My MC, tinkerbell, is almost as big as a bobcat and only likes people, as long as they are not the vet. She growls very deeply when she is at the vet or around the other cats. When she was a kitten she would play and run around the house with the other cats, now she is a grouchy old maid with them. Will she only get worse with age? She is neutered and the other 2 cats are female.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

Answers

Our Maine Coon, Priscella Mae, aka Prissy, is coming up on her 20th birthday. She is still as playful as when she was a kitten. She is also very people-oriented, not fond at all of other cats and a terror when it comes to dogs, of which she has no fear. She tolerates the other cats of the house as the Grand Dame, can vocally growl loud enough to send grown-ups scrambling. She is neutered, and our other two are also females. But.... I beleive it is her regal disposition that has the apprearance of being grouchy. She was our first, she's been with us longest, she owns us and claims her territory. And yes, she's become more possessive as she's aged -- also quite hard-of-hearing. And as a parting note, our vet handles all kinds of animals but is just a little afraid of Ms. Prissy's growls.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000

I found out today that I have a Maine Coon. By trying to find a calendar at www.browntrout.com under 'cats' and Maine Coon --- there she was in the middle of the back page of the calendar all white, with orange and brown markings --- and she growls too ---. Very loyal to those in the family who really like her. She is older, 11 yrs, and has had several litters a few years back. We thought she was Calico. Her son (they are both neutered now) is a very healthy mostly white with grey markings. These cats are very intelligent - are trained to listen - we merely say; go down and see Joey he's gone to bed and off they go. They respect that we don't want them on the couch re the shedding. In reading your notes re the fur...their fur is very smooth and soft but the underlying fine fluff well --- that's why they're not allowed on the couch in the liv. rm. They have their favourite perches and blankets down in the rec. I love them --- they know it!And yes, I talk to them.. She answers with a grrunttmeow when I ask if she wants to go out. lovely cats...but surely not purebreads...male loves to hunt..so they are mostly outside.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

My Maine Coon,Buddy, actually growled and chased away a meter man from my back door when I was pregnant; the wooden door was open and my Bud growled and looked so ferocious that the meter mAN had to have my husband (doing yard work in the front yard) unlock the front door. When we first got Buddy I had put a note on the front door "Warning, Guard Cat" I didnt want anyone to accidently let my cat out, little did I know he would be a true guard cat. He also protected our toddler from the burnt dust smell you get when the furnace kicks on the first time in the fall-he got my husband out of bed and led him to our boy's room. What a cat-he (barely, he is neutered) is extremely talkative, despite what "they" say. He is 10 1/2 yrs old. He fetches ice cubes-you throw them (we have wooden floors and it is so hilarious to watch Buddy slide) and he picks them up in his mouth and drops it in your lap until the ice cube melts and there is no more ice cube. Enjoy your fuzzbutt, fuzzface, whatever nick you give him.

-- Anonymous, December 25, 2000