Male vs Female Maine Coons – Which Should You Get?

Maine Coon cats are one of the world’s largest cat breeds. But did you know that there are significant differences between male and female Maine Coons? I’m here to give you a general overview of those differences and help you pick one.

Will you get a male Maine Coon or a female one? Pets are expensive to keep, especially cats as large as these, and it’s important to know what you can and can’t provide them.

Though, whatever you do, I highly recommend that you neuter or spay your cat. They become much easier to live with and they’re also healthier.

Male or Female Maine Coon – Which Should You Choose?

A male main coon is more sociable, is very gentle with kids, and requires much more attention and grooming. A female main coon is more independent and can be left alone for a longer period. Females are also very sociable, however, if you want to pet your cat all day, a male main coon would be your best choice.

Above, I gave you a very short answer, but if you want to learn more about the differences between male and female main coons, please continue reading.

Does Maine Coon Cat Gender Metter?

Well, because gender influences a cat’s personality and physical traits. All Maine Coons are affectionate, gentle, and playful. But female Maine Coons are more aloof and independent than males, for instance. Being larger, males need more attention, more food, and more attention for their caretakers.

Females don’t need as much attention as males. Funny enough, males are attention whores when it comes to cats, unlike other predominant species on Earth. If you’re not clear on the behavioral and character differences between Maine Coon males and females, you’re lucky to have me.

I’m a friendly neighborhood cat enthusiast and today, we’ll talk about male/female Maine Coons, as well as my personal recommendation.

Male Maine Coons

Male specimens of this species are physically larger than females, and this leads to a bigger personality. If we could measure cat social skills, then male Maine Coons would be at the very top. They love their cuddling time with you. Try not to push them away too often because they’ll just try again.

There’s no getting around their constant need for attention and love. But something tells me you actually enjoy that thought, you cat lover you.

Male Maine Coons need their playtime like you and I need air to breathe. Preferably, you should play with them. And, this is quite a shocker, they love being around people.

Now we’ve seen it all – a cat breed that doesn’t only tolerate people but actually loves them. Instead of seeing us as mere slaves that do their bidding, male Maine Coons love humans. Whenever a new “Hooman” arrives, a Maine Coon will come and see what’s up.

Though, male Maine Coons pour down all that love on a narrow circle of humans. Most times, male Maine Coons become closer with one human and only socialize friendly-like with others. But that special human, male coons will love him/her like none other. I get the impression you’ve already decided on what cat to get for your home. But hold your horses, we haven’t talked about everything.

Male Main Coons need a lot of grooming. Being larger than their female counterparts, males just a bit more grooming. And they need their exercising time, just like females this time around. But males, compared to females, tend to be more active during daylight. They don’t especially like going out at night. That’s when they do their beauty sleep. Preferably cuddled in your arms, that is.

They are also:

• Quite independent
• Very outgoing
• In need of larger spaces
• Extremely stubborn
• Craving for your constant attention

In other words, male Maine Coons are stubborn attention seekers that will love their owner to death. Groom them, love them, feed them, and cuddle with them any chance you get. They’ll never be happier!

Female Maine Coons

For starters, females are physically smaller than males. It may not be apparent at first glance, especially with how large these cats are. But there’s a few pounds worth of difference and a few inches in length compared to males.

Females are quite sociable and outgoing in their own way, though not as sociable as males. They’re more careful about the people their let in their lives. Which means they’re not as extroverted or volcanically sociable as males.

Think of female Maine Coons as laidback ladies who know they’re beautiful and attractive. They’ll use that attractiveness to lure you into a cuddle and love you. Females are very nice and gentle once you get to know them. Show her that you only have the best intentions toward her, and she’ll start loving you. Though, a female Maine Coon often needs her alone time where she takes care of her own needs.

Unlike males who desperately crave attention 24/7, females are more independent and laidback. Males are similar to dogs, in a way. Females are cats in the true sense of the word. Not that they’re jerks, mind you.

Maine Coons are not jerks, not by any stretch of the imagination. It’s just that females won’t take up your time as much as males. Many people prefer the extra free time as opposed to cuddling non-stop with a cat. Eventually, it gets annoying to have that cat beg for attention every day.

