this sad truth, since you need to consider carefully the breed:

The rescue Maine Coon I tried to give a home to got so suddenly vicious that when she finally leaped on my HEAD and hung there with her claws in my scalp, the Animal Rescue folks asked me to bring her back, because she showed an aggressive behavior towards humans that is considered dangerous, and needed to be put down. I called all around the area, to anyone who could otherwise advise me, and learned that the Rescue folks were right. It was very difficult to do this with such a beautiful creature that I only wished to lavish love upon, and after successfully raising umpteen animals in my 63 years. I now have two rescue cats, a Mom and Baby Boy, just shorthair Americans, very plain, and Mom is even built funny...short, round in the middle, and short-tailed...but they are LOVES and never have attacked or even been unpleasant in any way for five minutes in the year and a half that we have "been family." Know your breed, and decide if you can live with it...and safely. MC's are outdoor farm cats.

See archives here for BEHAVIOR, etc.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2000

I am sorry, Ms. Seavey, but I STRONGLY disagree with your two answers to Ms. Maxwell regarding the need for MCs to be outdoors cats. In fact, no reputable breeder will sell a cat to someone who will allow that cat to go outdoors. Ms. Seavey may have rescued an almost feral/wild cat which was only used to an outdoor existence. It certainly doesn't sound as if the cat was particularly happy with its new home/owner! However, rescuing a cat is quite different from taking on a purebred MC from a good breeder. There may be some areas where cats can survive for years outdoors; perhaps you have a lot of land and the cat is smart enough to stay in its own area and not be out at night - perhaps. However, the average lifespan for an outdoors cat is about one-third that of an indoors cat. Dangers are raccoons, coyotes, dogs, humans, cars, diseases, ticks, fleas.....you name it! Why is it that some people feel cats should be "free"? It would be pretty rare to find anyone who would let their dog, horse or hamster wander around by themselves, but somehow it is OK for a cat because they have to "be free"! Well, isn't a dog, horse or hamster supposed to be free too? Consider the logic, please! A cat has the mentality like that of about a 2 year old child. Would you let your 2 year old wander around too? Please don't consider letting your kitty out!

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2000

People, take it a bit easy on this lady. I appreciate that she's working to make sure that she and her family are a happy match for a cat--she's smart enough to get some advice. A few responses:

1. I tried to train my purebred Maine Coon to a leash. I used every trick in the book. It still didn't work. 2. I must weigh in with everyone and agree: if you want to declaw a cat, you shouldn't have a cat. Declawing is very cruel. Interestingly, I HAVE been able to train my Maine Coon to claw only her scratching post, and our furniture is safe. If your house can stand up to two young kids and a dog, anything a Maine Coon can do is incidental! 3. Maine Coons do love to play. Just like a dog needs to be walked, a Maine Coon (especially an indoors one) needs to play. But they need particular kinds of play--the kind cats enjoy--which, like walking a dog, can be a touch monotonous. 4. I'd say that your sons are a little young for a kitten, which is more delicate than a puppy, and your dog is a bit old to adapt to a kitten. In my experience, any young cat will be playful and happy to amuse itself with a boy. If you're going to do it, time it so that you get the kitten after being all unpacked but still very soon after the move--this will allow the kitten to make its space in the dog's territory.

Good luck!

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2000

I think it is a great idea to do some research before buying any pet. I know that I did a lot of research on the Maine Coon before purchasing him. I had already raised a persian and a himalayan as well as a golden retriever. Bailey, my Maine Coon is my only pet right now and he is wonderful!

I am so concerned about people who let their cats roam outside. I don't understand it. I have three friends who have had their pet cats killed. One of my friends came home late after work and found her pet squashed in the road. Another friend had her kitten killed by a racoon, and another killed her own cat by backing over it with her car in the driveway! What tragedies these are! A pet is as precious as a child and should be treated as one of the family. Please keep your cat/kitten safe and keep it indoors.

Regarding declawing--a kitten can be trained to use the scratching post. I know this sounds silly, but when I received my kitten, I I "crawled" over to the scratching post and pretended to scratch it. My kitten followed me and within a week, he was walking to the post and scratching on his own. He is alone during the day and I have not seen signs of his scratching anything other than the post.

Maine Coons Rule!!!

Note: My golden retriever LOVED my himalayan!

