Do Maine Coon Cats Need A Companion – Things To Consider

You came back from work to meet your newly adopted Maine Coon cat looking bored and dejected at one corner of the living room. You feel a bit uneasy about this; then a question pops up in your mind —Do Maine Coon cats need a companion?

Most Maine Coons need a companion to keep them active and happy. They don’t enjoy being left alone for long periods. Although Maine Coon cats can pretty much survive entirely on their own, they still prefer being around people or other pets.

Maine Coon cats are amazing pets to have around. This article will examine if it’s okay for Maine Coon to be alone or have a companion with them. We’ll also supply answers to frequently asked questions about Maine Coon cats.

Now let us examine if it’s okay for Maine Coon cats to be on their own.

Are Maine Coons OK On Their Own

For the most part, Maine Coons are not OK on their own. Maine Coon cats have a compelling need for daily interactions with their human owners or other pets.

It is not surprising that Maine Coons are referred to as the ‘dog of the cat world.’ This name was coined due to the highly social character of a Maine Coon.

Maine Cion cats cherish human company more than anything else. Do not leave a Maine Coon alone for more than 12 hours. It would likely become bored or dejected if it stays alone for more than 12 hours.

No amount of toys can ever replace the need for social interactions for a Maine Coon cat.

To prevent your Maine Coon from getting bored out of being lonely, you may decide to buy a cat of the same breed to serve as a companion.

Do Maine Coons Need Other Cats

Maine Coon cats need the company of other cat breeds apart from theirs to stay happy and motivated.

Getting a companion cat for a Maine Coon is especially important if you have a busy schedule. When you leave for work, your feline would have a pet to play with.

If you regularly leave your feline alone, it will become stressed and depressed. If depressed, your feline will likely start exhibiting negative behaviors.

The friendly nature of Maine Coon makes living with different sorts of animals possible. Apart from fellow cats, they can be trained to live with rabbits as well.

Are Maine Coons One-person Cats

Yes. Maine Coons are 100 percent one-person cats; they are known to be extremely loyal to one particular member of the household.

Maine Coons choose who they will be dedicated to early on in their lives. When a Maine Coon cat chooses you as its “one-person,” it follows you from one room to the other.

Maine Coon cats become real distraught if the person they are fully dedicated to leaves them alone. They prefer spending time with the person over other people.

Having an extremely loyal pet can boost someone’s self-esteem. It is not uncommon seeing a loyal Maine Coon cat sleeping at the foot of one’s bed or just following you around to all places.

Is It Cruel To Keep Maine Coon Cats Indoors

It is not cruel to keep Maine Coon cats indoors. Maine Coons are a coveted cat breed; there have been reports of them getting stolen when roaming outdoors. Keeping them indoors is not cruel.

Since Maine Coons are the biggest domesticated cat breed, you must make enough space for them to roam and play indoors.

Because of their large size, make sure you keep a Maine Coon cat far away from household items that could easily break.

What is cruel is for you not to give proper time and attention to your Maine Coon cat. Maine Coon cats are brilliant and smart, so they need enough proper mental stimulation.

Not providing enough mental stimulation and exercise for your Maine Coon can bring out the demons in it. It might start destroying household furniture.

Can Maine Coons Get Depressed

Maine Coon cats get easily depressed if they are left alone or when they are suffering from separation anxiety.

The reasons Maine Coon cats get depressed are not far-fetched. They enjoy having people and other pets around them. If all these are missing, they turn violent.

Do not allow your Maine Coon to become depressed; the consequences are not palatable. They can suddenly turn against family members.

Another drawback of depression in Maine Coon cats is that they will flee at any given opportunity to become wild cats. 

Another sign of a depressed cat is that it may start nipping and biting strangers, including its owner.

If you are clueless on how to help your Maine Coon come out of depression, consult your vet for proper medical advice.

Do Maine Coons Have Separation Anxiety

Maine Coon cats develop separation anxiety if their owners abandon them for long periods.

Unlike other breeds of cats, Maine Coon cats love their owners intensely. They always want to be around them.

If a Maine Coon gets separated from his owners for some reason, it’s not uncommon for it to start showing destructive behavior and other harmful behavior.

Some other signs you might notice in a Maine Coon cat suffering from separation anxiety are:

● Changes in eating habits

● Inappropriate scratching

● Overgrooming

● Increased aggression

● Compulsive pacing

Cats are creatures of habit. Slight changes in their environment affect their behavior either positively or negatively.

If your Maine Coon cat is having separation anxiety, the best way to approach this problem is to give your feline more time and attention.

Some natural supplements can as well help your Maine Coon cat deal with separation anxiety. You should only feed these supplements occasionally to your cat.

If the separation anxiety persists, take your Maine Coon to the vet for a proper medical examination.

How Do I Know If My Maine Coon Is Happy

You can tell if your Maine Coon is happy just by observing the position of its tail. If the tail is held confidently high, your Maine Coon feline is happy.

Furthermore, if the tip of the tail is held high and twitching, it simply means your feline is happy about something.

Cats are physically expressive; this gives their owners clues about their emotional state.

A twitching tail can often mean your Maine Coon is ready to play. Make sure to heed the call of your cat!

The sleeping position of your Maine Coon can also give you a clue about its emotional state. 

If your Maine Coon sleeps with its belly exposed, it means your Maine Coon is relaxed and happy.

The place where your Maine Coon cat spends most of its time can also show if he’s happy or not.

If a Maine Coon cat is happy, they stay in the full glare of people. On the other hand, if something is not right, they spend more time in secluded areas of the house.

Things To Consider

Maine Coon cats are extremely social in behavior. But they can become easily depressed from lack of companionship.

So, how do we help a depressed Maine Coon cat?

The following tips would help in managing a depressed Maine Coon cat:

● Play a mental-stimulating game with your Maine Coon

● Take your cat for a stroll in the evening

● Buy engaging toys for your Maine Coon.

● Create a window shelf for your cat to view the outside world.

● Create an artificial pool of water for your Maine Coon

● Get your cat a companion!

Maine Coon cats can, at times, be destructive. So how can you stop their occasional destructive behavior?

The following tips would help you as well:

● Give your Maine Coon cat enough time and attention.

● Do not encourage or reinforce bad behaviors

● Get either a cat or a dog as a companion for your Maine Coon

● Socialize your Maine Coon from a tender age.

● Make sure to exercise your Maine Coon daily.

● Reward good behavior

Adhering to the above tips will surely help a depressed Maine Coon come out of depression and stop unwarranted destructive behaviors.