Are Maine Coons easy cats?

Maine Coon and owner. She did not ask the question! They are here to illustrate the page. Image: Pinterest.

This is a question on the Quora.com website. It's an interesting question but I personally believe that it is a misplaced question. I'll explain why. I have skimmed some of the answers to the question by contributors on the Quora.com website.

Individual cats

The answers tell me that the cat's caregiver is describing the character of the specific cat with whom they live. They happen to be Maine Coon cats but each individual has a different experience.

Despite what you read on the internet; the descriptions of their Maine Coon cats do not follow a clear pattern. And that's why the question is misdirected. It implies that all Maine Coon cats have a certain, clear personality and are either easy or difficult to live with because of it.

You'll find that many website owners simply regurgitate the same conventional stuff. And the cat fancy like to differentiate each cat breed by saying they have a distinct character. Not true I am afraid.

The question could be: "Is your Maine Coon cat easy to live with?" This is directed at a specific individual cat. That's the way to ask the question.

Overriding feline character

There may be a similarity of behaviour between Maine Coon cats but it will be vague. Above all else they are all domesticated felines. In that sense they are the same as all other domestic cats whether they be purebred or random bred.

Maine Coon cats have a desire to hunt and if they can't actually do it, they want to play-hunt which means play to a human. All domestic cats are programmed to hunt. It is their reason for living. Maine Coon cats are no different.

So, these basic characteristics override any slight or subtle similarities that there might be between Maine Coon cats.

Caregiver

To answer the question, although it is misplaced, is to say of course Maine Coon cats are indeed easy cats to live with provided the caregiver is organised, gentle and sorted. Provided they know how to look after a domestic cat and provide a good environment for them.

The way domestic cats behave including Maine Coon cats is dependent to a large extent upon the environment in which the owner places them. Create a warm, safe and friendly environment and it is reflected in the cat's attitudes and behaviour. It's the same for any sentient being, any domesticated animal and that includes humans!

Nature and nurture

That's the "nurture" element which drives personality. On the other side of the coin, there is the "nature" element which is the work of the Maine Coon cat breeder. They create these cats through artificial selection. They socialise them. They select the foundation cats for their character and appearance. 

Character is inherited and character is also moulded through experience. These are the other elements which impact whether a Maine Coon cat is easy to live with like any other domestic cat.