I've heard of house cats, but never met one. A friend of mine lives in the town. She has a house cat. She can't let him out or he'd get run over. He also likes to be in all the time. I can't really imagine a cat like that. Mine are always wanting to be out, but in winter and rain, they won't get out even if you try to kick them out for a bit. I have to lift them in my hands to put them out if I'm cooking fish or chicken for us, or they start driving me mad in the kitchen by going round and round my feet to want it. They love fish and poultry. I caught my fat cat licking my pudding dish the other day. It had sugar syrup left in it, and the fatty was really liking it. I shoo-ed him instantly upon catching him, as sugary food is bad for cats. I've also caught the same one licking extremely salty bacon fat. Bad stuff for them, again.

 

Our cats could be considered "house cats".

We have built a large run that extends down one side of the house, without it being an eyesore and our cats have plenty of room to roam. They can go in and out as they please through the cat flap.

As we keep intact cats in the house we cannot risk them wandering around meeting up with the local gang. We also feel it would be slightly risky letting champion cats wander around as they do stand out a bit. I suspect in a quieter area we could let them outside supervised, but very large cats could be a problem for others if they didn't see eye to eye and also do a number on the local bird population.

We don't have a problem with smells or whatever, cats are usually clean when trained well but if you stay on top of their areas it never becomes an issue.

 

I wonder if the Maine Coons are better to be trained as house cats. I knew of a lady with two Ragdoll cats. Apparently they wouldn't get out even if you pay them! She had to lift them in her hands to put them on her drive sometimes. They would stay on the drive, and wouldn't venture out at all. So I'm thinking whether Raggies and Coonies are more home loving than other breeds. Unlike Bengal, who goes gallivanting for days and comes back with a sheep in its mouth.

Mine do venture out, and I like them to do that. Every night, though, I'm whistling like an idiot at my door to get them in, and the fat one plays up with me sometimes. He hides somewhere, comes out, but then he makes me chase him in the garden. It's a bit annoying when it's cold or raining outside, but usually in such weather they're hiding inside, anyway.

 

dawwwwww those bloody kittens are so dam cute Rich

 

Maine Coons tend to lack the aggression Bengals are well known for but they are large and powerful cats that arose in a very hostile climate, they do enjoy the outdoors especially in cold weather. Maine Coons are particularly good mousers and do enjoy the buzz of movement outdoors, there are lots of things to chase.

But cats have all different personalities, they are very smart by animal standards and some will naturally seek the outdoors while others will prefer to chill out. One of our cats surprised me and bolted out of the back door once and gave the vixen I hadn't seen under the Budlea an absolute hiding.

I know ours like going out - I walk them on leads when it's quiet and I can guarantee as little ridicule as possible - but they have their paddock and a free run of a large house so they are adequately stimulated.

But around us, they're very chilled out. Even used them as pillows!

 

I use my fat cat as my pillow and he uses my head as his pillow. The older brown tabby of ours is not that sociable and cuddly. She was, until Master Slash aka Rubix turned up. Since him joining our household she has been emotionally scarred and let down for life.

 

26lbs.

 

Is it as big is this beast now?>




Hold him in your arms like this man has done, and take a selfie with him. Then post it here for us to work it out. Not with your kid because both your cat and your kid are small creatures, and therefore, it's not easy to work out your cat's humungousness.

 

I don't have enough power to hold him like that.

I took this pic this morning moments before he got my arm in his mouth for trying to move him away from the nipper.



He's 45 inch from nose to tip of tail.

 

Good picture. Both your coonie and your son look good in it.