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!

My babes

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...

comments:
Coons make great companions
by: Anonymous

I recently came into possession of what I think is a Maine Coon.

He was a stray who moved in with my mother this past summer. However he scared my mom's two female cats so my mom asked me to take him. She had already named him Charlie.

I lured Charlie into a cat carrier using food as bait and took him to a vet for examination, neutering, and shots.

The only thing wrong with him was he was covered with fleas which the vet removed. It didn't take him long to acclimate himself to my home. I have 3 other cats - a ragdoll, a persian, and a siamese mix.

He and the ragdoll are frenemies - constantly taking swats at each other but both hang out in front of my bedroom door to wake me up in the A.M. Charlie likes water and half the time he is wet when I pet him.

Charlie looks a lot like the black one in the picture. His winter coat is coming in and he has a gray ruff and gray underneath towards the rear.

He's filled out since I got him 2 months ago. He now weighs nearly 15 lbs. I understand they reach full maturity at 4 or 5 years of age.

I should have had him chipped when I had him at the vet for shots. I fooled him once and now he runs and hides when he sees the carrier.

Thank you!
by: LP

Thanks for all the nice comments! This seems like a very friendly forum.

What an awesome brood!
by: Gail (Quincy, MA, USA)

Both your babies are very beautiful and it sounds like your house is filled with laughter and joy once again. BRAVO! They are the sweetest-looking pair.

I also adore my MC mix, Abby...my brother calls her "Flabby Abby" but he's just as smitten with her! She's 3/yrs and weighs in at a hefty 13/pounds! She came from the no-kill shelter where I volunteer.

I'm not familiar with Ragdolls, never having had the pleasure of living with one; however, our shelter had a Munchkin not too long ago though. She was normal size in every way, except for these little stubby but powerful legs...and what a sweet personality!

Another volunteer and I cornered her in the parking lot next door before she went into the street. Imagine...someone just dumped her to fend for herself?! We named her Rascal since that's what she was trying to escape capture. Well, she didn't last long at the shelter, I can tell you that...she was adopted out within 2 weeks! Her new parents absolutely adore her too.

Maine Coons and Ragdolls
by: Anonymous

Two of my favorite breeds!

Lucky You
by: Anonymous

I love my Maine Coon cat Daisy (Even though we sometimes call her Crazy Daisy because she is so needy for attention at the oddest hours of the day and night) but my all-time favourite cat was a Ragdoll named Coco.

The Ragdoll disposition is so perfectly loving, docile and kind that I could trust Coco with anyone from a tail-pulling toddler to an in-your-face, kissing the cat grandmother.

One of the saddest days of my life was the day Coco passed on. Your picture brought back his memory very vividly. Enjoy!

What a great story!
by: Anonymous

And beautiful kitties!