The Vet’s Guide to Maine Coons: Facts, Care, and Nutrition Guide

Known for their large size, the Maine Coon is a loveable cat breed that is very friendly and playful. Originating in Maine, USA, the Maine Coon was first bred in the 1850s when long haired cats were introduced to local short hair cats in the United States. They get their name not only from their place of origin, but also from the fact that their tail closely resembles that of a racoon. These intelligent cats were brought to the UK in the 1980s, and are now a widely loved breed amongst many cat owners worldwide.

• Maine Coons can be susceptible to a variety of health conditions as a result of both  their genes and their lifestyle. It is important to look out for common symptoms and signs, as well as get them in for regular check ups with your veterinarian.

• This breed not only has a large stature, but also a big voice! Your Maine Coon may cause a ruckus when they want to alert you to something or get your attention. Be sure to train this behaviour, as they can become quite persistent.

• Maine Coons often finish maturing later in life compared to other cat breeds, meaning that they are in their kitten-hood up to 4 to 5 months longer than other breeds such as British Shorthairs or Ragdolls. 

Appearance: Maine Coons are known for being a large cat breed, so most of these cats can weigh up to eight kilograms. Often very muscular in stature, these cats are known for their fluffy coat and tail along with their common tabby colour.

Temperament: This breed is a very intelligent, social and loveable cat. Maine Coons are a great addition to any household as they enjoy the company of people and can be very playful. They can enjoy playtime, but also love a quiet cuddle on the couch.

Activity Level: Maine Coons don’t have a rigorous exercise routine they need to follow. However, we recommend keeping up with regular play sessions and mentally stimulating activities for your Maine Coon to prevent boredom or extreme laziness. Using cat toys, play mats and other cat activities can help keep your cat active whilst bonding with you.

Health: This large breed is often susceptible to both hereditary and lifestyle conditions. This means that it is important for you to look out for symptoms and signs of illness so they can be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Lifespan: Maine Coons can live up to 13 years, meaning that you can enjoy over a decade with this furry family member!

With a long and thick coat, grooming your Maine Coon is essential to keep their fur looking soft and healthy. Neglecting the maintenance of your Maine Coon's coat can lead to excessive matting and discomfort for your cat. To avoid this, we recommend keeping up with a regular grooming routine for your Maine Coon that includes not only brushing them, but also maintaining their dental hygiene.

Frequent brushing: To help keep their coat shiny and healthy, we recommend brushing your Maine Coon regularly with a cat comb or cat brush. If you brush your cat’s fur at least three times a week, you can reduce excessive shedding, prevent matts and keep your cat’s fur healthy. 

Shedding seasons: This double-coated breed is often thought to excessively shed, as it has two layers of fur. If your Maine Coon is generally an indoor cat, you will not experience excessive shedding throughout the year any more than other cat breeds. To get ahead of shedding, we recommend combing through your cat's fur with a shedding blade or shedding comb in season transitionary periods such as the spring and autumn seasons.

If you’re experiencing excessive shedding with your Maine Coon, there could be an underlying reason. Some cats can begin to shed more if they aren’t receiving the proper nutrition, are under a lot of stress or experiencing medical issues. If you are noticing this shedding becoming an issue for your Maine Coon, we recommend taking them to a trusted veterinarian for professional advice on how best to tackle this shedding and any underlying causes.

Controlling matts: If you do encounter matts or knots in your Maine Coon’s fur, it is important to tackle it before they begin to build up or become worse. Here are some 3 simple steps to follow so you can get a matt out of your cat’s fur whilst keeping them comfortable:

Dental Hygiene: With Maine Coons having all of their adult teeth by the time they’re six months old, it is very important that you keep up with frequent oral hygiene. Whilst giving your cat dental treats can help with day-to-day care, you should brush your Maine Coon’s teeth at least once a week.

Along with introducing teeth-brushing to your Maine Coon at a young age, we likewise recommend purchasing a flavoured cat toothpaste to help ease your cat into regular dental hygiene. Likewise, a pet toothbrush or finger brush will help you get to every one of their teeth when brushing.

This loveable feline can unfortunately be vulnerable to a variety of hereditary and lifestyle illnesses. For hereditary diseases, it is very important to get their parents screened for these illnesses to avoid your Maine Coon being affected by them. We understand that this isn’t always possible, so we recommend getting your Maine Coon health screened at least once a year so you can catch any disease sooner rather than later.

Hereditary diseases: Maine Coon’s can be susceptible to many different types of hereditary diseases in which they inherit from their parents. As some diseases show from recessive genes, the screening or knowledge of the medical history from your cat’s parents is very important. Some common hereditary diseases in Maine Coon’s include:

• Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Affecting the spine and limbs, this involves the loss of nerves in the spine causing loss of control over hind legs. Common symptoms are visible signs of muscle loss in hind legs, being unable to jump and a wobbly walk. Whilst you can’t slow the progression of this disease, you can make your Maine Coon comfortable by making toys and food within their reach and giving them comfort without having to jump (i.e. a cat bed close to the ground).

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A common heart disease found in senior Maine Coon cats, this disease prevents the heart from properly pumping blood to the rest of the body. Common symptoms include lethargy, coughing and shortness of breath. This disease and its effects can be managed and sometimes prevented with a low-sodium diet and medication to make your cat more comfortable.

