Thread: What made you choose a Maine Coon?

My Maine Coon mix found me. One day my friend's kids brought me this bedraggled kitten whom they had befriended. They gave her to a neighbor but she came back to then after a day or two. She hadn't been eating for a couple of days and they were worried. I took one look at how hard she was breathing and drove her straight to the vet, where she was found to have a low temperature and a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. Turns out someone had seen the previous owner kicking her, which caused her diaphragm to rupture. Vet said he she was already so sick he had doubts about whether she would survive surgery but I knew without the surgery she would die for sure, so I decided to bite the bullet and go ahead. Well, she did survive the surgery and almost 7 years later, she's a joyful beauty and the boss of my cat tribe.

She was also failure to thrive and had lice on that first vet visit, so her hair was broken off and we had no idea she would grow up to be this lovely long-haired cat. She has no pedigree but she does have the look and the behaviors. So that's how I got my Maine Coon mix.

Hello:

I am new to Maine Coons an this Forum. I came upon my Maine Coon by coincidence. I was wanting a cat as after my divorce I left my 16 year old with the ex and I was feeling lost so I looked on Craigslist and called the number and she sent me pictures. I immediately fell in love with this girl, she was different but did not know how so we went to pick her up. Come to find out she was rescued and trapped as a feral cat behind Home Depot! So she came into heat and I took her into the Humane Society and got her spayed. I was in the pet shop and saw a book and just yelled out OMG! there is our cat and that prompted me to do more research. When we got her she growled, she growls at people coming up the stairs and things she does not like. She talks up a storm and it sounds so human...I am in total awe of this species and we just love her. We do however need some advice on some of her behavior. As she was in the wild for a short time, I believed she was left by someone, she has more of a wild tendency and will run around the house like a mad cat and leap at the walls and on my husband and bite his feet, not hard and also claw his hands as if to cling on. I would really appreciate some guidance in some behavior modification.

Thanks all..

Always loved big cats right from when i was a child but had never seen a maine coon. We had the opertunity to take a retired queen looking for a new home -- she had had several poor experiances before us --- we fell in love -- we now have our queen who is now 6 and two 1 yr old boys -- by babies and full of mischief. Not an exciting story I know but a story non the less

Have had cats (and dogs) my entire life, usually shelter or lost pets. When becoming "petless" with the loss of our aged DLH (19 yrs), I just had to have another pet. We went to the local petfood store and they had no-kill shelter cats. I've always been partial to solid grays and blacks, so that's what I looked for. In the corner (in the bottom cage) was a beautiful DMH solid blue boy. This guy had personality plus (wasn't considered "cute" because he was 9 months old). I immediately took him home. We quickly realized he needed company. I've always wanted an MC because of their personality, looks, and size. The hunt began -- it took us 5 months, but we finally found our boy North of Phoenix. The "boyz" are now 5 yrs old, and typical brothers. They play-fight and sleep together. Even though the MC far outweighs (and sizes) his brother, the blue cat is the Alpha -- so funny to see a little cat bossing the MC through the house. The MC just wants to have fun and play, and being "second" doesn't seem to bother him (he's my number 1). So our MC was purchased as a companion for our shelter cat. Blue and Dakota truly are the lights of our life. My hubby has since retired and would be lost without them.

Sooty grew up with a maine coon, and we decided to get him a companion and it was the obvious choice. They are laid back but with huge characters which is what I love!

