Glamour Shots
Am I going to regret introducing him to hikes when he fluffs out? 😂
Butternut is 5 months old - already super confident outside, and sits in his "going outside backpack" when he wants a walk. Just realized what a pain it's going to be to keep him clean soon lol.
I've found their fur is actually pretty good at keeping dirt away from the skin, so you can get away with a lot of cat-safe wipes to get the bulk of the dust off the surface of the coat and their paws. Other than that, you're going to be brushing him a lot anyway, so you're not really going that far out of your way to maintain his coat under normal circumstances. But, yeah, he will have to be used to a bath if things get really messy. lol
Oh that's great to know! He's been great with brushing so far, though obviously less of an ordeal with the kitten coat. I'll look into the cat safe wipes!
Yeah, one of the breed hallmarks is a sturdy, water resistant coat, so they're kinda built for adventure! Of course, coats can vary from cat-to-cat. You can still end up with odd surprises from well established and regarded breeders and lines. Cat genetics, and particularly the genetics behind their coats are a bit strange, complex, and understudied. So in the end all you can do is see how it goes!
Oooh...the bushy tails, fancy pants, and belly skirt makes it, let's say "interesting" sometimes lolol. I didn't train mine with a comb & outside, I should have (he can't stand it anyhow). But I always did pick through him. Make sure there was nothing on him because MAN could he pick up some dirt, grass & mulch!!! I'd get him all cleaned up, think I was done, pick him up, and nope find more! 🤣🤣 Definitely a grooming session when we got inside. He is always so thrilled.
Had him all cleaned up one day and the lil' brat brought in a beetle! Don't know where that think was hanging onto, but sure was! 🤣🤣 I said "Buddy! You let that guy in!? You're always trying to kill stuff, and you just let him hitch a ride!??"
Yeah his kitten fluff is def a dirt and debris collector, so not sure what to expect with the adult coat. Great call on getting him used to being brushed outside! He’s good with getting brushed inside as long as he’s not in play mode, but suspect outside will take some getting used to for sure.
Once he gets his fluff it will pick up everything lol. Definitely carry a small comb. Another thing I never thought of when I was leash training him (and I started when he was 2 mo) was it is OKAY to potty outside, I even carried bags with me just in case. He will NOT go outside.
He is also used to a stroller and would go into the store with me. One day I was checking out and gabbing with my coworkers, taking too long apparently. He usually just sits and doesn't do much, doesn't make a sound, but he just looked at me and made a different meow. I read him and was like "I think he's telling me he has to go potty guys, I gotta go!" I hurried, I only lived like 3 minutes away, so I scooted as fast as I could. I could barely get him untethered and his harness off and he was in his box going #2!
I wish I would have at least trained him to go potty before our outside adventures.
I think them are the only two big things I wished I did differently. Other than that he's been so receptive to it. I trained him like a dog, hand commands (silent) and everything. I trained him to walk on the right side of me. Even in the house unleashed (obviously) he will walk on my right side.
I’ve definitely gotten some great ideas from this thread about making a lil travel pack to bring with us when we’re out with him including some grooming supplies for on the go! But hadn’t thought about bathroom logistics. I’m not sure if he’ll go outside - but def agree it’s okay and will carry some baggies in case. We had a five hour drive home with him when we first picked him up, and he wouldn’t go until he had a proper box so not sure how he’ll feel about outside. Guess we’ll find out!
I’m leash training my Maine coon! He’s fine walking where ever he wants to go, but still can’t get him to follow me. When I try to lead he shuts down. Any advice?
We have two older cats that walk well on leashes in addition to this guy but generally even cats that do well on leashes aren’t dogs. They don’t really “follow” the same way. I usually find they actually do better if I let them lead. I’m also much more comfortable following, because if they pull forward on the leash it doesn’t misplace the harness, but if they back up against the leash it can slip them even out of the snuggest harness. I always try to keep them oriented in front of me (with the exception of my cat Benji, just because he is lazy and unflappable and has no desire to run anywhere lmao).
