Maine Coon Care

These cats are very interactive with people. If you do not want a cat that will be all over you, then you do not want a Maine Coon. Until you own one of these cats, it is difficult to explain just how different they are from other cat breeds. They have a very small meow and it varies from cat to cat as far as how vocal they are. But you can hear them purr from across the room.

They also have a little "chirp" sound they make while playing that’s unique to a Maine Coon. This breed does not even get their adult coat until they are two years old. That is when they will have the big tuff around their neck. The bushy tail usually appears at about 5 months of age. Maine Coons routinely grow until they are 4-5 years of age. 

We provide our Maine Coon kittens 24/7 with high protein dry food for “free feeding." The kitten food has a higher fat content which is what Maine Coon kittens need to grow. there are many very good products on the market and you can certainly change foods, but not for a couple of weeks or so. It’s very important to know that you cannot overfeed a growing Maine Coon kitten or cat! Feed them, feed them, feed them! They are bottomless pits. When they are finished growing, you can cut back on feeding so they don’t become overweight.

Grooming should start when you bring your kitten home. It is something you need to get them used to before their long adult coat comes in. Try giving a treat after grooming for a few minutes. Anything you can do on a routine basis that helps make grooming a pleasant experience will be very beneficial in the future. Always end grooming with petting and a treat.

Your kitten will get fluffier each month and have fur about 1" long at 1 year of age and an adult coat 4" long at age 2. If you set aside 5 minutes a day, 3 to 4 times a week, that is typically enough. However, in the Spring, your kitten will lose its winter coat and will need to be brushed daily for several weeks.

This breed is not only a big, majestic pet, but also a great companion. They are natured much like a dog. Males do tend to dominate when playing more so than females. From the age of 7 months to about a year and a half, they are very independent. They want to explore and play. Maine Coons are easily trainable and will follow you around the house. But as Maine Coons mature, they become super affectionate. Each cat has its own timetable with this stage. The thing to remember is they are just big kittens. They do not look like kittens, but mentally they are. They will outgrow that stage after 2 years old.

Maine Coons love to lay with your or near you as soon as you sit down. This breed does not reach full maturity till age 4-5 years. These cats grow extremely fast, but mature extremely slowly. It's nothing for a male kitten to double in size (not weight) every month from 1 month to 8 months of age. Most cat breeds are grown at 1 year of age.

These cats are so very different from other feline breeds, it's very important to find a vet that is familiar with the breed. 

Maine Coons have an extremely strong immune system. If they do develop a problem, it takes a much larger dose of antibiotics to clear it up. We have found that vets who are not familiar with this breed tend to under prescribe the right dosage of medication needed to resolve minor problems such as a cold. Minor illnesses left improperly treated can mutate into something significantly more serious.

Similar to larger wild breeds, they develop a stomach pouch that hangs down from the body. This is perfectly normal for this breed and is more pronounced with the large males but some large females will have it as well.

Maine Coons are living creatures and have their own needs - which can only be fulfilled by you. They need to be safe and comfortable in their new home. Make sure sliders are closed to the pool (they can drown), in the beginning, close toilet lids, stairs can be dangerous if they are wood only, balconies can be lethal if accessible to a kitten as well.

Maine Coon kittens need 1-2 litter boxes depending on the size of your home, fresh water every day in a ceramic bowl, food, toys and more toys and most importantly a cat tree with a scratching post. Keep your litter box(es) clean or your cat may find a new place to urinate!

It is critical to have a scratching post from day one in your home. The larger the better! The main thing you must concern yourself with is that the cat tree have a sturdy base and it will last longer if it has sisal rope on it as scratching areas. If you do not provide something to scratch on, they will find something else to use. Maine Coons have scent glands in their feet! That is why they continue to return to the same location.

Our kittens are litter box and scratching post trained before leaving our home!