Do Maine Coons like to cuddle?

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You can answer the question from two standpoints (1) the statements of Maine Coon cat owners of which you can find many on the Internet and (2) the statement of a well-known cat show judge, Gloria Stephens.

Huge ginger tabby Maine Coon being cuddled and enjoying it
Huge ginger tabby Maine Coon being cuddled and enjoying it. Picture in the public domain (believed to be a screenshot from a video).

Those that live with and love Maine Coons

Anecdotally, and their evidence is completely believable, Maine Coons like to cuddle. They are like any other domestic cat in terms of their personalities and characters. They live in the human world and provided their human companion and caretaker does a good job, even an excellent job, the Maine Coons in their charge will want to cuddle up and be close to their human. 

Of course, it depends upon how well socialised the cat is but all Maine Coons should be well socialised because it is part of the work of a good cat breeder. All Maine Coon cats have been created by a cat breeder. I am referring to purebred Maine Coons. You'll see lots of so-called 'Maine Coon mix' cats on the Internet but I'm not sure about these. I think it's a selling point rather than the truth.

The fact of the matter is that within the Maine Coon cat breed there will be variations in character between individual cats. That is entirely normal. So, you can't really ask a question as to whether all Maine Coons like to cuddle. You will find some individuals who don't like it as much as others. You will find some Maine Coon cats who like to be on their human companion's lap and others who don't like it so much or even at all. But in general, like all domestic cats, Maine Coons like to cuddle and be cuddled.

Gloria Stephens

She has a lot of knowledge about the domestic cat breeds being a former cat show judge and author of Legacy of the Cat. She is not quite so effusive about the desires of a Maine Coon to want a cuddle. Although, she says that they are relaxed and easy-going and are people-orientated "they are not overdependent. They do not constantly demand attention, preferring to hang out with their owners".

That statement hints at a cat that might not be quite so eager to be on a lap or be cuddled. She goes on to state that "they do not necessarily want to be held, but they do want to be close to the person they love". 'Not wanting to be held' would also hint at a slight lack of enthusiasm in some individual cats to be cuddled. Indeed, some domestic cats of any breed don't like to be picked up and fussed around with. They might object to being petted too often and for too long. Cats do have limits on cuddling and petting. Like I said, it's a question of individual cat character.

But you can take it from anybody, including me, that Maine Coons like to be cuddled. It is just a question of degree.

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