Do Maine Coons enjoy cold weather?

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In a peculiar way the question in the title is not bad because it begs further questions. I can think of a couple:

  1. As Maine Coons are full-time indoor cats it is fair to ask if their thick, shaggy, double coat is unsuited to their indoor lifestyle which must be the way in order to protect them.
  2. And, is it okay to give a Maine Coon a lion cut to allow them some relief from the muggy indoors if that is what it is like? Are lion cuts safe and reasonable to give to domestic cats?

But first things first, the question in the title needs to be answered.

Maine Coon are built for colder climates
The famous Richie must feel the heat in warm weather. Maine Coon are built for colder climates. Thank God for air-conditioning! Image: Instagram.

Do Maine Coons enjoy cold weather?

If a Maine Coon feels a little overheated inside the home because the central heating has been turned up, yes, he or she may enjoy sitting in the catio which has one side open to the elements with only a screen to protect her from the icy wind in winter.

By the way, Maine Coons need catios. But Maine Coons don't crave cold weather. It is just that they are built - thanks to mother nature and evolution - to cope well with cold climatic conditions thanks to (a) their original history of being longhaired European cats and (b) 400 years of living in the US state of Maine where winter temperatures hover around freezing point and frequently dip below it.

Warm climates

So, what about Maine Coons living in Texas or one of the southern US states where summer temperatures can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit? And it can last for long periods. Hell, even England can get to near 100 degrees F these days with global warming. And that aspect of climate is a worry for humans and cats alike.

Well, thanks to an indoor life protected with constant air conditioning the Texas Maine Coon is going to be okay. But their comfort is reliant on air-conditioning I'd argue.

What if there's no air-conditioning? It is going to be uncomfortable for a Maine Coon. It would be an environment in which the cat would enjoy cold weather once again.

The conclusion is that this majestic cat breed might enjoy cold weather under certain circumstances.

Indoor life

As mentioned, this breed really needs to enjoy the indoor life for their protection and it might be uncomfortably hot inside the home which is where a supervised walk outside the home in the cool of the evening or morning might be beneficial. I'm referring to leash training. 

My personal view is that Maine Coons are the ideal candidate for leash training as a way of mentally stimulating them and getting them out safely. Felix's caregivers have got things right I believe.


Start them young and the training shouldn't be that big a deal. You see some wonderful videos on the internet of leash trained MCs enjoying trekking in the hills. They are exceptional and rare I know but,  wow it looks great.

Lion cut

So, what about a lion cut for a Maine Coon? Well, I have a full page on that topic which you can read by clicking on this link. 

Maine Coon lion cut
Maine Coon lion cut. Image in public domain.

In summary, lion cuts can be a great idea sometimes under the right circumstances. What are the circumstances. Firstly health. If there are dangers to health because the cat needs to be put under a general anesthetic a lion cut would be a No No. Far too dangerous as general anesthetics can kill cats or blind them and the chances of it going wrong are not that remote at between 1 in 400 to 1 in 3000. I've seen both statistics.

But if you are prepared to see your cat's coat disappear temporarily (and what a great coat it is) and if you feel that it is consistently too hot for a cat with a shaggy, protective coat designed for winter, I'd consider a lion cut to tide him over.

In another post I argued that longhaired cats can be happier after a lion cut! Click this link to read the article if you wish.

RELATED: The lion cut: no, it’s not cruel.

Maine Coon coat

The CFA breed standard is clear. All genuine Maine Coons have the same distinct fur coat:

"Originally a working cat, the Maine Coon is solid, rugged, and can endure a harsh climate. A distinctive characteristic is its smooth, shaggy coat."

This cat is made for a rugged, harsh life as a barn cat, if you go back far enough in time to those early days in Maine. In one way they are not built for a centrally heated home.

Maine Coon caregivers might think about ways such as suggested on this page to make their life as happy as possible under the circumstances. 

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