17 Maine Coon Facts You Must Know

You might be thinking about getting a Maine Coon or you already have one, but you still want to learn more about them and check if you can learn something new? No matter what it is, it is great that you are doing your research.

So how can you learn more about Maine Coon cats quickly? Right, you just read this article on Maine Coon facts. I myself am the proud owner of a Maine Coon and the facts that I have listed below are not only from my own experience but also from many other Maine Coon owners as well. Maine Coons are the largest and most well-known cat breed, and they are well-loved for good reasons.

If you own a Maine Coon or are simply interested in learning more about these cats, here are 17 facts about Maine Coon cats that you just have to know.

1. They Had Jobs Back In The Day

Maine Coon cats look as if wild cats were captured and bred as house cats. While this is true, their appearance was not the only attractive thing about them for cat owners. They are also great hunters as this article will show you in detail.

In fact, many farmers used Maine Coon cats to keep their farms clean. That means that farmers kept Maine Coon cats around to get rid of pests on the farm. Their large size makes them superior hunters for rats as well as mice.

2. Maine Coon Cats And Water? Great Idea!

You probably know that most cats simply hate water. Maine Coon cats, however, love water. There are a lot of Maine Coon cats that enjoy swimming, and if they don´t swim, they at least play with their water bowl.

Don´t believe me? Go and get a huge water bowl and watch what your Maine Coon does.

Or even better, show your Maine Coon where the shower is and that there is water. Your Maine Coon definitely will enjoy it.

We found our Maine Coon cat several times lying in the shower which was still a little bit wet. If you want to learn more about this, read this article on Maine Coons and water.

3. They Are Colorful

When I think of Maine Coon cat, the first color that comes to my mind is this tabby color that looks wild and raccoon-like. This is just one color of a variety of colors Maine Coons can have.

If you want to get a Maine Coon you should really have a look at all the colors there are because there are many.

It is so hard to decide which color is the best because they look so different, but they all are so beautiful. Red, brown, white, black, silver pattern, blue, blue-silver, and more. You can find Maine Coon cats in almost every color you like.

4. Maine Coons Are Easy To Take Care Of

You might think that this huge cat with this long hair needs more attention than cats that have shorter hair for example. This is definitely not the case. Besides being pretty laid back and not demanding at all, Maine Coon cats don´t need a lot of grooming. You don´t have to groom your Maine Coon every day. They might have long hair, but they don´t have a lot of undercoat, which makes the grooming easier. That´s why your Maine Coon cat´s fur doesn´t look messy even if you don´t brush it for a longer time. Read more about this in my article on Maine Coons and shedding here.

5. It Is Not Only Fur

Many cats with long hair are actually pretty thin. The only thing that makes them look huge is the long hair. Not Maine Coon cats, though. Maine Coon cats are indeed huge and very heavy. They are the biggest domestic cat and male cats can even weigh up to 10 kilograms (26 lbs). Their paws and their heads are massive, and so are their teeth. Luckily this cat breed is known for being very friendly.

6. The Gentle Giant

I am sure that you already heard this, but I just have to take this into this list, because this really is one of the things that makes Maine Coon cats so special. Maine Coon cats are very friendly. With very friendly I mean, they can´t get themselves to hurt anybody. My Maine Coon, Maze, tried to bite me once and when she had my finger in her mouth she did – nothing. She just stopped, haha. Further Maine Coon cats are very good with kids because they are so sensitive. They exactly know how to treat the kid and what the kid needs. They are very tolerant and would not do any harm to kids, or to any other living being. Except for flies, spiders, and similar stuff.

7. Fur Everywhere

Maine Coon cats have so much fur for a reason. There are cats that were bred to have very long hair, but the Main Coon cat was always this way. The long hair protects them from the cold. Furr grows even out of their ears and in tufts between their toes. Some people call their paws little snow shoes. This protects their paws in harsh environments and keeps them warm in cold weather.

8. Paw Looking Weird?

While we are talking about the fur growing between their toes: did you know that back in the day, Maine Coon cats were known for often having more toes than normal? This was even desirable for some breeders back in the day, because this mutation made the fur on their paws thicker and was believed to make their toes stronger. Today this is not accepted anymore and it rarely happens that a Maine Coon cat is born with more toes than normal.

