12 Reasons You’ll Regret Getting a Maine Coon (Nobody Warns You)

Everyone falls for the Maine Coon photos before they fall for the reality. These gentle giants are the biggest house cats in the world, and they are stunning, but a lot of first-time owners end up quietly overwhelmed. Before you bring one home, here are 12 honest reasons to slow down and really think it through. I'm Annie, and I've had cats for 24 years, since I was a little girl. If honest cat videos like this one are your thing, come hang out:    / @anniesmithpets   We go through all 12, in order: the grooming and shedding that never let up, their strong prey drive around small pets like hamsters and birds, how a bored Maine Coon turns destructive, and why these social, velcro cats struggle when they are left alone too much. Then the money side, the big-cat food and furniture bills and the real purchase price, plus the inherited health risks every future owner should know about, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, and spinal muscular atrophy. We finish with their space needs, that surprising skittish streak, how they bond hard to just one person, the genuine theft risk, and the one that catches almost everybody off guard: they stay kittens forever. If you have been dreaming of a calm lap cat, this is the video to watch first. #catcare #catguide #cathelp