Cross Breeds

are Maine coon cats social or solitary?

I have recently recieved a Maine coon as a gift and he seems to try to dominate all of the other cats in the house(six total)is this normal or is there something i can do to help King adjust? Do they require special food due to their larger size?

Public Comments

1. Pretty solitary, but they will walk on a leash.
2. I don't know ANY cat that's truly sociable with other cats .... I mean, they're CATS!!! Saying that, I own two Maine Coons, and they act like any other cat. As far as dominance, that is something that male cats want to do, regardless of breed. Before I got my second cooncat, I had a British Shorthair, and he decided HE was the dominant cat in the household, even though my coon was larger!!! Your cats will soon work out a pecking order. A certain amount of fighting is actually quite normal, and keeps indoor cats in shape. Chasing each other around the house is a lot different from real territorial battles outside cats fight. Indoor catfights might look scary, but if they are not ripping each other up and drawing blood, it's all for show. Make sure you are giving each cat the affection and attention they need from you, especially single out any cat that you think is being 'picked on' by the other cats. Also, make sure you have enough cat furniture. Cats like to have their own space. As to diet, I like to provide my cats with anytime access to dry food through a feeder. I also feed wet food, but my new Maine Coon doesn't really care for it, so I cut back the feedings to once a day and the size of a can of Fancy Feast or similar. I have not found the need for special food or large quantities of it. I do try to blend my dry food. I mix at least one bag of a healthier formula like "Iams" with a bag of a tasty formula like "Fancy Feast" dry. I also feed the cats tartar-control treats (they don't like the moist treats). It seems to work, they have nice clean toothies. The main thing you have to watch out for with indoor cats is the tendency towards tubby tabbiness, and it sounds like if the new cat is shaking up the household, that will help keep your brood in "fighting trim."
3. i have 5 of them and they are very lovable..i think it depends on their treatment as kittens though? the "pecking order" is totally natural and normal..unless they really hurt each other, it's just natures way of establishing who's boss and any cat would do it. they don't require larger bits of food, but i'd suggest Nutro complete care which is larger so they wont try to eat too fast..when you have more than one, they tend to eat way too quickly and then they throw up..just an instinct they have. hope this helps!
4. Congrats on having an awesome cat! We have one, it's half coon and half tabby (w/ one extra toe on all 4 paws). I guess it depends on how you put King in the group. You can't just plop the cat down in the group and expect no aggresive behavior. Since he is in with the other cats I assume, there is nothing you can do. They may fight for dominance, until they are used to one another. Cat food, no... not that I've heard of. You have to be watchful and be prepared to break it up if it gets way out of hand.... or in some cases I've learned you have to let them have one good fight.