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Welcome, Crazy Cat People!
The Maine coon is a very affable and sociable breed so a common question most prospective owners have is if the Maine coon cat needs a companion?
I have studied the behaviour of cats and their unique personalities for a long time now and have put together this article to answer your question.
As a general rule, Maine coons prefer having a companion around, and it is often recommended that you get them as a pair. If you work away from home for multiple hours in the day, having a companion for your cat can help prevent boredom and reduce any destructive behaviour.
Later in this post, we explore this topic in a little more detail and find out if the Maine coon really needs a mate or if in some circumstances they can be alone, we also touch on how much daily attention the Maine coon needs and exactly how you can keep your Maine coon entertained while you’re out all day!
So keep reading my fellow crazy cat lovers to learn more!
Do Maine Coon Cats Need A Companion?
Let’s have a quick overview of the Maine Coons Personality to help us understand more about this breed. Examining their character traits alone should answer the above question for you.
- Super friendly
- Acts and behaves very much like a puppy
- Forms close bonds with their owners
- Extremely loyal
- Very playful
- Can be attention-seeking at times
- Some owners say their Maine coon waits for them at the door when they arrive home from work
- Gets along really well with other pets such as other cats and dogs
What do these traits tell you about the Maine coon?
Their personalities are very much like a dog they are often referred to as the dogs of the cat world.
The Maine coon is very playful and curious and they love their family with all their hearts, they are far from the stereotypical aloof cat so this means that having a mate around for when you are not at home will be perfect for your Maine coon.
They will keep each other company, they will play together and it will prevent your Maine coon from becoming bored while you are away. Some breeds tend to be harder to introduce to other pets due to their territorial nature whereas the Maine coon generally gets along well with other pets.
They may even be a little shy at first which is a very cute trait in my opinion.
This doesn’t mean that if you are thinking of introducing another pet to your Maine coon you can just get another cat and expect them to get along from day one because it will take time. Even though the Maine coon has a dog-like personality they are still very much a feline.
Even though they may not be as territorial as some breeds it is still very important with introductions to carry these out correctly and to take your time with them otherwise you will have one big catfight on your hands.
In my opinion, it is better to get cats as a pair from them being kittens and let them grow up together and get to know each other early on in life than it is to introduce another pet to an already established feline territory.
Are Maine Coons Okay On Their Own?
As a general rule, it is a good idea to not leave a Maine coon alone for more than 12 hours, and not too frequently. These highly sociable cats crave companionship from humans and other pets, and leaving them alone too long and too frequently can lead to depression and loneliness.
When deciding if to just have the one Maine coon you need to ask yourself if you have the time to look after your Maine coon and keep them entertained.
Let’s say for example that you work from home and you have a big family where your Maine coon will be interacting with a variety of people daily then in circumstances like this having just one cat can work perfectly but if you’re a single person who works at home what are you going to do when you go on vacation?
Will your cat be left at home alone with a cat sitter who comes in for only one hour a day? If so then you may wish to consider getting a companion for your cat.
Some other cat breeds can be left alone for a little longer, up to 24 hours according to rover. However, with a Maine coon I wouldn’t personally recommend this. Maybe with a breed that is more independent and aloof but not the Maine coon.
How Much Attention Do Maine Coons Need?
Compared to other cats the Maine coon needs a slightly above average amount of attention.
The Male coon tends to be the one who wants to be the centre of attention. He will want all the cuddles, love and play that you can give without being too clingy whereas the female possesses all these traits but is more likely to want to spend some time alone and at times can be a little more aloof and wary of any strangers that come into the home.
It is not common for Maine coons to meow constantly for attention as they tend to have very gentle vocalisations so this shouldn’t be a problem for you however it is a good idea to keep a regular schedule of play with your Maine coon to keep them stimulated, happy and healthy.
How To Keep My Maine Coon Entertained While I Am Out?
As we have already discussed in an ideal world you would have two Maine coons or even a Maine coon and a cat-friendly dog.
As we know though it’s not always possible to live in an ideal world so how can we keep our Maine coon happy while were out even if they do not have a suitable companion to play with?
Thankfully there are several things we can do to keep them happy!
The first thing we want to do is make sure that our home is a haven for our cat and that there are enough spaces in the home for the cat to exercise and play. This is where it is a good idea to create lots of vertical space in your home especially if you live in a tiny apartment!
Surely you have seen a cat superhighway before?
A cut superhighway is a circuit that runs around the walls of your home with platforms your cat can jump up onto with various entry and exit points. You can also get wall mounted beds too!
By designing your home in this way you can turn a small apartment into a large apartment for your cat and replicate your Maine coons instinct to jump and climb.
Click on the image below to check out the price of this super cool set on Amazon!
Having plenty of windows that your cat can have access to while you are out is also important. A cat does not need to necessarily hunt physically but they can hunt with their mind too!
This is where it’s a good idea to make sure you have window hammocks for your cat so they can observe the outside world and see the little birds tweeting in the trees outside.
Check out this quad stack window hammock that will be perfect for your Maine coon! – Click here to take a look!
It is also a good idea to have a wide selection of cat toys that your Maine coon can play with while you are out such as catnip-filled mice, food puzzles and even automated laser toys. With so much choice out there it is easy to get your hands on a selection of interesting toys to keep your Maine coon entertained.
To find out more imaginative ways to keep them happy read my post ” 13 ways to keep indoor cats entertained”
Key Takeaways: Do Maine Coon Cats Need a Mate?
- Maine Coons are very sociable and crave companionship
- They get along well with other cats
- They also get along well with dogs
- In my opinion, it is better to have two Maine coon cats that grow up together from kittens
- If you can’t have two cats then please make sure you spend plenty of time playing with your cat and keeping them entertained
- Never leave them alone for more than 12 hours at a time
Check out these other cool posts within this series
Click the links to take a look
Can Maine coons Live With Other Cats? (How to introduce them)
Are Maine coons good with dogs? (What breeds go well and what breeds don’t)
As always take care of yourself and your little fur babies
Mark (The Crazy Cat Man)
