Maine Coon
Maine Coons are one of the better choices for a family with children. Expect a big cat that is moderately active, sheds heavily and needs regular brushing. The big catch is running cost — this is one of the pricier cats to keep well.
The numbers
| Typical lifespan | 12–15 years |
|---|---|
| Average adult weight | 7 kg (about 15.4 lb) |
How long is that, really? Cats live longer than most people expect — about 11.7 years on average across every breed, and a well-looked-after Maine Coon can reach 15 years. A kitten you bring home this year will still be curled up somewhere warm long after you have finished school.
Sources: VCA Animal Hospitals · PDSA breed guide · Teng et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2024).
What Maine Coons are actually like
Day to day. Moderately active — a couple of proper play sessions a day and somewhere to climb keeps this one content. It is worth being fussy about which toys you buy: most cats ignore a whole basket and chase exactly one thing.
The coat, honestly. This breed sheds heavily and needs regular brushing. Brush a few times a week and you will catch a lot of the hair before it reaches the sofa. Not all of it.
Company and noise. This one is sociable without being clingy and fairly chatty. That is the easiest version of a cat to live with: it will come and find you, then get on with its day. Have the tray, the scratching post and a high shelf in place before it arrives and it settles fast — the setup checklist is short.
Get one if…
- You want a cat that will put up with being picked up by a child
- You like the idea of a genuinely large cat and have the floor space for it
Think again if…
- You cannot live with hair on the sofa, the car and your clothes
- A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year
- A shelter cat would do everything this one does for a fraction of the price
- You are short on floor space — a big cat needs a big litter tray and a sturdy cat tree
Health worth knowing about
Every animal is an individual, and plenty of Maine Coons live long, healthy lives. This is here so nobody is surprised — ask a vet, and ask whoever you get the cat from what they have tested for.
What it costs to keep one
Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier cats on our list) — because it is a big cat, so food, medicines and anaesthetics all cost more, and the breed has known health issues that can mean extra vet visits.
Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.
Looking for one? Start at a shelter
Rescues do have Maine Coons and Maine Coon crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.
Often compared with
❓ Common questions about Maine Coons
Is a Maine Coon good with kids?
Yes — Maine Coons have a strong reputation with children. As with any animal, an adult should supervise young kids and the cat together, and children need to learn to leave it alone while it eats or sleeps.
Do Maine Coons shed a lot?
Yes — heavily, and all year. If hair on the sofa and in the car would bother you, this is not the breed.
Can a Maine Coon be left alone during the day?
Usually, yes. Most cats cope with a working day given a clean tray, water and a window to watch — just not days on end.
Is a Maine Coon a good first cat?
Yes — this is one of the easier-going breeds for a family new to cats.
Should I get a Maine Coon?
Maine Coons suit a home that keeps to a routine, gives it room to be itself, and can live with the hair. Meet the cat itself before deciding. Get one if: You want a cat that will put up with being picked up by a child; You like the idea of a genuinely large cat and have the floor space for it. Think again if: You cannot live with hair on the sofa, the car and your clothes; A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year; A shelter cat would do everything this one does for a fraction of the price; You are short on floor space — a big cat needs a big litter tray and a sturdy cat tree.
📚 Where this comes from
We check our care advice against vets, animal charities, and government health guidance. Here is what this page is built on.
Vets, charities & official guidance
- Cat breed profiles — VCA Animal Hospitals
- Cat breed guides — PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals)
- Life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK (Teng et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2024)
- Lovely lilies and curious cats — FDA
- Indoor and house cats — Blue Cross
- Cats — CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People
- Feeding growing kittens — VCA Animal Hospitals
- Declawing position statement — Feline Veterinary Medical Association
Keeper & species-community guides
Checked August 2026. These are other people’s websites, and none of it replaces your own vet — if a pet seems unwell, call one.