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2000

I did NOT advocate that anyone should allow their cat outdoors, although years ago, when traffic was lighter we had a cat for 17 years who loved being able to go in and outdoors at her meowing request. I merely said that Maine Coons ARE farm/outdoor cats, and that this is what their history was, before we humans domesticated them well after they came to America AS farm cats, used to kill rodents.

Every breed of cat and dog is different in its inbred qualities and that is not to disparage any breed. I love them all! I merely said that one should consider the NEEDS of the breed, and be responsive to that. IF a breed is known to prefer the outdoors, it should never be introduced to potential owners as an indoor cat.

Also, I resent your nasty words that the "attack cat" that I got from the Rescue folks (whom THEY named "Cujo Cat") did not like its owner or home. I am now 64, and have had a number of pets since infancy to the present, and have NEVER EVER HAD EVEN ONE SUCH EXPERIENCE BEFORE!

Relax...you can keep on selling them...I won't contribute anything here anymore, unkind woman.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2000

Well!! A small follow-up answer from this "unkind woman" now (thanks Elaine...what a very Christian remark!) I only mention that as you do use the word "god" in your e-mail address! Firstly, I don't sell cats so I have nothing to gain by any comments I make. Secondly, you seem to have missed a little thing called an exclamation mark/point at the end of my comment that your cat didn't like its owner! An exclamation mark/point is supposed to indicate that the writer is being funny/ironic/speaking tongue in cheek...whatever. It is a handy piece of punctuation if it is taken note of. Thirdly, I still take issue with your opinion that the MC is an outdoor cat. You have just said again, "IF a breed is known to prefer the outdoors, it should never be introduced to potential owners as an indoor cat." Exactly how have you determined that this breed is "known to prefer the outdoors"?? Enough, already! (Exclamation point)

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2000

I'm a dog trainer of over 30 years, and I know you're probably wondering what I'm doing on your website. Well, I have owned cats, pets, in the past, but always dreamed of having a MC. My friends in Arizona just recently got one from a responsible breeder and while on a visit there to see them this month got to spend time with Alfie, their pride and joy. What a delight! They have another cat, a Briard and a GS. I had my 2 Newfs and Golden with me and after a couple days of caution and watchfullness on all our parts, was watching Alfie come up on my lap for a treat right next to my eldest Newf. Now,my dogs are shown, obedience trained and 2 are registered Therapy Dogs, so I knew I could contol their behavior. But, Alfie's behavior and complete socialization were remarkable. A testament to good breeding and handling by both the breeder and the owner. I felt that here was a breed of cat that could fit into my home situation. While I have no immediate need to get one this minute, I felt I should visit the websites, read the books and study the standard so that when the time is right I will be ready. Just what I tell people who come to me for puppies to do. No impulse buying.

As for these issues. I would no sooner let my cat go outside and be "free" as I would allow my dear family members of the canine variety. As a matter of fact I resent my neighbors choice to do so. Their cats soil my lawn, bring their vermin tresspassers into my flea free area and are always running in front of my car. The worst is when they are in love a scream all night. They've also turned from sweet kittens into mostly feral and unsocialized creatures. Where's the enjoyment and bond in that relationship? On declawing, well, I trim tonails weekly on my dogs and wouldn't dream of pulling out their nails to make my life easier. It's like scooping the poop daily, if you don't want to deal with the downsides of pet ownership, get a new VCR instead. According to what I've read in this website, a scratching post solves the problem, so why hurt and disfigure the animal. What happens if he gets out by accident, how would he protect himself? Lastly, about rescues. I've trained thousands of dogs from rescues. Many have wonderful personalities, and many more bring a lot of emotional baggage to the new home. Usually through proper training, time and love these animals have become exceptional pets, but there are always some who carry the scars of abuse and lack of socialization in their prior lives that cannot be completly erased through reconditioning. These animals have to be loved for what their capable of giving and encouraged to trust a little more each day. While rescuing a pet is of the most noble order, I think that expecting to just walk in and find an automatic well-behaved pet without adjustments is a rare thing. The lack of qualified behaviorists in shelter situations also makes the job of proper matches with the proper home harder.

I hope that my offering my 2 cents here has not offended anyone, I know I am stepping into the MC domain, but feel the problems you face here with perspectives owners is so similar as we face in dogs that I felt compelled to speak. After many years in dogs, the last 16 spent at the the largest training facility in the US, I have on more than on one occasion told a client if he didn't want to deal with normal dog and puppy behavior he should think about getting a wind-up dog instead. Sincerely, SD

could control their behavior. What was exceptional was Alfie's com

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000