Cat's Name & Age:
Miss Fortune
Age 11 months
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Absolutely beautiful--shades of tortoise--the most curious cat I have known
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
Her curiosity and sharp nails.
When, Where and How I Got My Maine Coon
From the animal shelter after our cat, Mr. Lucky, died in the spring. He was 18, a feral cat, and the love of our lives. We adopted Miss Fortune when she was about 6 weeks old, a gorgeous kitten with bright, curious eyes and afraid of nothing. She moved into our home like she had been born there and upon seeing our dog, Sugar Bear, immediately jumped on her back. She gets into lots of stuff because of her curiosity, purrs a lot, but so far is not a lap cat. She will get near you but not on you. Loves to be petted. We are older adoptees, but hope she will be with us for a long, long time.
I'd Describe My Cat As…
Miss Fortune only trains herself as to what she will and won't do. A spray bottle of water is a deterrent, but does not make her stop getting on/in places she wants to get. She has never shown any signs of medical problems except her long nails, which we try to have cut periodically. She is good about using her scratching post and likes height. She is not afraid of strangers who come to the house but does not like to be picked up or held. Loves to "kiss" and purrs a lot when you come in after being gone. Loves the dog who has become wary of the nails. Miss Fortune does have a tendency to bite if you cross her. She has a mind of her own, but we do love her.
Miss Fortune is fascinated by water of any kind--the toilet when you flush, the bathtub after a shower, the water bowl where she flips it out. She is also fascinated by the computer. Runs to look behind the screen to see where the printing is coming from and will lie on top of the printer when I let her--not a good place.
From day one, she never required any training with her litter box and is faithful to use it.
Advice
- I have no real advice except to show lots of love. Each kitten/cat is so different and what works for one may or may not work with another. Just get to know them, accommodate their ways when practical, give them a good quality of cat food, and watch out for them so they will not get hurt.
