Friday, January 23, 2009

Maine Coon Cats - Their View of the Outside World

By John Savage

When you get your Maine Coon kitten, the breeder will often have you sign an agreement that you will keep the cat strictly indoors. Over time, we have learned that indoor cats live longer, healthier lives.

However not everybody agrees with this and some people believe that it takes away that sense of freedom cats have to roam and climb and chase. Nevertheless the thinking behind keeping your cat indoors is very strong and so I'm glad to say that there is a compromise. You simply need to bring some of the great outdoors, indoors, for the benefit of your cat.

Now to start with hopefully you've got a window ledge inside your house and if you have then this is a great place for your cat to sit and watch the world go by, and this helps them to feel that they are actually almost outside. But if this is not good enough for you then let's look at the second possibility.

The second possibility is that you might have a screened porch or a porch that you can put a screen around. This will enable your maine coon to have a good view of the world and to enjoy the fresh air. Just make sure that there is no way he can jump over the screen and get out. Perhaps you could provide a pet door back into the house for him.

I am sure that your cat would enjoy going for a good walk on the grass and this will not harm them at all. The only thing is you must make sure they have a proper harness and leash and that it is fixed.

Do expect your maine coon to be a bit unhappy at first when he puts on a harness and leash but don't give up on that because very soon he will start to associate these with having a good time outdoors. And also do remember that when he goes out he may just want to sit and stare or roll around on the grass, it's his time after all!

The last thing that we want is your maine coon to feel bored by being indoors. We all know that cats big and small have a natural instinct to go hunting so make sure he has the opportunity to do so. Pop along to your local pet store and see if there are any toys that you can buy which will enable him to use his natural abilities to the full.

Finally, make sure that you are providing the same nutrition and exercise opportunities indoors that are available outdoors. Select food that is specifically for indoor cats or food that is specific for Maine Coons. Purchase or build a cat tree. Maine Coons dont climb straight up very often, but are happy to work their way up at an angle, and this is good exercise for them.

Keeping your Maine Coon indoors is not cruel. Ideally, your Maine Coon was born indoors, and doesnt know anything different. As long as you can bring a little bit of the outdoors indoors, he will be exceedingly happy, and still enjoy all of the indoor cat benefits.

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