Downsides of owning a Maine Coon cat

The benefits of owning a Maine Coon cat are well known, the most important being companionship followed by their beautiful appearance but there are some cons and here's a list:

They are expensive and as they become more popular, they become more expensive 😎. Depending upon their quality they will cost between about US$500 and $2500 or more. Perhaps they average about $1000 or the equivalent in your currency although I would expect them to be more expensive in countries where they are harder to obtain.

Downside of owning a Maine Coon cat? There are many but some of the reasons are minor and they are still worth it to many satisfied caregivers. Image: Pinterest (modified background).

And if you think you can get a cheap Maine Coon you can't because you will probably be buying a Maine Coon mix.

Health problems are a big negative. Like all purebred cats they inherit certain health conditions, the most outstanding of which are hip dysplasia, patella luxation and HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). They also inherit a disease called spinal muscular atrophy. The good old moggie might also suffer from these diseases, but they are not predisposed to them via inheritance.

Their size is attractive, but it probably has a knock-on effect on their health because the bigger the cat is the more likely, in my view, that they will suffer from hip dysplasia because the extra weight is going to put more pressure on the hip joint.

Because they are predisposed to inheriting certain diseases, you may well be looking at taking out an insurance policy to pay veterinary fees. You will probably find that the premiums are high or higher than for smaller cats because that basic rule applies to dogs. In my view, the same will apply to cats but perhaps to a lesser degree.

On a minor point they will need more medication because they're bigger. Their size might result in more inadvertent injuries to human family members than for a smaller domestic cat. And as mentioned the very large Maine Coons will probably be more likely to suffer from joint disease. These factors will push up the premiums of an insurance policy.

Maine Coon cats are medium-longhaired, and they need grooming by their caregiver to keep their coat in good condition and to stop it matting. This is not the case for single-coated cats.

One website says that they are 'needy and clingy' but I don't believe that. I think that's plain wrong. My research indicates that Maine Coon cats tend to be little more independent minded which is the opposite. My experience with living with a couple of Maine Coons for a short while would support the fact that they are pretty typical domestic cats in terms of their character.

Another con is that you will have to keep them inside or if they go outside you will need to supervise them because they are predisposed to being stolen due to their value. That is quite a big negative.

Another Maine Coon website says that they get bored easily and therefore you have to spend more time trying to provide them with mental stimulation. This is incorrect. 

As mentioned, they are typical of all domestic cats. The only valid part of this argument is that you have to keep them inside and that simple fact means that you have to commit more to entertaining them and to doing your best to create an environment which is suitable for a domestic cat.  You'll probably need a catio or cat enclosure for the backyard.

RELATED: Building a catio in Abu Dhabi for US$800.

If a cat spends all their life inside the home, it's got to be modified to feel natural to a domestic cat.

Another downside will be that they eat more food and therefore your food bill will be bigger than normal.

Another possible downside would be that if you're going to buy a cat tower or cat condominium you might have to buy the largest possible type if you live with a very large Maine Coon. That is liable to cost more than normal.

A long list of negative but they are worth it 😊✔️💓.

P.S. Can you think of some downsides? Please comment.