Ems x

Growing up I'd always had male cats, then when I moved out I lived in apartments where pets weren't allow.
The design firm where I worked as shop manager was owned by a great cat lover and there was always an at least one office cat.
Then I met Meme, she was a stray hanging around the office that the girls rescued, gray and white short haired and she didn't get along with the alpha office cat.
She picked me to be her human and I eventually took her home and became an outlaw pet owner, hiding my cat from the land lord.
We spent many happy years together before she got old and passed away while I was away on a business trip.
I was devastated, I wanted another cat, a kitten and I wanted one before some well meaning coworkers gave me one.
I had a friend who told me about these giant cats, the Maine Coon Cat and I was very interested.
I went to my local Petsmart and got the book "This is the Maine Coon Cat" this dispelled many of the myths I'd been told, while big I wouldn't be getting a 30lb cat.
I was intrigued by the story of the females on how gracious they were and how they knew they were beautiful and high sought.
I then used the breeder directory in my local paper to find a breeder, I called but he didn't have any available kitten but he put me in touch with a breeder who did.
I called Susan and she had older kitten from 2 litter, Samantha known as Blue Girl a Torbie then 6 months old and 3 half siblings 8 months old and all red and white.
Susan and I talked and she decided I was worthy so I went to choose a cat, the Blue Torbie intrigued me as there was one in my book, I met the cats and they were all beautiful but Samantha was until the day she passed away the most beautiful creature I've ever known.

Even though she was rather indifferent to me I was in love with her from the moment I first lay eyes on her.
She soon warmed up to her new Papa, I believe she liked being Daddy's little princess instead of being 1 in a house full of cats.
Susan did offer me a deal on 2 cats but I declined, I was still a outlaw cat owner and felt 2 might give things away I regret that decision but Susan probably doesn't that cat Blondie and the Captain the father are her 2 remaining cats at 16 and 18 years.
Samantha was the light of my life until she passed from cancer in her Papa's arms 5 days after her 16th birthday.
She was a joy to be around and a gentle soul, I feel privileged to have been her person

Like a lot of others on this web site my wife and I lost a wonderful cat and after a period of time were looking for another to fill the void. We went to several cat shows and every time we ended up in awe of the Maine Coon. They were so cool, calm and collected in the middle of the chaos of a cat show. They were just cool, an over used word, but that is what they are. What is amazing is I was done before I even got to touch one. No other breed was so impressive. Curly hair, no hair, no tail, curled ears, none of this impressed as much as the demeanor of the Maine Coon. Now that we have Raylor, he is so incredible it is difficult to describe. We have had many cats in our lives, but in the short time we have had him it is obvious that there is something different about this breed. Don't tell the President, but if they said I had to pay a "Maine Coon tax" to keep Raylor I would pay it without complaint.

I'm a massive cat lover and have always had cats, usually just general moggies. I had a pair of sisters about 7 years ago and they were very funny and laid back, they used to come for walks to the local park with me...no lead or anything, they'd just follow me! Sadly unbeknownst to me they had both been born with a heart defect. Minette died 2 years ago and Isabel died on New Years day. I have another cat called Delphine who will be four this year, and she became rather quiet and isolated following Minette's death. I needed a new kitten to fill the void.
The reason I got a Maine Coon is due to happening across a couple on the harbourside last summer while out walking. This couple were jut chilling out by the waters edge and I couldn't help but notice that they had this huge and beautiful cat with them. The idea of taking a cat out and about with me really appealed! So when my sister (who's a midwife) told me one of her clients was a breeder and was able to sell me one at a bargain price I was in! Poif was born on the day of my birthday, I got to pick from the litter. They were all beautiful but I knew when I saw her beautiful tortoiseshell coat and pretty face that she was the one for me!
I've had Poif for 2 and a half weeks now and I've loved every minute so far. As I type this in bed she is springing all over the place, chasing her tale and trying her best to jump on her fvourite toy...my laptop!! Couldn't be happier!

I'm new to this site and new to Maine Coons. We live in a rural area in the Texas Hill Country. We've had a variety of cats over the years who found us in one way or another. All were outside cats but were welcomed into the home anytime they wanted.

We had a big orange Tabby who seemed to have had some of the personality traits of the Maine Coon. He was our daughter's cat. He disappeared the day before she left for college 2 years ago. He was 10. We were devastated

Sometime last year I ran across an article about Maine Coons. I've always liked BIG cats. After reading the article I was hooked and shared the info with my wife and my daughter. We decided that when the time was right that a Maine Coon would be our next cat.

Several weeks ago we decided it was time. We visited with several breeders and found one we really liked. We purchased one kitten but after further thought decided to buy his sister! We will bring them home on 7/5. We can't wait. I know we're in for some surprises and a lot of fun