With adult male Maine Coons weighing up to 6–11 kilograms, this breed proves to be a member of the large domestic cat group. In some cases, there have been reports of some Maine Coons reaching 20 kilograms. These felines sure are massive, yet they are intelligent, playful, and loving, which make them great pets. If you plan on getting one of these exceptional cat breeds, here we offer a proper care and training guide for Maine Coons, which will help yours live a happy and healthy life.
Grooming
Maine Coon kitten and adult cat
A Maine Coon’s majestic lengthy fur is prone to matting, which needs to be dealt with right away to keep the cat healthy and happy. Grooming is essential to a Maine Coon as a part of her everyday care. From day one, you should acclimatise your cat to being groomed with a wide-tooth steel comb. You have to make sure that your cat gets accustomed to having your hands run through her fur or getting her fur combed. This includes areas where her fur gets easily tangled, such as the legs and the belly. Once your cat is used to this sort of grooming, you can start using a finer tooth comb.
You may also like to read: Cat Skin Problems Every Cat Owner Should Know
Bathing Maine Coons
Maine Coons surprisingly love water. Bathing is not a problem with this cat breed as long as the water temperature is suitable for bathing, preferably around 36–38 degrees Celsius.
Although Maine Coons enjoy dunking themselves in water, shampooing them more than once a month during baths is not recommended.
Coat care for Maine Coons
The fur of a Maine Coon is normally healthy and gorgeous. However, if you wish to maintain that quality, you can do the following to help your cat flaunt her beautiful fur.
- There is a specific brush for cats with long hair, and it is crucial for you to brush your cat with it for at least three times per week.
- Brush your Maine Coon’s fur five minutes each day.
- Giving your cat vitamin paste is recommended to reduce the hairball build-up.
- Omega-3-rich foods have benefits that can be observed in the cat’s fur.
Regularly brushing your Maine Coon means removing the dead hairs they might ingest when they are self- grooming, which will help prevent gastric problems.
Feeding
Maine coons are prone to becoming obese because they eat more than they move, so feeding them the right diet is important. Here are our recommendations on the type of food and the things you need to consider before buying one:
- For Maine Coon cats
- A well-balanced, excellent-quality, dry cat food.
- For Maine Coon kittens
- Food should be high in protein and low in carbs.
- Kittens grow very fast; they should not be fed with food that will encourage rapid growth to avoid hip dysplasia.
- Before bringing the kitten home, ask your breeder about food recommendations.
Exercise
Keeping your Maine Coon active is important for them to be able to live longer, healthier lives. However, keeping them active can be a challenge. Stimulate your cat by providing lots of interactive toys as well as time solely for playing.
Vet care
One of the necessary steps to caring for a Maine Coon kitten or cat would be regularly taking them to the vet for check-ups. If there are no symptoms of any diseases or if there is no problem with your Maine Coon, taking them for check-ups a couple of times every year is enough to maintain their health status.
Taking them to the vet is important as veterinarians will be recommending and conducting necessary vaccinations for your cat or kitten. But you will be responsible for keeping the schedule of vaccination updated. Veterinarians will also diagnose your cat’s state of health. Additionally, they will be responsible for spaying or neutering your cat.
Should you get a Maine Coon? Check out our other article about this breed to find out!