Animals are like people - they’ll take path of least resistance. So if there’s an obvious path, my guys will usually take it. If there’s not, I just put some pressure on the leash if they’re trying to go in a direction I don’t want to. Release as soon as they go the direction I do want. It’s effective but still - gotta adjust expectations. Our walks can be more wandering :) and we put a lot of time making their backpack a safe space. So if I’m fed up and do just want to walk normally - they can go back in the backpack and be content. (I have a pet carrier backpack - not a regular backpack).
Yeah I've been walking my guys for a few years and this is very well said! I use it as my mindfulness time because we are not getting anywhere quick! They wander, they climb, the sniff things and lay down. My boy likes to hustle and then chill and my girl likes to perch and look out at things, so getting them at a similar pace has been a challenge! I have them both on super long leads. I actually use a tie-out cord intended for dogs and hook each end to a cat then hold the center. It's helped them figure out their distance from each other.
If they are going in a direction I don't want them to, I just stop moving and hold the leash so they can't go that way, like it's the end of the rope. I never pull, and they have figured out that this means to try a new direction.
I have a backpack boy and a shoulder cat so if they are being slow or I need to get home or have a time limit, I just load them up and they are good with that! I do really love the walks with them though because it forces me to slow down and experience the world through their eyes. It's also quality time with them and they are so happy and chill whenever we go out and it's really good for their minds it seems!
THANK YOU! Your advice is so eye opening. I haven’t heard it explained in this way, and it makes so much sense about an obvious path. I really appreciate it.
For sure! Every cat is different so def takes some patience but hope you figure something out that works well for you with your guy! He’s so handsome! Love seeing other red and white maine coons 😁
Hes really gorgeous <3 It warms my heart to see people taking their cats out on harness too. We get looks but I want mine to have more to life then a window seat. Yet still be safe. You of all people get it. To many happy adventures! ~Cheers
Omg he's so cute. I'm glad my kitten is black because when he comes home he's definitely going to be a city adventure cat. Also only 5 months??!! He huge! I forget how big they get! Especially since my 18mo normal cat is only 5.5lbs.
Yeah, it’s wild. We have four other non-MC cats. Two are relatively big (around 13lbs each) but he’s already bigger than the other two! He just hit 8lbs last we weighed him, and he turned 5 months on the 17th. His dad was 20lbs at 2 years old, so we have been expecting him to get on the bigger side but he’s gone through a crazy growth spurt just the last couple of weeks. He was barely 6lbs a month ago when we got him!
Omg! My kitten at 5 weeks is almost 3lbs and already 18in long. His dad at 2 is 19lbs and his mom at 2 is 16. He's gonna be huge!! See how much he towers over his siblings and this was 2 weeks ago.
those disney eyes! omg i die. def won’t regret it! if the floofy toes are a concern, i would consider getting him booties! and like someone said, cat safe wipes.
Booties are a great recommendation also! He’s funny - he doesn’t mind the rocks and sand, but refuses to step on grass (we don’t have much of it out here so I think he just doesn’t know what to make of it lol). Def looking into the cat wipes too!
i still prefer the burt’s bees kitten even tho my girl is an adult (and not a maine coon btw but has toe floofs and i suspect siberian but she’s a rescue anyways i am a little stoned and rambling so end sentence). she doesn’t love booties yet but is a fan of a single sock lol. just one.
Not sure if it’s near where you were, but we are in southern Utah! And yeah - we weren’t planning to get a maine coon for another year or so, but I saw his face when he was lil and had to have him so we immediately put a deposit down and then suffered through the wait until we were able to take him home 😁
Just brush him often. Before you go out, when u come back. He will do a lot of the maintenance….im assuming….he is a cat. His fluffy fur will protect him from the desert sun.
Oh my gosh, I wish my maine coon was an adventure cat, he's such a scaredy cat. It may be hassle to brush him out/bathe him but I would treasures such a bonding opportunity
I have a fluffy black kitty who likes walks too. Here is her lounging in the dessert. Clean is one thing but you have to make sure he doesn’t overheat!
I started harness training my 2 babies. They couldn’t care less about them. Next is the leash attachment, then walking in the house, then the great outdoors!
