Maine Coons have a reputation for liking water but is it really true? Our last two boys drank water occasionally but other than that it held no interest for them. Our current Maine Coons are different. They all drink plenty of water and one is obsessed with splashing it from the bowl.
Do Maine Coons like water?
Many Maine Coons do appear to like water, but not all of them. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Maine Coons only like water as a drink. They might dip their paws in their water bowls but the majority of Maine Coons do not like being placed in a bathful of water at all.
Can Maine Coons swim?
Like many cats, Maine Coons can swim if they have to. However, it is rare for a Maine Coon to choose to enter a body of water for a swim. It is definitely a needs must skill!
You should not deliberately place a Maine Coon in water just to see if it can swim as this will really scare and shock it. If you own a swimming pool, make sure there is an easy way for your Maine Coon to climb out in case it does fall in.
Do Maine Coons like baths?
There are Maine Coons that will tolerate being bathed, but most will try to escape from the bath. Many owners tell stories of the scratches they receive during the process.
We once had to bath a young Maine Coon and he hated it. Since then we have not bothered to bath any of our others. It is not usually necessary, despite what you might read or be told.
Why Do People Think Maine Coons Like Water ?
I think it’s reasonable to say that Maine Coons truly loving water is nothing more than a myth that’s gone viral. The idea that the Maine Coon loves being in water seems to be one of those popular myths that simply isn’t true.
Many Maine Coons are not scared of water like some cats appear to be and they are less wary of it and are quite fascinated by it but this doesn’t mean they are likely to jump into the shower or bath with you at every opportunity.
I think it’s safe to say that Maine Coons will tolerate water more than the majority of other cat breeds and they are less fearful of it than other cats. Why this is, I don’t know – it’s just part of their personality.
Maine Coons and Water – Don’t Believe Everything You Read on the Internet!
You have to be careful when researching any information on the internet. Whilst writing this article I have seen many posts online claiming that Maine Coons absolutely love water. As an experienced owner who knows many other owners, I know this just is not true.
One or two Maine Coons here and there might love water, but not the majority. All it seems to take is one website with an authoritative-sounding name to make a claim and other smaller websites follow suit. And hey presto – a myth becomes thought of as the “truth”.
So be very careful with what you read and believe online. At madaboutmainecoons.com we never post something just because we’ve read it online. We’ve owned and studied Maine Coon’s behavior for many years and speak from experience.
So, if you’ve searched the internet for this subject then you’ll probably have seen things like, “The Maine Coon loves swimming”, and “The Maine Coon likes to bathe at least once a week”. Both these statements are not correct and although you may find the odd individual cat who will exhibit this behavior, it certainly isn’t the norm – which is what we’re interested in here!
What do Maine Coons like about water?
The Maine Coon is a very inquisitive breed of cat. It will want to know what you’re doing at all times and if you leave a door open just a crack it will not be able to resist the temptation to go and investigate further! This can cause it no end of problems squeezing into places it shouldn’t go but it’s just part of its character.
The Maine Coon shares the same sense of inquisitiveness when it comes to water. It just seems to like the way it moves. Now, that does not mean they all want to immediately jump into it and splash around. This is definitely not the case but they are certainly intrigued by it.
So, what can you actually expect your Maine Coon to do around water?
- They will drink from the tap. This is quite common and I have never, ever seen Charlie (our white Maine Coon) drink from his water bowl. When he wants a drink, he walks into the kitchen and meows in front of the sink. We then have to lift him up onto the worktop and turn the tap on. He will then drink from that. We have not been able to train him to turn the tap off
afterward yet but we’re still trying! - They will watch you in the bath. When you’re in the bath they will put both front paws up onto the rim of it so they can see it. They absolutely love watching what’s going on. Occasionally, they will jump up and precariously walk around the rim of it.
- They will sit in the sink. This isn’t so much related to the water but more related to it being a nice cool place where they feel safe (as it has ‘walls’ on each side). You sometimes see people turn the tap on whilst a Maine Coon is in the basin and it may stay there for a while but
usually , when the water gets underneath them and it becomes uncomfortable, they’re off.
It is so rare for a Maine Coon to ‘enjoy’ having a bath. I have seen one or two videos of a Maine Coon seemingly enjoying being bathed. But think about it, who would post a video of their Maine Coon not enjoying a bath? No one, because there would be a lot more of these otherwise.
You may see Maine Coons getting their feet wet by dipping them into
What Makes Maine Coons Different?
The Maine Coon is a very unique breed of cat. Its inquisitive and social personality is often compared to that of a dog and having spent a quarter of a century with them (and several years with a dog) I can say that there is some truth in this. Personally, I believe it’s their inquisitive nature that makes the Maine Coon stand out from other breeds in this respect.
Where other cats will cower, turn and run – the Maine Coon will pop their ears up, stick their tail up and trot over to see what’s going on and see if they can be any part of it! This and their affection for their owners and not wanting to be left out will result in them being an integral part of the things that we do.
For instance, baths. They will see you in there, relaxed and happy and at their level. They will be relaxed and want to be part of whatever it is that you’re doing. That doesn’t mean jumping in with you but they will get a lot closer than other cats.
Maine Coons and Myths
So, I think it’s probably time to get a few things clear then. The Maine Coon, although it is not as apprehensive of water as other cat breeds, would not typically choose to get wet. There seems to be a myth that has spread far and wide on the internet that this breed adores water.
Yes, there may be the odd occurrence of a Maine Coon seen in a swimming pool but then you’ll also see the odd occurrence of a hippopotamus living in someone’s house -but that doesn’t mean it’s normal or happens often.
You can find quite literally anything you want on the internet if you search hard enough. Just search online for ‘cat swimming’ and you’ll see a lot more cat breeds other than the Maine Coon swimming.
Do Maine Coons Like Water? – Conclusion
Although the Maine Coon is an unusual cat in many ways, it does not like water in the way that many people seem to believe. A Maine Coon does tolerate water to an extent and you may even see a Maine Coon playing in water. However, not many truly enjoy being submerged in it.
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