Why Do Maine Coons Talk So Much?
If you own a Maine Coon, you’ll have noticed how vocal they can be.
Sometimes, they’ll follow you around the house talking to you non-stop.
Maine Coons are a talkative cat breed.
They meow just like other cats, but they chirp and trill more than they meow.
Trilling is a sort of combination of meowing and purring.
Why Are Maine Coons So Vocal?
Trilling is a sign of excitement and happiness.
They love human company and being the social animals they can’t help following you around talking to you.
Usually, cats meow for attention. Adult cats tend to do it less then kittens. However, Maine Coons are a bit different.
Typically, cats purr when they are content, but they purr for a variety of reasons.
Cats have been found to purr when they are anxious, sick, or even when in pain.
The same goes for Maine Coons, but it can be confusing as they can be especially vocally expressive. They even howl!
Sometimes, you’ll notice your Maine Coon’s being more vocal around new people or pets.
It could just be their way of saying “hello” to them and being their usual friendly self, but don’t forget they are cats underneath all that fluffy fur.
They can be just as territorial as any other cat breeds. If it feels its space has been invaded and balance of the household disturbed, you can bet it’ll be expressive of that fact.
You can expect your Maine Coon to keep on talking for the whole day.
It’s not just trying to cry out for your attention and affection like most cats, it’s actually socializing with you.
If you go to work, it interrupts its socializing routine, so it carries on when you return with a greeting followed by its desire to reconnect with you.
You can surely expect to be greeted by your Maine Coon almost every time you pass by it, expect to hear squeaks.
Don’t worry, when it’s really hungry or thirsty, it’ll let you know and you’ll learn to notice its needs quite quickly.
They make these distinct hollow meows when they are communicating their needs.
Maine Coon cats talk.
It’s one of its joys, but sometimes it can talk a little too much for us to keep up.
You can try to make an effort into guessing what’s it trying to say.
However, like most cat owners, your first thought might be wondering what it wants.
You can tend to all its needs, give treats, give it it’s favorite toys or feed it, give fresh water, clean up the litter box, and it’ll still keep talking away.
You can stop getting all worked up trying to figure out what it wants.
Your Maine Coon is just being a Maine Coon. In all likelihood, it just wants your company and nothing more.
It may sure want to play, but sometimes it just wants you to talk back, pet it, and look it in its eyes.
As long as it’s happy, it just wants to bond and connect with you.
Maine Coon cats enjoy a good conversation.
It doesn’t matter if you two don’t understand each other.
Get your Maine Coon kittens some soft toys.
If it doesn’t have its mom about it can drive you crazy with its meowing.
It just wants to snuggle up to its mom. You’re its mom if you adopted it young.
So, having toys the size of its mom will keep it busy and help it calm down.
What Do Owners Think About It?
Most people adore these talkative cats and play along finding it lovable.
You can even have a whole conversation with them.
You might be talking one thing and the cat something else, but it’s a lot of fun.
They can be very affectionate and are intelligent.
Not all Maine Coons understand human speech, but they can pick up on our behavior, mood, words and make associations.
This is one of the reasons why Maine Coons are compared to dogs.
It’s all fun and games until they keep you up at odd hours in the night.
Cats have a reputation for being nocturnal.
Sure enough, they do sleep a lot more in the daytime and they have all this unspent energy when it’s our turn to sleep.
However, they are actually the most active during dawn and dusk. In nature, that’s when their prey is most active.
You could say they are wired that way. If your Maine Coon is keeping you up at night, it’s probably just hungry or wants to play to expend some of that excess energy.
One thing you can do to get good night’s sleep is to make sure you keep it active during the day and keep a tight schedule for its meals.
You can keep your Maine Coon in a closed space like a basement if you want to block out its cries, but don’t forget they are social animals and this sort of isolation could affect their temperament.
Sometimes, they can be very vocal when they see a full moon or anything that catches their interest and excites them.
It can even be a nearby cat that’s on heat.
If you do end up putting your cat in its own space, be sure to give it ample water and maybe even food. Furnish the space with all its favorite toys and have a litter box ready.
