Cat's Name & Age:
Basil, about 3 or 4 years
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Maine Coons are remarkably intelligent and dog-like (in a good way).
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
Ours has raging OCD; can't change our schedule without loud kitty protests!
When, Where and How I Got My Maine Coon
Ours is a shelter rescue. We wish we'd adopted his sister because he'd have been comfortable with her and, as it is, he really only tolerates our other cats.
I'd Describe My Cat As…
Basil is very affectionate although he does value his "me time" for several hours in the middle of the day. He takes medicine every day for hip pain but he is well-worth the trouble and expense.The medicine Basil takes is called "Metacam" (it's an oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) and although it's meant for dogs, our vet said somethines cats can take it for arthritis-like symptoms. We found that even the "light" dose and method the vet had was too much for kitty - it made him throw up - so for years now, we've been giving Basil just a single drop of this stuff twice a day by placing it on a cat treat (though he loves it so well, I have no doubt he would drink it right off of a saucer!) and it seems to have a positive effect on his mood and agility.
He completely changes when you talk to him - it's as though he needs the human interaction of conversation. If he's ready to chat, there is no telling him "not now". When family members are scattered, he will frequently stand, stymied, in the hall and yowl purposefully - we think he is trying to "triangulate", based on the hails he elicits from each of us. He has a very distinct vocabulary, both receptive and productive, frequently matching the number of syllables in "his words" to the typical human equivalent.
He's got significantly polydactyl front feet that absolutely require weekly grooming but rewards that extra effort with his Kilroy imitation where he lounges with his baseball mitts draped over a ledge.
Advice
- Plan on a lot of interaction similar to keeping a herder-style dog content; lots of conversation
- Must be brushed at least once a day, litterbox must be fresh at all times, nails may need manual trimming (we use a rotary at-home tool), and for congenital hip problems he gets a drop of pain medicine twice a day (he loves it but it is expensive)
- You can forget your alarm clock