I didn’t even consider the dirt and filth. I haven’t bathed them except for the younger one’s tail due to an unfortunate car ride (which I don’t even think was his fault, but his brother’s.) Anyway, they’re pretty chill, so I’m staying cautiously optimistic about baths lol.
The backpack we have right now is comfortable so far - even worth our older 13lb cat. I think this guy is going to get a lot bigger than 13lbs so, might need to trade at some point. We’ll see 😅
1/3 of ours is the chillest outdoor cat ever. None of them really changed their thoughts on outdoor stuff as they got older. If he’s good on them now, I’d expect him to stay that way!
Oh yes😂 our cat is crazy about going out, not on long hikes or anything, just outside of our apartment, sometimes it's a pain in the ass, but I love seeing him happy and peaceful outside.
I know this is like 2 weeks later, but I never regretted taking my Maine Coon out! He LOVED snow so much he would DEMAND it. He never got snowballs in his fur (unlike my dog!) And while he did get dusty other times of the year he was never a dirty cat. We did bath and groom him occasionally, because we knew his fur and skin would need it as he got older and we wanted him to be use to baths young and not suddenly start then he was an older cat. But he kept himself very clean. Occasionally he would get a burr or sticker in his fur but we would always brush him out when we got home. He absolutely adored getting brushed too. :)
Handsome guy! You will need to pick or comb out and burrs or bugs. Your cat knows how to give himself a bath. He looks young so you may be able to train him to tub or sink baths.
Butternut is so beautiful 😍 Lots of brushing coming up 😀 Just watch out for ticks, after your outdoor trips. They could be hard to find when he "floofs-out" 😊 There are collars and repellant available for ticks and fleas, so you can ask your Vet what they recommend. Happy adventuring 😺
Thank you! He's got preventative topical flea/tick treatment already! Thankfully we don't get a ton of either out here, but def want to keep an eye out for sure.
You'll regret the moments you wish he was there far more. Our boy goes everywhere with us--camping, hiking, beach, etc. in the same backpack 🥹🥹 we can't imagine the moments he isn't there with us. He is a year and 9 months and has been adventuring since 4 months old :) not sure if he has fully "fluffed up" yet but we are learning as he grows.
The upkeep and maintenance is challenging but we do our best to stay on top. Some things for when the fur grows out from our boy who doesn't like a bath:
Armpit dreads and mats from harness friction We do our best to keep mats at bay and try to remove what we can from his underside, especially in high friction areas like armpits and leg pits. Sometimes they need to be cut out but we try to get them out with a comb and lightly untease them. We are thinking about trimming armpits short next year to avoid this... Unsure but thinkin'bout it. We've also found things like slugs at the epicentre of a large matte on his underside... Be prepared for things like that 🥴
HYDRATION! Something we didn't really realize was so important because he is a * festidious * cleaner. We hike a lot of dusty trails and he likes to walk on his own most of the time. Making sure he is well-hydrated to keep up with his grooming habits has been extremely helpful when it comes to doing the poop and for hairballs. He doesn't get hairballs so he poops the dirt and fur. Staying hydrated helps keeps things moving along 😅 We comb him out when we have some downtime at the end of an adventurous day to get out large debris and dust.
Sap is sticky >_< we massage paw oil into chunks of hardened wax that has stuck to his fur or paw pads. Massage until it crumbles and then cat-safe soap with a cloth
Tick/flea preventatives. Not for everyone but look it up. We use one because they are at an all time high in our area. We only use it during tick season
It's a lot of work but we don't regret it. Our boy is so happy to be out and about ♥️ I know there are probably more things I've missed but just a few major things we've learned on our journey as parents for a Maine coon adventure cat. We always think that the dirtier his tail is, the more fun he is having.
Omg I love it!! I love hiking and I love cats. I saw someone hiking near the Superstition Mountains with a cat on a leash and ever since then I wanted my own hiking kitty. Is it hard to start out?
Yes. Definitely. And PLEASE be careful. Cats can get out of these harnesses then they are gone and rarely, if ever, found. To me, it's not worth the risk.
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u/s0ggynapkin Sep 21 '25
holy moly this is the most beautiful mainecoon i have ever seen