• Polycystic Kidney Disease: This disease causes small cysts in the kidney’s of a Maine Coon, and can often be identified in kitten-hood. If let for a prolonged period of time, these cysts can grow and cause kidney failure. Common symptoms include weight loss, increased thirst, dry heaving and frequent urination. To help prevent and manage this disease, we recommend frequent checkups with your veterinarian, as well as ensuring that your Maine Coon has a well balanced diet.

Lifestyle Diseases: Along with hereditary diseases, Maine Coons are susceptible to various lifestyle ailments. These include obesity, diabetes and dental diseases. To help prevent these diseases, we recommend ensuring that your Maine Coon is fed a healthy and well-balanced diet in relative portion sizes to their age and weight. We likewise recommend regularly brushing your Maine Coon’s teeth to help prevent any dental diseases or deterioration. 

If you become concerned by any illness or symptoms of illness with your Maine Coon, we recommend taking them to a trusted veterinarian for a check up and a professional opinion.

It is a common misconception that you can’t teach your cat tricks or basic commands, but Maine Coons are very intelligent and can be taught a variety of skills.

Starting early: When looking to train your Maine Coon in basic commands or household manners, it is best to start as early as possible. By starting early in their lives, you will have the best chance of having an obedient cat. We recommend starting with basic commands and rules, such as a sit command and litter box training to create a good basis of training for their adulthood.

Litter box training: To make sure that you and your Maine Coon have a positive litter box training experience, we recommend starting as soon as they are welcomed into your home. Before bringing your Maine Coon home, we recommend placing a litter box in an easily accessible bathroom. We recommend placing a couple of centimetres of cat litter in the box as to not overfill it, as it is not preferred by cats and could deter them from using the litter box.

If your Maine Coon doesn’t make it to the litter box in time, or is struggling with the training, be sure to remain patient and clean any accident spots thoroughly. Anytime they properly use a litter box, be sure to reward them with treats and praise to reinforce the behaviour.

Effective training tips: For unwanted behaviours, such as rowdiness or clawing at furniture, it is important to address these right away. No two Maine Coons are identical, so it is best to understand what training methods work best for your cat:

Whilst an affectionate and intelligent breed, Maine Coons can develop behavioural issues just like any cat breed. However, these behaviours can be addressed and trained out of your cat to ensure that your Maine Coon is a happy and healthy addition to your home.

Scratching furniture: Like many cat breeds, Maine Coons can start to scratch or claw at your furniture, which often isn’t ideal for you and your home! Whilst this is a natural instinct for many cats and can’t be stopped, it can be redirected. By purchasing designated scratching posts or scratching boards, you can direct your Maine Coon to scratch this preferred area to still satisfy their urge.

Noisiness: Similar to many other large cat breeds, Maine Coons can really use their voice when they don’t get what they want or are not in a good mood. If your Maine Coon is becoming too loud, it is key to have patience and identify the cause of the problem. Your cat may be alerting you to something or letting you know that they are hungry or thirsty. If you are experiencing common bouts of noisiness in your Maine Coon and can’t identify the cause, we recommend taking them to a trusted veterinarian, as there may be underlying issues.

However, your Maine Coon may be loud to get your attention. In this case, we recommend ignoring the behaviour and rewarding your cat when they are quiet. If you give them attention or reward them with treats when they are loud, they will then believe this is the best way to get what they want.

Territorial behaviour and aggression: Your Maine Coon may become territorial and aggressive, especially if there are other animals in your home or they haven’t been introduced to other cats before. 

To overcome territorial aggression and aggressive behaviour with other animals, we recommend socialising your Maine Coon with other cats as early in their life as possible. If you have a Maine Coon kitten, we recommend introducing them to other kittens after they have gotten their final round of vaccinations at 16 weeks old. This will help your Maine Coon familiarise themselves with other cats, and become less protective of other animals in their space.

Being the largest of all cat breeds, you need to make sure that they receive the appropriate amount of nutrients every day. When choosing the right food for your Maine Coon, be sure that it includes essential vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy, as well as healthy protein, carbohydrates and fats to support their growth.

Balance of wet & dry food: When choosing whether to feed your Maine Coon wet or dry food, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. However, to ensure a healthy cat with a well-balanced diet, we recommend combining both wet and dry foods.

Dry cat food is often easier to prepare, and allows your Maine Coon to use their teeth. This is beneficial for your cat as it can help keep their teeth clean in between frequent brushing. 

However, wet cat food provides your cat with additional health benefits, such as hydration. Some cats may not receive an appropriate amount of water throughout the day, and providing them with wet food can ensure they receive their daily water intake. By mixing both wet and dry food, your Maine Coon can benefit from both types of food, whilst still enjoying a delicious meal!

Life stages: Since Maine Coons often mature later in life compared to other cat breeds, the time in which you switch them from kitten food to adult cat food will vary. We recommend switching your Maine Coon to adult cat food after they are nine months old to ensure they receive the nutrients they need for their development.

Portions & schedule: As Maine Coons are a large cat breed and require more calories throughout the day, we recommend splitting up their meals to smaller portions throughout the day. Depending on your schedule, we recommend giving your Maine Coon approximately three meals a day, each containing 14-26 grams (depending on the size of your Maine Coon). 

Whether you have a Maine Coon or you're thinking about getting one, we hope you learnt something by reading our article. Whilst this guide is great start to learning about Maine Coon ownership, never stop seeking out new information from reputable sources. Share your experiences with other Maine Coon owners, and always continue to learn more about your cats breed, temperament and how best to care for and love them.

This article was written by Dr. Jack Ayerbe