Thread: Attention?

Hi

I am no cat expert but we have a Maine Coon who is 8 months old now so I can talk from my own (limited) experience! Rufus is very very sociable and loves attention, he literally follows me around the house, waits outside the bathroom while I'm in there and wants to be involved in everything we are doing, even if that just means sitting by my feet while I cook! However, we both work so are out for most of the day. My partner is a teacher so he is home in all the holidays too and we are both home most of the evening and weekends. I was a bit worried too that as a housecat he would get lonely in the day but we have actually found that when we are home all the time, he gets a bit fed up of the attention and will take himself off for a sleep!! We make sure that in the evenings when we have been out all day he gets LOADS of attention, cuddles and play and he seems to be really ok with that. He knows the routine and will even get a bit 'put-out' if I don't go and sit on the sofa to watch TV by about 9pm because that's when he would normally come and curl up with me! Rufee can be a bit mischievous... he loves to climb the curtains and if he doesn't feel he's had enough attention he will let us know... usually by climbing on top of the telly or sitting on top of the laptop as you are trying to work! We take this as a cue to play a game and then he will settle... he absolutely loves to play fetch with a ball or we play 'piggy in the middle' where me and my boyfriend sit at either end of the hallway and throw the ball to each other and Rufus will plonk himself in the middle and leap in the air to try to catch it (he is actually really good at it and gets the ball more times than he misses!). I also understand your point about having to move out for a week because this happened to me last month - we were having some building work in the house and had to be out for a week. Rufus and I moved in with my parents. It was actually really stressful for me because he went into 'scared kitten' mode and hid behind the furniture for the first day and that is so far from his normal character. By the end of the second day he was more happy and by the end of the week he was pretty much his usual self. He definitely knew he was home though when we got back and that was such a relief! I don't know how feasible it would be to do this if you are not intending on your Maine Coon being a housecat? My advice would be to introduce him to a small area of the relative's home (i.e. just one room) to start with - put everything he needs in there (litter tray, food, water) and as many familiar things as you can. We took his bed, his blanket, his scratcher! And then just be patient (don't panic like I did!). As he grows in confidence he should start to explore but I wouldn't be surprised if he retreats back to that space whenever he hears or sees something unusual!

Anyway, like I said, this is only based on my personal experience with Rufus but I hope it helps. I'm sure there will be other more experienced Maine Coon owners who will be able to add their advice. I have had other cats before (all moggies) but I can honestly say that Maine Coons are a 'breed of their own', they are so special and everyone who meets Rufus (cat-person or not!) falls in love with him!

Good luck, hope you find a Coonie to join your family and that it brings you as much joy as Rufee does to us!!

Originally Posted by rufus's slaves

Hi

I am no cat expert but we have a Maine Coon who is 8 months old now so I can talk from my own (limited) experience! Rufus is very very sociable and loves attention, he literally follows me around the house, waits outside the bathroom while I'm in there and wants to be involved in everything we are doing, even if that just means sitting by my feet while I cook! However, we both work so are out for most of the day. My partner is a teacher so he is home in all the holidays too and we are both home most of the evening and weekends. I was a bit worried too that as a housecat he would get lonely in the day but we have actually found that when we are home all the time, he gets a bit fed up of the attention and will take himself off for a sleep!! We make sure that in the evenings when we have been out all day he gets LOADS of attention, cuddles and play and he seems to be really ok with that. He knows the routine and will even get a bit 'put-out' if I don't go and sit on the sofa to watch TV by about 9pm because that's when he would normally come and curl up with me! Rufee can be a bit mischievous... he loves to climb the curtains and if he doesn't feel he's had enough attention he will let us know... usually by climbing on top of the telly or sitting on top of the laptop as you are trying to work! We take this as a cue to play a game and then he will settle... he absolutely loves to play fetch with a ball or we play 'piggy in the middle' where me and my boyfriend sit at either end of the hallway and throw the ball to each other and Rufus will plonk himself in the middle and leap in the air to try to catch it (he is actually really good at it and gets the ball more times than he misses!). I also understand your point about having to move out for a week because this happened to me last month - we were having some building work in the house and had to be out for a week. Rufus and I moved in with my parents. It was actually really stressful for me because he went into 'scared kitten' mode and hid behind the furniture for the first day and that is so far from his normal character. By the end of the second day he was more happy and by the end of the week he was pretty much his usual self. He definitely knew he was home though when we got back and that was such a relief! I don't know how feasible it would be to do this if you are not intending on your Maine Coon being a housecat? My advice would be to introduce him to a small area of the relative's home (i.e. just one room) to start with - put everything he needs in there (litter tray, food, water) and as many familiar things as you can. We took his bed, his blanket, his scratcher! And then just be patient (don't panic like I did!). As he grows in confidence he should start to explore but I wouldn't be surprised if he retreats back to that space whenever he hears or sees something unusual!

Anyway, like I said, this is only based on my personal experience with Rufus but I hope it helps. I'm sure there will be other more experienced Maine Coon owners who will be able to add their advice. I have had other cats before (all moggies) but I can honestly say that Maine Coons are a 'breed of their own', they are so special and everyone who meets Rufus (cat-person or not!) falls in love with him!

Good luck, hope you find a Coonie to join your family and that it brings you as much joy as Rufee does to us!!

Thank you so much for your feedback! Rufus looks adorable!
I am glad that he quickly adapted into the other house, it makes me feel a lot better. I have one question for you, is he your only pet?
Thanks!

Thank you, he is adorable, he is much bigger now so will try and upload some more recent pics of him when I get a chance! Yes, he is our only pet!

Originally Posted by rufus's slaves

Thank you, he is adorable, he is much bigger now so will try and upload some more recent pics of him when I get a chance! Yes, he is our only pet!

I would love to see him now! And thanks for your help!

Hi!
If the cat was the only pet I'd be concerned about him/her being lonely, since Maine Coons are very social. Having another cat and dog around should certainly be enough company in your absence.
My little boy followed me around everywhere the first year. Even if we were just away for a few days, upon on our return the cat-sitter would say how desperate for attention he was when she'd check on him. When we got our little girl he became far less clingy. Now when we come back from a trip it's "Hey, great to see you again!" instead of, "I didn't know what to do with myself while you guys were gone...never leave me again."

We had one Maine Coon - he was miserable when we left him alone. We now have two and life is so much better. The initial period was tricky - kittens are pretty scary, apparently, but now they get on really well and don't get upset if we go out. They just do cat-things instead.

Is it me or was that not exactly the most helpful advice for the question?

Cats love laser pens! Twenty minutes of laser play a day should be more than enough attention.