Are Maine Coon Cats Aggressive?
The Maine Coon cat has attracted considerable attention over the past couple of decades. It has become a very popular breed, and can be found in many parts of the globe. Despite originating from the state of Maine (it is also the official state cat), the Maine Coon is now found in many parts of the world.
Breeders have ensured that the cat is available in different countries, and the demand for this feline has increased considerably over the past few years. Many people get apprehensive when they see the sheer size of this cat. It’s hard to control an aggressive cat of this size. But, are Maine Coon cats aggressive? Let’s find out about this breed.
A Calm and Collected Animal
You should know that the Maine Coon is actually a pretty calm and collected animal. The simple fact of the matter is that this cat is not naturally aggressive. Despite their big size, the cat won’t do anything aggressive and it’s a very docile animal. However, whenever a stranger enters the room, the cat is going to put its guard up.
It’s not like the cat will display any signs of aggression toward strangers, but people usually assume these things when they look at the sheer size of the cat. Maine Coons are some of the friendliest animals in the world and they will only exhibit aggression when they are suffering from health issues.
Cats usually tend to get aggressive when they are feeling ill or are suffering from underlying pain. This makes them irritated and agitated, and they try their best to hide such behavior. It’s natural because they don’t want to be left behind by other animals. This will only happen if the cat is ill or if the animal feels threatened.
Aggression by Type
Many people consider the following to be aggressive behavior displayed by the Maine Coon: fighting, hissing, scratching, biting, striking with the paws, and growling. This might not be a common trait among the cat, but you should know that it is likely to happen due to a variety of reasons.
There are quite a few reasons why the behavior of the cat is likely to change. If your cat has turned into an aggressive cat all of a sudden, you should consider taking a look at all the changes that you have made. There can be quite a few root causes that you need to take into account.
Aggressive manners usually don’t mean that the cat has picked up any bad habits or behavior, but it does signal a bit of naughty behavior. For instance, pain could be one of the main reasons why your cat might be acting out. If your cat’s personality changed all of a sudden, you might want to consider taking a closer look to determine signs of injury or go to a vet.
Reduced Socialization
You need to understand that the Maine Coon is one of the most playful cat breeds out there. Their kittens are quite playful and they need to be socialized from a very early age. If you are buying from a breeder, make sure that the cat has been socialized properly. Socialization primarily involves interaction with humans as well as other pets.
If the kitten is not socialized properly from an early age, it is likely to exhibit a bit of aggression. These behaviors are only going to grow with the passage of time. During the socialization process, you need to be a bit firm. For instance, if the Maine Coon tries to bite your finger, you should immediately stop and say “No!” in a firm manner.
You might want to stop playing with the kitten for a few hours as well. With the passage of time, the cat will begin to realize that biting is bad behavior, and they will soon begin to associate negative behaviors with negative consequences. Older cats are likely quite set in their ways, so it’s best if you work with the kittens.
Hormones
If you haven’t neutered or spayed your cat as yet, hormonal issues may lead to aggression as well. This is a natural response among cats as they grow, and it is a wise move to neuter or spay the cat because these traits are only going to get worse with the passage of time.
The best way to prevent this behavior is to go to the vet and schedule a surgery for getting the cat neutered or spayed. This is going to help calm down the cat’s behavior. Ideally, you should neuter or spay the kitten when it is around the four-month mark. Remember, your kitten is going to get sexually active when it hits the five-month mark.
Mental Health
The mental health of the animal also plays a very important role in its aggressive behavior. Cats are likely to develop mental issues over the passage of time, primarily because of the manner in which they are treated. This might happen naturally, which is unfortunate, and is usually genetic. The cat may turn aggressive as a result of that.
However, there are ways to treat this behavior. You might want to increase the amount of time that you spend with the animal so that you are able to maintain the animal’s wellbeing. If you leave the cat on its own for long hours, it’s probably going to turn aggressive over time.
You should know that leaving the cat alone for long periods of time is a bad idea, and the cat will turn angry over time. You need to make sure that you spend an adequate amount of time with the cat. This isn’t a problem because the cat isn’t going to jump on you; they will just want to sit by your side and look at you while you do your stuff.
Feeling Threatened
The cat is likely to get aggressive if it feels threatened. Cats are likely to exhibit bad behavior when they notice a threat. If your cat is acting aggressive for no reason, you might want to consider a few things. Have you been shouting or talking in a shrill voice? Have you been showing anger toward the cat?
Did you hit the cat? Or, did you change the perfume you usually wear? There could be a wide range of reasons why the animal might get angry at you. Remember, cats cannot understand punishment or anger. They only look at things that might displease you, if treated properly, they are going to avoid such behavior.
Never punish your cat if it does anything wrong. Just let the cat off and show some anger so that the cat realizes that you don’t like it. These are very loving animals and will be more than happy to do things that you want.
Furthermore, some owners say that the cat reacts aggressively due to a new perfume. Just avoid wearing something new if your cat doesn’t like it, and that’s about it!