9. Growing Up Takes Time

Most cats are fully grown by the age of 1 or 2 years. Maine Coon cats, however, continue to grow for much longer. Do you think that a one-year-old Maine Coon cat looks impressive? Well, then think about this: Maine Coon cats grow until they are 4 years old. They are indeed already impressive by the age of one, but their appearance can change completely in the next 3 years. There are Maine Coon cats that are almost unrecognizable after they have grown up. Besides their body, the snout gets huge and it seems like their complete face looks completely different and with different I mean majestic. Their fur changes as well, and gets thicker and longer with age. They shed and re-grow a new coat several times as they grow. Want to learn more about this? Read this article on Maine Coon size.

10. The Dog Of The Cat World

You have probably heard this before. Yes, Maine Coon cats are very dog-like. Why do people say this? Because Maine Coon cats love to play fetch. Our Maine Coon does this all the time and she really loves it. She even puts a ball right in front of us to invite us to throw the ball for her. Then she keeps coming back with the ball so that we can throw it again. Besides that, Maine Coon cats are very affectionate and you can do almost everything with them, they always think it is great because they love you and just want to be with you. They also come when called. If you want a cat breed that is up for an adventure and wants to go places with you, a Maine Coon is a great choice.

11. They Are Smart

Maine Coon cats are known for being very intelligent. You can teach them a lot of tricks and you might have seen a couple of Maine Coon cats in several movies. Harry Potter, for example. Because of their intelligence, it is important to make sure that they are not bored as they could get into mischief. Here is how smart Maine Coons really are!

12. They Need A Partner

Because Maine Coon cats are very smart, it is important to make sure that they get mental exercise.  Because of that, it is highly recommended to not only get a single Maine Coon – get a second cat, and they will entertain each other and keep themselves busy during the day. Otherwise, your Maine Coon could suffer from psychological problems in the future, or it could simply destroy your furniture out of boredom. Hey, who has a problem with getting two of these majestic creatures? Nobody!

13. Get Ready For Weird Sounds!

When you get a cat, you may think you will hear mostly meowing. Absolutely wrong! The Maine Coon is known for making a variety of weird noises. One of them is the chirping sound that you can always hear when the Maine Coon gets excited. The great thing about this is that it never gets annoying as this sound is not loud at all. Our Maine Coon cat, Maze, does it all the time. She seems to find everything exciting, lol.

14. The Voice

So the Maine Coon is a massive cat. The biggest cat breed of them all. What do you expect? Of course, a very deep voice that really lets you know that you are dealing with a big animal. What´s the reality? Maine Coon cats have a very high voice and they keep this voice forever. Basically, they sound like kittens their entire life. Read: How Vocal are Maine Coons?

15. Are They Half Racoon?

In the past, people actually thought that Maine Coon cats are half cat, half raccoon. This is because their normal/ wild color looks very similar to the colors of a raccoon. Actually, Maine Coon cats are full cats (who would have thought). Maine Coon cats originated in Maine (who would have thought) and have their long fur because of the very rough weather conditions there.

16. Not Elegant

Normally cats are pretty elegant creatures. Everything just looks elegant, the way they hunt, the way they climb, the way they poop. Maine Coon cats are not always elegant, though. I have seen our Maine Coon fall from the window seat or from the cat tree several times. If our Maine Coon cat lays down, it looks like somebody dropped a sack of potatoes. It is not elegant at all, but they are still the coolest cats ever.

17. They Eat With Their Paws

It actually looks very funny. Maine Coon cats are known for taking the food with their paws and eating the food out of their paws. Further, they like to “spread” their food a little bit around the food bowl. Most probably they are trying to bury the food for bad times. So if you want a cat that doesn´t eat like an anime character, a Maine Coon might not be your cat. Just kidding, everybody should get a Maine Coon.

Maine Coon Facts – Conclusion

Have you learned something new? I really hope so! As you see, there is a lot to know about the Maine Coon cat. However, the most important thing, in my opinion, is, that they are so friendly and so great as a family cat. In fact, most people who have a Maine Coon say that they would always get another Maine Coon and wouldn´t get any other cat breed. I think this says it all. If you have something you want to add to this Maine Coon facts list, or if you just want to share a story with us about your Maine Coon, simply leave your message in the comment section below!