With their long mane and expressive face, the Maine Coon is truly one of the most beautiful cat breeds. However, when it comes to food, the Maine Coon has some unique needs. Discover here what you need to know about feeding your Maine Coon.
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You should always adjust the food for your Maine Coon to match their life stage and corresponding needs.
Maine Coons can reach an impressive length of up to 120cm. Naturally, they require more food than other domestic cat breeds. Their fluffy coat also calls for a special diet.
This knowledge often leads cat owners to overfeed their Maine Coons, which can cause health issues. Avoid overweight in your cat to prevent such problems.
While many cats comfortably eat from their bowl, some Maine Coons prefer to play with their food. Don’t be surprised if your cat sometimes paws at its food and spreads it around the bowl.
To keep the floor clean, a protective mat for the food bowl is recommended, especially for Maine Coons.
The amount of food your cat needs depends on various factors. Alongside the cat’s final size, the ingredients of the food are crucial. Outdoor cats have a higher activity level compared to indoor cats.
Generally, you can follow the manufacturer’s instructions for guidance. You can also use our guide for the correct food amount to calculate the ration.
The answer to the question “dry or wet food?” is up to you. However, since Maine Coons are prone to kidney issues like kidney insufficiency, long-term wet feeding might be advisable.
Whether it’s complete food or BARF, healthy Maine Coons can eat almost any cat food and are no different from other breeds in this aspect.
The key is to choose high-quality food containing all essential nutrients for cats:
More information on cat nutrition can be found in the zooplus cat magazine.
What you should watch out for when feeding Maine Coons depends mainly on the cat’s age. For example, the nutrient requirements of an adult cat are significantly higher than those of an old Maine Coon:
Young Maine Coons are very lively and active. Unlike smaller cat breeds, Maine Coons have a relatively long growth phase.
A common mistake is to feed Maine Coon kittens too much too quickly. This causes the young cats to gain weight too rapidly, negatively impacting their bone structure.
Learn more about the general kitten nutrition in our guide.
From the twelfth to the fifteenth month, you can gradually transition from kitten food to adult food. At this stage, the energy needs of your Maine Coon are slightly higher.
Joint Support
Due to the impressive size of your Maine Coon, its joints are especially stressed when jumping and frolicking. Cat food with specific joint support is therefore particularly suitable for Maine Coons.
Heart Health Support
Maine Coons are unfortunately prone to heart diseases like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Thus, many cat foods for Maine Coons contain higher levels of taurine and heart-supporting omega 3 fatty acids (such as EPA, DHA).
Older cats generally have lower energy needs as they are less active. To prevent your Maine Coon from becoming overweight, it’s advisable to feed it special senior cat food as it ages.
Compensating for Missing Teeth
Older Maine Coons over ten years old often have dental issues. Feeding them wet food can make chewing significantly easier.
Adjusting the Diet for Health Conditions
With age, the risk of diseases like diabetes naturally increases. If your Maine Coon is also unwell, it’s best to consult your vet.
They can conduct a thorough examination and develop an appropriate diet plan, which may include special diet foods.
Alongside regular food, your Maine Coon will surely appreciate tasty snacks – for example, as a reward after a fun clicker training session.
Be sure to deduct the treat from your cat’s regular ration. Otherwise, it won’t take long for your Maine Coon to gain a few extra grams.
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene. Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future. Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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