Where should food bowls go when a Maine Coon keeps dipping toe beans in the water dish?

Separate the bowls entirely. Put the water dish in one spot and the food bowl somewhere else, ideally a few feet apart or even in different rooms if needed. Maine Coons often drag food into water, so placing the water on a raised surface like a small table or counter can also stop the toe-dipping habit.

I'd move the water bowl to a completely separate area, like the kitchen island or a bathroom counter, while keeping the food dish on the floor. Maine Coons are notorious for pawing at water, so a heavy, wide-based ceramic fountain with a shallow stream can redirect that curiosity - they love running water and might stop using their paws if they can drink from a moving source instead.

Moving the water bowl to a raised surface like a sturdy cat tree shelf or a side table changes the angle and makes dipping less satisfying. Maine Coons are big and smart, so I'd also switch to a stainless steel bowl with a flared base - it's harder to tip and the material doesn't hold odors that might encourage pawing. If they still dip, try a wide, shallow plant saucer for water instead, as it forces them to drink without submerging paws.

Keep the food bowl on the floor but move the water dish to a separate room entirely, at least a few meters away from the feeding area. Maine Coons are clever and often dip paws to test water depth or because they dislike still water, so a motion-activated pet fountain placed in a quiet corner can satisfy their curiosity without encouraging the habit. I'd also try a wider, shallow water bowl with a non-slip mat underneath - the paw-dipping might stop if they can't easily scoop water out.