Understanding Temperament at Catty Shack
Where personality is just as intentional as pedigree.
Every Maine Coon kitten is born with a unique blend of temperament traits—natural tendencies that shape how they explore, bond, play, and respond to the world around them.
At Catty Shack, we focus on eight core traits that consistently appear across the breed. These traits help us understand your kitten’s emerging personality and match them with families where they’ll thrive.
How we use these traits
Every Catty Shack kitten is evaluated through the lens of these eight temperament markers.
This helps us understand who they’re becoming—and helps you choose a kitten whose natural tendencies align beautifully with your lifestyle.
Your Maine Coon isn’t just a pet. They’re a presence, a personality, a partner in your daily life.
And their temperament is the heartbeat of who they’ll be for the next 12–18 years.
Core Traits
Below is our temperament language, designed to give you clarity, confidence, and a deeper connection to the kitten who may soon change your world.
🐾 BOLD
Makes the world feel like an invitation.
Bold kittens step forward with confidence and curiosity. They’re the first to greet new people, explore new rooms, and bounce back quickly from surprises. They thrive in active homes, adapt easily to change, and grow into adventurous companions who love being part of the action.
🐾 SOFT
Gentle hearts with a sensitive nature.
Soft kittens approach new experiences with caution and thoughtfulness. They observe first, act second, and seek emotional safety before leaping in. Once they trust you, they bond deeply. These gentle souls flourish in calmer environments with predictable routines and patient humans.
🐾 ADVENTUROUS
Life is meant to be explored.
Adventurous kittens crave stimulation, experiences, and enrichment. They’re climbers, thinkers, fearless little explorers who love puzzles, cat trees, novel toys, and anything that challenges their minds. These kittens grow into incredible adventure companions—ideal for harness training, travel, and active homes.
🐾 CUDDLY
Love expressed through closeness.
Cuddly kittens seek physical touch as their primary love language. They melt into arms, climb into laps, lean into hands, and purr generously. They want to be held, snuggled, and physically connected. Perfect for families who want a velcro cat who chooses people over solitude.
🐾 GOOFY
Joy in fur form.
Goofy kittens are playful, silly, and delightfully unexpected. They bring laughter with dramatic zoomies, funny chirps, exaggerated pounces, and spontaneous moments of chaos. They see the world as a playground and keep their families entertained with endless antics.
🐾 MATURE
A calming presence from day one.
Mature kittens are composed, thoughtful, and observant. They think before they act and carry themselves with a quiet confidence that feels grounding. They still play—of course—but with intention and steadiness. These kittens often become the emotional anchors of their homes.
🐾 SOCIAL
A true companion.
Social kittens are deeply people-oriented. They follow you room to room, greet guests, supervise household activities, and want to be where the heart of the home is. They thrive in families who enjoy constant companionship and want a cat who feels like a full family member.
🐾 INDEPENDENT
Connection on their terms.
Independent kittens value space and autonomy. They bond, but gently; they love, but selectively. These cats prefer to sit near you rather than on you, and they seek affection in brief, meaningful moments. They’re perfect for homes that appreciate quiet companionship without constant closeness.