They can get lonely and frustrated otherwise. No one likes to be ignored and shunned, so the same goes for your Maine Coon.
You can even give it an item of clothing that belongs to her favorite human companion.
It’ll keep it from becoming lonely. However, if you put it in an unfamiliar environment that’s going to upset it.
Maine Coon cats don’t take well to changes in their environment.
Maine Coons don’t like to be lonely.
It’ll lead a more emotionally healthier life if it has a sibling to snuggle up to when you can’t keep it company.
Maine Coon kittens may meow constantly and only stop when they are held in your arms.
This can be a problem when you have a lot of stuff to do and there is no one else at home.
They’ll adapt to being physically alone as they grow older, but in the meantime, it can seem like having a human baby to tend to all day. You can try to comfort it and get to take a nap.
Popular Opinion
If you have more than one Maine Coon, you’ll have noticed them talking to each other.
It’s amusing, it actually looks like they are having a very real conversation, doesn’t it?
Cats don’t have a “language” like us humans.
They communicate through behavior and a series of cries, growls, and other noises.
However, some people have sworn that their Maine Coons can really communicate akin to human speech and have a group of “phrases” that convey affection, desire to play as well as need for attention, to communicate it’s hungry and so much more.
Many a Maine Coon owners claim they are almost sure their cats are talking in some way.
Of course, it could be just associations.
They are very intelligent animals and may have figured out that a combination of certain sounds means something.
In that sense they really do talk, don’t they?
It’s been noted that Maine Coons makes different sounds when it’s communicating needs to its typical socializing.
People have noticed it making more aggressive sounds when chasing pests or sometimes even when play hunting.
It makes long growling noises.
It chirps away when it wants attention is engrossed in something.
Some adventurous cat owners have tried mimicking its calls in an attempt to better communicate and have noted their Maine Coons trying to match their owner’s pitch and tone.
Some people have noted that their female Maine Coon tend to be more talkative than the males.
However, most of the time their cats are equally talking up a storm with each other so much that it’s nearly impossible for them to get in a word edgewise.
It’s been suggested that Maine Coons are usually one of the smartest cats in a multi-cat household.
Their intellect shines through.
Sometimes, they do their trills with a combination of soft meows towards their human companions in an attempt to calm or make them happy.
It’s not uncommon to hear people claim they feel that their Maine Coons are very human-like.
This might surprise you a little with all this talk about how talkative Maine Coons are, but some people have noticed that their Maine Coons are not as vocal as other Maine Coons they’ve seen.
Some Maine Coons just aren’t that talkative, it’s nothing to worry about.
However, they’ll speak up when they are in the mood or when something catches their interest.
If you have owned other Maine Coons, it might seem unusual for your new Maine Coon to be uncharacteristically quiet.
Let’s not forget, they are just like us humans.
These fluff balls have their own individual differences and personality.
One Maine Coon might go crazy to get some red meat while another couldn’t care less as long as whatever it’s fed tastes good.
Don’t worry if your Maine Coon is a bit quiet, they become chattier when they feel comfortable around the house.
It can be a lot of fun to see your Maine Coon chirping away at the birds and trying to chase pests.
It can make a lot of unique sounds.
Sometimes it doesn’t take much to amuse them, but on the other hand, they get easily frightened by loud noises.
It’s also amusing how small their noises are compared to other cats for such large animals.
People have claimed they wouldn’t be surprised if their Maine Coons were able to roar because of their size.
Medical Concerns
Over-talking itself is not a result of any medical condition.
If anything, you should be concerned if over-talking can cause medical complications.
Sure, your cat might be talking to you about its day and how it feels on a daily basis.
So much so, it’s hard to notice when it’s trying to communicate some sort of discomfort.
Let’s not forget that it still can’t actually “speak” to us.
There is no cause for concern for its health from over-talking.
It’s a sign it’s energetic and in good health.
Talking all the time is not going to affect its health.
However, if a very chatty Mine Coon suddenly goes quiet for days, then something has changed.
If it’s having a hard time expressing a discomfort it might often become quiet and withdrawn.
