Wonderful breed with a few things to know before you commit to a Maine Coon

I've had my Maine Coon for 2 years and overall it's been an amazing experience. chirps instead of meows. gentle giant. The personality of this breed really is special — gentle, playful, sociable.

That said, there are a few realities I wish someone had been more upfront about. significant grooming needs was a real surprise. And sheds heavily took some adjustment. These aren't dealbreakers by any means, but they're worth knowing going in.

Health-wise, spinal muscular atrophy. We had one scare a couple years in that cost a few thousand dollars. Pet insurance is strongly recommended. But despite these things, I'd still give the breed 4 stars — the companionship and personality far outweigh the challenges.