Maine Coons Rule!
(But Ragdolls are pretty cool too...)

by LP
(Calgary, AB, CA)

I just LOVE my scrappy smart little Coonie. He's just bursting with personality, charm and SO full of himself.

He's a cuddler, when it suits him and very much MY cat. He likes my son but he sticks to me wherever I am and we chat constantly. He's in the middle of nearly every single thing I do!

That much said, all cats are wonderful. I've had domestic fireside tabbies as a kid. I've owned a Burmese chocolate colored cat and he was the sweetest guy. Tragically we had to have him put down when he was young because he developed HCM.

My next cat that lived 17 1/2 years old until last year was my MC mix. He was a delightful faithful and very dear friend. I didn't plan on being a single mother at 20 but that cat was with me through most of it. He was a loyal and loving companion through a lot of rough, and also many very good, times. The most difficult thing I've ever had to do was have him euthanized but he was in pain and it was the least I could do for him.

My heart had a hole in it and my son, who is a pretty stoic guy, was also just devastated. That's when we found Eli, or rather Eli chose us and it's been wonderful. He sauntered his cheeky little self right up to us while his brothers and sisters hung back. I picked him up and the purr was like a buzzsaw!! He was so tiny and you'd swear that it was the purr of a lion! He had me at hello...

The only drawback that I can see to the MC is what sets them apart. They are so loving and need so much attention that he was incredibly lonely when I wasn't around.

I couldn't leave the house without being concerned about him pining away...SO my hunt began for a kitten for my kitten! :-) I didn't feel good about bringing in a kitten for fear that Eli might hurt him and it didn't seem fair to bring in an adult cat.

That's when we found Tiki our Ragdoll, also named for a NYG football player, Tiki Barber, and it's been a perfect match. Tiki is 10 weeks younger but outweighs Eli. He's going to be a monster at 17 pounds and not even a year yet. He's a sweet guy and also follows me most of the time. It's kind of nice having an entourage! Well except for when you're carrying a laundry basket up or down the stairs...

They play and love and just enjoy each other immensely. They are different personalities for sure. Tiki is so laid back, nowhere near as agile but stronger than Eli.

It's very interesting to watch them engage in play/fighting. Eli is a strategic fighter and Tiki just uses his weight and strength. You have never seen anything short of a rabid wolverine when Tiki manages to get Eli pinned.

That scrappy little coon cat hisses and growls and spits! It never gets too violent though and the next thing I know they're back to kissing and cuddling...many hours of entertainment!

Oh and my mother has a lovely regal Russian Blue that is also a beautiful cat. He's very territorial though so he's an only child...