If it’s quiet, hardly making any noise, it’s time to go see the vet.
Maine Coons can develop a condition called laryngeal paralysis just like any other cats.
It’s a nerve damage that causes its larynx to stop functioning properly making it hard for them to eat, breathe, or vocalize.
The exact cause of laryngeal paralysis is unknown and is usually a result of trauma to the nerves. It has been found that certain viral infections can cause laryngeal paralysis in which case it’s not permanent.
Regardless, rest assured it’s very rare in cats and does not develop from over-talking.
Cats with conditions like hyperthyroidism can affect its vocals however.
It causes hoarseness in their meows with weight loss. Another cause for hoarseness in its meows could be rabies.
If your cat has gotten into a fight or even gotten in contact with another animal who you suspect may have rabies take your Maine Coon to the vet immediately.
However, incessant and prolonged meowing can cause some hoarseness, but Maine Coons tend to trill more than meow.
Other things that can affect your cat’s vocals are growths. Cats sometimes develop growths around their throat. It can lead to hoarseness or even complete loss of your fluff ball’s meows.
There have been incidents where cats develop throat cancer.
They are prone to vocal cord polyps. Symptoms include ear infections, coughing, and sneezing. Your vet is better equipped to catch it early.
If your Maine Coon is exhibiting unusual behaviors, a trip to the vet can save you a lot of trouble.
If it’s in pain, it’ll try its best to let you know. Be vigilant of its behavioural cues and examine it from time to time while ensuring it has a healthy diet and plenty of clean water to drink.
Conclusion
Maine Coons can be a lot of fun to converse with and most of the time they expect you to talk back to them.
Maine Coons being social animals, and you can make your cat’s day by indulging in a conversation.
Their trills are especially pleasant and they make for good company.
People tend to find very vocal cats annoying, but Maine Coons are an exception. They provide a comforting balance between engagement and good temperament.
What do you think? Aren’t they the best?
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About the Author
MaineCoon
My name is Ann and I have been looking after and breeding cats since 2013. I am currently the proud ownder of Alita, a female Maine Coon to whom I've dedicated this site. She has had 2 litters and is around 3 years old. We share adventures and stories together.
14 thoughts on “Why Do Maine Coons Talk So Much?”
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Welcome to my site
My name in Ann, I am a Thai citizen hoping to tell the world about the Maine Coon. It’s my favorite breed of cat and I have learnt a lot of things about them. Please look around my site and let me know what you think. This is Alita, my Maine Coon and you can find out more on the About Me page.
What a delightful dialogue on Maine Coon. I have never had a full bloded Maine Coon but raised a mix-breed MaineCoon from birth to 13 years old. She was such a wonderful cat and viery vocal as described above. We just adopted another mixed-breed Maine Coon yesterday and had to Google the reason for his being so vocal.Your article was very enlightening and i realized how lucky i was to inherit him. Kutos to your article.
Hi Laura, really glad you enjoyed the article. Thanks, Ann
My first Maine Coon passed away about 2 years ago. He was a blue and around 20 pounds.
When we brought him home, he would come every morning like clockwork to our closed bedroom door ( we did that after he jumped full force on my head and stomach during the night one time lol) and would greet us with “Heroooowr!” which sounded like a human saying Hello! He had to be in the same room I was…always.
He would come and stand in front of visiting strangers, look up at them and wait a bit. I would tell the human to talk to him. They usually thought I was nuts but would do it anyway. Boy, were they shocked! It was always amusing to watch the enchnated human and the huge blue cat having a conversation. Many of my friends would say they wished they could take him home.
At every meal I would pull out a chair next to me and he would jump up on it then put a paw on my shoulder. He never tried to swipe our food, it just seemed he wanted to be with me/us.
When I went through a divorce and simultaneously my last child had left the house to go to college, it was an emotional time as you can imagine. But Raja always came running and had to climb on my shoulder of sit in my lap and touch my cheek with his paw if I was crying. Even if I was just feeling down he would seem to know and follow me, try to talk to me and try to get me to hold him while he ‘talked’ to me. I miss him greatly still.