Female Maine Coons are more active during the night, where they begin their “hunting” season. That’s how the theory goes, at least. The ancestors of domestic cats conserved their energy during the day to hunt at night when the dark environment favored their night vision.

Domestic cats kept this genetic trait and still act the same, at times. So, if your female Maine Coon starts leaping all over the place at night, that’s the hunting instinct playing its part.

Females have the following characteristics:

• More independent than males
• Acceptive of new people
• Aloof and collected
• Active during the night
• Bonds with more than one family member
• Less stubborn
• Needs less space

So, you see, male and female Maine Coons are quite different, and choosing one over the other is not a simple decision. You have to consider many things before getting a male or female Maine Coon.

Do Maine Coon Males or Females Cost More?

Maine Coons are expensive, even to cat lovers. Personally, I would think twice, thrice, and four times before investing in such a cat. Generally, the price tag comes around to $1000 for a purebred kitten. The better the pedigree is, the costlier the kitten is. If you’re interested in breeding Maine Coons, expect to pay around $2000 or even $2500 for a show kitten.

From what I found out, Maine Coons cost the same regardless of gender. Though neutered and spayed cats cost less than non-neutered and non-spayed ones. It’s not a surprise, since non-neutered and non-spayed cats are much harder to care for. Their behavior is wilder, more aggressive, and unexpected. Plus, the scent they emanate during breeding times is just insufferable.

A $1000 price tag for a cat seems a bit too much for many of us. And that’s true, though many cat lovers will happily dish out their savings to buy one. After all, a Maine Coon is a unique cat breed unlike any other. Their large size, affectionate behavior, and sociable nature make up for one of the best house pets.

Health Issues Among Male And Female Maine Coons

Regardless of the breed, cats are prone to getting sick and developing specific health issues. Maine Coon cats may suffer from:

• Hip dysplasia
• Obesity
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Obesity is not a problem, theoretically. It’s entirely up to the owner if the cat becomes obese or not. Don’t overfeed it, and your Maine Coon will not get obese. It’s as simple as that. What’s not so simple is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, though. This medical condition can occur at any time, but there are symptoms you can watch out for. This heart disease is more prevalent in male Maine Coons, though.

The same goes for hip dysplasia since males are more likely to develop it than females. Bad luck again, it seems. Though, if you take good care of your male Maine Coon, watch out for initial symptoms, and take quick actions, you should have no problem. Your Maine Coon will live out a long and healthy life!

Should you Get a Male or Female Maine Coon?

I’m not a psychic, so I can’t know what you like and don’t like. Maybe you have an affinity for clingy cats that are dependent on their owners. In which case you’ll choose a male Maine Coon.

It’s not a bad call, since males are more sociable than females. They’re very friendly with children and other pets, and you’ll rarely have problems with males. Though, males embody the phrase “your time is their time.”

You’ll rarely have any free time because the Maine Coon will always be there, watching you. It won’t wait for you to play with it. No, it’ll straight-up leap on you and start cuddling with you.

Fortunately, males are not active during the night because you’d have another thing coming. During daylight, be ready to be with them at all times. Are you going to the toilet? Your Maine Coon is there with you and he doesn’t get embarrassed at all.

Or, maybe you’re into independent cats. You are a cat lover but not a cat maniac who lives for cats. That’s more like it. Female Maine Coons are more independent and laidback than their male counterparts.

They prefer having their alone time, playing with themselves, though they won’t shun your presence at all. In fact, females are very sociable and friendly, as well. It’s just that they don’t actively seek it as males do.

Females are also capable of bonding with more than one family member. Males only focus their affection on one person, the poor sod. Females spread love all around the house, and they don’t discriminate.

Though, female Maine Coons are also more conservative with their affection. They won’t give it to just anyone. If you’re a good person and you treat her good, she’ll reciprocate. But at first, she’ll analyze and pay attention to anyone around her.

Wrap Up

My personal recommendation is a female Maine Coon. While I do love cats, I’m not a fan of constant pampering and cuddling. Males are a bit too high-maintenance for my tastes. An independent Maine Coon that welcomes me when I pet it but otherwise does her own thing is just right.

I also recommend spaying her as soon as possible because it makes life so much easier. Not only for you but also for her. Non-spayed cats are harder to take care of and, if they can’t mate, there’s a great deal of suffering involved.