Quirky Cat Habits & Everyday Behavior

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Maine Coon cats are known for their personalities, but some of their everyday behaviors can be genuinely unexpected.

These aren't tricks or trained habits, though. They're the small, oddly specific things that show up when you live with one long enough.

None of these are 'problems' at all. They're endearing, and in many cases beloved behaviors we only see in cats.

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5 funny silly cat habits that make us smile

Maine Coons are sometimes described as the clowns of the cat world, though most owners would say it's less about performing and more about personality.

Over time, certain patterns start to stand out - behaviors that aren't harmful or concerning, just distinctly "them."

Water Play

Muska the silver Maine Coon cat playing with toilet paperMuska playing with toilet paper

One of the most well-known quirks of Maine Coons is their interest in water.

This often shows up as pawing at the water bowl - scooping, tapping, or dragging water out before drinking.

To owners, it can look like play. In practice, it's usually a mix of curiosity, preference for moving water, and tactile exploration.


Funny Sleeping Positions

No one knows how to nap like a big Maine Coon. He doesn't merely curl up on a cat bed and take a catnap. No sir. (Well, okay… he does that too!)

Marley the Maine Coon kitten sleeping soundlyMarley the Maine Coon kitten sleeping soundly

These cats have some truly funny habits when it comes to sleeping. Upside down. Belly up. Sprawled out, showing off every inch of fluff.

Some even stretch out flat on their backs like Hunter, whose story of upside-down naps sparked tons of community replies.

If it's the middle of the night, their preferred place to sleep is (where else?) your bed. Often your head.

He'll make sure to purr nice and loud for a good long while, too.

And when he snoozes in your favorite recliner or on the couch, he somehow manages to take up more space than the average person.

Leo the Maine Coon Cat sleeping in a funny positionLeo can sleep just about anywhere

Playtime

Did we mention that these cats are clowns?

Just pull out a cat toy or sprinkle a little catnip and you'll see some truly entertaining behavior.

Lasers, wand toys, anything with movement at the end - before long, there's an acrobatic performance like no other. Pouncing, jumping, flipping… call it the Kitty Olympics!

Feeding Time Habits

big black smoke maine coon at his bowl.

Many cats have very particular habits when it comes to mealtime. Each one is different.

Whether it's a favorite food, a preferred dish, or a specific location, these cats know exactly what they like.

One Maine Coon owner, Rosanne, shared that her two Coons, Buster and Missy, insist on being served on top of the washer, on a clean plate, and never, ever, with anything less than fresh food.

And of course, many cats will only drink water if it's running, dripping, in a specific bowl, or located in just the right spot… like the kitchen sink.

The Post Meal Wash-down

(That intense grooming session right after eating)

Most cat owners recognize this instantly. The bowl is empty, and almost immediately the grooming begins - face first, then paws, sometimes chest or shoulders.

It can look so deliberate that it feels like a routine, as if they're "cleaning up" after a good meal.

Many people assume it's about enjoying the taste or spreading food scent. While those guesses aren’t far off, what’s happening is more about behavior sequence than flavor.

Eating puts a cat into an active sensory state. Their mouth, whiskers, and face have been busy, their posture has been forward and focused, and their nervous system is engaged. Grooming right after eating helps reset all of that. It's a transition from feeding mode into rest mode.

Cats are also highly sensitive around the face and whisker pads. Even when you can’t see food residue, they can feel it. Grooming clears those sensations and brings the body back to neutral.

That’s why this grooming usually follows meals rather than happening before naps. Once the feeding sequence is complete, settling in is easy.

It’s one of those universal little behaviors that’s fun to learn about simply because we see it every day.

Individual Quirks and Personality Traits

Every Maine Coon is special. Their individual personality shows itself in little ways every single day. It seems like every cat has at least one signature quirk.

Our Alice had a couple of particularly memorable ones. She liked to chew on heads. That's right - don't sit on the couch if Alice was perched behind you. It didn't hurt, but it definitely caught people off guard.

She'd inspect your hair, then give your scalp a few firm bites. Weird? Absolutely. She was also obsessed, absolutely obsessed, with large feather dusters.

big maine coon cat sitting in small boxAny box will do

If there was a feather duster anywhere in the house, even one four feet long, Alice would drag it up and down the staircase like a panther hauling off its prey. Thump, thump, thump.

Leo, meanwhile, was a character in his own right. He loved water, talking, and was incredibly persistent when it came to finding a good lap.

He also insisted on squeezing into any box he could find, no matter how small. If there was a box, he believed it belonged to him.

It's hard to fully describe the quirkiness of these cats. Each one is different, and each one brings their own set of weird, funny, and unforgettable habits.

« Learn more about how Maine Coons think, behave, and interact day to day! You'll find more unique traits on our Maine Coon Behavior page.

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About this site: 

MCCN has been online since 2010, following the breed through kittenhood, growth spurts, coat changes, health questions, and everything in between.

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