Maine Coon companion

**MarkJDMcQuade** · 14th January 2011, 10:36 AM

Hello. I collect my first Maine Coon kitten at the end of February. I just wanted to hear peoples thoughts on the following... Whilst somebody will be in the house with him every morning and evening / night, there will of course be a number of days each week when nobody is in the house during normal working hours. Do these cats get lonely easily? Cats I have had previously within the family (not Maine Coons) have never had a problem with this, but they have also been outdoor cats. I was considering getting a rescue cat as a companion but I am not sure if it is necessary? Your thoughts would be appreciated! Mark

**Steve Morgan** · 14th January 2011, 11:23 AM

Hi Mark,

Our previous cat was a loner and would not tolerate another cat in the house. Our MC's love each others company. We started off with 2 and now have 4!!

**jckkerrison** · 14th January 2011, 12:08 PM

Have to agree with others MC's love company,our first was an adult retired breeding queen who had never had contact with dogs but came straight into our house & cuddled up with ours & were bonded for life but as the others have come into the house their social circle is so tight knit that I am sorry to say that I really think you will have to ponder on having another,they always say one maine coon is not enough anyway so you might just as well bite the bullet......
Would be different if you were at home all day because they sure are a peoples cat so it would have been fine but when that horrible necessity work comes into it things change.
Good luck,news & pictures about babe please,we all luv em on here.

**MarkJDMcQuade** · 14th January 2011, 01:43 PM

Thanks for the info so far. My situation is a little unusual - I work from home (vast majority of the time) and I am here a lot. My plan was that when I worked abroad, which I do for spells or 1 or 2 weeks or so sometimes, the new cat will go to stay with my parents, who have another cat and 2 dogs. Would a Maine Coon not mix as well with a normal moggy? I could definitely consider getting another Maine Coon, but probably not for a month or 2 after the first one (they are not so cheap!) Thanks Mark

**jopetportraits** · 14th January 2011, 02:54 PM

From my experience Maine Coons love company. We've got one that prefers the company of humans. The other three are happy with our company but are very cuddly and loving with each other. They cuddle up on the sofa and wash each other and sleep together.

**jckkerrison** · 14th January 2011, 05:33 PM

MC's will mix with anyone & anything so no problem with a little moggie I am sure they would be good friends,but if you are at home most of the time & baby would still have company while you are away I think in your shoes I would stay with the one at the moment because as sure as sure when you have had the company of a MC you WILL want another,or you could go down the route of MC,Moggie,MC & have three cats...
They are expensive aren't they but worth every penny....

**Leonais** · 15th January 2011, 12:16 AM

I defiantely think that MC's prefer company, and that is the comapny of humans and other MC's..they are definately different.
We have a moggy and he is sometimes the odd one out,, The MC's prefer the company of each other(and THEIR human)
I have just spent the last weekend trying to find a companion for one of my litter that is leaving on her own(as I have none available). I am so so pleased the lady has found a friend and am now much happier that my baby will have company

**Howlinbob** · 15th January 2011, 12:37 AM

Yes they do prefer company. And not only each other's company: we have a moggy and both my MCs will snuggle up to him and initiate games/fights with him. They treat him as one of the gang. It's wonderful to see. Sometimes when we've left them alone for a few hours, we find evidence of their larking about, eg, objects moved around the house, items removed from bin, things knocked on the floor or tipped over.... I think this will be the MC lads at work, watched disapprovingly by our old pensioner! I can just imagine him saying to them "do that if you must, but I'm having nothing to do with it! Now b****r off!"

**MarkJDMcQuade** · 15th January 2011, 02:58 PM

Lots of food for thought

@ jckkerrison, I think I will follow your advise in the meantime and stick with one initially. Chances are I will want to get another one at some point down the line anyway.

@ candes, this has all been thought through very carefully, before making the decision to buy a kitten at all. I plan to introduce him to the household almost immediately, and take him there every time I visit. The dogs will chase cats of course, but as soon as one is in their house they get used to them within minutes and become very playful. It will take time with the other cat of course, but he is quite old and very easy going so I am sure things will work out. I have planned the collection of my kitten at a time when I know I will not be doing any long jobs for several months, so he will have had numerous visits and chances to stay at the other household and get used to it.

Heres a few pics from the breeder in the meantime...