Last spring I finally felt ready to get a new Maine Coon kitten I named Sheba. He is not so talkative but he trills often. He must be in the same room and he must have regular snuggle times. But he is not so much a lap kitty. He is more active than my Raja was and wants to get me to play as often as he can.
One thing I would add is that Maine Coons, because of their size, are more powerful and their claws are a bit sharper with a longer curve. I always make sure to keep his claws clipped. This particular kitten I supervise my grandchildren when they visit. In other words make sure your big Maine Coon is well socialized and he is taught to be gentle.
I always say that Maine Coons are somewhere between dogs and cats. They are so wonderfully unique!
Hi Theresa. So sorry to hear about Raja, I would like to have a cat like him too, he was not a pet but was a part if your life, your family, I know he is always in your mind but glad you have got Sheba with you. Mine always paws my face. I think he wants to wake me up or just check I’m alive. You feel free to comment, I love to here about your cat story. Thanks Ann.
Yep i know what you mean i have a gorgeous mainecoone Skyler he is a big boy at six months .He is a talker and loves his food he will wake me up every morning to fill his food dish and water up to the top a special cat for me .I cant wait to watch him grow up he is huge at 16 pounds 6 months old.
Fabulous article! We have/had two beautiful Maine Coon Cats – Saxon and Star. Same breeder, different litters. Star was two days older than Saxon. Star passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly at 5.40am (we found her on the kitchen floor) on 13 September 2018. We don’t know why, possibly heart? She showed no symptoms of anything, in fact I told her off 10 mins prior for scratching our carpet! She was such a bouncy, bubbly (her nickname was Bubble), happy, extremely chatty ‘little’ (7kg) cat. Always playing and always had so something to say. We miss her terribly and the house is so quiet and so tidy (she had her own toybox) without her. Saxon, our big handsome boy, on the other hand is a real smoochy, loving boy, who enjoys our company, doesn’t care much for toys and bever talked much. He got on well with Star (she adored him), but preferred our company. Since Star passed away, Saxon has become a real chatterbox! I swear he says ‘herro’ whenever he walks in the room! He has become incredibly demanding of our attention even firmly pulling a hand towards him if that hand stops giving him a stroke! He has always been affectionate, but since our gorgeous girl left us, he has changed immensely. Talking heaps (we joke that he couldn’t get a word in when Star was around!) and still very loving, but in a very different way. Saxon turned 10 in October 2018.
I have a Maine Coone, Jazmine, I’ve had since 2005 now- wow. And it’s our first time being divorced with no other cats or pets around, it’s just she and I. And since then she has become SO MUCH MORE VOCAL. It honestly sounds like she tries to say I love you and hello – even other people think so… and she will talk to me for an hour while I get ready, tell me about her day I assume when I get home, and softly talk/purr/cooes at night. I didn’t realize she was a Maine Coone until I got her spayed- I adopted her- she is my therapist/BFF….. Maine clones are the little people with fur… great article
I just adopted a “senior” maine coon rescue. He is hyperthyroid and we are treating him accordingly. I have always had cats, but never one of this size. I still have one other cat that is also a rescue, a senior and a female. They are still testing one another, but Bo is amazing. I chose to read this article because he vocalizes so much and I needed to know if this was normal. I mean he has a very big vocal capacity. He must have been an opera singer in another life. I am doing everything I can to make him feel comfortable and safe. He was very scared when he first came home with us, but he is warming up. I was so happy to find that he is an extremely affectionate feline. Loves love, and gives kisses. Great appetite and is beautiful. I am hoping that he will enjoy his golden years with our little collective. This article was very informative and reassuring as to his behavior. This is my first maine coon so I am still a newbie with this breed. I am in love though, how can I not be?
We have had many cats but Mikey is our first Maine Coon. He’s 8 months old and already 14lbs! Oh my what a joy he is! We love talking with him and can’t wait for many years with our big furry buddy!
