Why are Maine Coons so friendly? Are they 'so' friendly?

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People ask Google why the Maine Coon cat is so friendly. Is it really true that they are extra friendly? Clearly internet authors are saying that they are. My go-to reference book on the personality of the Maine Coon is one written by a former cat breeder and show judge, Gloria Stephens. 

She lives with Maine Coon cats. I don't think that you could get a better reference than her. I prefer book references to the internet because on the latter authors tend to race off copies of what they've seen without really questioning it.

Are Maine Coons as friendly as some people claim?
Are Maine Coons as friendly as some people claim? Image by MikeB at PoC.

Gloria Stephens

Gloria Stephens tells me that they are 'people orientated' which implies that they are friendly but 'they are not over-dependent'.

They don't constantly demand attention "preferring to hang out with their owners". And she says that they don't necessarily want to be held but they like to be near the person they love. And they form close attachments to their "female owners". Do Maine Coon cats particularly like females? Or is this a hint that Maine Coons are gentle souls?

So, Gloria Stephens paints a picture of a friendly cat but not remarkably friendly and perhaps no more friendly than well-socialised domestic cats either purebred or random bred.

Desmond Morris

I can also refer to the research carried out by Dr. Desmond Morris's team when he wrote his Encyclopaedia CAT WORLD. Clearly, his researcher has gone through a lot of descriptions of the personality of the Maine Coon cat which he recites in a long sentence! Here it is:

"Personality: terms used to describe the breed include: hardy, rugged, dignified, reserved, amiable, gentle, elegant, loving, faithful, self-confident, responsive, durable, affectionate, playful, intelligent, resourceful, shy, good tempered, soft-voiced, active and healthy".

Internet

If you search the internet on this topic, you see an equally wide range of character descriptions; sometimes a little effusive I would say.

Personal experience

So, what can I take from that long list of descriptions? I see a cat which reminds me of a Maine Coon cat I really learned to like when I stayed in America. I stayed with a friend and she lived with two Maine Coon cats. One of them liked me and came on my bed in the evening and we became friendly.

He was indeed a bit shy. He wasn't overtly friendly or forthcoming. He wasn't unusually confident. He had a very pleasant gentle character which I really liked. He was the kind of cat I would love to live with.

But I would not describe him as "so friendly" as to be exceptional in this aspect of a cat's personality. He was friendly.

Friendliness

Friendliness really comes about in three ways: inherited character obviously, how the cat has been socialised by the breeder which is vital and the environment in which they live and the capabilities of their lifetime cat caregiver in creating an ambience and an environment which draws out the best in the character of a Maine Coon cat.

You are not going to get a friendly Maine Coon cat if they are anxious all the time or worse. Friendliness is borne out of confidence and confidence can be fostered and reinforced in an environment where the cat feels safe and secure.

Bred to be friendly?

The question in the title really is asking whether Maine Coon cats are bred to be friendly. To rephrase that: it is asking whether they inherit friendliness from their parents. But this inherited character is just a part of how their character is expressed. But, yes, all breeders of all breeds of cat want their cats to be friendly. It is a must have because their role in life is to be friendly towards humans.

Conclusion

My conclusion is that Maine Coon cats are pretty average in terms of friendliness which means they are indeed friendly because all domestic cats when raised properly and looked after properly are.

They are though probably more laid back that most other domestic cats. There seems to be a calmness about them.

These are my personal views and I am open to counterarguments and criticisms. I welcome comments particularly from people who have lived with a Maine Coon.

I have always lived with rescue cats but I have always hankered after adopting a Maine coon cat.

Comments

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