In our modern society, many pet owners prefer to keep their treasured pets indoors. In the case of Maine coon cats, they are perfectly fine as indoor cats.
However, before completely keeping your Maine coons indoors, it is highly recommended to consider your lifestyle.
Do they fit in your lifestyle? Is there enough space for your huge Maine coon to live and play? Are you capable of giving them a proper diet?
Table of Contents
Key factors in keeping your Maine coons indoors
Safety
Pros
This is by far the most relevant reason why pet owners tend to keep their beloved pets indoors, due to their perceived safety risks. The risks of a Maine coon cat include:
- Poison
- Predators
- Catfights
- Diseases
Cons
Maine coons are energetic cats. Keeping them indoors might keep them safe, but may cause to them being bored. Make sure you address this by playing with them regularly.
Diet
Pros
Owners of Maine coons can monitor what they give to their cats when kept indoors. This also means they have the assurance that their cats’ diet meets their dietary requirements. They can control the food eaten by their coons.
Cons
Cat owners love to spoil their coons indoors, which means they provide almost anything to keep these cats maintained. Staying indoors is also a cause for Maine coons to have a less natural diet and be prone to obesity.
Physical activity
Pros
Owners can play with their coon cats indoors. It is easier to make time for your pet when you can readily see them. Spare a few minutes to give them plenty of exercise.
Cons
When coons are kept indoors, they tend to become lazy. In this case, a lazy Maine coon cat will be prone to a lot of health issues if not encouraged by owners to exercise.
Predators
Pros
There are a lot of predators and prey which a Maine coon cat can encounter if they live outdoors. So, having them indoors they have no risks from external predators.
Cons
An indoor Maine coon can lose their natural survival instincts when kept indoors all the time. In the long run, it can even be dangerous for them to step outside.
Cruelty
Pros
Maine coons are attractive and really expensive. It would not be surprising if bad guys try to steal or poison this pedigree cat. Keeping them inside your house can help them safe from external threats.
Cons
Sometimes, cruelty also means keeping a Maine coon indoors. Owners should always consider the impact of this decision to their cat’s wellbeing.
Space
Pros
Maine coons are naturally active and playful cats. It is important that you consider giving them a home with lots of space for them to run, chase, and play.
Cons
Indoors coons have less opportunity to keep themselves busy, like to exercise or play. Without enough room at home for them to play, they are at risk of getting health issues and boredom.
Catfights
Pros
Some owners are scared of letting their coons interact with other animals to prevent them from being attacked.
Cons
Maine coons are friendly in nature and are good with animals, rarely choosing to fight. Keeping them indoors won’t give them a chance to socialize.
Natural Instincts
Pros
All cats are born with natural instincts, Maine coons are no different. Owners can stimulate cats’ natural instincts through playtime and exercise.
Cons
A Maine coons’ natural instincts are restricted. They are unable to hunt, scratch, explore, or play outdoors.
Looking for a good indoor cat. Maybe you should check our list with the friendliest cat breeds in the world.
How do you keep your Maine coons happy indoors
- Play with your coons. Maine coons are active and playful by nature. They need to release their energy. Make sure to always make time to play with them. After all, giving them attention and love is all they need. Once your cat is satisfied with the play, they will have their rest of the day snoozing. It’s an excellent way to keep developing their minds.
- Keep your Maine coon healthy with regular exercise. Walking them may be a small start, but this will be a welcome and safe exercise for your Maine coon. Not only will it make your cat happy, it is also key to keeping them healthy.
- Make use of those windows. Create spaces for your cat to look outside where they can lounge around all day watching the outside world. Have their cat bed installed next to the window or close to the view of a cat tree.
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Common questions about Maine coons being indoor cats
Can Maine coons be left alone?
You can teach them how to behave while they are alone. However, they won’t be necessarily happy about it. Though it won’t physically harm them, sociable cats like Maine coons can develop stress and depression if regularly left alone.
How long do indoor Maine coons live?
Basically, their average life span ranges from 10-12.5 years. An indoor Maine coon cat can possibly live longer as long as they are well taken care of and given a proper diet along with regular exercise. These cats can live up to 15 years.
Is a Maine coon a house cat?
A Maine coon cat is dressed for winter. It means the breed is historically an outdoor type of cat. However, most Maine coons are kept indoors for their own safety. Over time, Maine coons have developed into great house cats.
Keeping your Maine coons indoors or outdoors is your personal preference. There are no right or wrong decisions as long as you keep in mind the possibilities and consequences of all your decisions. A Maine coon can freely roam outside with your supervision. They can also go live indoors and cuddle with you. It always depends on what you have to do to keep them happy.