Our Phycho cat was left by her owner. She has been in our family about 10 years now. We love her so very much. She trills constantly and is such a blessing. We can’t imanage life without her. Thank God for putting her in our lives. I was never s cat person. I am now!!!!?!
Yeah my female MC called Sass is 15 years old and still chirps away, she’ll make a sound like herow! pretty much whenever she passes and everybody thinks she is saying hello! which I think she is.
She is still pretty bouncy in the evenings but I know she must only have another 3 or 4 years, the whole family will be sad when she’s gone. The thing I did which really pepped her up a few years ago, was to have the vet clean her teeth every 18 months. She does suffer from gingivitis and that can result in a shortened life for cats (as for people actually).
The highlights of Sass is that I taught her to fetch things (like a dog)!! I mean things like small wooden toys or stuffed toy mice. She does it less reliably now, but in her youth and middle age I would lie on the couch, show her the toy and chuck it across the room. She would tear after it, pounch on it and bring it back in her mouth just like a dog. Hilarious. I’m going to try and get some good examples on my mobile, put it on youtube and retire early!.
The other endearing thing she does is the head wobble… Most of the time she is pretty docile, gets picked up, put down, tickled and stroked all with good humour. BUT she does love lying on the stairs about eye level (we have stairs with bannisters). If you walk past with her lying there and you catch her eye, it is an entirely different look, wide pupils and not at all docile. She wamnts you to stick your finger through the gap in the bannister and she will go for it! I think being at eye level with a human makes her feel at the same order in the house pecking order!. Anyway she fully anticipates this potential game whenever we pass the stairs and when she caches your eye she does this head wobble where she rosks her head from side to side and sort of pulls her neck in , its like she cannot contain herself and is doing a massive cat laugh (but completely silent) in anticipation of the attack the finger game. So much personality!
Thank you everyone for your comments and stories, its helped me make a decision … I’m alone and talk to my plants ! I’ve always talked to animals and enjoyed their company. Now that I’m considering a cat … this sounds so great. I’ve long for a great big, pillow kittie companion. I guess I’ll need a bigger pillow. I love the idea that their smart, trainable and so social.
Thanks again for all the loving stories, I can’t wait to start my own.
Maine Coons are the best companions that you can have.
It’s best to get two to keep each other company and entertained.
They do get lonely on their own and almost depressed.
I got my kitten a companion and his mood and energy changed overnight
They talk talk talk talk talk and it’s best to talk to them or whisper to get their attention
They need to be introduced to new people gradually
People need to be trained on Maine Coons as they act more like
Collie Dogs
They sleep all day with you if you are not feeling well
Thank you all for sharing.
My wife and I recently ‘inherited a Maine Coon. Milo is about 7 1/2 years old, and when we received him , he was a tad underweight, in a state of mild shock at the transfer, and very bony spine.
I was expecting him to chirrup a lot, but he sticks to the common Meeeowwwwwww, and that’s his range complete. Now, after nearly three months, he has settled down with us completely. He is an absolute gentleman, and of a very definite strong nature. We’re still trying to understand his food preferences, and it seems that dry food is his preference to wet food.
After the first week with us, Milo decided that he would sleep in our bedroom, WITH us. We were flattered by this gesture, and now, he sleeps on the bed, taking up nearly 50% of the area. He comes and goes, quietly, and though he has ut on weight, he still lands on us like a feather, and doesn’t do anything unsociable ever !
he LOVES a good game of ‘Chasey’ around the house, rocketing around , his large paws like bags of surgeons scalpels, and he is gradually changing the carpeting into small puff balls of Wilton Carpet, and the nice rug we HAD in the living room is being tested to the destruction limit every day.
Milo is NOT a lap cat, and after his initial first few weeks with us, when he tried out our laps and decided that he wanted a rug over our laps, then grew out of this, he is quite content to watch us, or he might be just ‘Plotting’ something.
However, his communication skills are more enthusiastic than understandable. He nearly screams his instructions to us, and I scream back at him my answer, but WE LOVE HIM COMPLETELY. He is so beautiful with his honey coloured coat, light and silky, and those enormous paws, every time we see him, we go gaga, and bless the day he came into our lives.